3. CARVEN 

Starring Marte Mei Van Haaster and Guerrino Santulliana by Viviane Sassen

Guillaume Henry took over the sleepy French brand Carven in 2009 as a relative unknown after stints at Givenchy and Paula Ka, rapidly transforming the 80-year-old label into a commercial hit in the contemporary market. With Carven now on the expansion path in Asia, Henry’s modern and liberated vision for the brand has also resulted in a spring/summer campaign that is rendered beautifully by Dutch artist and photographer Viviane Sassen, with whom Carven partnered for the fifth season in a row. This time around, Sassen translated her arresting out-of-focus technique to floating floral elements, lending the campaign a trademark surrealist touch.

Source: Wang, Lisa. “Top 10 Campaigns of the Season.” Businessoffashion. 1 Jan. 2014. Web. <http://www.businessoffashion.com/2014/01/top-10-campaigns-season.html>.

Citation:

L’oreal Paris Feria. Entertainment Weekly 26 July 2013: 1-72. Print.

You might have heard the phrase “the bigger, the better.” However, this year, fashion designers are creating their handbags on a much smaller or thinner scale. Models are setting the small bag trend. Some of these bags include Tod Micro Mini D-Styling Bag, Chanel Vintage Waist Bag, Louis Vuitton Besace Ronde Bag and Céline Curve Bag. The most notable bag though is from Fendi.

Last week, Vogue announced the It Bag of 2015: Fendi Micro Peekaboo Bag. This hand-size bag made its debut during the recent Paris Fashion Week. The simplicity and well-structured design makes the Micro Peekaboo an arm candy for any outfit. Fendi created  a campaign for the bag as an introduction to their Spring/Summer 2015 collection. The campaign slogan is “small size, big difference.” With that slogan, Fendi is trying to send a message that size do not matter. Even small things or people have value and can make a change. The video advertisement also demonstrates the meaning behind the tiny yet handy bag. It is composed of clips, a montage, showing miniature objects or icons. Famous icons seen were Tinker Bell and Jiminy Cricket. The director chose these images to show that being small is the new thing.

Society today portrays women in a way that makes petite women insecure. You have to be tall or curvy to be attractive. But, it is not the case with this latest trend in handbag fashion. Hopefully,  Fendi Micro Peekaboo Bag gives all the petite women the encouragement they need. We are small, not invisible and we can be winners.

Work Cited/ Reference

“#ITBAG2015: Fendi Micro Peekaboo Bag.” Web. 10 Feb. 2015. <http://www.vogue.com/projects/8081581/fendi-micro-peekaboo-bag-it-bag-candidates/>.

Mull, Amanda. “75 Bags and the Celebs Who Carried Them at Paris Fashion Week Spring 2015 – PurseBlog.” PurseBlog. 2 Oct. 2014. Web. 10 Feb. 2015. <http://www.purseblog.com/celebrities/75-bags-celebs-carried-paris-fashion-week-spring-2015/>.

Throughout the last fifty years, technology has evolved dramatically; with many inventions and updates on products to make our lives better. From the internet and its various protocols, to smartphones, televisions and other devices that use technology in some form or fashion, we cannot live without them. Technology has grown to become a part of our daily lives, and in a sense a part of our family that we bring everywhere we go.

On any given moment, you are bound to find someone using technology. People use things that they don’t even know have some form of technology. Worse yet, people use technology and accept the terms and conditions for using them without even reading them. For the latter, one may say, “why should you read it? You want it so just accept the terms.” This couldn’t be more wrong. Companies today, collect information on its consumers for many reasons that can be questioned, but that is a different topic all for itself.

As you may know, cookies are used on sites when you browse them to store information about what you are doing, which is then sold to third-parties and used to target you in some way. Just the same, these companies have different clauses in their terms and conditions or policies that state what information they collect and what they do with them. If you never read these, you will never know and you could be in for a big surprise. For example, one of the largest known social networking sites, Facebook has an app known as Facebook Messenger. This has had one of the largest controversies last year. Users were saying the app was accessing information on their phone without even alerting you. Could you imagine telling your friend you were thinking about buying the latest Jordan or Nike shoe, then a few minutes later, Facebook started advertising these shoes to you? Wouldn’t you feel crept out? Well, you shouldn’t because you basically allowed them by clicking yes when you downloaded the app.

Another example that is trending now is smart TV’s and their ability to record voices. Buried deep down in different companies’ policies are clauses that they have, basically asking you to allow them to retrieve information from you, and send it to third parties if they wish. Yes, some of this information is sent encrypted to prevent hackers from accessing it, but some aren’t, as shown in an article by an I.T. Consultant Dr. Beet whose link is posted below. These companies tell you straight up what they are going to do, and you accepting technically make it legal.

This brings me to leave some questions with you to ponder on. Why do you think these technological devices are called SMART – phones, SMART – TV’s or SMART – cars?  Is the word SMART in front of them used as code for a secret message? Could this message be that they are indeed smart; which they are, but smart in the sense of being able to get information discreetly and to be able to know everything about you? After all, that’s the direction technology is headed and it’s up to you to make the right decisions on what you use, don’t use, and what you allow companies to access. Now look at your smartphone, a device you held closely to you as a best friend, is it a spy? I’m not here to turn you enemies with technology but to make you aware; technology IS using you.

Beet. “LG Disables Smart TV Features in the EU to Force Users to Accept New Oppressive Privacy Policy.”DoctorBeet’s Blog. Blogger, 12 May 2014. Web. 9 Feb. 2015. <http://doctorbeet.blogspot.co.uk/>.

Attention has been drawn to Seattle Seahawks running back, Marshawn Lynch in the weeks leading up to and following the Super Bowl, for reasons other than his play on the field. Much of the attention surrounding Lynch has to do with his reluctance to pertinently answer questions from members of the media. Lynch when asked questions from members of the media often gave curt one word or one phrase answers. Most notably at media day leading up to the Super Bowl, Lynch responded to every question posed with, “I’m here so I won’t get fined,” or some similar variation.

With the increased attention, the fines from the NFL have also increased for Lynch. Lynch was fined on two separate occasions for obscene gestures, one fine $11,050 coming from the game against the Arizona Cardinals on December 29^th, and the other fine $20,000 incurred while playing the Green Bay Packers on January 18^th. Lynch was also fined a total of $100,000 for not speaking to the media after a loss to Kansas City on November 16^th. The NFL threatened to significantly increase the fine of $50,000 if Marshawn Lynch did not participate in media week. The NFL also threatened to ban him from the NFC championship game if he wore gold cleats, a uniform violation which normally would have drawn a fine.

Roger Goodell commissioner of the NFL’s response to Lynch’s reluctance to speak to the media was, “You have an obligation to fans. It is part of your job. There are things in our job that we don’t necessarily want to do.” Others believe Lynch has an anxiety disorder with fans going as far as to petition the NFL to stop “bullying” Lynch.  When asked what would indicate Lynch has any type of anxiety disorder an individual responded “wearing sunglasses to the interview and not being able to look up.”

No matter what stance is taken in response to Lynch’s friction with the NFL what is apparent is the conversation about the season he had is quite muted. Rushing for 1624 yards and gathering 15 touchdowns and back-to-back Super Bowl appearances usually gain a tremendous amount of praise, but not as much this year. Retirement could be an option for Lynch whose contract ended after the Seahawks loss in the Super Bowl. Whether Lynch signs or not, it doesn’t take away he’s had a productive last few years despite the public relations issues.

Works Cited

Bromlie, Wendi. “Enough is enough! Stop bullying Beast Mode!” Go Petition. n.p, 11     Jan. 2015. Web. 9 Feb. 2015. <http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/enough-is-enough-stop-bullying-beast-  mode.html>

DailyNewsTV. “Marshawn Lynch SuperBowl Media Day 2015 FULL Interview – Im just here so I wont get fined.” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.  <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ducGZlQSGoY>

Hanzus, Dan. “Marshawn Lynch fined $100K for avoiding media” NFL. n.p, 19 Nov. 2014. Web. 9 Feb. 2015. < http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000430995/article/marshawn-lynch-fined-100k-for-avoiding-media>

Jones, Ross. “Goodell talks Deflategate, Marshawn Lynch and state of the NFL.” Fox Sports. N.p, 30 Jan. 2015. Web. 9 Feb. 2015. < http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Roger-Goodell-NFL-Super-Bowl-Deflategate-Marshawn-Lynch-013015>

Katzowitz, Josh. “Marshawn Lynch fined for obscene gesture at end of TD run.” CBS Sports. n.p, 26 Dec. 2014. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.  < http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24917413/marshawn-lynch-fined-for-obscene-gesture-at-end-of-td-run>

Orr, Conor. “Marshawn Lynch wears gold cleats during warmups” NFL. n.p, 1 Feb. 2015. Web. 9 Feb. 2015. < http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000467067/article/marshawn-lynch-wears-gold-cleats-during-warmups>

Pelissero, Tom. “Marshawn Lynch will not be fined by NFL”USA Today Sports. n.p, 4 Feb. 2015.  Web. 9 Feb. 2015. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/seahawks/2015/02/04/marshawn-lynch-will-not-be-fined-by-the-nfl-for-his-beast-mode-hat-or-media-obligations/22865807/>

Sessler, Marc. “Marshawn Lynch won’t be fined for ‘Beast Mode’ hat” NFL. n.p, 4 Feb. 2015. Web. 9 Feb. 2015. < http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000468199/article/marshawn-lynch-wont-be-fined-for-beast-mode-hat>

“The Big Board” Fox Sports. N.d. Web. n.p 9 Feb. 2015. <http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/marshawn-lynch-player>

Source: Teen Vogue February 2015. “Rock Your Prom” advertisement Page 52

Nowadays, fashion is everything, especially in the United States. Fashion (like clothes, and trends) has the ability to be the same, yet diverse. Fashion is the same for everyone; different types of people can have the same trend. Blue hair is the same on a caucasian person’s head, or a different race’s head. Fashion, as a whole, changes rapidly. Blue hair is in today, but then brown hair is going to be in style tomorrow. Most people have a desire to look fashionable or trendy; but where do some these fashion trends come from?

As a teenager, I’ve seen trends come and go. One of the constant factors behind fashion trends are celebrities, like Kylie Jenner. Some of the biggest fashion magazines and blogs see the correlation between Kylie and fashion, that’s why they incorporate and emphasize her style. Some of these magazines are Glamourmagazine, People, Seventeen, Teenvogue, Whowhatwear, Style, Popsugar and more.

Big lips, henna chokers, ripped jeans, colored hair, plaid shirts and crop tops. Those were some recent trends, not started by one person in particular. The fact that celebrities, like Kylie Jenner, incorporated these trends in their lives, gave the trends exposure. Most tweens, teens, young adults and adults are inspired by these trends, which are worn by some of the biggest icons of the United States.

I tried to contact Kylie Jenner through email and got no response, so the next best thing was to look at what she has said in previous articles and interviews regarding fashion. Brittany Talarico from People magazine had the privilege of talking to both the Jenner sisters about fashion. “I’m like punk one month, ghetto fab the next, classy the next. I’m just young and finding out who I am. I get bored, I like to change my hair and style,” Kylie told People magazine. She also mentioned how she changes her style almost every month.

Even for celebrities like Kylie, fashion is changing. Fashion, styles, and trends are changing for everyone, regardless of who you are and how much you may or may not have. These trends happen to be started by someone, somewhere, in the world, but they expand into ‘must haves’ and ‘needs’ once someone iconic starts to follow the trend.

References

Talarico, Brittany. “Kylie Jenner Says Her Style ‘Changes Every Month,’ Plus, See Kendall’s New Haircut!” People 10 Nov. 2014: 1-4. Time Inc. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.

“Can’t we all just get along?” Rodney King once asked this famous question but there has never been anything that could unite everyone. However, sports come pretty close to unifying a nation or nations. That’s right, sports.

Just recently was one of the largest spectated sports program in the United States of America, the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl causes millions of people in the Unites States to gather around the TV and spectate watch the Super Bowl. Yes, some people only watch the Super Bowl for the famous commercials, but a lot of families, friends, and strangers from all over together to watch a single football game.

The Super Bowl is just a small domestic example of how sports bring people together. Sports affect nations on an international level. Last year’s event, the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, brought many nations together. The FIFA World Cup is the world’s most widely viewed sporting event, and spectators from all over the world watched their own country play in a competitive game of soccer. During the 2014 FIFA World Cup nations would cheer for their country in unison.

This is not the only example of sports bringing people together on an international level. The Olympics unifies nations like no other global event. During the Olympics there is a special tradition called the Olympic Truce. Because of the Olympic Truth, nations must suspend wars. Ending a war is one of the hardest things to accomplish, but something so simple as the Olympics can achieve that.

Countries have always been striving to create world peace, but the thought of world peace was always just a dream. Surprisingly, sports have a magical ability to bring people together. So the real question is, can’t we all just play a sport together?

Here are three links to writing a visual analysis.  Remember that I am both interested in you learning how to write and make arguments about visual text and in you learning how to apply strategies for writing and discussing visual text to writing and discussing about other texts. To that end, the first link is favorite link.  The last one though is very good for quick reference about vocabulary common to visual analysis.

“Visual Rhetoric: Analyzing Visual Documents” Handout, Purdue OWL, Purdue University

“Visual Analysis” Handout, Writing Studio, Duke University

“Visual Analysis Tips” Handout, Art History Department, Skidmore College

Many people were saddened with the end of Breaking Bad that happened in 2013 which left many people wanting more.This show became and still is one of the most popular shows on Netflix and other streaming services online. However, yesterday came a day many people were waiting to see, a spin-off of this favorite series into what is now called “Better Call Saul” which premiered on AMC. In this series premiere “Uno” we are introduced to the humble beginnings of  one of Walter White’s henchman Saul Goodman – also known as James M. McGill – where we see him struggle to make ends meet. At this point many viewers like Christopher F. would say “okay but where is Mr. White and Jesse?”

Well think of this show as  the origins of Breaking Bad from the point of view of Saul Goodman. This new series shows us the life of Saul Goodman from the beginning of his law career. Not only does it serve as a prequel to Breaking Bad but it also serves to show a more human side of this character who was often portrayed as a greedy self-conscious man in Breaking Bad.

In this series premiere we found out that his first office was in fact out of a small room in the back of a nail salon. We are also introduced to two other characters from Breaking Bad, the hit-man  Mike Ehrmantraut and the mischievous Mexican Drug Kingpin Tuco Salamanca. Episode 2 will premiere tonight at 9 P.M. EST on AMC.