Discuss Avatars in terms of their social and psychological functions and semiotic meanings

Avatars now are used as a way of communication within the online and social networking system. There many forms of avatars for example there are text, pictures and animated or 3-D imaging. Avatars can be seen as a language as they work like a profiler, which can be see as easily recognisable to others.

Avatars are used for many reasons. These reasons fall into either social or psychologial gropings for why they are used. Social reasons include a way of communication, when online imagery can be used to portray ourselves in a virtual environment, Protection is another reason. In contrast, psychological reasons include how we wished to be viewed, for the user to project there personality when doing this users will use images or text relating to general interests or hobbies.

In a way, avatars are forced upon us. The need to fit into a socialising site or forum. This can be through the social groups that can be found or the sharing of general hobbies for instance. It is a way of conformaty, a sense of belonging almost.

The use of online avatars provides a whole new social realm for the youth. Often sites such as 'facebook' are used by those of the younger generations, in doing this the youths can also write themselves into a community of being portraying themselves as to how they want to be viewed by others.
The crafting of a users representation allows them show themselves in a better light. This can be done through editing images etc: The idea of the social voyeurism is a huge factor in the online society that it becomes obsessive in how we control it. Others view other profile pictures or avatars to judge that personels character or personality.

Bob Dylan - Blowin' In The Wind

This video by folk artist Bob Dylan was written as a protest song against war.

The lyrics are as follows: "How many roads most a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Yes, how many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Yes, how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind. "

From the lyrics above it is easy to see that the artist uses metaphorical language to describe some of the horrors involved with war. The use of rhetorical questions within his lyrics put forward the artists views. These rhetorical questions called also be seen as questions put forward to American govenment members. Possibly questioning the end of the suffering that occurs from war.

The Ideology of Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan, a renowned folk artist has become famous for his music and his lyrics.
early lyrics incorporated a variety of political, social and philosophical, as well as literary influences. They defied existing pop music conventions and appealed hugely to the then burgeoning counterculture.

Dylan and his parents were part of the area's small but close-knit Jewish community however, for a period during the late 1970s and early 1980s, Bob Dylan publicly converted to Christianity (America's largest faith) . This has often been seen as to what affected the style of music and the motives for the releases.
The artist has also used many of his lyrics to take jibes at the state of political affairs, some regarding war and the countries welfare.

Considering that the artist is of a simular genre to that of my chosen artist, It is key to note her ideology in her songwriting. In the Song the idea of love is a major factor.
The idea of love can surround the ideology of relationships and bonds, in a way this is voicing her opinions upon something regarding this. Her lyrics could give a possible insight into what the artist has put up with.

Digi-pack

The definition of the term"digi-pack" is that of a casing used for cd's. It also includes the the artist and album titles, and an image often relating to the artist/band. This image is usually a logo or text. The digi-pack will also include track listings, track length and credits.

Below is the reccomended digi-pak net.



It it shows the required measurements for the design of any CD case and print productions.












In all digi-paks all posssible panels are covered, this includes the flaps.
Front panel
which is used to advertise the artist/band by having an image of them, the bands logo or artists name. Also the album title should there be one.
Back panel
Often on this panel the designers put the track listings as well as the referencing to the copyrights. Barcodes are also found on the back of the case. As to is the record company logo to whom the artist/band is signed to.
Front Flap
Consists of having the CD reference number, the album title and again artist name.
Back Flap
Like the front flap, it consists of simular information

"Suddenly I See" by 'KT Tunstall"

This video by indie-folk artist KT Tunstall is the first release of her debut album. The video is all performance based. However it features a lack of fundamental relations to the genre of music she performs. Simple things to pick up on are that of the instruments being used in the performance based video are that of the acoustic guitar and bass guitar. Often within the genre acoustic guitars are often seen being played. The main focus of the video is that of the main title artist, to capture her from many different different camera angles to ensure she is the main focus of the video. In this performance based video, close up shots of the instruments show that this video belongs to the genre.

A modern concept has been used for the video, it appears that the use of 'Blinkers' create a use a sense of illusion and light. Often the use of 'Blinker lighting' are used for effect at live events, ie: gigs. Which again relates to the performance. The use of the faux lighting is more frequently used during the chorus which corresponds to the lyrics "Suddenly I see".

An alternative video was also produced for this song ("Suddenly I See"). This video however captures a more mainstream aspect of the artist, to somewhat put herself 'out there'. The video uses a lot of animation to create a 3-D world surrounding the artist.

The artist is performing in the video. However in this version of the video the artist is not performing her instrument, the guitar which she is renowned for. The music video, like the one above is lip-syncned. The animation within the video that makes the scenery contradicts the genre of indie-folk. The large city landscape is very American-based. Which goes against the roots of the genre and against the genric bristish folk aspect.