Maya

I totally forgot about posting image of my detournement ads in the public area. Here they are! I created these images with photoshop-- one on a bus stop and another on a shopping mall in Shibuya, Japan.

Here are images of my final project. I made two versions from Godiva ad, one for making fun of consumerism and the other one for Iraq War.

Here are photoshop files of my works:
consumerism one
Download file

Iraq War one
Download file

I think the concept of "Cool" varies baceuse the standard of "Cool" depends on each person. In other words, what I think cool won't be cool to someone else since our preferences and interests are definetelly different as we have different backgrounds and values. It also can changed according to the environment such as society, economy, and politics of the time.

My understanding of the term "detournement" after reading "Detournement as Negation and Prelude" by Guy Debord is that converting existing ads or classical paintings into what conveys totally opposite or different message --mostly satirical ironical ones--. Modified images should be funny, but also conveys powerful and strong message.

There are two ads which I thought interesting, but I haven't decide which ad I'm going to use for my final project. Here are the images of those ads --one is ad of Godiva chocolate and the other is ad of Juicy Couture--

For Godiva one, I'm thinking to replace the image of the lady to soldier and chocolates to bomb or something related to war. Juicy Couture is quite interesting because it's promoting the perfume for dogs. I may add some texts reflecting dog's thought or change the images to what dogs really like.

This is my International Press ID card.

And here is the illustrator file of the image.
Download file

One thing I agree with John Berger is that "publicity turns consumption into a substitute for democracy (149)." It's easy for me to find out what is the popular item or what the consumer prefer to buy through looking at the TV commercials and advertisements in magazines. Particularly it is obvious in the fashion world. All the fashion magazines show "must have items" of the season throughout the year and urge people to buy those items, otherwise they'll be no longer fashionable .

One thing I disagree with John Berger is that he thinks publicity makes people "envious" of themselves as they might be by getting the products. I assume that John Berger uses "envy" meant by "admirable" or "desire to have," and it might be true. However, I don't think everyone is in that way. A person who doesn't have a driver's licence won't get any attraction to the ad of luxury car. Or a person who has diabetes would feel anxious for seeing excessive publicity of super-sized humbergers or fatty shakes. So I believe it totally depends on each individual since we're all have different tastes and interests.

This is an image of meditating Santa Clause at Buy Nothing Day in Japan. I think it is interesting idea because people, especially young generation, care shopping for Christmas sale or Christmas gifts rather than its original meaning of celebration. This concept reminds me the work of Felix Gonzalez-Torres, who I researched for PowerPoint presentation,--Veteran's Day sale and Memorial Day weekend.

Another example is "Shutdown Day." I found out about this last semester accidentally. I don't know how many people are going to participate this project, it would be interesting if we see visible difference in the electricity usage on that day or sales in Disneyland or somewhere like that. And I think it should be interesting if we have "no cell phone day."
http://www.shutdownday.org/

It was very excited project to do Pecha Kucha Powerpoint presentation, but, at the same time, it was extremely nervous moment for me to talk in front of people in such format. Anyways, I hope my speech would make sense to all of you.

Here is my powerpoint file for this presentation. You can click the link and download the file.
Download file

Also, I'd like to put the information of books that I used as resource for this project. Both books are available for checking out at the library on campus. If you're interested in Felix Gonzalez-Torres and his works, these are great books to read.

Felix Gonzalez-Torres by Nancy Spector
Published by Guggenheim Museum Publications, NY, 1995

Felix Gonzalez-Torres edited by Julie Ault
Published by SteidlDangin publishers, Gottingen, Germany, 2006

Here is my idea of instructional piece: just keeping your best smile one hour no matter what happens to you, and then write a paragraph or sentences how you felt and what you thought.

And here is my assigned instruction:

Hole in Paper

Cut or tear a hole in a piece of paper. Hold the paper at arms length and look through the hole with one eye closed. Draw what you see through the hole on another piece of paper. View the drawing through the paper with hole.

And this is my drawing from this instructional art.
I saw a doorknob of my room through the hole.

Send "happy mail," which tells that whoever receives it would be happy, randomly.