Media Moment
So I shared an interesting media text today in class. Rick Genest is a model from Montreal who was discovered by Lady Gaga’s Creative Director less than a year ago. He’s spent over 17,ooo over the years to cover himself in tattoos. My reasons for sharing this commercial spot are rooted in one of the first things we discussed in media lit: Everything is a media text.
If decisions have been made to construct an image, a song, a film or a body covered in ink (!), then we can safely say that it’s a media text. Whatever it is has a message attached to it. It contains the producer’s values, beliefs, biases, etc.
So here are questions to you:
1) What do you think Rick’s living, breathing media text says about him? How do his choices in body art reflect his values, beliefs, etc? (You may have to do some research). Stated another way, what message(s) is Rick Genest communicating to the world via his tattoos?
2) Do you agree with the messages, values, beliefs that underlie Rick’s choices? How are your views similar? How do they differ from his?
3) How do you feel personally about tattoos? Do you think a person should be allowed or even encouraged to mark their bodies with permanent ink? Why or why not?
1. I think the message Rick is trying to express by his tattoos is that everyone is beautiful in their own way, no matter how ugly or beautiful they are on the outside. I think that’s his message because in terms of art, a piece of art can display the most horrid, cruel and ugly scenes or people, but the details put into the piece and its overall content is beautiful. I think Rick transferred the same concept to people. There is an image on his body (in other terms the canvas), that image is cruel, horrible, gruesome and it’s something nobody wants to see, therefore making him (the piece of art) ugly. Once you look past the appearance of the art, the actual image of the tattoo, and into the overall concept of the art, the overall art created from the tattoo, you’ll see that he’s not a decomposing corpse, but a beautiful piece of art. That applies to everyone, I think he’s trying to say:” your appearance may seem ugly to others, but your overall content is a piece of art. If you don’t understand what I mean, look at the painting on this website: http://mikemonaco.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/mad-meg.jpg . Look at what the picture is showing, is it horrible and scary? Look at the overall concept (colors, details etc.), is it beautiful or ugly?
2. I agree with Rick’s beliefs. I too, believe that everyone is the same no matter the appearance, size or shape. I try not to point out their differences if I ever meet someone who is special, and I’ll try not to stare (in fact they’re no major differences between humans, so I shouldn’t even use the word differences). I think for a lot of us when we see someone “different” than us, the first thing we do is our mouths drop open. We don’t want that to happen, but it just does because we’re used to seeing people the exact same (not exactly, but similar) as us, that’s the kind of world we’re living in today. To answer the question: I think Rick’s and my beliefs are really similar, but I wouldn’t go as far as tattooing my entire body to prove the point.
3. Personally, I dislike tattoos, the thought of having something permanent on my body that’s not suppose to be there creeps me out, but I wouldn’t ban tattoos, neither would I encourage tattoos. Because a lot of people like tattoos and taking tattoos away from one person would be like taking away a laptop to another person. I believe if a person really wants to get a tattoo, he/she should. Getting a tattoo is as bad as having a baby. Both are painful, legal and will probable stick with you for the rest of your life. I wouldn’t encourage tattoos either because in the social conscience world we’re living in; if I encourage tattoos then it’ll spread like wild fire. Soon people who don’t want tattoos are pressured into getting them and since tattoos are permanent those people are going to regret it for the rest of their lives. I basically believe that people should make their own choices. I have an opinion and so do they; I don’t want to do anything to disrupt that (usually).
1) The message he wants to show with his tattoos is that he is the same person that he was before he had his tattoos. He is telling people you shouldn’t judge him like the cover af a book or in this case, his appearence. Also there is a hazard sign on his chest and he is pretty much a living skelleton/zombie maybe he is saying he is dangerous. Maybe he did this on purpose to show that he is not dangerous and people shouldn’t prejudge someone/something by their appearence. Also his nick name is Zombie Boy so i think he wants to represent that there is something after death. He is telling the world anyone can have their own appearance, but this doesn’t mean they are what they look like. And also the message that I got from the commercial was that since Rick was tattooed and had a hazard sign on him people will think as him as scary and dangerous. The commercial is telling us it can change him from scary and dangerous to a normal person. It is telling us he isn’t wat he really looks like. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
2) I agree with the message judge a book by the cover. My values are similar because when you are in the streets and you see a person with a hoodie, lowriding, and pierced ear you want to stay away from him but the next day you find out he is a straight A student and is well behaved. This is an example of prejuding someone or judjing a person by his/her appearance. My values differ from his because in my oppinion if you make yourself look scary (which is what I think) people are actually going to see you as a threat so you should atleast try not to purposely make yourself scary. I understand he has done this because he wants to show people that appearance isn’t everything and also many other things. But you need to think about your effect on other people as well as your reputation.
3) Personnally I think tattoos are a waste of money but if someone has tattoos that is that person’s choice and I will not tell him/her what to do. I think there should be some age limits and rules for getting a tattoo. For example a police officer once spotted a person in a police car with tattoos. The man insisted he was a police and he had the badge but the police wouldn’t buy it. In the end the man really was a police officer and he was sent free. If tattoos were forbidden to police officers then this wouldn’t happen. The appearance gives an impression on many people. For example in fairy tales there are old women who ask hansome guys to love them and the guy says no. The old women usually turn out to be a beautiful young lady.
1. I think that the message is that no matter how you look on the outside, you’re still the exact same person inside and people shouldn’t judge you just based on your appearance. In this media text, this person, Rick Genest, has decided to have tattoos on his body. In the beginning of the video, Rick sat in front of the camera, took off his shirt and sat still. What he’s saying is ‘take a look at me now.’ Near the end, he has tattoos all over his body but people probably thought of him as dangerous, although he’s the EXACT same person in the beginning and end. What Rick Genest is trying to tell us, is that you can’t judge someone by their appearance because they could be the exact opposite of your beliefs.
2. I agree with Rick’s choice he has decided to take drastic measures to try and convince people to not pre-judge people. I think my views are simillar to Genest’s because he strongly believes that people shouldn’t be judged by their appearances. I think my views are also different because although he probably changed several people’s minds’ about pre-judging with his tattoos, I think he may have taken this bit far because many people do not approve of tattoos, so even though this has changed many minds, he could have just changed his clothes, hair or such. But I do see why he chose tattoos, because like tattoos, he wanted to make a permanent affect on people. so that they won’t pre-judge ever again.
3. I find tattoos expressive. Many people think it stands for danger, because people are injecting ink into their skin but, it makes you think about the time the person used to think up what tattoo they want. After all, it is permanent, therefore they must put a lot of thought into the image, or words. Some are words, some pictures, but all of them mean something more than just ink to the person.
1. The person (Rick) is covered with tattoos and seems to be hiding behind the various tattoos covering the entire body, It seems that he is trying to communicate a message to the outside world by showing all these various pictures on his body by way of tattoos. He could be insecure about himself thereby communicating through these tattoos.
By having various skeletons and images of a dead body, it shows that he is not a very positive person but rather pessimistic about life and the future. These images indicate that he is communicating a negative image without hope about life to the outside world. He also may not value his body much by allowing the needles to be used for tattooing purposes.
2. I am not aligned with the message that Rick is trying to communicate. Rather than be so negative about life like Rick, I believe that we have been a short life which we need to use positively in this world. This modern has various ways of communicating that we do not need the precious body we have to be used harmfully by way of tattoos. There are more effective forms of communication to be used. I would not let anyone use my body in this harmful way by covering with tattoos. I would also only wish to communicate positive messages with positive pictures in whatever way of communication I choose as this world has enough negative and sad events and I do not need to contribute my way in a negative manner.
3. The process of tattooing involves the use of needles and harmful equipment which penetrates into the skin and is permanent. Any short -terms idea to add tattoo can be regretted if one changes his or her mind later as it cannot be removed. The needle which penetrates the skin, if not cleaned in the proper way can lead to many contagious and deadly diseases which can be fatal. The proceeds of tattooing could also be harmful as the process is quite complicated and the tattooing machines can go deep into the skin to make it permanent. Due to the various negative reasons I do not like tattooing and would not recommend adding it to my body nor would I advise my friends to do it due to the adverse effects of it.
1. I think the message he is trying to tell people is that we all have our different perspective of beauty. Rick Genest challenges the definition of beauty. I believe that he values uniqueness and originality. That we are all our own person and we all have different ideas. Maybe he is trying to express himself through the tattoos on his body and show that he is creative.
2. I do agree with the messages, values and beliefs that underlie Ricks choices. He just has a different way of showing it then everyone else. I agree because we should all have someway of expressing ourselves. I think tattoos are is way of showing who he really is and we shouldn’t prejudge him if we don’t even know him. He may have grown up in a place were tattoos were incouraged and very popular. We don’t know the story so we shouldn’t make one up about him.
3. I personally don’t like tattoos especially since they are permenent. Over time people may change and they may not have been the same person they were 10 years ago when they got the tattoo. That tattoo stays on our body forever and it is extremly painful to remove. I think they should be allowed to get tattoos but not if they’re encouraged. If it is encouraged it’s not 100% the person’s choice and it should be especially if it’s going to be there for the rest of your life. In the end it should be the person’s choice because it’s thier body and their idea of beauty and originality.
1. I think Rick’s media text tells people about that just because it looks or seems scary or intimidating it doesn’t always reflect the person itself. I think that’s what Rick is trying to convey. When people look at Rick with his “Skeleton Tattoo” they would believe he is bad, dangerous and intimidating, maybe part of a gang. But really, I believe he’s trying to express to people that looks can be deceiving and a whole new person could be waiting inside.
2. I agree with the messages Rick is trying to get out there. I suspect most people would think a Skeleton Man with a Hazardous symbol would be bad and dangerous but really could be a nice and relaxed person. I think my views are different because I do not have any tattoos or marks on my body that I want to broadcast to the world or to say a message.
3. I think tattoos are not only a painful way to lose your money but a waste of time. Most people get their tattoos and are content with their purchase, but in time they realize the mistake they done and spend even more money and pain trying to remove it. In some cases there is still a faded tattoo or the tattoo doesn’t even come off. I would allow tattoos, but I’d really take the time to talk to the person about if they’d really want to get and to tell them that removing tattoos are more painful than getting one. I’d also tell them it costs way more to remove one. Overall I think tattoos are a waste of time and money since your only going to remove it later on.
1. I think Rick’s media text is trying to tell others that u don’t need to spend around $17,000 like rick did on tattoos instead u can use Derma Blend Pro leg and body tattoo primer and save a lot of money on tattoos. This way you can save money and spend it on your actual necessities.
Also I think that he is showing that even an ordinary person can be themselves at times and look how they want even if it means putting on tattoos to look like a skeleton. He is also suggesting that u don’t want to stay in that form forever that u want to be normal at times. So instead of putting permanent tattoos that cost a lot to get u could just use Derma Blend Pro that lasts for a long time but is washable and is not permanent.
Lastly i think that although this commercial is advertising Derma Blend Pro Rick is also trying to sending a media text to others telling them to not judge a book by its cover, a person by his appearance or food by its smell etc. He exploits his idea by showing people that even though he looks like a monster/beast that’s not how he really is and not how u should judge him but instead by his inner self his attitude, behavior etc.
2. I agree with Rick’s beliefs that Derma Blend Pro is a better way to spend your money and than actually putting on real tattoos. Also i agree that it is better because it is not permanent and doesn’t stay there forever so u can change your appearance another time. Even if you don’t like the way you look now you don’t need to stay the same you can always change your appearance. Also i do believe that u shouldn’t judge a book by its cover because even if it looks bad on its cover the book might turn out to be really interesting and worth reading and so it is very important to stay tuned and find out more about it before making a judgement.
Hey Chris, I know that you were absent from class during the initial presentation of the Derma blend commercial…that’s probably how/why you missed the point that Rick Genest IS covered in real tattoos. Derma blend is a cover-up product that conceals so well it can make Genest’s tats “disappear”.
1. I think he is trying to refer to the quote “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” In his own version of this quote, he is showing the quote by his appearance. Most people usually judge a person’s appearance, and make up false theories just by their appearance. After I saw the commercial, I was actually a little bit afraid of him by his appearance because he looked scary by his tattoos, just to be honest. He’s trying to convey to everyone that the look on the outside is far from the soul on the inside. He might seem scary from the outside with all the tattoos, but a very divergent person lies from the inside. Also, looks can be very cruel because of the way people determine the person’s personality just by their looks. This commercial was an amazing show of the quote “don’t judge a book by its cover.”
2. I agree with the messages because it conveys a famous, and crucial quote about judgement. My values are similar because this is a great way of telling the world that we shouldn’t judge people upon their looks. I actually think that he did this for a very good cause because the people who always judge people by their “cover” will know that inside of them could be a totally different person.( For e.g. When people watches a guy with their hoodies on, and wears baggy clothings, many people will follow the stereotype that he is probably a gangster, and doesn’t do well at school. But what if he’s actually a well educated student that just likes to be hidden, and likes to be dressed like that?). My values that are different from the messages are that the commercial could’ve had something different; something that doesn’t include tattoos. I think that the tattoos have a big effect on people because it looks terrifying, and somewhat disturbing. Also, the first time I saw the commercial, I was confused because I didn’t comprehend it.The commercial could’ve been put in another way that will have an even better effect on the audiences. (For e.g. It could’ve a better commercial about a guy that looks like a gangster, but in the inside he is totally different. )This would’ve been a clearer commercial than the other one because a lot people think that’s what a gangster looks like. But I still agree with the message, except I think the commercial could’ve been better.
3. Personally, I think that tattoos are just a waste of money, and it’s not only painful, but it increases a better chance of getting skin cancer. On the other hand, I don’t have the right to stop people from getting tattoos. I think that if they want tattoos then go ahead, but don’t start crying when you have skin cancer, and don’t regret it. We are in Canada, it’s a free country, so it’s better for us to give people the freedom to have tattoos than having them rebel on us for not giving them the freedom to have tattoos.
I think Rick is trying to say that he wanted to say he want ot be something special. I think the mark on his chest is a symbol of what his capable of doing for his age. I also think he wants his body tattoed is because he wants to take a advantage to people who watches his product for example if his going to do this tattooing thing than the buyer is going to be just like him. I think he wants some popular celebrates to but the product for example “Lady Gaga”.
2.I agree Rick is becoming more popular by selling his product and how his dangerous with his cool tattoo symbol on his chest because he has that sign which means toxic and that is similiar to dangerous. The reason he is becoming so popular is because someone on facebook created a facebook page about Rick Genest and it got over 1.5 million views and one of the celebretes designers copyed that design and created a song “Born This Way”. The way my thinking differs is that my prediction of the symbol on his chest was connected to the rest of his body which he is representing a skeleton.
3.I think getting a tattoo is a waste of money they just go on your skin and stays there forever. I also think if you got a tattoo it’s only useful for attracting some girls with the tattoo and the muscles. I think they shouldn’t mark there body with tattoo because some people could call you something bad or you could be embarressed. I think if you wanna get a permenent tattoo i think it’s only for your religion and i think thats why people get tattoos.
3. Personally i don’t really like tattoos i don’t think that they look that great no offense to the people out there that have tattoos. Also their not good for your health because you’re basically injecting ink into your body which will increase the percentage of getting diseases or illnesses such as cancer. I think people should not be encouraged to mark their bodies with permanent ink because of the health issues that it might cause. But I think that people should be allowed to mark their bodies with permanent ink because Canada is a free country therefore the citizens of Canada are allowed to make their own decisions and despite the fact that it is bad for your health.
1. I think Rick’s media text is trying to say that you shouldn’t judge people by looks. You shouldn’t prejudge someone and think that they are mean and bad, just because they have tattoos. For example, if someone wears a lot of black, we assume that they are Goth. Rick Genest is trying to tell people that just because he has tattoos all over his body, it doesn’t mean that he’s rude. He could have gotten tattoos because he was trying to beat a record, or he just finds them interesting. Rick is trying to give a message to the world not to prejudge.
2. Yes, I agree with the messages, values and beliefs that underlie Rick’s choices. My views are similar because it’s not good to prejudge, and you should always get to know the person before you form an opinion about them. For example, people assume that if someone wears glasses, then they are smart. But that is just a stereotype, because there are lots of people who wear glasses that are struggling in school. My views differ from his, because getting tattoos all over his body will change his life forever. Although I believe prejudging is bad, I do it sometimes. When people look at Rick, they will want to stay away from him, because of all the stereotypes.
3. Personally, I think a person should be allowed to get tattoos, because it’s his/her choice, and if he/she wants a tattoo, it’s up to them. It’s just like getting your ears pierced. It is painful, but some people like to get them, because it is fashionable. It’s the same thing with tattoos. Some people like having designs on their body. If the person knows how expensive and painful it will be, and they still want to get it, then they must really want one. So, they should be able to get a tattoo. I’m not saying I want one when I get older, but that is my opinion.
1. I believe that Rick is trying to communicate to the world that image does not determine the character of a person and by that i mean that even though he has all these skull and bones tattoos which in some cases would mean that he is a very dull person and someone that really hates life but in real life he could be a very happy down to earth guy. But really i just think he’s just promoting a new cream.
2. No i don’t believe in his choices to tattoo his whole body because that’s not right because one it’s bad for your health and two that’s not the best way to get your message out. If i were him what i would have done is to at least told or asked lady gaga to get the message out through one of her songs or something like that.
3. What i think about tattoos is that they are a bit to extra for what he has but little tattoos like a name or a images is completly fine with me because if i were to ever get a big tattoo that covers up my whole arm that would totally ruin my image but if a got a smallname or image would be fine.
1. In my opinion, i believe that Rick has been going through hard and depressing times in his life so he might’ve expressed his feelings by getting many tattoos. He may look cruel on the outside but actually, there is a chance that he can have a whole new world inside. I predict that this media is trying to convey us, the audience, to not judge someone or something by it’s appearance but look at what’s on the inside. If you haven’t got the chance to know the subject, why bother even judging it? Rick might be trying to tell us a message which is,”Be who you are; not what others want you to be.” Also, another great quote that describes this media very well is,”Don’t judge a book by it’s cover!”
2. ———-NOT DONE YET———–
3. Personally, i believe that there are no direct answers to this question because people have their own thoughts and rights. I don’t have the right to stop someone from getting one but I wouldn’t encourage anybody to get a tattoo either. That’s because what i’ve heard of, it’s painful and a waste of precious money. Later on if you start to regret having one, the problem grows even bigger because you’ll need to spend more money removing one than actually getting one. Also, having tattoos can lead you to a greater chance of getting skin cancer. That’s why I recommend those who don’t have a tattoo to stay the same because you are beautiful the way you are.
1) What do you think Rick’s living, breathing media text says about him? How do his choices in body art reflect his values, beliefs, etc? (You may have to do some research). Stated another way, what message(s) is Rick Genest communicating to the world via his tattoos?
I think that this media text about him say that even with or with out the tattoos he is the same in the inside. Witch he is trying to say “don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” Like just because he has tattoos all over his body it doesn’t mean he is bad. I think he is trying to say just because on the out side the person might look scary or anything else you don’t know because it’s the personality that matters.
2) Do you agree with the messages, values, beliefs that underlie Rick’s choices? How are your views similar? How do they differ from his?
I agree with this message because he is saying don’t judge someone just because of how they look on the outside, cause they might have a really good personality and looks nothing like what they are on the out side. My view are similar because he is trying to show when you look at someone appearance you always assume thing that might not be true at all, and i agree with that.
3) How do you feel personally about tattoos? Do you think a person should be allowed or even encouraged to mark their bodies with permanent ink? Why or why not?
I personally would allow tattoos because it’s there body’s so they can do whatever they want with it, but also because they must have a really good reason to have a permanent ink on them. But i wouldn’t encourage someone to have a tattoo because it’s not good for you and if you don’t want it after thy can’t take it off.