This item is something I pick up at least weekly to get it
out of the way of my vacuum. Instead of throwing it in the cat toy bin, I
looked at it and started to see it. I would describe it as a green wedge with
white polka dots, green ears and tail, and a white rectangle above the tail. It
has no eyes. My analysis indicates that the wedge is made from a smooth, shiny
cloth and stuffed with some sort of fiber. The ears are felt. The tail is a
mini-rope of green woven threads. The rectangle is paper. Kennedy says that “visual
literacy is the ability to construct meaning from images," which is the
interpretation phase. I struggled to find meaning in this toy mouse.
Our textbook says “form follows function”. At first glance,
you could say that the function of this piece is to get the cats to play with
it and the styling (green color and polka dots) is the artistry. However, this
item came in a package with a lot of toys being sold seasonally. I suspect the
true objective was to get the package sold, without much concern for getting a
repeat purchase later. Thus the form really is part of the function, as the
color and design are really meant to coordinate with the other toys in the
package to appear pleasing to humans and stimulate an impulse purchase.
Taking all of this into consideration, my interpretation of
this item is as follows: What might appear to be artistry is actually part of a
greater design calculated to stimulate consumerism.
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ReplyDeleteI find your analysis interesting. The true artistry isn't about the toy itself, but about the package and getting THAT noticed. If the polkadot mouse were being sold individually, would it still be purchased, or was it purchased because of the artistry of the grouping as a unit?
ReplyDeleteAm I understanding you correctly? If I'm not, well, then you got me thinking about a whole bunch of other things relating to consumerism, but all very interesting.
~ Heather M
Love your analysis on this object! It is a marketing technique to use color and packaging aimed to sell a product to the consumer. The world is connected through the visual language and consumers are great communicators of that language.- Christy
ReplyDeleteWhat I determined, both from your description of your action (getting it out of the way to vacuum) and by looking at the photo you posted is this: your cat enjoys this toy and your cat is well loved. I noticed the little frayed fibers on the top of the mouse, which suggests to me that the toy has been played with. You said you did not throw this back into the cat tit bin, which tells me that your cat has other toys. More toys = more love! (At least in my house.)
ReplyDeleteLike Heather, I was curious about the "form follows function" argument--that the color was part of a larger themed package of toys intended to attract the human buying the items. As a cat lover (and cat mom), I wondered about the toy's form. If the function is for the cat to play with the toy, then the form had to lend itself to that purpose. Is that why there's a rectangle attached to the body of the toy mouse? Does that give your cat a bit more to bite into/hang onto? I am picturing your kitty proudly carrying around its trophy in its mouth. So maybe form does follow function--even when sold separately. Dawn
As someone who doesn't like cats at all, i myself see the toy and cringe. However, I respect those who do and the feelings they have towards their pets. My question is what made you buy the toy? Was there other things in the package that you did need or want? In describing the toy how does the design lend to the longevity of it? Is it made to last or do you have to constantly replace it? Do cats have a fondness to green and do the polkadots bring it to life? Just some analyzing questions that could help to interpret it and construct true meaning from it.
ReplyDeleteYour cat loves this more than you do! Nothing wrong with that.
ReplyDeleteAwesome description Chris! I was thinking it could be much more than a cat toy. Maybe a plugger for the sink, or tree decoration. Any who, great choice.
ReplyDeleteAnd in response to Heather, I didn't even realize it was a mouse. Hahaha, I saw the mouse after I read your comments. Thanks.
-Kind-Hearted Kayla
I got quite the giggle from, "I struggled to find meaning in this toy mouse." I think you hit the nail right on the head when you said the purpose of the design of this toy is likely to stimulate consumerism. That got me thinking of when I ended up buying "gingerbread fish" cat toys for my parents' kitten. They were cute, seasonal, and pretty cheap. So, on an impulse, I snatched them up for a little St. Nick's gift. The cat had very little interest in them, and so I felt pretty dumb for buying them so impulsively. Clearly the design audience that the manufacturer is focusing on is not the cat, but instead us impulsive, cat spoiling owners.
ReplyDelete-Stephanie W.
I agree with your thoughts regarding the form of this toy being more of a marketing issue than anything having to do with function. Any cat owner knows you could just as easily crumple up a piece of junk mail or pull a plastic ring off the top of an orange juice container and throw it on the floor - and your cat will find a way to play with it! I'm fairly certain there is not a cat on the planet that would be fooled into enjoying that little green toy because it resembles a mouse in some way!
ReplyDeleteJenna
I thought your ideas on consumerism were fascinating. I hadn't even thought about that aspect of the "objects" I buy. I think about the dog toys I buy for my Eva. On the one hand, she likes certain toys more than others, so I gravitate towards a certain kind. But she doesn't care what they look like - as long as they are plush, round and have some ears, a tail or something to carry it around by. It does, however, matter to ME what they look like! Her favorite toy we've christened "Giraffe Ball". I bought it because it's the kind she likes, but it's cute, and appealed to ME. I totally bought into the consumerism... ha! Jen P.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBeing a former cat owner, I know that feeling of wanting to buy the silliest things for my cat (when they were just fine with string or a shoelace). I can't tell you how much money I could have if I would have known my cat would be uninterested with most toys I bought! Consumerism gets the best of us all.. -Katelyn H
ReplyDeleteOne of my cats freaks out anytime I bring one of these to her attention. I'll admist, I buy them pretty much whenever they get new designs, but hey, the cat likes them and they don't cost a lot. If the cats happy, we're all happy.
ReplyDelete- Leah Stikel
You make a very interesting connection between a cat toy and consumerism. The product represents our societie's need for extras. You want your cat to be happy so you give them a material possession to enhance their mood. The designer of the toy chose to used a mouse instead of any other animal. Why did they make that choice? Perhaps because it is a well known fact that cats chase mice. Could the designer have shaped the toy like a bird instead with obtaining the same consumer drive to purchase?
ReplyDelete-Michelle
Love the consumerism point of view! A green polka dotted mouse...yeah, totally for us not for them. I think they'd be happy with anything!
ReplyDeleteMelinda