Can't believe its almost coming to an end. Now, I'd like to share my experience and lesson I've learned this whole semester. Throughout the long and tough weeks, I have gained practical knowledge on design and publishing issues through all the discussions and research that carried out on this blog. According to Penman (1998) In writing a blog, a writer has to prepare and think about their target audience, purpose, and context in order for the document functionality match with the readers.
Furthermore, as a writer and blogger, there are few matters that need to be taken into considerations before you decided to publish the post.
Source: Creative Advertisement
Firstly, writers must be well informed and do a well research regarding on the chosen issues in order to ensure the writing context does not violate any rules and regulations. Secondly, writers must think of the purpose and the context before preparing the documents. It is very crucial and necessary for designers to be sensitive and careful in publishing design documents. Lastly, as explained by Kress and Van Leeuwen (2006), design documents is consist of multi-modality. He also added that images depict a meaningful message to the viewers. Hence, either the writers or designers need to incorporate various elements, like images, audiovisual, videos in their content. This statement also has been supported by Reep (2006) that mentions
"The appearance of document design will influence the function of document ; therefore images should be include in it."
No doubt, I have learned so much in these past eleven weeks. I hope I can make this lesson useful for the next future of my life. Million thanks to Miss Jenny for her assistance and all kind classmates for being so helpful. Not to mention, I wish this blog is useful for those who are seek for publishing and design information. Thank you.
Reference:
Kress, G & Van Leeuwen, T 2006, Reading Images Chapter 1: The Semiotic Landscape: Language and Visual Communication.
Penman, R 1998, 'Document Structure and readers habits', Communication News, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 10 - 11.
Reep, DC 2006, Technical Writing Chapter 6: Document Design, pp. 133 - 172.
How often do you come across the Youtube videos and saying,
"Thanks for this amazing information and news that I thought I would never ever know and now its my time to spread the word"
Yes, that's what I thought when I first watch KONY 2012 video by Invisible Children.
The launching of new documentary from Invisible Children : Kony 2012
Source: Google.
Humanity greatest desire is to connect to each other. In the world that we are right now, we already can see, hear, and surprisingly belong to each other. In this globalization world, we share what we love which mostly realize us that everyone has something in common. According to Nation (2012), social media is used as an instrument or communication, like a newspaper/radio in order to attract the public attention. Social networking has become one of the most active and main elements for people, in order to access and connect to each other. The existent of social networking has brought a good impact to the 30 minutes duration video titled KONY 2012.
Culture and Policy Makers involve in this campaign
Source: Youtube.com
The video titled KONY 2012 has touched million thousand of people eyes and hearts. This phenomenal video is basically launched by Invisible Children for a new initiative in their crusade against Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). The purpose of this video is to bring Kony to justice and to bring awareness of the abduction of the children and using them as child soldiers. According to The Guardian (2012), until today, they already have almost 3.6m global pledges of support. When this controversial topic hits the public, it is very important to see how it actually being processed by the next generation, which is the young generations. According to the video by invisiblechildreninc (2012), children as the young generations can impact the world like never before through social media, and their voices deserve to be heard. Hence, This video has been spread all over the social media, like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Vimeo. Ojalvo (2012) stated that after this video went viral, more than 70 millions people around the world viewing KONY 2012 video in a week times.
Fact and Figures after the video being launched
Source: Ojalvo.
Beside that, this video also contains of the compilation of images in order for the better comprehension to the viewer. Schiver (1997) stated that images/text itself can portray its meaning. Youtube is proven to be a resourceful tool in providing latest news and updates, particularly during crisis. The videos titled KONY 2012 is an example that signifies how people have to dependable on social media. Because without the existence of social media, the public would having a hard time in finding out the current news that is happening around them.
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References:
InvisbleChildreninc, 2012, viewed June 7 2012, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc>.
Nations, D 2012, What is Social Media?, viewed June 7 2012, <http://webtrends.about.com/od/web20/a/social-media.htm>.
Ojalvo, HE 2012, Do Social Media Campaign like Kony 2012 Stunt or Stimulate Real Change?, viewed June 7 2012, <http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/do-social-media-campaigns-like-kony-2012-stunt-or-stimulate-real-change/>.
Schiver, KA 1997, The Interplay of Words and Pictures, Dynamic and Document Design, Wiley Computer Pub, New York, pp. 407 - 430.
The Guardian, 2012, Kony 2012 in numbers, Guardian News and Media, viewed June 7 2012, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/apr/20/kony-2012-facts-numbers>.
One of the Pages explaining on the bird and the bees
Source: Burrokers
Peter Mayle
Source: BBC News
Peter Mayle is a British author famous for his series of books detailing life in France. in 1984, he published a book titled 'Where Did I Come From' that describes the reproductive process from intercourse to birth. According to a report by The Star (2012), the Home Ministry has banned the sale of 'Where Did I Come From' book due to the over information about love making. Burrokers (2012), added that this book is deemed too obscene for Malaysia. This book has been sold around 2 million copies and most of the reviewers find it useful, but some find it disturbing and this book is considered threatening the moral values of life.
The Book that been banned
Source: Burrokers
The Home Ministry told the Malaysia Star Newspaper that the reason why book was banned is because its content infringed censorship laws. He added that if anyone was found in making the copies of the book for distribution will be jailed or fine up to 20.000 ringgit. According to BBC News (2012), In november 2011, another book titled 'Islamic sex' that refers to sex tips to the readers was banned due to the censorship law.
One of the pages in the book
Source: Burrokers
Based on The Malaysian Insider (2012), telling kids sex is bad is the traditional way of keeping them out of the trouble. In this case, although the book is very useful for people to know about the bird and the bees, but it still improper for the children to read. This book is probably would match if it was published in West country. Like KVL (1998) once stated that every document design must suit with the specific culture before its actually design and published. Media is critical in today's society.Sani (2005) stated that the government in Malaysia has restricted media freedom for the purpose of national security and political stability. This has proven that the censorship laws in Malaysia has controlled the media in every way.
Source: Burrokers
To conclude, I'm glad that the Home Minister made a right decision by banning this book. There are might be thousand of opinions and reactions you could possibly get but it still the laws who control and make the rules.
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Reference:
BBC News, 2012, Malaysia 'Bans' Peter Mayle Book Where Did I Come From, viewed June 7 2012, <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17112635>.
Burrokers, L 2012, 'Images from the book deemed 'Too Obscene' for Malaysia', viewed June 7 2012, <http://www.loyarburok.com/2012/02/21/book-obscene/>.
Kress, G & Van Leeuwen, T, 1998, 'Front Pages: The Critical Analysis of a Newspaper Layout', in Bell A, Garret P, 'Approaches to Media Discourse', Blackwell, Oxford Publication, pp. 186 - 219.
Sani, MAM 2005, 'Media Freedom in Malaysia', ProQuest, Journal of Contemporary Asia, vol. 35, no. 3.
The Malaysian Insider, 2012, 'Where did we come From and Where Did We Headed For? - Sim Tong', viewed June 7 2012, <http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/where-did-we-come-from-and-where-are-we-headed-sim-tong/>.
The Star, 2012, Ministry Bans 'Where Did I Come From' book, viewed June 7 2012, <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/22/nation/20120222153939&sec=nation>.
According to Bharwada (2010), there is one element that arouses the immediate interest of both men and women. Sex has the greatest universal acceptance of all strategy in advertising. They always use sex appeal as a promotion strategy to sell the product. the exact role of in advertising is debatable, and all effective advertising must capture the attention of its target market in order to get a message cross. According to WiseGeek (2012), a lot of advertising company using sex appeal to be beneficial in social marketing. Mostly high-end brand or celebrities promote their perfume products by their desires and sexual attraction in order to catch the buyers, like what you can see the video above by prestigious celebrities of all time, Beyonce.
Ralph Lauren Ads.
Source: Diana
According to New Zealand Herald (2008), the reason of why the women are often to be a primary focus of sex appeals is because they can fulfill girls and man fantasy and also attract the man to buy. Diana (2010) justified how gender essentialism is very crucial in the world of advertising. She also added that advertising using the term of feminist aesthetics which means the appreciation of beauty, nature and art. She highlight some of the specific things that gender traditionally feminine way, particularly in the contrast of man's advertisement. Like for example, perfume ads by Ralph Lauren that using both gender to attract the man buyers more.
Bebe New Scent Ads
Source: Be be
Victoria Secret
Source: Victoria Secret
In relation to Diana's statement, it does not mean that all the purpose of advertisement is just to attract the man buyers but it also to attract the women.Like for example, Victoria Secrets using the woman as their sex appeals in order to attract the woman to buy, as they are selling underwear to the women. Another seductive advertisements is by Be be that selling scents to woman. In this ad, the giant bottle was positioned directly as it is emerging from her vagina. This could portray the meaning of vagina as the heart of woman, which possibly can direct to good or bad meaning.
Women power and right should be enforce in order to stand the term of feminism. Although, advertising with sex appeals is undeniably get a higher reaction. In conclusion, sex appeals on advertising doesn't necessarily bad, but it would be better to be less seductive.
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Reference:
Bharwada, C 2010, Sex Appeals as a Promotion Strategy, Loyalty&Customers, viewed June 8 2012, <http://loyaltyandcustomers.com/2010/03/sex-appeal-as-a-promotion-strategy/>.
Diana, 2010, Perfume Marketing and Feminine Aesthetics, Pt2: Sex/Erotica and the Male Gaze in Perfume Advertising, Feminine Things, viewed June 7 2012, <http://www.femininethings.org/2010/03/perfume-marketing-and-feminist_30.html>.
New Zealand Herald, 2008, 'Sex sells, OK?_actually no', The New Zealand Herald, viewed June 7 2012, <http://search.proquest.com.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/docview/430225738>.
WiseGeek, 2012, What is the Role of Sex in Advertising?, Conjecture Cooperation, viewed June 7 2012, <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-role-of-sex-in-advertising.htm>.
The Controversial Pages of how The Star published some Pork restaurants during the Ramadhan.
Source: Google.com
Based on Malaysia Today (2011), Datuk Seri Hishammudin Tun Hussein, the Home Minister has reprimanded the country most widely read newspaper, The Star over their article titled 'Dining out' supplement which was deemed to be insensitive to the Muslims, especially in Malaysia. It is being said that The Star made a careless mistake regarding the importance of Muslim's fasting month. The Star published some reviews and suggestions for the Muslim to buka puasa in their supplements, where some of non - halal restaurants were named. The Home Ministry considered The Star of being disrespectful to all the Muslims and decided to met The Star Executive Director to demand some explanations. Wong Chun Wai, The Star Executive Director justified that 'Dining Out' segment was not meant to be in the cover page of 'Ramadhan Delight'. Hence, The Star made their public apology in the following day and promised of not repeating the same mistake in the future.
Fasting to Muslims
Image Source: MyNewsHub.
According to MynewsHub (2011), fasting is one of the greatest means of helping a person to fulfill the commands of Islam and Malaysia is very different from other countries, because it is multi-racial, multi-religion and multi-cultural. Every Muslims believe that fasting is the time for self control, more closer to God and developing the attitude of asceticism towards the world and its desires. Walsh (2006) once stated that the readers have their own understanding based on their own believes and cultures. KVL (2006) also stated that both images and text express the meaning, according to each culture in society. Hence, it is very crucial for the editor and publication company to be aware of the content. This issue has taught us that The Star and all publication company in the world should understand and act responsible before they publish the article, because once its go public, then you cannot avoid the huge reactions that unbearable to handle.
To conclude, regardless of how crucial the role of media is, this issue has explains that we should appreciate people by respecting their culture, as we are living in multi-racial country.
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Reference:
Kress, G & Van Leeuwen, T 2006, Reading Images Chapter 1: The Semiotic Landscape: Language and Visual Communication.
Malaysia Today, 2011, The Star Rapped by Home Ministry for Buka Puasa Supplement, viewed June 7 2012, <http://malaysiatoday.com/2011/08/the-star-rapped-by-home-ministry-for-buka-puasa-supplement/>.
MyNewsHub, 2011, Malaysian Muslims to Begin Fasting Monday, viewed June 7 2012, <http://mynewshub.my/2011/07/31/malaysian-muslims-will-observe-the-fasting-month-beginning-tomorrow/>.
Walsh, M 2006, The Textual Shift: Examining the reading process with print, visual and multimodal text, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, vol. 29, no.1, pp. 24 - 37.
