More than Just Magazines

It has come to my attention as I´ve been walking on the streets of Madrid that magazines sold here are so much more worth buying than those sold in America. Aside from the small language barrier that obviously gets in the way of thoroughly enjoying a magazine, purchasing magazines in Spain makes the consumer feel much better about splurging. Whereas in America where one can purchase a magazine that may be almost as expensive as six dollars, some specialized magazines even being up to twenty-five or thirty dollars, here in Spain, magazines c0me with additional gifts, fun packaging, or other magazines. These extra items may be another magazine or a gift ranging from perfume, shampoo, lipstick, a toy, etc. Usually the magazine will play off its main story or magazine´s theme to match their gift to the consumer with some sort of relativity. For instance, a newlyborn magazine for moms would include a baby toy or thermometer for the baby, whereas a fashion magazine will sample a designer´s new shampoo line or a type of lipstick. What makes the act of buying magazines more fun in Spain than in the U.S.A is that the consumer can see that the magazine is trying to give you something more than just the magazine; it wants you to go the extra mile and make you happy with the freebies included. It also creates a relationship with the consumer, developing a trust with the consumer in hopes for the consumer to come back and buy their brand again.
Considering the decline of media publication in the U.S. such as in the magazine industry and newspaper industry, it is a good idea for companies to find ways to promote their publication, such as the magazines here in Spain do. It is a great marketing technique and has definitely convinced me to buy magazines in Spanish that I won´t be able to comprehend fully. Rather than raise its costs and shorten magazine lengths and their quality like some of the U.S. magazines have done, media publications should figure out ways to work with other companies to do promotions and make their product more than just about its one issue of the month; they should make consumers feel much better about spending money for the magazine and feel like they got their money´s worth.

The Strike was not so Striking

The strike this past Wednesday was really uneventful. I admit, I expected something epic. I expected traffic jams, jammed-packed subways, over-crowded buses, and most of all, I expected school to closed down because all the teachers made it sound like the world was ending. On the contrary, it was another normal day going to school. Unfortunately for us students, we did not really get to experience something epic like it seemed like it could have been. I haven´t seen a real strike in the U.S.A and I hoped media would cover the strike greatly and not only cover the stories, but help spread the news for workers to go on strike. According to the Reuters website, ¨Zapatero cut civil servants' wages by 5 percent as part of an austerity package after investors drove up Spanish borrowing costs earlier this year over fears the country could be heading for a debt crisis that would trigger a Greek-style bailout.¨ For a wage cut as much as five percent, I would think that more of the Spanish population would have been outraged.

According to Reuters Website, “Trade unions said 10 million people, or more than half the workforce, walked off their jobs, but the government said less than 10 percent of public administration workers and 20 percent of Madrid transportation workers were on strike.” I did not think numbers were this high because I did not see any remote of trouble when I walked to the metro in the morning nor did I have a problem going home after school. But most of all I thought the strike was not a big deal and really did not prove a point to Americans such as myself. According to Western Europe analyst at ControlRisks, ¨The Spanish protest doesn't seem to be large enough to really change anyone's view, either in the market or amongst the Spanish people." I too felt as though the strike did not make much of an impact and was weak. Perhaps the next strike will make more of a difference.

Nudity and The Simpsons

While I was away at Ibiza this weekend, it came to my attention that once again, nudity and sex was not something that was hidden nor a subject matter that the media felt shy towards. Since I arrived at the Ibiza airport, there were posters and billboards that solely promoted the ¨discotecas¨around the area. These clubs had posters that looked risque, yet looked acceptable to promote in such a public area or in other words, they were posters I would see around in the U.S. However, once I arrived at the Ibiza hostel, I found fliers that promoted the different clubs with events that would never occur in America. For instance, a club that my friends and I were planning to go to had a stack of fliers and had a description of the events of the night at the club. While nowhere did it say before we bought the tickets for the club online that there would be porno stars at the club, the fliers informed us that there would be a porno filming taking place at the club. This boggled my mind as to how it was legal...or even how it was socially acceptable. That is when it hit me that Spain can essentially get away with anything sexual; there is no such thing as too sexual and too graphic for the public eye. As long as the public is okay with it, the media follows.
One show that I´ve seen here in Spain, once in Toledo and once in Ibiza is The Simpsons. I am not sure why this show is so popular here, however I´ve tried to see why it might be so appealing to Spain. The Simpsons in America is a blunt show in terms of its
dialouge and the events that occur. Since the Spanish people are very direct in their way of manner, I realized this aspect of the show might be appealing to them. What was also interesting was that according to my friend who is fluent in Spanish, the dialouge of the show in Spanish was a lot harsher and direct than it usually would be in America. It was as if they took the American version and changed the words to make the show even more vulgar.
I am trying to get more into the tv shows here in Spain as well as the magazines to find more interesting qualities that I can learn about however it´s been difficult to follow the media here because aside from the language barrier, I haven´t had any interest in reading the newspapers here. I will try to watch more tv and read more through the internet for more exposure to Spanish media.

The Beginning of GRA 345.1

It has definitely been a culture shock transitioning from the U.S. to Southern Spain, and finally to the long awaited destination, Madrid. Even from the first few classes in Visual Issues in the Media, I´ve learned how different the culture in Spain is in comparison to the United States. When I do look at the media here, I try my best at all times to distance myself from being American and having a biased view; through this I have seen both positives and negative aspects in the Spanish media.
The first thing I noticed about the media here in Spain is that it is liberal and opinionated; the media really has no restrictions to how one-sided an argument can be. The newspapers themselves are outwardly left-sided or right-sided, a few being neutral as well. While the newspapers outwardly choose a political stance, the journalists also are not hesitant to fully support or criticize an event, person, or political decision. This is really far from how the news works in the United States where news must be indifferent to sides in order to be valid and credible. U.S. journalists practice the form of writing that tells a story based strictly on facts.
The lack of censorship in Spanish media was also very surprising. I have seen many gossip magazine covers here with topless women on the front cover. Although these women may be on the beach, American media uses censorship even in gossip magazines to avoid vulgar pictures in the media and any sort of nudity. It may be because while America acknowledges sex and sexuality as a big part of our culture, it still feels the need to oppress it in its media. Spain on the other hand embraces sexuality and sex as part of the culture and really finds no need to deny its presence through its media. As of my first month here in Spain, these are the biggest things I have learned and I hope the longer I live here the more I will be able to open my eyes to even more things.

My Hallmark Comp

hasta luego baby

This semester has gone by too quickly – in the blink of an eye, a computer illiterate being like myself has managed to grasp the adobe programs...and learned to love graphics more than I can imagine. Just like everyone else, I was petrified going into this class. Given that it was a requirement for my then major public relations, I enrolled, expecting boring lectures and an inundated amount of tests and quizzes. Of course, graphics turned out to be one of the most pleasant surprises in my schedule this semester. It became my favorite class, despite the fact that I think I sold my soul to the Newhouse lab devil since. 

But expectations aside, I really am so genuinely happy to have taken the course. My world has been provoked once again, and I enjoy the minute details that typography and great design brings into my life. I feel I've been challenged as a observer through graphics 217...and trying to dissect a logo or design beats those awkward moments in Newhouse when you run into people you really don't want to see. Learning how to design resumes, logos, magazines and websites have also been a huge asset towards my path as a student. Graphics solidified my decision in changing my major to magazine, because I realized that I very much want to immerse myself in an industry that values aesthetics and detail. 

I only hope that other students who have taken graphics 217 can say the same about the course. Greg's genuine concern and interest in students and an otherwise honest (and very much critical eye) has changed how I look at magazines and logos. And in addition, it's great that our class had such a great TA like Chloe who was so extremely helpful and open to suggestion throughout the projects. I very much have a bittersweet feeling departing with this course – knowing that there will be no more manic 3 am moments in the newhouse lab trying to figure how to salvage a file will be blissful – but this class has been one of the most thought-provoking and interesting class I've taken in Newhouse so far. I've realized that all the hype with graphics was true; I fully embrace the nerdiness that I actually secretly love sitting in front of a computer, trying to perfect a design. 

C'est la vie.

Wrap Up Post

I didn't think I would be cut out for a graphics course. I never tried anything creative outside of writing, and I had only basic, minor experience with InDesign. But, this class has been beneficial in many ways that I didn't expect. I now have a strong grasp of previously daunting programs (and can show off to all my "artsy" friends back home who think they know everything). Typography is now a big deal to me. Alicia and I even had a serious discussion about how Rolling Stone got the Madonna layout all wrong. You know a course was important and worthwhile when it changes your perspective outside of the classroom. I don't look at logos, type choices, magazines, etc., the same way I did when I was apprehensive about enrolling in the class. All of the hard work and extra time in the labs were frustrating at times, but now, as I think about it, I'm extremely glad this course immerses you within the topic. Our final products were of course important, but the process of learning what works, what doesn't and how to put it all together will stay with me as I move on to other courses and projects. Learning how to design is like riding a bike...I'll withhold the rest of the metaphor.