Journal #10: Icons, Logos, Symbols, Photographs, and Other Images

1. Type only logo

Yahoo's text only logo is recognizable and exciting because it's an exclamation. A just text logo has to be a pretty exciting word.

2. Symbol only logo

Prince's logo/name is a symbol that supposedly represents what he is as an artist. However, because it's so obscure and hardly looks like a name or a person, I don't think it's very effective. I'm proud of myself for recognizing it at all.

3. Text and symbol logo

The yellow amazing arrow/smile has since become recognizable on its own, but pairing it with the name of the website helps to boost association in consumers' minds.

4. Identifying phrase

Mountain Dew's catchphrase "Do the Dew" is catchy while also being an imperative. It challenges consumers to live a lifestyle proscribed by Mountain Dew, which, if followed, ushers drinkers in to a community of other Dew drinkers, thus creating a cult following and brand loyalty to this particular drink.

5. Religious icon

Ganesh is an iconic deity in Hinduism that is recognized by Hindus all over the world. I resisted the urge to select the crucifix because I wanted to acknowledge that there are other major world religions with their own iconographies.

6. Non-religious icon with cultural significance

Uncle Sam is an important United States cultural icon because he represents patriotism and a call to action during times of national struggle. He is widely recognized by the majority of American citizens.

7. Cropped photo for emphasis

This man's face was cropped out from the crowd picture to put emphasis on his face. In this case, the emphasis is to label him as a liar and a villain rather to allow him to blend in with the crowd, making him an accessible and neighborly figure.

8. Documentary photograph

While this is a movie poster, the movie itself is a documentary about graffiti as art. The photo captures the idea that art is present and alive in parts of the city where people are living on the streets, the type of people that couldn't possibly appreciate fine art,

9. Collage

This is a collage of graffiti art. While each piece is a work of art on its own, together they create a mosaic of urban expression and culture that is often considered lowbrow vandalism.

10.  Stereotypical image

This is my cousin Joey a few Halloweens ago dressed as the stereotypical fat Imam. I wouldn't consider this offensive because Joey (whose real name is Yusif) is Muslim and it's always alright to make jokes about the communities you're a part of, right?

11. Political cartoon

In this cartoon, Mubarak is represented as a stubborn camel that refuses to be led into freedom. The camel is an understood symbol of Egypt, so this isn't a hard cartoon to understand.

12. Instructional cartoon

This cartoon shows a kid buckling a seat belt. It teaches other children how to buckle seat belts. There you go.

13. Intertextuality

"Ten Things I Hate About You" is a modern version of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Intertextuality at its pop culture finest.

14. Color to attract attention

Who can ignore a gigantic red target? Really?

15. Color to develop associations

Associating green with Ireland imbues every green product with qualities associated with Ireland. Inexplicably, Irish Spring asserts that Ireland is clean, fresh, and invigorating. I don't have much evidence to the contrary, but I don't necessarily think of those three things as being intrinsic to Ireland.