Pirates of the Smithsonian

         The debate over the morality of recovering and presenting the treasure findings from a shipwreck in the Indonesian Ocean has given the Smithsonian Museum an immense amount of hype! Whether it was the hype the Smithsonian was looking for, is a different story. 
            I watched the trailer for the exhibition and listened to the news reports on the NRP media player regarding the controversy. Hearing both sides of the story from the NPR news report gave me a little more insight to where the Smithsonian thought they had the right to display these artifacts. However, as I see where those on the Smithsonian side are coming from, that these artifacts are being used to educate, I still believe that the Smithsonian has no right to these findings. I understand that it is a controversy in its own whether or not the discovery of these trade items were looted or not. I also believe that they should be considered looted items and one of the Smithsonian's own regulations is not to display any looted findings. The country they came from  (China) has the right to obtain these beautiful trade items. If China agreed that they should go to be shown and preserved in the Smithsonian Museum, then I see no issue. On the other hand, China is the owner of these items and if they would like them back, they deserve full rights to them, without debate. 
         In our "Practices of Looking" textbook, a couple examples were given for situations similar to this. Saartje Baartman. Before reading the textbook, this was just another name, and one that I certainly had difficulty pronouncing. Although, after reading the section about her, I felt an incredibly heavy feeling in my heart. This woman was on display in French slideshows and society events, "hawking her as an anatomical curiosity on the basis of her buttocks and labia (described as unusually large)" as stated in the textbook. Then when she passed, efforts to have Saartje's body returned to South Africa were rejected for almost 40 years. This woman did not belong to the Musee de l'Homme where she was put on display after her death. She belonged to be back in South Africa where they wanted her body returned in order to give a proper burial according to her Khosian tradition. The museum should be respecting the traditions, not treating Saartje as an inhumane object and be thankful for being able to hold the display while they were allowed. However, her body did not belong to them. South Africa, I believe, did the right thing, holding a burial to the proper tradition. 
         I tried to use logic to further understand the side of the Smithsonian by placing myself in the situation. Lets say I was  traveling to another country and I dropped some beautiful artifact into the ocean while I was on a boat, and several years later, I die. If someone found those artifacts, I would want my mother and family to have them because thats where they came from. If my family thought it was important enough to be displayed in a museum, that would be okay, but if they refused to give the items to my family and they desperately wanted them for tradition or whatever their reason, thats where they should be. 
         In my opinion, the Smithsonian had no intention of looting these trade items or taking what isn't theirs. I understand their reasoning for wanting the treasures, even. However, I don't think they should be displayed there. They should be given back to the country they came from. Part of the fun and interest of going to a museum in any place is to learn more about the area you are in. China could set up a museum and place these findings there. After all, they are part of their culture, not ours. 

Milton Glaser

     While watching the documentary about Milton Glaser, I became completely fascinated with this man.  His ideas were so unique and different. His definition of art was "making things to sell for money". However, when he came up with the I ♥ NY idea, he did not make any money from it, so I don't feel this was his REAL definition of art as time went on. He later found a definition of art that he began to love, which said, "the purpose of art is to inform and delight". I think with all of Milton's ideas and creations, he achieved the second definition and it applies to his life better than the first definition does.

      Later in the documentary, Milton makes a statement "We should always operate by interruption". I think this means that he loves the multitasking and background noise that comes with creating his work. This is why he will work on something while he is on the phone and why he chooses to stay in his building, next to the school yard, where children play and scream. The best ideas come when you aren't constantly focusing on what will make it the best. The unexpected happens for a reason. For example, for the 40th anniversary poster that was designed with logos altered on the poster at different angles, the edges of some of the logo's began to lift. He decided that it looked better with the edges coming up than it did with everything pressed completely down. The interruption of his artwork/design is what made it more interesting and what might capture the public's attention. "It's much better than what you thought it would be," is another quote Milton made and I think it pertains to this example perfectly. A final quote from the movie that I think corresponds to the interruptions in which we should operate is when he said, "If you pass, great. If you fail, even greater". Failing is an interruption in life but it makes room for improvement which can make any artwork or design (or anything in life, really) greater than it was, had you never failed. 

    Milton Glaser is a very interesting man and I think he has great ideas that the world needs to be more exposed to. 

Ambient Advertising

          "What the HELL is ambient advertising?" These were my exact thoughts as my teacher brought up the topic in class. However, she sent out a chapter from a book with examples about what it is. Now I actually understand it! Ambient advertising is the advertisement that is found within our surroundings. This could be something like floor stickers or ads at the bus stop. So in other words,  in some place you wouldn't EXPECT to see an advertisement. I think this kind of advertising is effective to anyone, especially the Otterbein community because it will catch the student's attention. As a student myself, I am so used to advertisements on the television, and in magazines that I no longer pay attention to them. I do, however, notice the chalk drawings on the way to class, advertising a program going on at the school or the statistics of poverty, suicide deaths, etc because it is not in a typical place that you would see advertisements and it is making you aware of it since it is outside of the typical media. 

          I went and explored the website http://www.ibelieveinadv.com/ and looked at ambient advertising examples and I found some that really struck my attention. 

       This ad was designed and used around chandeliers, light switches, doors and plants. The ad is not targeting a specific person or age group,  but to anyone to show that inspiration can be found anywhere, in everyday things.  I chose this example of ambient advertisement because I would never expect to see an advertisement at an office desk or by a chandelier. I think this is most effective because others also wouldn't expect to see an ad in these simple, every day places. 

        This was my favorite example of ambient advertising. This ad was meant to show the "wrinkle free" steam wash that this washer provides.  The laundry bag was given to neighborhood laundries to deliver their ironed clothes in. The ad is targeting adults that want to have clean, wrinkle-free clothes right out of the washer so they don't have to take the time to iron clothes. I chose this ad because I thought it was very creative. This became a walking advertisement, which is why this advertisement is so effective. It looks like the ironed clothes are inside the washer. It catches your eye, thinking someone is carrying a washer. It would make you stop and look. I love this advertisement and how effective it is!