On the Legitimacy of Instagram

There is a certain stigma that has become associated with digital photography, following the sudden boom in iPhone photography. I thought this would be a perfectly appropriate thing to post, seeing as iPhone pictures are all I have been bringing to critique lately.

While not the most legitimate news source, I know, the Huffington Post Arts Section now includes a weekly feature, "Instagram Spotlight." The app, they believe, "turns amateurs into artists with the click of a button. Instagram reminds us that even those who aren't working artists have a vision worth sharing."

I know quite a few of you are divided on this issue. I am admittedly a member of Instagram, and find all of the filters and tilt-shift options fun to fool around with. However, I have recently given new life to my previously archived photos by sharing them in critique, which is strange considering that I am of the school that feels as though Instagram, while a great experimental tool, does not suddenly make someone an artist, especially one who merits universal, online recognition--I can't even get over 23 followers.

Read the article here: The Art of Instagram

It's Halftime in America

I wanted to share one of my favorite commercials of last night's Super Bowl, a Chrysler commercial called "It's Halftime in America." I have loved Chrysler's recent string of commercials despite the fact that I think they appeal more to the 'American spirit' and Detroit as a city being 'reborn' rather than Chrysler itself. This commercial has caused quite a political controversy, and you can read about it on almost any major news site. (Here is MSNBC's article and here is one from CBS).

Some highlights from the articles:

• "Your take on the ad? And do you think Coke’s polar bears pose a threat to our northern borders? And is GoDaddy.com not the paragons of feminism they may have been previously thought to be?" (the MSNBC article)
• "Saving the America Auto Industry: Something Eminem and Clint Eastwood can agree on." (White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer) (the CBS article)

This year's commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGMOhOYvcw4

Last year's Super Bowl commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKL254Y_jtc