Blog 9.19.09

Saving Abel’s intent for the song “18 Days” was to honor the soldiers fighting overseas for our country. The title itself presents a symbol. Eighteen days is duration of time. Although it is not the correct time that soldiers are deployed for, it still represents time. This symbol can mean different things to each individual listener; however this representation can show present the idea of the time that wears down on soldiers and their loved ones.
In conjunction, the order of the visual components used in the formation of logos presents an adequate way to draw in the attention of their intended audience. It is necessary to present the visual components in a proper order as though to get the initial message or purpose established. There is a three step order in creating a successful visual composition, and thus a successful logo.
Saving Abel is able to keep from confusing the audience by their decision to limit the number of elements in their video. Their first step in this process is how they start the video with a basic background that focuses the audience’s attention to the vocalist. Although the band creates about seven different scenes, the colors are basic and simple for each brief glimpse. They still fit in with the rest of the simplistic visual stimuli. There is little, or no, overwhelming moments. The band’s idea for simple background color and scenes, not only in the introduction of the video, draw viewers to the important portions of the video. This first step also gets the audience to think about the purpose and message of the video.
The vocal point of each scene brings about a different point or feeling. With the video’s attraction to the people in each scene, the band is allowing for main focus and thought to be about each soldier. Without the focus on the solider it is hard to figure out the purpose and main idea of each scene and inevitably the whole video. It was important for them to start the focus in on the soldiers and vocalists, and later span out to a slightly more complex scene, so that it was easier to focus on what was important. For example when the chorus of the song is reached, the camera focuses in on the vocalist and the each member of the band. This can cause the lyrics to have more meaning. These are the lines that are repeated over and over in the song. They hold importance to the song this lets these lyrics to be focused on more thoroughly.
Each element of this video is placed together in an order that the artists felt would bring about the desired response. The transitions to each scene fit together due to the similarities of each soldiers need for their loved ones. Thus the argument of the pain and hardship those overseas must endure is established for the audience. Each element’s simplicity, order, and unification is a important part of establishing the argument.