Kayak Symbology
Published November 21, 2008 | 
You’re sick of feeling numb
You’re not the only one
I’ll take you by the hand
And I’ll show you a world that you can understand
- three days grace
Symbology is a term which refers to the study of symbols and how they affect us culturally. It’s certainly been proven without a doubt that we humans can be amazingly enslaved by symbols. Images tend to stroke our need for a quick understanding of our environment. Flags, teams, icons, colors, almost anything can inspire loyalty or hatred simply by how we interpret them. Once defined most of us will never look back. “A picture is worth a thousand words. . “, “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. . .”, you know the jargon.
It’s no surprise why politicians these days have quick response teams to counter any hint of negativity. Companies, civic organizations, religious groups, insurance companies, individuals, even the guy who owns the local gas station is concerned about their brand and the symbols that come to represent them (See, “Apu“). No doubt kayak manufactures suffer an acute mitral regurgitation every time they see a picture of of one of their kayaks floating upside down somewhere, or happen across some illustrated online post about excruciatingly thin layups. A story will last a week or so, but an image will last forever.
So it was kind of funny a while back when a local agency was looking for kayakers to photograph for medical marketing materials. Kayakers selling medical services? “How exciting!!” Oh well. So anyway here’s a glimpse of the new “YOUR ARTHROSCOPIC SHOULDER PROCEDURE” booklet from “Dean Care” our local heath care mega-monster. Of course just because you see a kayak on the cover of an arthroscopic shoulder booklet you shouldn’t draw any conclusions about kayaking. . .
or maybe you should!
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7 Responses to Kayak Symbology
Ok, now you’ve gone too far in trespassing onto my territory. One does not get mitral regurge from a shock. Acute MR would require a rupture of a pappilary muscle. Now, you could have used premature ventricular contractions (PVC’s) in that setting. Or, even acute coronary spasms. Those can come on with stress and adrenaline surges, and they are more dramatic. Web masters, you guys
LOL! I knew YOU’d bust me on that one but PVC’s just doesn’t have the same “ring” to it!! hahaha!
A shoulder injury is the least of this guy’s problems–he’s not even wearing a pfd (aka life jacket)! Capsize, dislocate your shoulder and drown!
Advertising — for the local funeral home perhaps.
On top of the no PFD, I like how he’s wearing his fishing waders. So if he does dump the thing, wearing waders full of water and trying to swim is no easy task
LOL! Brad, you of all people know advertising has little bearing on reality! I mean, what real person would wear a hat that actually matches his waders??
)
Actually, I think that what appears to be waders is the tube to his spray deck. And, I do see the pfd tucked under the deck bungees in front of him.
As to a real person that wears a hat that matches his waders or spray deck . . . Derrick does all the time–both are black ; o)
ah, I think you were staring at that guy a bit too long to for comfort! Yeah, it’s one of those silly nylon skirts. I can’t tell what he’s got on his deck. I thought maybe it was a coat. But PFD is as good an answer as any.