Analysis of Web Page

The website being analysed is http://www.tdwpband.com/ which is the main website for Ohio metalcore band, The Devil Wears Prada. The band first formed in 2005 and in four short years have produced four albums.

The first thing noticed when entering this website is the large photo of the members of the band which is centred and fills the top of the page. According to Wysoki we should note “how easy it is to focus exclusively on the photograph when you analyse a text” (Wysoki, 2004, page 133) which is evident of this website for we are drawn to the photo of the band almost immediately. This is important and strategic for the website of where the photo is positioned because fans who visit the site will automatically see the people who create the music they enjoy.

On this page we are also drawn to the background behind the photo of the band members. In the case of this site it is a drawing of warped tree branches spreading across the page. For people who do not know the band, this may seem insignificant however for fans they will recognise this background as being the cover drawing of the band’s new recently released album, ‘With Roots above and Branches Below’. Having the drawing behind the photo of the members associates the drawing with them and reminds fans of their new album which can be perceived as a clever advertising tool. The colour is also very dark with mixes of black, grey, yellow and dark blue.

At the bottom of right corner of the photo we have text. This is simply ‘The Devil Wears Prada,’ the band’s name. According to Wysoki in regards to typefaces and shape of texts, “Letters have shape because of their typefaces. Because type faces are a major visual strategy for a text’s composers to signal the genre into which the text is to fit” (Wysoki, 2004, page 127.) This is noticeable in the shape of the words used for the band’s name. The lettering is extremely bold and very gothic and post modern which relates to the genre of music (fast and heavy) which the band play. This is interesting for it is a similar style of lettering used by other metalcore bands for example Bring Me The Horizon and who use a similar typeface and style for their name as evident at www.myspace.com/bmth Also noticeable is the colour of the words which is a much lighter white/grey which forces it to stand out from the prominently dark background.

Next to the band’s name we have a navigation section. It allows access to pages which you would commonly find on a band’s website such as links to news, tour information, blogs, forums, discography (albums etc) and store for band merchandise. These words are organised in a separate white square, again standing out from the dark background to draw attention. The lettering is smaller in order to fit more information in. According to Wysoki, “Fig. 6.3 uses have used solid colour shapes not only to differentiate what is clickable” (Wysoki, 2004, page 131.) This website does not do this however at the bottom of the selection it has the word ‘navigate’ which indicates to the user that these ‘words’ are clickable.

Directly underneath the photo we have a large, square and black box for a video link which when you click automatically starts playing. The video is a clip of the band on tour at the ‘Warped Festival.’ The video shows snippets of the band playing live on stage, short interviews and one of the members giving fans a tour of the band’s tour bus. It shows an intimacy and the development of a relationship with fans of the band taking fans into their world and lives which fans would enjoy and ultimately be interested in. Another interesting aspect of the video is the sound. Though this is not a visual aspect, it is important to mention that the music behind the video is the band’s snippets of various songs of the band’s music to successfully associate the video with them.

Next to the video we have a log in/register page. It is oppotunity for fans to log in (if they are a member) and access latest videos, pictures, competitons and pre sales of tickets. Personally I am a member, which is how I quickly found out that The Devil Wears Prada is coming to Auckland in Febrary 201o and I have the oppotunity to order tickets straight away. As in my case other fans who are members can order tickets as well before shows in their cities sell out.



Finally at the the bottom of the page we have a split screen showing on the right 'lastest news' and on the left 'up and coming shows.' These can be seen as two of the most important aspects of the home page. The 'lastest news' section gives fans an update on what is going on with the band even if they are not registed memebers. The 'up and coming shows' section is self explanptary in letting fans know when the band will be coming to their town and the oppotunity to see them live.

References: Wysoki, A.F. (2004). The Multiple Media of Texts: How onscreen and paper texts incorporate words, images and other media. In C. Bazerman and P. Prior, (Eds.) What writing does and how it does: An introduction to analyzing texts and textual practises, pp. 123-163, Mahwah, NJ, Lawrence Erlbaum.

Stem Cell Research. Whats the fuss?

Does it ever seem that there are just too many problems in the world? War, famine, global warming, crime, recession; God the list goes on. Did my parents have to deal with these problems? My grandparents? Did they even have to think about it? And with every major issue facing us today, there is always a controversy and the issue of stem cell research is no different.

The funny thing is most people I talk to have an opinion either way on stem cell research but not even half of them realize what it is and why there is a controversy. I personally of course have deduced my own opinion on the matter but maybe we should step back a bit first and answer the probing question. What is stem cell research?

In 1981 the first stem cells were isolated and extracted from the tissue of mice embryos and the first extraction of stem cells from human embryos came about in 1998. It is the belief of scientists that these stem cells can lead to the cure of such diseases as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and muscular dystrophy. It is believed they can even help with heart disease, stroke and spinal cord injuries.

So why are stem cells so important? Why not just use another ordinary cell? Because of their effectiveness. Take skin cells for instance. Normal skin cells on the outer of the skin, when they die and that’s the way they remain, however the skin cells under the many layers of skin do not. These are stem cells, they are able to repair and regenerate themselves. Stem cells of the bone marrow have said to have the potential to produce cells of the blood. There are two different sources stem cells where the cells can be extracted, firstly from adult tissue and secondly from embryos. Embryonic stem cell research is seen as the preferred option because they can be used to manipulate and regenerate more cells then that of adult stem cells.

However this brings controversy and oh what controversy, especially in the United States of America. For many years now and only until recently, federal funding of stem cell research has been banned in the United States, particularly under the Bush Administration. His reasoning? Well according to a 2008 article on newsbatch.com he vetoed legislation due to his religious beliefs, well, no surprises there. But why ban it? Why stop funding for something that could potentially save live? Basically it comes down to the age old argument of religion.

Although it is legal to privately fund stem cell research in America, federally funding was banned under the Bush Administration. Opposes of stem cell research have included the like of Pope John Paul II and many other leaders of the Christian faith. Its not adult stem cell research that is the problem. To extract adult stem cell form human tissue is relatively quick and painless to the individual, it is that of embryonic stem cells that has caused the problem. Opposes believe that the embryos are human life and due to the fact the embryos have to be destroyed in order to extract stem cells, this is murder. However scientists say that the embryos used are only three to five days old and are not considered human life, a statement I tend to agree with. The embryos consist only of a few dozen cells.

Very recently current President Barack Obama did what many people have been waiting for, for years. In Kansas City, Missouri Obama signed legislation reversing Bush’s decision to ban federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. This call delighted many including myself. But its not just scientists who are pleased. Jeff McCaffrey was paralyzed in a car accident seven years ago due to injuring his spinal cord. Adult stem cell research has failed to find a cure and he hopes embryonic stem cell research will one day help him walk again.

But still there is opposition. Opposition from pro life and religious groups. I’m sorry but how many major conflicts have resulted because of religion whether it be Islamist extremists or Christian extremists. This research could help saved lives! It really annoys t me that we have the opportunity to cure incurable diseases but there are ridiculous people out there trying to oppose it. I’m not saying God isn’t real, I don’t have that answer but it sounds more plausible that we pursue something that is very real to us all. Not only can this research help save lives but we can use it to prevent such diseases so it does not cause suffering to our children and their children.