AYSK #4

So this has gone from a "weekly" into a "whenever-I-have-time-and-want-to-avoid-work-and-or-feel-like-it." Hope that's alright with all of you... (all 4-5 of you.)

Without further ado...

AYSK #4:

YOUNG-HAE CHANG HEAVY INDUSTRIES

Mini-Bio: Your guess is as good as mine. (You'll see why I say this when you see the website/artwork). But Wikipedia says: Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries (장영혜중공업) is a Seoul-based Web art group consisting of Marc Voge (USA) and Young-Hae Chang (Korea).

What kind of art? Online, or Net, Art. Video (if you can call it that).

Examples of work: (And for AYSK #4, this will take some work on your part since all of their work is located at various websites, that operate off of their main one.)

My favorites that I've looked at so far are as follows:

Dakota

All Fall Down

Victoria's Fire (Lovely reference to the classic Doors song, for those that are into that)

So, So Soulful


Online/Net/Web art is a very new field--mostly because the interweb is so dang new. The work of Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries has gotten a lot of recognition for its simplistic methods (Macromedia Flash) and for its unique blend of word/language, sound, color, and timing. Their work has been exhibited in galleries and museums as well as on the Net--which I unfortunately have not witnessed firsthand. I hear it is an amazing experience that highlights their use of all the techniques/elements mentioned above. I have decided to share them and give them the AYSK title because I feel like Net Art is an overlooked or unknown medium that produces some truly interesting and stimulating (emotionally, visually, intellectually, etc.) work that is quite poignant in this age of technology.

Let me know if you discover any other Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries work on their website that you feel is of note or just plain fun. Sadly, I have not had the time to view them all and part of me is afraid I will develop epilepsy with too many viewings. So, with that, happy/safe viewing to you all and to all a goodnight!

The Pictures...Late, But as Promised

Below are the images I promised from my trip to the New-York Historical Society. Again, they are very poor quality, but thankfully I was able to make photocopies--which I have yet to scan. The first two images highlight the kiddie/kitty phenomenon I mentioned in my previous post. It doesn't really have anything to do with my paper's thesis, and I don't see how I could ever make sense of it, but it's funny and interesting nonetheless.

The two images below those are just some examples of the coffee companies advertising to the patriotism and "American-ness" of their consumers. By creating state trading cards, with imagery that is representational of the state it's depicting, coffee companies (especially Ariosa, of Arbuckle Bros. coffee--which is the company that made these trading cards) played off the American nationalism, but also the state pride of its customer.

And coffee companies never forgot to cater to those who related more to their religion than their nationality--which is demonstrated by the Hagadah, Passover Seder Service booklet, compliments of Maxwell House Coffee.

And finally, Maxwell House's "American Series," which perhaps demonstrates best the patriotic/American advertising strategy.

Hope you find these as fascinating as I do! I'll keep you posted on any more research discoveries or new theories (especially about the kiddies/kitties).



Coffee advertisement doubling as a mock newspaper and pretty picture of young girl with kitten?

Kitties--On the reverse side is an advertisement for coffee...obviously. When I think coffee, I think kittens.

In Florida, there are oranges, but there is also Arbuckle Bros. Ariosa brand coffee!

North Carolina--poor quality image, but another example of the state trading card.

Not necessarily in line with my theories on patriotism/Americanism, but still an interesting advertising tactic to reach a specific demographic. Not only did coffee companies want to give you free pretty pictures, they also wanted to sponsor your religious booklets! Go figure!

The slogan for Maxwell House's "American Series" campaign: "...and it's Maxwell House wherever you go."

Maxwell House is in Times Square!

Maxwell House is also in your small town, that waves its American flag and plants trees!

And don't forget! Maxwell House is with you during all seasons, even in more rural areas!

**Note: The last 2 images did not have the Maxwell House slogan "and it's Maxwell House wherever you go." However, the last two would be sent to customers who purchased Maxwell House as a sort of present for purchasing the "right" coffee and, since they were part of a series, there was an incentive to collect all the pretty pictures (by well-known artists)--thus, creating an incentive to purchase Maxwell House.

And who could live without their American songbook?! Compliments of Chase & Sanborn coffee (the coffee company that also created the spanking ad). One second you're promoting nationalistic pride, and the next--domestic violence. Or do they go hand in hand in America? I kid, I kid.


Well, that's all for tonight kiddies (or kitties, whichever you prefer)! Off to work on my presentation for tomorrow on the role of man and woman in Post-WWII society and how they were, in turn, depicted in popular culture and advertising. Goodnight!

Update on the Research

Tuesday I spent the afternoon at the New-York Historical Society. The hyphen is their addition--not mine. Weird huh?

Unfortunately, I did not uncover any more misogynistic coffee advertisements. I did, however, discover that coffee companies frequently link themselves to being "American" in order to relate to their consumers. I found many advertisements that included images of "American scenes" and images/copy that linked certain types of coffee to the different/all states and the American way of life. I think it's fascinating that when trying to market a product where there really are minute differences (I'm sorry, but doesn't all coffee taste the same? At least the kind you can buy at the grocery store...) the companies have to relate to their customers in another way--Can't advertise to their taste buds or palettes so why not their pride for their country? There was also a tendency to offer beautiful pictures and collectible cards as an incentive to purchase one type of coffee over another. Buy Maxwell House? Well on top of getting a pound of coffee---you get a lovely, frameable, collectible print by a famous painter! Everyone loves a little extra--especially when it's "free."

When I get back to Long Island (currently in NC) I will post pictures of these said advertisements. All of the images I took with a digital camera (without a flash...so looooow quality). They are part of the Landauer collection. Interesting tidbit about the Landauer collection: Every piece within it and there are THOUSANDS was all collected by one woman who just loved her ephemera. Talk about a pack rat! Her gain is my gain!

Let me know what you think about the images (when I post them) and/or my new research topic!

**NOTE: There was also an absurd amount of advertisements with images of kids and kittens. Like ABSURD amount. Any thoughts on why? Because I'm at a loss!

EXPECT PICS TOMORROW NIGHT!!!

So it's all personal lately...

Another personal note:

I am swamped with work. In order to combat my growing stress level and constant feeling of inactivity, I decided to make a mental map. It is amazing. I am in love. And it's beautiful, color-coded and somewhat visual/artistic (which is my reasoning for sharing it on this blog.) Enjoy looking at my life and feeling either sorry for me, likewise, or even more stressed than before. I was mostly going for sympathy.

Note: You can click and drag my mind-map around. Yep, keeps getting better.
Also, if you want to make your own map, visit the website! It's free and so easy to sign up and you can make numerous maps and save them! Happy mapping!

On a personal note...

CONGRATULATIONS KEVIN AND DANIELLE!!!

Dear friends of Mark and myself got engaged tonight November 1st (or 2nd--don't know the exact time of the proposal). They are wonderful people and an amazing couple and I could not be happier for them!

And...to keep this blog post "art-related" I have decided to include the trailer for a short film that Kevin wrote and directed and that Danielle produced. Not only are they a phenomenal romantic couple, but a tremendous professional duo as well! The film is amazing and they just had a screening with a packed house! Kevin and Danielle are talented, fun (and funny), genuine and caring and Mark and I are the luckiest people to have them as friends. Congrats again!