ShowBusinessMan [Search results for education

  • Lowe Campbell Ewald's "I Can Soar" Created Ad for the Education Achievement Authority

    Lowe Campbell Ewald's "I Can Soar" Created Ad for the Education Achievement Authority

    New ad campaign created by Lowe Campbell Ewald for the Education Achievement Authority (EAA), a new statewide school system designed to dramatically redesign public education in Michigan's lowest performing schools.

    “I Can Soar,” the campaign – consisting of TV, radio + print – aims to recruit and retain students with the notion that the EAA gives its students wings to succeed. The TV spots are of particular interest, as they commissioned well-known Detroit street artists to draw graffiti “wings” on real EAA students, which was produced into a two: 30 stop motion films.

    EAA schools are creative, innovative learning environments that provide students a quality education. They offer struggling students the opportunity to catch up to their peers around the state and receive the education they need to succeed in college or a career after high school. The system opened in September 2012 with 15 of Detroit’s lowest-achieving schools. The objective of this new campaign is to retain the students that are already enrolled, while attracting others to join EAA’s student-centered approach to learning.

    Credits:
    Agency: Lowe Campbell Ewald

    Creative
    Mark Simon
    Eric Olis
    Steve Platto
    Tom Cerroni
    Joe Godard
    Account
    Kathleen Donald
    Alex Harding
    Davina Hamilton
    Jennifer Monaghan
    Production
    Kim Warmack
    Tatiana Luneva-Evenchik
    Martha Carter
    Victoria Marzec
    Brenda Gorman
    Media
    Katie Pizzimenti
    Kendra Mazey
    Solutions Planning:
    Melissa Shubert
    Kayla Thompson

  • Ontario Kids Stick It To Fast Food Urge Us All To Join In Boycott

    Ontario Kids Stick It To Fast Food Urge Us All To Join In Boycott

    Ontario students launch "Stick It To Fast Food" campaign and urge everyone to join the fast food boycott.

    See all the posters, logos and banners from the Stick It Shout page.
    I'll give these kids credit for having the courage and the smarts to start this campaign, but it's going to be challenging...as I was reading more about the Stick It campaign and found myself reading the article Helen Branswell of The Canadian Press News wrote on the CTV News website, I couldn't help but laugh at the advertisement that displayed, image below.

    Here is the Who, What, Why and How the Stick It To Fast Food Campaign came to be (from their website)
    WHO
    A collaborative effort by high school students across Ontario, the Ontario Student Trustee Association (OSTA-AECO) and Key Gordon Communications, a Toronto-based Design firm.
    WHAT
    Social media driven fast food boycott and awareness campaign.
    WHEN
    Boycott = November. Uncooling fast food = forever.
    WHERE
    Today, Ontario. Tomorrow, across the globe.
    We know what you’re thinking: who the hell designed this campaign? That logo, it’s so obscene! Yeah, it’s a little crude, but that’s exactly how we wanted it to be. That’s why you’re here isn’t it? That’s why it grabbed your attention. That’s also why it empowers individuals and helps to un-cool something that should have been un-cooled a long time ago.

    The Stick It logo was developed by the guys at Key Gordon Communications. Stick It was designed to grab attention with its racy logo and simplify the too often conflicting health messages directed at today’s youth. The quality of the food you eat matters. It’s not the only thing that matters, but it is freaking important. It really shouldn’t take a team of scientists to figure out that fast food isn’t good for you to eat everyday. You’re better off bringing a lunch.

    In May, 2012, Grant Gordon, Founder of Key Gordon, was invited by the Ontario Student Trustees` Association (OSTA-AECO) to speak at their annual conference. This group of peer-elected super-students represent Ontario’s 2.4 million students and bring the student voice to the Ministry of Education, school boards, and education-stakeholders. Grant’s passionate remarks about the food industry and the health problems related to poor eating habits inspired the students. They asked Grant how they could make a difference. Grant shared the germ of an idea – the badass logo.

    The student trustees were immediately engaged. Key Gordon was flooded with emails!

    So Grant and OSTA-AECO began to collaborate on the idea for a boycott of fast food and soon the campaign was born. The Stick It to Fast Food campaign is simple, clear and has an achievable goal: to empower youth to take care of their health through cooking for themselves and swearing off fast food junk. We don’t want to ban fast food but we do want it to be ‘de-normalized’. Too many people eat it everyday.

    We’re pretty stoked about how it worked out. It’s student driven, it’s grassroots, and it developed organically – just the way an activist campaign should. Only this one has a sweet logo and website.

    More about Stick It To Fast Food on their website and Facebook page HERE and HERE.

  • Toronto Teachers Launch FoodaGram Web App

    Toronto Teachers Launch FoodaGram Web App

    My Food My Way gets interactive with Foodagram, a new web app invites users to play with puppets in the name of healthy eating.
    Toronto Education Workers and the Toronto District School Board recently launched the My Food My Way campaign, the initiative strives to engage students on the subject of nutrition.

    Now, as a way of reaching out to those kids aged 13-17, the campaign has developed an interactive web application called Foodagram that allows users to record and share puppet video messages.

    "One of the ways that My Food My Way differs from other student nutritional campaigns is its philosophy of engage first, educate second," says John Weatherup, President of the Toronto Education Workers.

    The app works like this: you choose a food puppet, record your voice through your computer's microphone, and then presto: the puppet says whatever you want in a video clip. The resulting messages can be sent via email or shared on Facebook and Twitter.

    The cast of puppet characters includes a slice of pizza named Papa Roni, a milkshake named Molly Moo, and a hamburger named Pattie.

    "Foodagram as an experience is one we think will resonate loudly with students; inviting them to learn about nutrition in a non-traditional way," says Ahmad Ktaech, the managing director of the marketing firm behind the campaign.

    Marvin Greenberg, the campaign's chair, stresses the importance of this engagement: "By using fun and innovative technology, we can develop the relationship with students so that a discussion on healthy eating can begin".

    To try Foodagram for yourself, visit: www.foodagram.ca.

  • A Message from the False Advertising Industry in "Only Organic" New Campaign

    A Message from the False Advertising Industry in "Only Organic" New Campaign

    New Campaign Highlights Organic Benefits and Debunks Misleading “Natural” Claims. The trio of video/ads were developed by the recently launched agency Humanaut with help from advertising icon Alex Bogusky.

    A public education campaign was launched today to highlight the benefits of organic food and to help consumers understand the difference between products labeled organic and those that are labeled as “natural.”

    “Foods made with the use of toxic persistent pesticides and even genetically engineered ingredients are being labeled as natural,” said Gary Hirshberg, Chairman of Stonyfield Farm. “Only organic guarantees that food is produced without the use of toxic persistent pesticides, hormones, antibiotics or genetically engineered ingredients. Only organic gives you complete piece of mind.”

    The videos help consumers understand the how the “natural” label can be used to confuse shoppers. The videos were developed by the recently launched agency Humanaut with help from advertising icon Alex Bogusky.

    Organic foods are subject to stringent environment and animal welfare standards enforced by United States Department of Agriculture.

    While the Food and Drug Administration and USDA discourage companies from including “natural” claims on processed foods containing synthetic or artificial ingredients, there is no official definition of “natural” and little enforcement of misleading claims.

    “Only organic is produced in a way that Mother Nature would recognize as natural,” said Sarah Bird, Chief Marketing Officer for Annie’s, Inc. “Many products that claim to be “natural” are made with ingredients you couldn’t find in nature – including artificial flavors or colors, synthetic preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, and genetically engineered ingredients.”

    Natural claims have been added to everything from cooking oils made from genetically engineered crops to ice cream made from cows pumped full of growth hormones.

    “Many consumers mistakenly believe that foods labeled as ‘natural’ are better than food that has been certified as organic,” said Lewis Goldstein, Vice President of Brand Marketing at Organic Valley. “Organic food starts with organic farming, from the ground up. Only organic is subject to tough, enforceable standards created by the USDA designed to insure that our families can count on their food being produced in ways that protect their health, the environment, and the welfare of farm animals.”

    The public education campaign is being launched by Organic Voices, a non-profit organization, and is supported by organic companies and other companies, including AllergyKids, Annie’s, Earthbound, Happy Family, INFRA, Late July, Nature’s Path, NCGA, Organic Valley, Rudi’s, and Stonyfield.

    “Many products carry the ‘natural’ claim when there is nothing natural about them,” said Darren Mahaffy, Vice President of Marketing at Nature’s Path Foods. “As a result, many consumers are buying products they think are the same – or even better – for their families and the environment than organic.”

    A recent survey found that consumers commonly believe that “natural” foods do not contain artificial ingredients.

    “The public needs new tools to understand the benefits of organic and to be able to distinguish between organic foods and all other unverified claims,” said Laura Batcha, Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association.

    Organic Voices works to educate and empower consumers by promoting the benefits of organic food.

    Creative Credits:  
    Advertised brand: Only Organic
    Spot Title: The Natural Effect
    Advertising Agency: Humanaut
    Creative Advisor: Alex Bogusky
    Creative Director: David Littlejohn
    Art Director: Stephanie Gelabert
    Art Director: Chad Harris
    Copywriter: David Littlejohn
    Copywriter: Jason Corbin
    Production Company: Fancy Rhino, Chattanooga, TN
    Director: Daniel Jacobs
    Producer: Katie Nelson
    Production Designer: Chad Harris
    Director of Photography: Andrew Aldridge
    Editor: Andrew Aldridge
    Music Company: Skypunch Studios, Chattanooga, TN
    Composer: Carl Cadwell
    Media Strategy: Ikon3

  • The Great Barrier Reef [video]

    The Great Barrier Reef [video]
    World

    Welcome to Coal World!

    One of the biggest environmental battles Australia has ever seen is unfolding. The problem is, few are aware of it.

    "Welcome to Coal World" is the animation every Australian and anyone who cares about the future of the planet must watch. This creative masterpiece manages the perfect balance of entertainment and education.

    It could also mean the world of difference for our national treasure, the Great Barrier Reef, which is under threat from an unprecedented expansion of coal mining and exports.

    This newly-released animation is produced by award-winning film maker, Daniel Bird. Daniel won Best Animated Short at Slamdance in 2010 and a prestigious Golden Drum award in 2011. Based in the Czech Republic, he has carved up the scene in Europe and now lends his talents Downunder.

    Category: Public interest;
    Client: Greenpeace Australia Pacific;
    Agency: Daniel Bird;
    Production: Daniel Bird;
    Country: Australia;
    Director: Daniel Bird;
    Copywriter: Daniel Bird;
    Production company: Savage;
    Designer: Jaroslav Mrazek;
    Illustrator: Jaroslav Mrazek.

    The Coal Expansion

  • Celebrity PSA Launch The Respect Challenge

    Celebrity PSA Launch The Respect Challenge

    Nicole Kidman, Gabrielle Union, Julianne Moore, baseball legend Willie Mays and more of Hollywood’s brightest are lending their voice to Futures Without Violence’s new Respect Challenge in a new PSA ad campaign.
    Press:

    Nicole Kidman credits her parents. America Ferrera thanks her fifth grade teacher. And Willie Mays recognizes the impact of his father. To kick-off an online campaign and contest called The Respect Challenge, the national nonprofit Futures Without Violence has produced a PSA that features top celebrities expressing their gratitude to a person who taught them a valuable life lesson — a lesson in Respect.
    The PSA, a key ingredient in the national Facebook campaign which launches on Monday, September 10, features responses from such VIP talent as Nicole Kidman, Ed Harris, Julianne Moore, Gabrielle Union, America Ferrera, Joe Torre, and Willie Mays. Aretha Franklin’s iconic song, “Respect,” provides the soundtrack for the video. The PSA will also be available on Facebook, futureswithoutviolence.org, giverespect.org. and YouTube.
    “There’s never been a better time for a national conversation about Respect,” says Esta Soler founder and president of Futures Without Violence. “Whether you’re on the political campaign trail, or just headed back to middle school, let’s stand up to bullies and remind them about Respect.”
    The interactive Facebook campaign, designed to celebrate everyday role models and heroes, provides an opportunity for the public to write an online thank you note, or post a thank you video about the person who taught them Respect. Two lucky entrants will earn a donation of $10,000 to a school or nonprofit organization of their choice, as well as a VIP trip to New York City to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. After the initial entry period (September 10 – October 12), fans will be invited to vote on 10 finalists who have submitted a compelling written note or a video.
    Scheduled for an online launch on Monday, September 10, The Respect Challenge was introduced at the San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game on Sunday, September 9, when the Giants hosted their annual program, Strike Out Violence Day. Baseball legend Willie Mays, featured in the PSA, made a special appearance during the festivities.
    Futures Without Violence, a national nonprofit and social change organization with offices in San Francisco, Washington DC and Boston, created the campaign with the generous help of AKQA, one of the most-respected ideas and innovation agencies in the world. AKQA’s San Francisco Media team not only provided strategic consultation but secured more than $400,000 in donated online advertising space for the campaign and contest.
    Wildfire, a division of Google, and a leading social media marketing software provider, also volunteered their services to design and implement the Facebook application, and America Online’s in-house creative team offered their services to create compelling online banners and advertising units.
    Macy’s, the founding partner of the RESPECT! campaign, has a strong history of support for education and awareness programs that promote positive solutions for healthy relationships.
    “We hope that the positive stories generated through this campaign will remind us of the life-changing role that parents, teachers, coaches, and so many other mentors can have on shaping young lives,” said Martine Reardon, Macy’s Chief Marketing Officer.

    ABOUT FUTURES WITHOUT VIOLENCE:For more than thirty years, Futures Without Violence has been working to promote healthy relationships and safe communities that are rooted in respect. Our educational programs, leadership training and public action campaigns reach parents, teachers, coaches and mentors, as well as legislators, physicians, judges and service providers who are influential in shaping the lives of young people.To learn more, please visit us at Futures Without Violence.org.
    ABOUT THE RESPECT CAMPAIGN:RESPECT! is a social action campaign to raise awareness and engage individuals from all walks of life in positive solutions to end and prevent violence. The RESPECT! Campaign is an initiative of Futures Without Violence, and Macy’s is the Founding National Partner.

  • Youth Awareness Week "I Shared A Photo" PSA Online Film

    Youth Awareness Week "I Shared A Photo" PSA Online Film

    The 15th Annual STOP the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth Awareness Week was held last week in BC, Canada. Children of the Street, a not-for-profit organisation released the "I Shared a Photo", an online film raising awareness of sexual exploitation of teenagers. Held throughout British Columbia from March 11 through 17 to raise awareness to the importance of supporting communities in developing prevention, education, enforcement and intervention strategies to address the sexual exploitation of children and youth.

    Credits:
    Ad Agency: Cossette, Vancouver Canada
    Creative director/copywriter: Michael Milardo
    Art director: Bart Batchelor
    Producer: April Haffenden and Andrea MacFarlane
    Studio artist: Rob Horsman
    Video and photographer: Clinton Hussey
    Editor/sound designer: Chris Nielsen
    Digital brand director: Kate Chalmers

  • Kenco - Coffee vs Gangs TV Advert

    Kenco - Coffee vs Gangs TV Advert

    Kenco’s TV ad about how we’re helping young people in Honduras stay out gangs by teaching them to become coffee farmers. UK coffee brand Kenco takes on the gang epidemic in Honduras with a cinematic new :60 cut by Whitehouse Post Editor John Smith via JWT London.

    Directed by RSA’s Johnny Hardstaff, the daring spot sheds light on a real social issue in Honduras, a country which reportedly has some of the world’s most dangerous slums. The spot is part of a new Kenco “Coffee vs Gangs” initiative that aims to target 20 young people in order to help them receive the education and training necessary to become coffee farmers.

    Creative Credits:
    Client: Mondelez International – Kenco
    Title: “Tattoos”

    Agency: JWT London
    Executive Creative Director: Russel Ramsey
    Creative Director: Jaspar Shelbourne
    Copywriter: Jess Oudot
    Art Director: Matt Leach
    Account Directors: Adrian Ash, Emma Howarth, Patrick Netherton, Angus Flockhart
    Account Planners: Neil Godber, Helen St. Quintin
    Producer: Carley Reynolds
    Assistant Producer: Lula Boardman

    Media Agency: PHD
    Account Planners: Sarah Nugent, Rebecca Stafford

    Production Company: RSA
    Director: Johnny Hardstaff
    Executive Producer: Annabel Ridley

    Editorial Company: Whitehouse Post
    Editor: John Smith
    Executive Producers: Lisa Kendrick, Bebe Evwaraye

    Post-production, VFX: Absolute

    Music: Eclectic
    Composers: Colin Smith, Simon Elms

    Sound Design: Greek Street Studios
    Sound Designer: Dan Weinberg
    via: Trust

  • Bringing the Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF)

    Bringing the Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF)

    500 Days of Summer

    Everyone loves a good biff, especially when it has absolutely nothing to do with The Footy Show. Here, I’m speaking about the one and only Brisbane International Film Festival also known as BIFF. The Gold Coast, being the cultural vacuum that it is, us film geeks eagerly await the annual BIFF where a selection of films from around the world are screened over the course of one and a bit weeks. This year I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the BIFF crew by putting together articles on various films for the website and daily newsletter. With dozens of movies crammed into the 11-day event it would be easy to miss some of the real gems. The good news is I’ve taken a look at the complete line-up of films screening at this year's festival and even watched some of them early. So, the following is my list of the films you MUST SEE or die at this year's BIFF.

    For you international readers this can be a handy guide of limited release films you should keep an eye out for in the coming weeks/months.

    • An Education — the opening night film starring Peter Sarsgaard and set in the 60s. The Sars-man in a film with romance, drama and intrigue sounds like too rare an opportunity to miss.
    • BALIBO — the notorious tale of five young, Australian journalists who were executed while reporting on Indonesia’s invasion of East Timor in 75. An impressive Aussie cast including Gyton Grantley, Nathan Phillips and Anthony LaPaglia expose the Australian and Indonesian governments shameless efforts to cover-up this important story.
    • Coraline — has been covered extensively on this blog given its beautiful visuals and dark storyline. Directed by Henry Selick, director of the classic Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline follows the adventures of a young girl who discovers a secret door leading to an alternative reality.
    • 500 Days of Summer — a last minute addition to the festival line-up, this quirky, nontraditional love story deserves to be seen purely because it features the talents of my favourite Joseph Gordon Levitt. It also stars everyone’s favourite indie film star Zoey Deschanel.
    • CHE: Parts One & Two — director Steven Soderbergh’s stunning two-part opus based on the life Che Guevara and starring Benicio Del Toro in the title role. You’ll be hard pressed to catch this screened back to back anywhere else in Queensland.
    • Away We Go — highly peculiar, yet, interesting film which looks at the journey of two thirtsomethings who discover they’re going to have a baby. Instead of settling down and preparing, the couple take to the road to visit old friends. This is the latest thing from the amicable Sam Mendes and marks a return to his off-beat indie roots.
    • The September Issue — one of the most anticipated documentaries of the year, this film delves into the life of legendary Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour in the lead-up to the massive September issue.
    • Jules And Jim — this French film from the 60s is a classic love-triangle with arguably the most recognisable face in French cinema — Jeanne Moreau.
    • Moon — one of the films I’m most looking forward to, this sci-fi thriller i s the debut feature from David Bowie’s son Duncan Jones and stars Sam Rockwell in what is said to be the performance of his career.
    • The Missing Person — a private detective is hired to follow a missing person but what started as a simple job rapidly develops into a complex mystery. Full of double-crosses and classic noir moments, this is a film not to be missed by lovers of all things noir.
    • The Strength of Water (below) — having Maori parentage, I like to pay special attention to films from indigenous New Zealand filmmakers. The Strength of Water is definitely worth the gaze. A unique look at the complexity of grief through the eyes of a 10-year-old living in an isolated Maori community. Beautiful, naturalistic, creative and moving. A must-see.
    • Van Dieman’s Land — the infamous tale of Australia’s very own Hannibal Lecter gets the big screen treatment from a filmmaker heading for the stratosphere.Subdivison — Brisbanite Ash Bradman (from Nova radio fame) wrote and stars in this appealing comedy set in semirural Hervey Bay. Fans of Aussie films like Crackerjack, The Castle and Kenny are likely to enjoy this.
    • The Cove — along with Cathy Henkel’s The Burning Season, this has to be one of the most important documentaries of the year and looks at the culling of dolphins in the picturesque town of Tokyo, Japan. Part horror film, part espionage thriller and part environmental documentary, The Cove is all part's essential viewing. It Might Get Loud — there’s no time for air guitar in this documentary which takes the audience on a candid trip into the world of three of rock’s most iconic electric guitarists; Jimmy Page (Led Zepplin), the Edge (U2), and Jack White (The White Stripes).
    • Black Dynamite — if I even have to explain to you the plot of this film, given the sheer volume of posts about it on this blog, then you deserve to be pimp-slapped into a China cabinet. Here’s your chance to see what all the fuss is about.
    • Dead Snow — Tarantino and Rodriguez fans, like myself, are likely to adore the work of the Norwegian lads behind this low-budget, horror slapstick about Nazi zombies. Writer/director Tommy Wirkola and writer/star Stig Frode Henriksen have been pipped for big things since their debut short Kill Buljo and their first feature doesn’t disappoint. Catch their work before it explodes as their next film Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters has been picked up by The Weinstein Company (bada-boom).
    • Storage — a tense, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller from Brisbane filmmaker Michael Craft and starring Gold Coast actor Matt Scully in the lead role. An impressively clever debut from Craft who shot the film in storage facilities in and around Brisvegas. Creepy.
    • The Horsemen — containing what is said to be one of the `most amazing fight scenes captured’ is there really any other reason to see this?

    Ticket prices are cheap as chips compared to a normal outing at the movies and BIFF is running a series of workshops where you can meet the director, producer, writer and/or stars of some of the films.

  • The Rock "Got Milk" Commercial To Debut During Super Bowl XLVII

    The Rock "Got Milk" Commercial To Debut During Super Bowl XLVII

    The "Got Milk" and the "Milk Mustache" ad campaigns add none other than The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) to star in the first ever Super Bowl ad. The extended version of Milk Mustache "got milk?" campaign is a fun filled chaotic journey, as Johnson chasing down the milk truck in a panic after realizing they are out of milk.

    Credits:
    MilkPEP (the U.S. Milk Processor Education Program)

  • Statue of Freedom

    Statue of Freedom
    Freedom

    There are several types of commitments.
    Ours is to your English.

    Category: Education;
    Agency: Verbal;
    Brand: inFlux;
    Geo: Americas, Brazil;
    Advertising Agency: Verbal Communication, Curitiba, Brazil;
    Creative Director/Copywriter: Cláudio Erwin "Ceará";
    Art Director: Fernando Maver;
    Illustrator: Sputnik Studio.
  • The horse: from Arabia to Royal Ascot at The British Museum

    The horse: from Arabia to Royal Ascot at The British Museum

    The history of the horse is the history of civilisation itself. The horse has had a revolutionary impact on ancient civilisations and this major exhibition explores the influence of horses in Middle Eastern history, from their domestication around 3,500 BC to the present day. Britain’s long equestrian tradition is examined from the introduction of the Arabian breed in the 18th century to present day sporting events such as Royal Ascot and the Olympic Games.

    Fragment of a carved relief featuring three horses drawing a chariot. From the north-west palace, Nimrud, Assyria (modern-day Iraq). Neo-Assyrian, 9th century BC. [Credit: BM]
    Important loans from the British Library, the Fitzwilliam Museum and the Royal Armouries, as well as rare material from Saudi Arabia, will be seen alongside objects from the British Museum’s exceptional collection, including famous pieces such as the Standard of Ur and Achaemenid Persian reliefs. Supported by the Board of Trustees of the Saudi Equestrian Fund, the Layan Cultural Foundation and Juddmonte Farms. In association with the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities.

    The domestication of the horse more than 5,000 years ago dramatically changed human history. Domestication is thought to have first happened on the steppes of South Russia with horses being introduced into the Middle East around 2,300BC. Before this introduction, asses and donkeys were used for transport, predominantly as harness animals pulling cumbersome but technologically advanced vehicles — as seen on objects found at the Royal Cemetery of Ur -but gradually horses became the means of faster transportation for these early societies.

    The exhibition includes one of the earliest known depictions of a horse and rider: a terracotta mould found in Mesopotamia (Iraq) dating to around 2,000 – 1,800 BC. Horses became a vital component in warfare and hunting, as reflected in the art of ancient Assyria, where elaborate and ornate horse trappings and ornaments were developed reflecting the prestige and status of horse, charioteer and rider.

    Riding became an essential part of society during the Achaemenid period (5th -4th century BC), a cylinder seal of Darius, dating to 522 – 486 BC shows the king hunting lions in a chariot, and famously, the Achaemenid’s introduced ‘post horses’ which were used to deliver messages on the royal road. The horsemen of the Parthian Empire (3rd century BC – 3rd century AD) were celebrated by Roman authors for the ‘Parthian shot’, in which an apparently retreating rider would shoot arrows backwards whilst on horseback. The renown of Parthian horsemen is shown in their representation on terracotta plaques and bronze belt buckles in the British Museum collection.

    Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Mughal miniature paintings, ceramics and manuscripts all attest to the growing importance of the horse in the Islamic world from the 7th century AD. Exquisite Mughal miniatures depict princes with their valued Middle Eastern steeds, horses that were famed for their speed and spirit. A magnificent Furusiyya manuscript, dating to the 14th century AD, on loan from the British Library, is a beautifully illustrated manual of horsemanship, including information on proper care for the horse, advanced riding techniques, expert weapon handling, manoeuvres and elaborate parade formations.

    The horse has a long history on the Arabian Peninsula, becoming an important cultural phenomenon and a noted part of the traditional Bedouin way of life. The ‘Arabian horse’ was developed through selective breeding, and with features including a distinctive head profile and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most familiar horse breeds in the world. The exhibition includes ‘Gigapan’ panorama photography of rock art which show horses in scenes of various dates from sites in Saudi Arabia, as well as loans of objects from Qaryat al-Fau which include wall paintings and figurines.

    The importance of fine horses in the Middle East is explored through the fascinating Abbas Pasha manuscript (dating to the 19th century and on loan from the King Abdulaziz Public Library, Riadyh). This document is the primary source of information about the lineage of the purebred Arabian horses acquired by Abbas Pasha (the viceroy of Egypt) throughout the Middle East.

    The story of the Arabian breed of horse is examined in parallel to that of Wilfrid Scawan Blunt (1840-1922), poet and agitator, and Lady Anne Blunt (1837-1917), the granddaughter of Lord Byron. The Blunts travelled widely in the Middle East and established a celebrated stud for purebred Arabians, which was crucial for the survival of the Arabian breed, at Crabbet Park in Sussex, and another outside Cairo in Egypt.

    Horses, including Arabians had long been imported from the Middle East to Britain, but from the 17th century, three Arabian stallions in particular were introduced, which, bred with native mares, produced the Thoroughbred breed, now the foundation of modern racing; some 95% of all modern Thoroughbreds are descended from these three horses. Paintings and prints, trophies and memorabilia explore their remarkable success and their influence on sport and society, from early race meetings through to modern equestrian events.

    Faissal Ibn Abdullah Ibn Muhammad Al-Saud, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Saudi Equestrian Fund said "It is well known that the horse has played a crucial role in the development of civilization, and that a close bond exists between horses and men. I am very pleased that it has been possible to support this exhibition in London which gives us an opportunity to look at different aspects of the history of the Arabian horse and the context from which it emerged."

    The exhibition runs until 30 September 2012 and is part of the celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee.

    Admission is free.

    Source: The British Museum [June 02, 2012]

  • 'The Aztecs, People of the Sun' at Pointe-à-Callière in Montreal

    'The Aztecs, People of the Sun' at Pointe-à-Callière in Montreal

    Pointe-à-Callière presents a major exclusive international exhibition, The Aztecs, People of the Sun. Visitors will have the unique privilege of learning about the people who founded the fabulous city of Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire and the site where Mexico City was built after the Spanish Conquest in 1521. The exhibition, presented from May 30 to October 25, offers insights into the dazzling world of a people who reigned over much of Mexico for two centuries.

    'The Aztecs, People of the Sun' at Pointe-à-Callière in Montreal
    Tláloc vessel. The highlights of the Montréal exhibits include some of the most remarkable remains from the Aztec civilization [Credit: Héctor Montaño, INAH]
    Exceptional participation by 16 Mexican museums

    The exhibition, produced by Pointe-à-Callière in collaboration with the Mexican National Council for Culture and the Arts – National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), showcases some 265 items from 16 Mexican museums, including the Templo Mayor Museum, an archaeological site museum like Pointe-à-Callière itself, and the Mexican National Museum of Anthropology. The tremendously varied objects are both spectacular and moving. Masks and statues, gold jewellery, figurines of women, children and animals, stamps for creating patterns on fabric and skin, sculptures and objects relating to the sacrifices required to keep the Sun on its daily journey, chests, boxes for offerings, vases and ceramics, all reflect the mysteries surrounding this people.

    Stunning artifacts

    The highlights of the Montréal exhibits include some of the most remarkable remains from the Aztec civilization. Two statues from the Templo Mayor Museum, each weighting 250 kg and standing 170 cm (nearly 6 feet) tall, are sure to appeal to visitors’ imaginations. The terra cotta statue of an eagle warrior, with jagged claws protruding from his knees front and back and his face emerging from an eagle’s beak, could also represent the rising Sun. This true work of art was found in the House of the Eagles, next to the Templo Mayor, used for rituals and penitential ceremonies. The terra cotta statue of Mictlantecuhtli shows the god of death leaning forward toward humans. With his skull-like face, pierced with holes for hair to be inserted, his shredded skin and clawed hands, stained with human blood, he is a terrifying sight!

    Other items with splendid colours, like the vessel representing Tlaloc, the rain god, tell us more about the Aztecs’ lifestyle and deities. This vase is considered one of the masterpieces of Aztec art, and shows the god with his typical “goggles” and fangs, in his usual blue colour. The pyramid shapes on his headdress are references to the mountains where the Aztecs believed Tlaloc stored the water that would later fall as rain.

    A wooden mask inlaid with turquoise, shell and mother-of-pearl is one of the rare Aztec “turquoise masks” to have survived. It may be a reference to the god Quetzalcoatl, whose face is emerging from the mouth of a serpent. This rare piece comes from the “Luigi Pigorini” National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography, in Rome.

    A ceramic piece with three faces, adorned with 13 circular gems, or chalchihuitl, evoking the 13 months of the sacred calendar, is also stunning. It decorated a brazier or a funerary urn, and shows the three phases of existence: in the centre, youth opening its eyes to the world, followed by an image of old age, and then the face of inescapable death, with its eyes closed, all referring to passing time. This sublime piece expresses the cyclical principle of duality, so important in Aztec thought, where life is reborn from death.

    There are also images drawn from historic codices, photos of archaeological sites and remains, and different videos. Then there are some 150 unique hand-built and painted figurines made in Mexico to create a colourful, joyous scene depicting the vast Tlatelolco market held north of Tenochtitlan in days gone by.

    Exhibition themes

    The exhibition focuses on the founding of Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire, their daily lives, the Templo Mayor, and of course the question of human sacrifices and the two Aztec calendars. It looks at many themes in their rich history: the Aztecs’ migration, guided by their god Huitzilopochtli, and the founding of Tenochtitlan; the remarkable urban planning and land use development in this “Venice of Mexico”; the Aztec art of war and the tribute paid by conquered peoples, as well as their agricultural techniques and the chinampas, the ingenious floating gardens that made the city self-sufficient. It also looks at the organization of Aztec society, with its different classes, a fascinating subject that addresses the role of women, education and the administration of justice. Aztec writing and the famous codices, manuscripts made up of glyphs or pictograms illustrating the spoken language, are examined in depth. Religion, an essential and omnipresent part of Aztec society, along with their various deities and rituals, are described. And lastly, the exhibition closes with a description of the Spanish conquest and the fall of the Aztec Empire, and the legacy of the Aztecs today.

    Who were the Aztecs?

    The story of the Aztecs began around the year 1000, when a warrior tribe, probably driven by famine, set out on a long southward migration. Despite many difficulties on their odyssey, they persevered, trusting in the god watching over them to reveal the place where they could finally found their city. And so it was that in 1325 the Aztecs, or Mexicas, founded the city of Tenochtitlan, building a temple on an island in marshy Lake Texcoco, in the central Mexican highlands. The capital was divided into four districts, watched over by the gods associated with the four cardinal directions. In a sacred precinct in the centre of the city stood the main temples, including the Templo Mayor or “Great Temple,” which would become the heart of their city and the centre of their spiritual and material universe. The Aztec Empire lasted almost 200 years, until 1521. They built lavish palaces, temples and markets there, creating an immense metropolis with a population of about 200,000 at its height. Theirs was an imperialistic society that relied on diplomacy and near-constant warfare to expand their empire and collect tribute in the form of regular “taxes” from the peoples they conquered.

    A highly innovative civilization

    Tenochtitlan was founded on a shallow, marshy lake. The Aztecs were able to increase the habitable area of their city by planting pilings and installing platforms to hold sediment from the lake. Thanks to this ingenious system, the city was crisscrossed by canals, and chinampas, or true floating gardens, were created where they could grow various crops. These remarkably fertile gardens produced up to seven harvests a year, feeding much of the city. The system was also used to recycle the city’s organic waste. The Aztecs developed trade in cocoa, maize and other crops, which were sold in markets of all sizes, and produced striking ceramics and magnificent gold and silver finery.

    A life governed by gods and calendars

    Like many other Mesoamerican peoples, the Aztecs divided their universe into three main levels: the sky, the Earth – an island with the Templo Mayor at its centre – and the underworld, inhabited by the god of the dead and his companion. The god and goddess of duality were the source of four creative principles occupying the “four roads of the universe” corresponding to the four cardinal directions. For the Aztecs it was important to constantly maintain the balance among the divine forces – a delicate exercise governed from day to day by following two calendars that dictated not only the maize planting and harvesting cycle but also the rituals required to appease some 200 different gods.

    The Aztecs considered time to be cyclical, and human lives to be influenced in turn by their gods, at regular intervals, as spelled out in the two interlocking calendars. The solar or annual calendar lasted 365 days and consisted of 18 months of 20 days, adding up to 360 days. The remaining five days were seen as highly inauspicious – it was best to avoid all activity on those days! In every month a major god was honoured. Since this calendar governed agricultural activity, it included many feasts dedicated to the rain god Tlaloc and to plant deities.

    The sacred calendar also dictated religious ceremonies and important dates. Each day was defined by a glyph or written sign (there were 20) and a number from 1 to 13. These signs and numbers combined in an unchanging order, and the same combination of signs and numbers repeated until the 13 x 20 possibilities were done, that is for 260 days. Every 52 years, the solar and sacred calendars aligned once again. For the Aztecs, this was a time of fear and anguish, since they didn’t know whether it signalled the end of the world.

    The importance of the Sun and human sacrifice

    The Aztecs worshipped the Sun, and feared that it would disappear if they didn’t perform various rituals. Just like many other pre-Columbian civilizations, they also engaged in human sacrifice. These sacrifices were considered offerings and an essential part of the various rituals associated with their religion and daily life. Victims were put to death to nourish the Sun and the Earth. When the rains failed to appear and crops were at risk, for instance, the Aztecs would sacrifice children to regain the favour of the rain god. Different kinds of victims were sacrificed: warriors captured in battle, slaves, people condemned to death for offences, and children.

    Highly significant codices

    The Aztecs had a special form of writing. They transcribed their language, Nahuatl, using a combination of glyphs, figures and graphic elements. These manuscripts, known as codices, are an inexhaustible source of details about their economy, and include tax rolls, property registers, politics, history, education, religion, sacred rituals and science. They are key to our understanding of Aztec civilization.

    The Aztec heritage

    When he first saw Tenochtitlan and its many canals, Hernán Cortés of Spain compared it with Venice. But despite his admiration for the city, he had no scruples about laying it to waste in 1521. Cortés left Cuba with about 500 men, on a mission to secure the interior of Mexico. After being greeted with splendid gifts by Moctezuma II, Cortés soon took the Aztec Emperor prisoner. The destruction of Tenochtitlan marked the end of the Aztec Empire and launched the colonization of all of Latin America.

    Today the Aztec civilization is considered one of the most remarkable in human history. Many archaeological digs and different museums celebrate their exceptional contribution to world heritage. Mexico City, the country’s capital and largest metropolis, was built atop the ruins of the superb city of Tenochtitlan. Today it is home to some 22 million people. The Aztec language, Nahuatl, is still spoken by about 1.6 million Nahuas. Today’s Mexicans also carry the memory of the Aztecs in their name. When their god Huitzilopochtli guided the Aztecs to the site where they would found Tenochtitlan, he called his people Mexicas. Even today, a divine eagle perched on a cactus devouring a serpent – the sign that the god had sent to the high priest of the Aztecs to tell them where to found their city – adorns the Mexican flag and banknotes. And one can still travel by boat along the canals built by the Aztecs, in Xochimilco and other districts of Mexico City.

    Source: Pointe-à-Callière [May 29, 2015]

  • Samsung Celebrates Amazing People In "Create The Future" Ad Campaign

    Samsung Celebrates Amazing People In "Create The Future" Ad Campaign

    Creative advertising agency Fancy Rhino creates a beautiful new ad campaign for Samsung in cooperation with Current TV and Take Part (a subsidiary of Participant Media) showcasing the Galaxy Note II and the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet in action.

    The short film styled ads feature a handful of people in the non-profit world who are doing some pretty amazing work and using good technology to do it. the result is a combination of stories of these social rock stars to the Samsung brand in a powerful way.

    Samsung salutes Adam Braun, CEO and Founder of Pencils of Promise — a non-profit organization that creates schools and uses innovation through technology to provide access to education all over the world.

    Samsung praises SunSaluter — a company that uses innovative technology to energize communities all over the world.

    Matt Flannery of Kiva.org uses technology to connect people all over the world and inspire social action.

    Credits:
    Advertised brand: Samsung
    Advert title(s): Create the Future
    Advertising Agency: Fancy Rhino, Chattanooga, TN, USA http://Fancyrhino.com
    CCO: Drew Belz
    Creative Director: Caleb Rexford
    Spot Directors: Drew Belz, Isaiah Smallman and Caleb Rexford
    Producer: Take Part http://www.takepart.com
    Graphic Design: Michael Mahaffey
    Director of Photography: Keith Turner and Andrew Aldridge
    Camera: Kelly Lacy, Keith Turner and Andrew Aldridge
    Sound Production Agency: Ro-Co.co http://www.Ro-Co.co
    Soundtrack Composer: Michael Kendall

  • Santa Raps The Google Search Tips | Google Santa Rap Video

    Santa Raps The Google Search Tips | Google Santa Rap Video

    A number of Google employees wrote, produced and starred in the Santa Google Search Tips Rap video.

    Credits go out to the following for this great video:
    Lyrics by Matt Kane, Google Content and User Education Specialist and hip hop enthusiast
    Music by Ranidu, Google Business Systems Integrator and musician: http://raniduonline.com/album/
    Video produced with the help of our friends at Seedwell: http://seedwell.com

    Lyrics:
    Yo, I run a few searches before the big flight,
    To save me more time on this magical night.
    I type [sunrise and city] of my last stop,
    I got plenty of time before my last drop.

    If I don't know the time in a certain city,
    I peep it on search before my chimney shimmy.
    Tyle [time and town] before I come into town,
    To see if Johnny's in bed before I hit ground.

    Go Santa, Santa work it!
    Go Santa, Santa search it!

    But before I go flying through the frosty air,
    I do a weather search to decide what to wear.
    Mrs. Clause, should I bring my extra warm down jacket?
    [Mrs. Clause]: Hmmm, yes. You should definitely pack it.
    And please pack these cookies that I baked for you.
    Shhhhh! I researched the recipe with recipe view,
    And used the low cal filter, I must admit:
    I wanna make sure that jacket still fits!

    Go Santa, Santa work it!
    Go Santa, Santa search it!

    Check one, check two: yes I check twice.
    Santa's Google Doc called 'Naughty and nice.'
    With control+F, I find a name in the doc n',
    I hope I don't have to put coal in a stockin'

    When I'm cruising in my sleigh with my hands on the reigns,
    Voice input is handy, 'cause typing is a pain.
    If on a wish list I spot a gift I never heard: schlittschuhe,
    I use the translate app to speak the foreign word.

    Go Santa, Santa work it!
    Go Santa, Santa search it!
    Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho.

    Go Santa, Santa work it!
    Go Santa, Santa search it!

    Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Yeah!