Now when I watch TV ads, I know how they do the effects. It's pretty awesome. I feel empowered. I wonder if that's a key component of the texts we've been reading this semester? It's amazing what happens when you know a bit about how things work, especially those things that are visual. I can't watch them passively, anymore...kind of like what happened when I first learned theory and would watch movies -- the theory ruins the movie. Now, the ads aren't "ruined," but their "magic" is exposed. Perhaps that's the value in learning to do this? ;)

I think I'm going to have to teach my students to do this stuff, too....