Tag Archives: review

Assignment Peer Review #3: perfecthurricane.com

For this peer review, I explored Riella’s webpage “Perfect Hurricane” (PERFECT HURRICANE – a personal blog about stuff and things). From a user’s perspective, I see how she organized the site’s categories from the top menu bar, and how I’m introduced to loud bright colours. This factor helps users easily navigate their way around the page. I also like the animation effects incorporated into the page as they caught my attention instantly and gives the impression of an interactive site. I find sites with visual effects entertaining and make me want to explore more and play around with them. In terms of a reader’s perspective, visually the text is legible and the website contains visual graphics and pictures to help communicate an idea of what “Perfect Hurricane” is all about.

Scrolling further, I found the carousel concept of gallery photos fitting to her site. It shows a quick intro glimpse of events and a story. After viewing the gallery, I wanted to know more in-depth about the site. So the next page I visited was the “Bio” section. It displayed an easy quick read about the author, although I do recommend maybe giving a small background behind the website name “Perfect Hurricane.” On this page, I like how she kept a consistent theme with bright colours and animations. I also found it helpful that a contact domain was added to encourage involvement and community with social media.

In terms of social media, this week’s readings focused on AI and marketing tools. For a successful site, it depends on how the author decides to display their platform and reach their target audience. In this week’s readings, we learned that Data.ai. Is a useful marketing tool that helps analyze and report the marketing performances of various apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc. It also discussed how this generation is known as Gen Z, and it is heavily influenced by technology and social networks (Data.ai., 2022). It is a factor to learn and apply to our sites to move towards success in marketability. As mentioned in Data.ai, topics and trends relevant to Gen Z drive engagement through connections and social platforms (Data.ai., 2022). Taking this into account, I see how “Perfect Hurricane” is more of a personal brand, and to engage both personal life and engagement to gain an audience, adding factors of trending memes or songs can add to viewer activity. For example, at the bottom of the home page, I see how there’s a song displayed. I suggest adding a small description or hashtags to reach other users who listen to the same song or artist. This is a way to grow the community through the author’s interests. Also using these social media tactics like hashtags, links, and trending titles will easily capture Gen Z’s attention but also make use of marketing tools and strategies.

This week we also touched on SEO. According to Hollingsworth, SEO is the most viable and cost-effective to understand and reach an audience. It also introduces the main search engine competitors like Google, Yahoo, and Bing (Hollingsworth, S. 2021). Keeping this in mind, adding relevant features to the site like trends, topics, and facts can increase the audience by keeping these search suggestions in mind. Usually, search suggestions are common topics or prompts that users look up, therefore incorporating topics to reach an audience based on the themes/topics of your site would be a useful tip to consider to grow engagement and further reach an audience to grow a solid community.

Lastly, visually I see that there isn’t much content going on. I suggest uploading more content relevant to your theme that can also be relatable to an audience you’re trying to reach. This will grow activity onto the page, and leave the impression of being “incomplete.”

Earlier like I said, the way how this site is well laid out with colours and grid components. It looks fun and interesting and the animation makes users feel engaged. These are good site attributes to continue and improve on.

– Eliza (aka Peanut)

References:

Hollingsworth, S. (2021, August 9). 15 reasons why your business absolutely needs SEO. Search
Engine Journal. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.searchenginejournal.com/why-seo-is-important-for-business/248101/#close

Panipekeesick, R. (n.d.). Perfect hurricane. PERFECT HURRICANE. Retrieved March 27,
2023, from http://perfecthurricane.com/

Posiel.com. Data.ai. (2022). Retrieved March 27, 2023, from
https://posiel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/dataai__state_of_mobile_2022__en.pdf

A Biased Review of The Eras Tour Set List

Last Friday (March 17, 2023), Taylor Swift kicked off the US leg of The Eras Tour with a bang. The show was highly commended by fans all around the world tuning in through social media, and also in major press reviews, such as Rolling Stone and The New York Times. The 3-hour show, split up into Swift’s 10 album eras from the past 17 years, clearly demonstrates her unmatched excellence in stage performance, and her love and dedication to her fans. Each era consisted of fan-favourite songs, stunning visuals and costumes, and jaw-dropping choreography. The concert attendees have said nothing but positive reviews on their experiences, which included watching the openers (Paramore and GAYLE), buying merch, and screaming along to their favourite current and nostalgic songs.

While I personally have little to no critiques to give on the show overall, and seeing the Glendale, AZ shows have only made me more impatient for the Seattle shows I’m attending, there are of course (probably controversial) changes I would make to the set list based purely on my own personal preferences. In a hypothetical world where she could realistically sing and dance for 8 hours straight, there are so many songs I would add to the set. Let’s get into some of them, era by era.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift sitting at a piano in a fuchsia dress on a stage with a packed crowd in the background.

Songs performed:

  • NONE 🙁

Songs I wish she would perform:

  • Our Song
  • Teardrops On My Guitar
  • Should’ve Said No

Fearless

Taylor Swift dancing in a tasseled gold dress holding a microphone her mouth, on a stage with a mega-screen behind her.

Songs performed:

  • Fearless
  • You Belong With Me
  • Love Story

Songs I wish she would perform:

  • The Way I Loved You
  • The Other Side Of The Door

Speak Now

Taylor Swift standing on stage in a large sparkly pink ball gown, holding a microphone in her hand.

Songs performed:

  • Enchanted

Songs I wish she would perform:

  • Mine
  • Back To December
  • Dear John
  • Mean
  • The Story Of Us
  • Better Than Revenge
  • Haunted
  • Long Live

Red

Taylor Swift dancing on stage in a Red-era themed outfit with a microphone held up to her mouth, and background dancers dressed in monochrome red outfits behind her.

Songs performed:

  • 22
  • We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
  • I Knew You Were Trouble
  • All Too Well (10 Minute Version)

Songs I wish she would perform:

  • Red
  • Holy Ground
  • Begin Again
  • Come Back…Be Here

1989

Taylor Swift dancing on stage in a 1989-era themed outfit with a microphone held up to her mouth, and background dancers in matching outfits pose behind her.

Songs performed:

  • Style
  • Blank Space
  • Shake It Off
  • Wildest Dreams
  • Bad Blood

Songs I wish she would perform:

  • Out Of The Woods
  • I Know Places
  • This Love
  • Clean
  • You Are In Love
  • New Romantics

Reputation

Taylor Swift singing on stage in an asymmetrical body suit with snake decals, with red lights in the background.

Songs performed:

  • …Ready For It?
  • Delicate
  • Don’t Blame Me
  • Look What You Made Me Do

Songs I wish she would perform:

  • I Did Something Bad
  • Getaway Car
  • King Of My Heart
  • Dancing With Our Hands Tied
  • Dress

Lover

Taylor Swift smiling on stage in a rhinestoned bodysuit, holding a microphone.

Songs performed:

  • Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince
  • Cruel Summer
  • The Man
  • You Need To Calm Down
  • Lover
  • The Archer

Songs I wish she would perform:

  • Paper Rings
  • False God
  • Afterglow
  • Daylight

folklore

Taylor Swift standing in a house-like structure made of wooden planks and covered in moss on a stage, in a purple flowy dress singing into a microphone. The set is dimly lit with warm, dark colours.

Songs performed:

  • invisible string
  • betty
  • the last great american dynasty
  • august
  • illicit affairs
  • my tears ricochet
  • cardigan

Songs I wish she would perform:

  • seven
  • mirrorball
  • this is me trying

evermore

Taylor Swift on stage smiling while playing a piano covered in moss.

Songs performed:

  • tis the damn season
  • willow
  • marjorie
  • champagne problems
  • tolerate it

Songs I wish she would perform:

  • gold rush
  • ivy
  • cowboy like me
  • right where you left me

Midnights

Taylor Swift performing on stage, holding a microphone with one foot up on a chair and wearing a sparkly blue/black bodysuit with dancers behind her in the same pose.

Songs performed:

  • Lavender Haze
  • Anti-Hero
  • Midnight Rain
  • Vigilante Shit
  • Bejeweled
  • Mastermind
  • Karma

Songs I wish she would perform:

  • Question…?
  • The Great War
  • Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve

References:

Aramesh, W. D. (2023, March 18). Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour is a 3-hour career-spanning victory lap. Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/taylor-swift-the-eras-tour-glendale-review-1234699496/

Caramanica, J. (2023, March 18). Taylor Swift, pop’s maestro of memory, returns to the stage. The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/18/arts/music/taylor-swift-eras-tour-review.html

Photos:

Aramesh, W. D. (2023, March 18). Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour is a 3-hour career-spanning victory lap. Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/taylor-swift-the-eras-tour-glendale-review-1234699496/

Breaking down Taylor Swift’s ‘eras’ tour wardrobe – fashionista. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://fashionista.com/2023/03/taylor-swift-the-eras-tour-outfits-costumes

Courtneypochinmirror. (2023, March 18). Taylor Swift’s full setlist for the eras tour – and it’s bound to divide fans. mirror. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/us-celebrity-news/taylor-swifts-setlist-eras-tour-29459246

Iasimone, A. (2023, March 20). All the surprise songs Taylor Swift has performed on the eras tour (so far). Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/this-is-me-trying/

Lutkin, A. (2023, March 22). All about Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour setlist and Outfit changes. ELLE. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a43355124/taylor-swift-eras-tour-setlist-outfits/

Rudner, D. (2023, March 19). Photos: Taylor Swift Kicks Off ‘eras tour’ in Fine Fashion. News. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.expressnews.com/entertainment/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-17848411.php

Staff, A. O. L. (2023, March 20). Here are all the outfits Taylor Swift has worn on her eras tour (so far). Click here to refresh. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/outfits-taylor-swift-worn-her-221600475.html

The end of a chapter but the beginning of a book

The end of a chapter but the beginning of a book

For as long as I can remember, my camera has always been my side-kick.  Something about being able to capture a moment, an emotion, or a light in turn captured me.  From the beginning of the semester I knew I wanted to create an online space for my photography. In reality, it was the reason I enrolled in PUB 101; while I didn’t lack initiative, I lacked the knowledge and tools to create and curate a platform for my photography.  Finding a domain name and aesthetic was the first challenge.  It was important to have a very visual, professional, and clean blog – a space where images could stand out. Eventually, after much thought, I settled on One More Klick.

One More Klick features a blend of photography, travel, and the outdoors. “Klick” is another word for kilometre, which was very fitting with both the outdoor and travel aspects of tis blog, marking the distance traveled, in addition to klick also being the phonetic sounds of a camera’s shutter.  Since traveling, photography, and the outdoors are a passion of mine, I aspire to always challenge myself by going further, reaching higher, and persevering through the fear of the unknown.  For these reasons, there will always be one more klick – whether it be one more photograph, or one more kilometre.

With the help of photographs taken during various travels and adventures, my blog aims to share the stories behind photos, and provide context.  While some posts feature more personal stories, they still hold some informative content – whether it be in the form of tips and tricks, political context, or specific photography settings to achieve a photograph.

Currently, the majority of the audience reading One More Klick consists of direct family and friends, with some page views coming from countries outside of North America. Some of the perks of traveling abroad include creating friendships and connections across the globe.  Maintaining these friendships are even easier in light of the digital age.  According to the 2018 Digital Media Report, there are over 4 billion active internet users across the globe, and there has been a 13% increase in active social media users since January 2017.  The internet allows for greater connectivity, breaking the barriers of time and space.  In just the touch of a finger, users can connect with anyone, anywhere.  This immediacy has allowed me to connect with people from around the globe in little to no time.  For example, I reached out to Hasham to ask for his permission to post his photograph for the Friends in Foreign Places blog post.  Despite residing in Qatar at the time, within a few hours I received a response and we were connected once again.

This is especially useful for this blog, as I hope to expand the audience internationally.  Already, this blog has most of its’ international traffic coming from the United States, with other countries including France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Croatia, Ireland, and Luxembourg to name a few.  

It’s possible that some of the page views from the countries above are just bots, which are basically software that run automated tasks over the internet.  This would become more apparent when cross referencing with the amount of time spent on the page and the bounce rate.  Because I don’t know of anyone personally in Kenya, Sri Lanka, or Russia, I would assume that they aren’t actually real people reading my blog.  If you’re reading this and you are currently in Kenya, Sri Lanka, or Russia, let me know!

With the goal of eventually creating a stronger following and international audience, having a strong social media presence would be a huge asset.  Currently, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram hold the podium for most popular social networking sites:

2018 Digital Media Report, page 68

“Let’s face it: we have entered an era of media convergence that makes the flow of content across multiple media channels almost inevitable.”

Henry Jenkins, 2003

In his article Transmedia Storytelling, Jenkins (2003) highlights the importance of using a multitude of different social media platforms as opposed to restricting your content to just one.  The advantage here is not only more exposure, but also meeting your audience where they are.  With this is mind, I have created a Facebook page to share my blog posts.  Having a separate page for One More Klick that is independent from my personal page means traffic won’t be restricted by my own personal privacy settings.  Eventually, I will create an Instagram page which will feature different photographs linking them to their blog posts.  If it weren’t for social media, very few people would know about my blog and even fewer would be reading it. 

With blog posts being shared on social media, it was increasingly important for my blog to be responsive and mobile friendly. In Design Machines: How to survive in the digital Apocalypse, Travis Gertz (2015) criticizes the homogeneity of basic website designs. While I was trying to create a unique and customized aesthetic for my website, I ran into some serious challenged. While the desktop version worked perfectly, the layout didn’t translate well for mobile devices. As the majority of internet users access websites on their mobile devices, it was extremely important for my website to be responsive and mobile-friendly.

Social media allowed for networking and collaborations with other artists.  My first essay 21st Century Nudes covered the topic of censorship of artistic nudity on social media platforms. This essay was inspired by Vince Hemingson, a photographer, filmmaker, and bestselling author based out of Vancouver, who’s beautiful photographs routinely encounter censorship.  In wanting to share my essay on social media, I reached out to Vince for permission to tag him.  Not only did he agree and share my article with his network, he commended my work and asked for my feedback and comments on his Artist’s Statement for his Nude in the Landscape series.

Already, creating this blog has allowed me to build concrete skills by learning how to use WordPress and Google Analytics, along with broadening my artistic and professional network. This blog acts as a live document, changing and improving as I continue to learn and create. I plan on continuing this blog alongside my adventures, and hope that one day it might flourish into something larger.



References

Gertz, T. (2015). Design Machines. How to survive in the digital Apocalypse. July 2015. Retrieved from https://louderthanten.com/articles/story/design-machines

Hemingson, V. n.d. Artist’s Statement: The Nude in the Landscape. n.d. Retrieved from http://hemingsonphotography.com/fine-art/nude-in-the-landscape/

Jenkins, H. (2003). Transmedia Storytelling. January 15 2003. Retrieved from https://www.technologyreview.com/s/401760/transmedia-storytelling/

Kemp, S. (2018). We are social – Digital report 2018. Retrieved from https://digitalreport.wearesocial.com/