Journaling Project No. 1 - Image & Intention: A Message Without A Code

Animal Crossing New Horizon


"Because in advertising the signification of the image is undoubtedly intentional; the signifieds of the advertising message are formed a priori by certain attributes of the product and these signifieds have to be transmitted as clearly as possible. If the image contains signs, we can be sure that in advertising these signs are full, formed with a view to the optimum reading: the advertising image is frank, or at least emphatic" (Barthes 33).

This image is the cover image that was used to promote Animal Crossing New Horizon when it came out. The title of the franchise is clearly noticeable in the picture - with brown outlining and yellow text. This use of contrasting colors allows for the text itself to not blend into the rest of the image given that bright colors are evident throughout it. While the franchise text can be recognized from a distance, the size does not take up the whole image; it doesn't even take up half. Most of the image is filled with villagers - both playable ones and NPCs - alongside the setting of the game and updated graphics. Given that aspects of the franchise is recognizable in the image, the particular game itself might not be as noticeable. In the corner of the Animal Crossing logo, there is a bright blue and white tag labeled "New Horizons", which is the title for this particular game. Even though the game title fades more into the background, this does not hinder the promotion of the game. Excluding trailers for the game, Animal Crossing fans would know to differentiate between the games given that past promotional images carry the same logo and a small design for the game titles. For instance, Animal Crossing New Leaf had a bright green leaf instead of the tag and the game title was a bright yellow; Animal Crossing  Wild World, Animal Crossing City Folk, and Animal Crossing Pocket Camp had the title under the logo with the game title printed on a small wooden board. 

"Today, at the level of mass communications, it appears that the linguistic message is indeed present in every image: as title, caption .... Which shows that ... we are still, and more than ever, a civilization of writing, "(Barthes 38).

The website attached above is the page for Animal Crossing New Horizon. It gives options to buy the game, buy the Animal Crossing switch, how to play, and more. They present all of this information ... and they communicate this in a way that mimics the game's communications. There are reviews from the villagers 

Updates on Final Project

For the final project, I am moving forward with the Animal Crossing installation. While I am still not attached to the idea, I will have this as a placeholder until I can plan out my alternative ideas or another idea comes to mind. So far, my updates include finding models of characters/items from the game, figuring out a time to gain makerspace access (I saw that they have open training on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays), and moving screenshots on the switch to my phone. Even though it doesn't seem like a lot updated so far, it will pick up soon. I know it :,)

As for what I would want to do for an alternative project, I am still not sure what I would do. I might be  leaning into the ASMR idea. The library has stuff to rent out, but I would need to make sure that it's the right equipment and it's accessible to rent out.

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