Focus Questions for the Robertson Reading

1) What is the author’s main point (thesis)?

2) How does Frances Robertson support the arguments put forth in this essay?

3) Why were Nasmyth’s models accepted as “evidence” of what the moon’s surface looked like?

4) What value do Nasmyth’s photographs hold for us today?

5) How does this case study address ideas of “photographic truth”?

6) Can you think of a similar situation in our current time (i.e.: simulated computer models of scientific phenomena)? How are examples from the 21st century similar to the case study of James Nasmyth? How are they different?

 

Gradebook and Grademark

Just a couple of quick points about accessing your grades and the comments on your proposals through turnitin.com:

For comments on your assignments: once you are logged into turnitin.com you will see a list of your classes in the centre of the screen. If you are taking other courses besides VISA 1Q98 that use turnitin.com they will be listed here. If not, the only course you will see listed will be “VISA 1Q98 (Fall 2009).” Once you click on that link you will see the assignment list. If you click on the apple icon next to your proposal you will be taken to the comments on your proposal. (note: I’m still working my way through all the proposals so if you don’t yet have a grade or comments on it I ask for your patience — I’ve got a lot of assignments to go through!) From here your assignment will open up in a new window (if it doesn’t, check your pop-up blockers) and you can use the “view” menu to set how you wish to see the comments I have made on your paper.

For your grades: Once you have clicked on the name of the course, look on the left hand side of the page for a link that says “my grades.” Once you click on that you will be taken to another screen where you will see your marks in this class. At the top of that page is your current average (in bold), and below that are the individual marks on things like quizzes, etc. If you see a little notebook icon next to one of your grades that means there is a comment about your grade for that component.

 

Focus Questions for the Tinic Article

1) What is the author’s main point (thesis)?

2) How does Serra Tinic support her arguments?

3) Why were the examples discussed in this article considered to be so significant in the history of advertising?

4) Is it appropriate, in your opinion, to include political messages in advertising campaigns?

5) What can critical examinations of advertising campaigns tell us about the society for which they were produced?

 

Final Exam Schedule Posted

The registrar’s office has just released the December exam schedule.

The VISA 1Q98 final exam is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 16th at 9am. We will be writing in 2 different rooms:

Students with surnames A-G – AS 202
Students with surnames H-Z – AS 203

 

Turnitin.com and Formatting

Some of you who have already submitted your proposal via turnitin.com have been surprised to find that the “preview” version of your file you see after submitting is text-only. Please don’t worry about this — this is the preview view only and the file I see is the exact file you submitted.

 

Focus Questions for the Kimble & Olson Reading

1) What is the main argument of this article?

2)How do the authors support this claim?

3)In this week’s readings as well as in the last reading you did for this class (Andén-Papadopoulos) we have seen examples of images re-circulated in contexts other than the ones they were originally made for. Can you draw parallels between the two case studies? How are they different? How are they similar?

4)How does meaning change when an image is appropriated or re-circulated in new contexts? How much do we need to know about the original, intended context of the image in order to understand the re-circulated image?

 

Photo Contest

Enter the Library’s Inspiration Photo Contest!

The Library’s theme for 2009/2010 is inspiration and we want to know what inspires you about the Library! Take a picture of a library location, resource, or person and tell us how you are inspired, and you could win one of four $20 gift cards for the Campus Store. It’s simple!

* Grab your camera or cell phone
* Snap a picture
* Email it to us at justine.cotton@brocku.ca
* And tell us why it inspires you!

Contest Details:

* The contest runs from October 5 – October 23.
* The winners will be announced on November 2.
* All current Brock University students, faculty, and staff are eligible to enter, with the exception of library staff.
* The Library reserves the right to use all pictures and descriptions submitted on the Library website and in future promotions.
* Entrants are responsible for obtaining permission from individuals appearing in photos.
* Inappropriate entries will be disqualified.

Also in October! This is Canadian Library Month and an opportunity to celebrate the role that Library’s play in the community and in the university. For more information, please visit: http://www.cla.ca/clm09/

 

Quiz #2

Just a reminder that Quiz #2 opens today at 8pm. It will be available until midnight on Sunday, Oct. 11th.

Please be reminded that log-in issues and other “technical difficulties” are not considered to be valid reasons for missing the quiz and, as such, it is in your best interest to not wait until the last minute to write the quiz.

 

“Optics Don’t Make Marks”

In class today we were introduced to what has been termed the “Hockney Thesis” –- British artist David Hockney’s theory about the use of lenses and the camera obscura in paintings from the 15th century onwards. As you think about what was presented in the film, ask the same questions you have been asking of the readings for this class, namely, what is the main argument and what kind of evidence is given for it?

I think Hockney’s comment, “Optics Don’t Make Marks,” is a particularly compelling statement. As you think about this film, it will be useful to reflect on this point of view.

I’ve placed some slides of paintings relating to the film in the “course materials” section of this blog so that you have them handy for your reference.

Hockney’s thesis has generated much discussion — his theories have drawn both praise and criticism. Click on the links below to follow more of this discussion. (note: as Sylvan Barnet points out, it is important to read websites with a critical eye!)

David Hockney’s Secret Knowledge
Art & Optics

Vermeer & the Camera Obscura

Was It Done With Mirrors?

Why David Hockney Should Not Be Taken Seriously

 

Focus Questions for the Andén-Papadopoulos Reading

1) What is the author’s main point (thesis) in this article?

2) How does Kari Andén-Papadopoulos support her points? What evidence does she give?

3) On page 6 Andén-Papadopoulos argues that “the relationship between visuals and news narratives is often a ‘high-tension’ one.” What does she mean by this? Can you think of other examples (besides the Abu Ghraib case study) that relate to this notion?

4) How have the Abu Ghraib images been re-circulated? Does this change their meaning? Why or why not?