World Cup 2010 Prediction

Original Image From NOLA.com; Please Click On Image To Enlarge.

1st: Brazil
2nd: Spain
3rd: England
4th: Argentina

Any Comments?

Found Or Still 'Lost'?

'Lost' Finale:

A symbolic and metaphoric closure emphasizing the emotional over the rational; fictional over reality; life over death; in essence it presented the comforting notion of the afterlife with the loving and peaceful release of redemption at its purest.

Hpnotiq Magazine Ad

An optical illusion. A classy image. A piece of art. It truly is hypnotic or in this case Hpnotiq.

The advertisement was last seen on Rolling Stones 40th Anniversary Issue (May 3-17,2007) on page 53. The uniqueness of this ad was that it broke away from the lazy and often used stereotypes of sexual pleasure. Instead it relied on the fundamentals of design and layout.

While the assignment was to find a magazine ad and critique it based on the principles of design and content, it was this unique ad that truely appealed. An appeal that calls for the simplicity and not overt use of sex or celebrities. What we have here is an interesting brand, a unique product in an iconic magazine.

Hpnotiq is a blue alcoholic drink concorted by Raphael Yakoby. Yakoby in a New York Post article in 2007 explained that this uniquely blue drink was inspired by a perfume bottle of the same color (Straker, 2007). Starker (2007) reported that "a year later Hpnotiq, a blend of vodka, cognac and fruit juices, was a nightclub staple, and he (Yakoby) went on to sell the brand for a reported $50 million". The background to this unique brand does not end there, Wingard now the owner of the brand took the colored drink and marketed it uniquely well. This I would argue is down to translating its unique concept onto print.

Using Dr. Cannon's design critique list which was adapted from Bivins & Ryan (1991) and Nelson (1994), this post aims to deconstruct the design elements used in the artifact.

1. Emphasis

Bivins & Ryan (1991) contends that "every design needs a focus" (p. 53). This ad is no different, the dominant image is the blue optical illusion that takes up three quearters of the page. Serving as a "focal point", the eye is drawn to the center of the image and to that very edge where the viewer might get sucked into perhaps be absorbed to the point where it is best to retreat. The emphasis then is gained through optical illusion. The optical illusion creates the feeling of an extra dimension, one where the perceived image becomes overwhelming so much so that teh viewer has to find a way out of the blue and white triangles back towards the headline. Bivins & Ryan (1991) labelled this emphasis, "isolation" (p. 54). This is where the background is stripped away hence the whiteness.


2. Sequence

The disoriented viewer follows the pointed triangles up to the center of the optical illusion. Trying to escape it, the viewer looks up and is pointed back to the center. Perhaps frustrated. The viewer now zooms out to focus on the headline "It's HPNOTIQ." An obvious play of words to support the 'hypnotic' effect from the optical illusion, the viewer might perhaps scream out that there is something wrong with the spelling. It is not what one is used to, the genius of the headline is its similarity to the perceived caption of the optical illusion. It really is hypnotic, the unique font plays homage to the modernity of how the image is created. In that the image is computer generated hence a modern font is needed to convey this modern theme. The tagline points to the serving suggestion of having it with tequila and right below the expected image of the HPNOTIQ bottle and the tequila with a lime slice both perfectly focused with slight shadow. Perhaps another modern theme, that both images can appear that way. Looking at the ad again, and the slight grayish line of words appears the the left of the image crawling upwards. This usually is where the credit for the photo appears but in this case , it first emphasized the viewer to stay focus and to drink responsibly, then describes what the product is and the copyright year. Due to its propotion in that its font is relatively small, this side caption pales in comparison to everything else in the ad. This is important as the sequence dictate that the important notices are in a bigger font which brings us back the headline and its propotion.


3. Propotion

Most of the image is taken up by "white space". (Bivins & Ryan, 1991, p. 71). The propotion of the optical illusion takes up 66%, the headline and tagline takes about 12% and the image and the Web Site take up the remaning 22%. This perceived propotion takes into consideartion that the two images are propotionately in tune in that the image of the drink is one-third that of the optical illusion. The white spaces between the images are kept close enough that they don not overlap each other but linked nicely and balanced through the center.


4. Balance

The ad is asymmetrically balanced in that it is top heavy and bottom light but it has "unity" in that there color theme is this cyanish blue (Bivibs & Ryan, 1991, p. 56). This ad is almost like a top-heavy "T-shape" ad (Bivins & Ryan, 1991, 60). The use of shadows on the right and bottom of the optical illusion image helped to balance the left sided crawling words and the headline below it. The bottom image of the tequila glass that is off-center is balanced out by the bottom of the HPNOTIQ bottle. The lime on the glass is the true center of the ad, acting as an anchor for both the optical illusion above and the other elements present in the ad.


5. Unity

Re-emphasizing "unity" which is the "cohesion and overall coherence of a layout's parts" (Bivins & Ryan, 1991, p. 56). The ad emphasizes a unity of "color" (Bivins & Ryan, 1991, p. 57). In emphasizing a blue theme, the shades of blue acts as a relaxent. The cool feeling emmitted becomes its primary goal, its secondary theme is its anchor in the lime that exludes freshness. The light blueness of the ad coupled with the white space becomes key in uniting the emphasis of simplicity in layout, modernity in font use and uniqueness of key image to form an ad that is in a class of its own.


6. Content

Personally the ad communicates an appreciation of art. The image could be framed and displayed as in a gallery. The uniqueness of the ad adds to its mystique. What is this blue drink that might induce hypnopsis? The sense of curiosity might then spur sales among two target audience - the classy who enjoys art and the curious who are drawn to the blueness of the drink. Blue after all is the color of "spirituality" and "peace" (Dabner, 2005, p. 35). Also, blue is a dye color that is not found in nature. This ad then communicates to the viewer to relax, enjoy the art and indulge in a unique and refreshing drink.


7. Now

The lastest on HPNOTIQ is that it is positioning itself to become a drink mainly for middle-age females and that they are using generic female drawings to emphasize their new target audience.

Exams-A-Coming

My Thesis on 24 and Terrorism did not work out.

These three metaphors described why:

1. The thesis path was a tunnel with a light at the end. The light was from a coming train. Had to switch tracks while I still could, and continue on my way out.

2. The bridge that I was building could not withstand the arguements I was making.

3. It was like being on an elevator in a falling building.

Style over substance, substance over style, whatever the arguement the eventuality is the same: Get it done and done well.

In the end, it was my decision not to cheapen my thesis.

Having revised the thesis throughout the Spring and Summer, it was a baby that was aborted temporary, not for its looks or its substance but for it to reborn in the future to a more welcoming crowd.

Choosing the path of most resistance, I sharpened my knowledge of terrorism and stood by the synthesization of Tuman's (2003) communication and terrorism but like a genetically superior Kyle XY - the world was not ready, it was fearful.

I could go on but the new challenge calls out - a total of 9 Hours - Written and Oral - to prove my Master's worth.

Persepolis - Must Watch!

Aloha!

RQ: What elements in animated films contribute to an audience’s believability?

First off, I believe that in narrative criticism, it is vital that we at least understand where the source or the film’s main character and where she is coming from. Thus it becomes important to listen to Persepolis’s DVD Extra and hear what Satrapi has to say about her film,

“Cinematic narration is very different from the narration of a graphic novel… Drawings have an abstract quality. If we use real images… right away it would be an ethnic film. It becomes the problem of those people who live over there and are crazy about God. But drawings, with their abstract quality, emphasize the universal… The drawings have enough of an abstract quality to make you consider that it could happen anywhere... Drawings also have this ability to adapt and still remain coherent.”

Everything else is art. Seriously though the main unique quality of the film is in its storytelling and it is postured that in narrative criticism the main defining quality is in a story that blends the many aspects of universal need for dramatism and its hextad or pentad with the eight other unique aspects.

The story though fused with an extra dose of what Satrapi in her drama not biography would call “cheating” or “invention” is tied in with the agent in Burke’s pentad. Yet the story in itself draws the audiences in a way that it is compelling and captures the audiences in that it’s setting in a land that is presumed to be far enough away, yet close enough to feel a certain sense of human transcendence. In that the story of regime change not only reaches out to the shared notion of common people rising up against the rich but that there was a metaphoric tearing down of the statue such as in Saddam’s removal. The conflict that arises and how one young girl is influenced by it forms the agent-act dimension and through it there is a political aspect of the film but that is only a part of the tremendous work undertaken to find the human aspect or the agent and how she reacts to the act committed. The media can tell the world the story in a superficial way but if we examine closely stories come from those who lived through these conflicts, there is a life in the animation. It is in this life that not only draws the audience but captivates them.

The characters or the agents of the film becomes more real with the direction undertook by Satrapi in that she directed the whole film and every single actor was in sync with what it took to play out the scene on the recording booth. The voices that were done were sometimes without the animation. Yet Satrapi was approachable and that she was able to know very well the relationships between each character and what he or she was doing at that particular time. What made it more receptive is not just the graphic novel that came before hand but that the characters spoke English in the shown film, yet the French part of it is intriguing as well. The English voice actors had to know how the French characters and the subtle language translation and Satrapi though fluent in both had to practice here decoding and encoding especially when it came to humor. What made the characters even more believable is the overwhelming maternal aspect of the characters and how likeable they become through animation. It is interesting that even though they are abstractions they take a life onto their own through what appears to be human emotions and even the eye movements and gestures grew them into not just animated characters but personifications of reality. In other words, I can associate myself with Marjane when she talks to authority figures, God, parents and grandmother. I am very sure that there are other states that have banned the film because they saw how real, how believable these personifications and sometimes stereotypes are and therefore the universal aspect of it can bridge the gap between nations of democracy and that of totalitarianism.

Satrapi in exposing her dramatic childhood story becomes the narrator or voice-over of the film and although another actress plays her, I could still feel her voice in the film. She put herself out there and made sure that by taking full creative control like Orson Welles in Citizen Kane, she provided a powerful narrative and is even keen to hear criticism or as she puts it, “It would be boring without it”. Yet she made it clear in her other press conference that this is not “an inspection of reality but we’re trying to get as close as possible to the truth”. In having a narrator aspect of her film, it allowed the audience to get into the mind of the main character and the insights gathered is invaluable of knowing what goes through a child’s young mind in an oppressed state and universally in growing up lesson by lesson, advice by advice, role-model by role-model to a being that has achieved nirvana in that Marjane can have no qualms about being Iranian. Her presence is omnipotent throughout the film and is extremely important in understanding the many acts taken place throughout the film. Fidelity is not lost in that many films are based on real fiction in that what is seen in film is what is played out by the narrator and in this case the range of truth is negated in that the film is as close to the truth as we want to believe it. Satrapi in denying interviews with Iranian journalist in search for polemic discourse with her could mean that there is at least an ounce of truth in that the truth is often suppressed in an oppressed state. Satrapi in taking control of her narrative tries to bring as much of the truth on the table as she can. For more on her influence, the DVD extras showed how Satrapi vetted scenes by encouraging her voice actors to get the intonation and animation just right.

The events or acts taken place is that of the process of change through humor and accessible introduction of Persepolis, the place that she must have grown up in. The main kernels were how culture is practiced in two different places and satellites were mainly the people Marjane met in her life, including her French boyfriend and Iranian husband. I think the main characters or the family figures are major kernels in that Marjane introduced them in every act. She was able to do it in a natural manner and created a contrast through the use of 92 minutes of black and white for the past and 4 minutes of color for the future. Besides the metaphoric aspect of having her past examined in a way reminiscent of sharp dullness or black and white truth, it also can mean her future is colorful and that she has more joy to look forward to than her past. Then again Satrapi would argue differently and saw it as a technical choice that allowed for time coherence. The epiphany of the film takes place with Marjane singing the Eye of a Tiger and though comical was able to capture the essence of humor in the eye of oppression. That allowed for the universal enjoyment of humor which for me is the universal language. Universal appeal it sees comes from humor and humor even animated comes with the liberation of what is now a grown-up Marjane and in doing so contributes audience’s believability.

In temporal relations, the black and white aspect denotes a jump in the past without having to narrate or explain it. These flashbacks allowed a smooth transition without obtusely destroying the natural order of a story. The scenes right after the bombing had no narratives and was much slower yet in keeping with the correct human emotions, the emotions dictated the flow and speed of the story. This can be seen in the suicidal drug scenes where metaphoric dream-like sequences were slower to allow for the audience to think of the many rhetorical devices used and what they represent. The depression felt by Marjane was in keeping with the rhythm of sadness and in arriving to talk to God was in deep contrast with that of the previous childhood scene of complaining to God for taking her uncle away. This cluster portion showed almost immediately the difference with young Marjane and older Marjane. Yet the arch of the story is not yet complete until of course she meets Him the third time. The musical arrangement differs too and can be seen with teenage Marjane in the Supermarket and the Disney-like background music of the many choices that she had. Also the ‘childish’ animated effects of her turning into a monster were much less especially when Marjane grew up.

In causal relations, as discussed before, Marjane meets God in different contexts and that the purpose each time was that there was a certain sense of accountability that I believe Marjane was suppose to have. Yet the more I think of it, the more I saw her dream sequence with God as less of an effect than that with her Grandmother. Her deep respect for her grandmother brings back the old nostalgic eras of bygone values that creates a universal audience. Grandmother and her sage wisdom outweigh that of anyone else in the film. The ending with advice over flowers was from her grandmother and highlights the voice that she would never want to forget. This encourages the audience to think of the advice that one’s grandmother gave. The coherent factor is in the frequency and intensity that comes from the grandmother and the overall constant theme is to never forget where one is coming from. Her grandmother in offering that constant advice provides coherence to the story in that she provides the constant anchor that Marjane needed. Marjane has to be reminded time and time again before the story ends with her being proud of where she is from. Telling it to a taxi driver who might not want to take her anywhere because she was Muslim and could just drop her off just for being part of a different religion or value than he was.

Throughout the criticism, the audience has been written about and the research question certainly had them in mind. The universal theme of a coming of age story coupled with the subtleties of humor in an oppressed society blends nicely through the materiality of hand-drawn animation. Hand drawn is more real than computer animation which not only becomes dated, but adds to the imperfection of human beings. Thus Satrapi in keeping with this older art-form which requires excruciating tracing is perhaps making a statement that beauty can be extracted from the past and the lessons derived from this older kind of animation should be practiced and in putting every effort, one can be proud just like Marjane is proud of being Iranian. Despite what the world thinks of one’s country, I like Majane accept where we came from and would gladly tell you our long story.

Semiotic Criticism of the Batman Stamp

Apart from the bat signal, the sign behind Batman’s stamp is composed of two parts. The first part is the signifier which is the word ‘Batman’. Though the word itself is not significant for those that have not heard of the concept which is the signified; thus the people in Gotham City, where the iconic Batman is based, would revere this Super Hero but those in the Marvel Universe (Batman’s publisher DC Comic’s competitor) or tribes may have a different concept from what is considered among us, as the mortal Super Hero who dishes out justice emphatically. It should also be noted that apart from the small caption of ‘Batman’ that there is no textual references to what the image textually signifies.

The signifier also represent what can be touched and felt, therefore the matte sheet of stamps add the materialistic aspect. This in itself is significant as modern stamps (apart from electronic mail) are more hygienic and convenient. Just a couple years ago and the stamp would have been thought of as just that, lick and stick. Now blending effortlessly with sticker collecting, modern stamps become a hybrid of efficiency and image quality. While it can be argued that these modern day marvels have certain fakeness, let the records show that stamps in itself is a concept that postage is paid and it also shows where the letter attached to it comes from. Thus ‘USA 39’ printed at the top right of the Batman stamp signify that this stamp is printed, its value ‘39’ cents and that most importantly it can be used and is originated in the real world of the United States.

The concept of American comics now invading the trifecta of money-churning media now has the Postal Service to thank for mainstreaming the concept of Super Heroes. Maybe through hindsight but American culture has always been built upon modern day signs and the most evident in this is found no further in stamp collections. From ‘Elvis’ to ‘Disney’, a microcosm of America and its culture is found in these small graphical pictures, therefore the significance of the stamp is important. Thus to be part of a stamp is to have achieved mainstream societal consciousness or that society deems Batman significant enough to be part of American folklore and in essence culture. Although this artifact does not include the image acoustique, the artifact itself might be screaming that swift justice is coming to those acquainted with the original concept or in the other extremity, a terrorist with deep affection for bats.

Since a sign’s interpretation is primarily in relationships than Batman’s significance, as highlighted in previous posts, is that he is the only one mortal without ‘Super Powers’. In that sense, he represents what each of us as human beings can strive top become. Although masculine in nature, the same should and be encouraged to females as well, the ‘Bat’ philosophy is evident in his protégés, Batgirl and Robin. Despite suffering misfortune, Batgirl was shot, Robin was killed; they do not seek revenge against the evil that befell them but rather seek societal justice as a means of revenge.

This societal justice often means that the ‘Bat philosophy’ of excessive force or brutality when necessary or provoked, without dishing out death. Funny how then this is equivocally played out in Guantanamo Bay. Thus some may look at the stamp and know that Batman represents the best of what we think law enforcement should be. A wealthy, altruistic vigilante that seeks out master criminals that cannot be stopped by the police department; this of course would place Batman as another ‘Super Hero’ but more significantly that amongst the stamp collection, he is alone as the only mortal.

Among other signs, Batman becomes a beacon of hope and justice. But in relation to other signs, Batman can be thought of as just another ‘Judge Dreed’, another ‘Dick Tracey’ or perhaps the Marvel version of ‘Captain America’. Yet despite being grouped into this league of extraordinary gentleman, Batman is not any of them. In 1775, as with the constant relative nature of language, batman is in fact “an orderly of a British military officer” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Far from that century, Batman with a capital ‘B’ is now primed for worldwide exploitation. The history and connotations of the bat sign that is shown on the bat suit carries with it a certain sense of familiarity amongst most of America so much so that the conventional sign itself without the humanized Batman is sold as memorabilia, the term ‘Batman’ then as highlighted earlier is a philosophical ideal of justice being served.

Sticking to the primarily concept of the stamp itself and not the theme of the ‘Dark Knight’ that villains in a way define who Batman is, structural analysis has to be applied to the artifact. Paradigms in choosing this version of Batman, paradigmatic or substituting would mean that the other parallel versions of Batman did not make the final cut. Among these would include Batman of the future, the Justice League Batman and even the theatrical picture or static film capture of Batman as portrayed in the movies. All of the mentioned have structure in their stories or parallel universes. Yet the final chosen stamp version is derived from the original or vintage ‘graphic novel’ or comic book version; this form of Batman is significant as it helps society remember the beginning of the legend of Batman and how Bob Kane, his creator first envisioned Batman to be – The dark (Batman’s past), blue (Batman’s usual mood) knight (thankless hero not requiring praise) of the night (nocturnal Bruce Wayne who by day has to keep up his appearances without arousing suspicion).

As for the syntagmatic, apart from the Barthes’ garment system where Batman could have chosen to wear his underwear inside instead of out. By that same logic Batman actually wore a mask, gloves and boots and of course his famous utility belt, this is of course part of better than an unclothed Batman. The way in which he gets dressed though is not as significant as the snapshot of his motion. His ‘static’ motion carries with it the weight of Gotham behind his broad and capable shoulders. In choosing this frame of him and not others, would mean that Batman is exactly positioned the most optimal way that Batman should be seen—justice never rests in the shadows of violence.

Relative to how the stamp was drawn is in its setting, no body part is cut off from the picture abruptly, showing good composition. The placement of the eyes and bat symbol shown on his chest meant that the grid technique of placing the significant symbols at strategic points meant that the viewer would instantly acknowledge Batman and the use of shadows shading a part of Batman, not his eyes might unravel the true essence of a hero; in that in hiding part of his identity has to battle constantly between what he expects of himself as philanthropist businessman Bruce Wayne, what society expects of him as Bruce Wayne and what society expects of Batman.

Thus to have it all in one stamp is coding that Batman like America would attack when provoked (not kill unless necessary), wants to be a rich humanitarian that funds technological breakthroughs such as Wayne Enterprise, despite being born out of violence, wants to be the hero that no one else acknowledges and knows that the world expects from it to be the global ‘Super Hero’. The semiotic analysis helped set-up the meaning of the artifact firstly through analyzing the signifier and signified, structure was established through choosing the artifact’s paradigm of ‘vintage’ or ‘original’ Batman and finally in literally framing Batman as a stamp, the meaning derived from it is what stamps signify in society and that is Batman is now part of the American mainstream culture.

The Real Batman

After much research and revisting Neo-Aristotelian, I have decided to drench anyone who is interested by giving you the real Batman, an analysis of his true identity revealed...

Batman has never stopped being part of American and in every sense of the word, Batman epitomizes America. Starting as a comic book whose image the stamp shows; Batman has appeared in film and television. The United States Postal Service (USPS) in its consideration decided not only to give Batman prominence but to put him on the top right hand corner. A position that shows the amount of respect that should be afforded.

Batman is a part of ancient mythology adapted to the changing tastes of the American archetype. A symbol in modern day popular cultural, the legend of Batman shows highly adaptive traits. Being malleable enough to survive centuries of changing world values, though it can be argued that there were a few bumps along the way, Batman was still able to keep the unique style of American values.

One of the reasons that Batman is able to survive is that it is part of an American art form that is the comic book. Now being part of a stamp collection, it probably cements its place. An art form that can be adapted in many ways such as the sequential style shown in comic books is powerful. While the stamp does not show movement, you can still feel Batman coming towards you with a vengeance. Since the form adapted allows it to move, its visual impact, along with the expressions, connotes an active pursuit of justice.

The power of the image is often at times what cannot be seen. And Batman through his powerful back-story is positively endorsed by the USPS and is now part of mainstream America.

The symbolic bat started in the 1930s and it was a popular symbol connoting revenge. Kane, Batman’s creator, used the 1931 film, “The Bat Whispers” as his influence. The Mask of Zorro which led to how Batman acrobatically fights criminals. But again going back to the visual style of the stamp, its was probably that Kane was impacted with horror movies featuring dark and long shadows that covers or even shades half of Batman, maybe to show that his left half is Batman and the right half is the more respected Bruce Wayne. This duality consumes the mind of everyone that not only looks at the stamp but those that think of what it takes to be Batman.

The duality factor fascinates people, there is a certain association that some people can relate to, and how often does your public self clash with your personal self? None more so than Batman, by day he operates within the law, by night as shown in the stamp with his cape and mask, he acts as a vigilante or outside the law. Yet he receives help from those with authority, Commissioner Gordon and his butler, Alfred.

In essence, the question that can and should be argued is what more does Batman epitomizes? Surely with the style and ‘USA’ printed on the right hand side, it must be pointed out that Batman represents Western values. Western values usually linger round justice. But it is the unknown that of fear that darkness or the edge of revenge overcoming justice. Batman is on the edge and with the expression of his mouth, you get that he is not happy at what he is doing. Sometimes it might seem like a chore, part of the characteristic of a stamp is in making sure that the looker is able to gather almost every aspect of the character. And the attribute missing out is Batman’s cynicism. The movie may not have portrayed it yet but as an active viewer of television shows which derive from comic books, it is shown that he is cynical especially about the good of mankind.

If we were to take the stamp collection as a whole and truly analyze the word ‘Super Heroes’ at the top, then we would have a certain sense of pride that Batman, not immortal, not having super abilities is right there at the top right. Batman like a decorated Olympian is not only a symbol of the consummate super hero but of a hero that all of us can hope to be. This escapism is much more a better fit with reality. Considering the fact that what hides behind his mask is Bruce Wayne, the learned student who studied unarmed fighting techniques and mastered it. Batman’s detective ability came about as he studied chemistry, psychology and law. Thus, placing him as a stamp shows the ideal American work ethic.

Batman’s facial expression of what is left of the shadows, also to me shows an orphan needing love. This is where vengeance and the past come clashing in and if this stamp were to be sent somewhere the receiver, if he or she knows Batman would remember that Bruce Wayne like the receiver had a certain immunity about him. His parents fulfilled his every need and he had the love of both his parents being the single child. Like America, an act of violence shattered all that. The horror of having your parents shot and having a gun pointed at you was Batman’s epiphany. Now donning the cape and mask, the stamp clearly shows that Batman has left all sense of fear and is thought to be invulnerable. And instead of needing protection, Batman provides security.

Yet oddly enough revenge as shown on his face is never materialized, Batman shows the ‘right’ kind of justice to undertake. USPS chose the right image in that it shows pseudo-violence; one that is not acted upon but only when initiated by the other party; one that does not condone the use of guns. The tragedy of guns and through this particular hero who has suffered from a gun tragedy, Batman does not kill criminals, preferring to bring them to justice, preferring not to seek revenge to the one that killed his parents but to all criminals. Much like America and its ideal, this stamp symbolizes all that, we would only use weapons after we declare war and if you really force us to, then we would.

Gotham City and the dark blue background symbolize a city needing hope. The blueness connotes that the warmth of the city gives way to the dark and violent nature of its citizens. The blue contrasts that of Batman as he provides that contrast of the pursuit of justice and believing that the law and its enforcement would take care of his beloved city. Much like being the son, Batman protects his mother – Gotham City in the background.

Part of Batman’s masculinity is not having any woman that he can be married. Much like Katy Perry’s chastity, many super heroes in wanting to keep the hero pure, never marry. In that Batman’s marriage is to his city, to the citizens of Gotham. Also the fact that he uses his own resources to protect his ‘wife’ shows that he is not seeking power or fame. Rather he wants to restore Gotham back to the time where his parents could walk the street safely and that to gain the absence of violence is to ironically inflict violence.

Another aspect to consider is that Batman and other super heroes are for usually catered for teens and in particular, boys. These are the next generation that is not in power and by placing them on stamps. It shows that there is an effort to make stamps more tempted to remember the bygone era that which is superseded by electronic mail. This change is similar to the nostalgic era where comic books rule and was considered to be first class art. Now first class art is more often found in movie theatres and so to have Batman as a form of drawing is to revive the origin of how the legend that is Batman first begun.

A new era for Batman and comic heroes came with September 11, 2001 came and it must be acknowledged that just by looking at the stamp. Anyone not knowing Batman might see a terrorist. In a way, super heroes that of mythical origin, were supposed to have prevented this great tragedy but instead were left to mourn. There lied their power or their potency giving way to the reality of innocent lives lost and USPS in choosing this angst version of Batman was able to depict a staunch determination not to have terror revisited.

I was skeptical or perhaps naïve not to mention that all males would form a bond with stamps simply because I do not know too many females and the ones that I do including my cousin’s girlfriend, loves comic books and it would not take her too much buy these stamps. In other words, I do not like to take things for granted. I once collected stamps but I do not see it as a male activity. Thus just to have comic books and stamps gain an appeal enough to attract over 70 million to buy them. Unless there is evidence to prove otherwise, it is not enough to stereotype stamps as being a male thing.

Lastly, escapism is also evident in the artifact in that we do not see a real life Batman protecting us and there lies the true legacy of Batman. No matter how awful the situation, whether violence or other crime, in the end, Batman always triumphs. The hope that is offered to every fan or every receiver of this stamp is knowing that the marvels of being human is despite tribulations, there is an enduring quality that if one stayed true to the principals of the upright citizen, evil will never triumph. Or that we hope we have a guardian knight running like in the stamp, to save us.