Cultural Event 4

In a world that has grown so interconnected that things like the television and Internet have done great things in assimilating a world together, united and informed.

This ideological option is far to utopian by the current standards of TV and the Internet. It seems that both serve not as a means of information or even entertainment, rather a mind numbing habit. That is why it is always fresh and noteworthy whenever you find a worthy source or option to view in either medium. The web site that I recently found which has provided a source of both entertainment and information is Yusuf Islam web site www.yusufislam.com. In a very watered down market were website continue to promote needless entertainment or false information Yusuf, formerly known as Cat Stevens strove beyond this to create a website which set its self above many others.

To me, there is an obvious and direct correlation between an artist and his outward appearance. In this day and age a web site plays a very important part in the way that the public views them and Islam clearly knows this. It is evident to me that he took part in the creation and format of the web site. Aesthetically, the web site opens with a picture of him and provides a welcoming and visually pleasing page that welcomes the web site viewer. Upon further enquiry the browser then has the options to navigate the sight as they wish. The option presented ranged from “sing”, “think”, “give”, and “bazaar.” The later, “bazaar”, was the only option that did not provide an immediate destination, all others provided a destination, which provided plenty of information to keep one mind occupied.

The others like “sing” hosted a fantastic watercolor image, which allowed many option to pursue, threw, ranging from photos of Islam past and present, music, biography and news. All of these options gave great insight into Yusuf as a person and artist. A nice ambient effect that Islam provided through out this experience is a nice compilation of his music through the web site. This is a nice soothing way to browse through the web site that is neither too much or to little in escorting a viewer through the web site.


Another segment of the web site, entitled “think” gave the website viewer an even better insight to Yusuf Islam. The link went directly to a Muslim sight that provides information about Islam that a lame ear may not encounter from day to day life. In this website you can see and read the same information that inspired Yusufs major life style change and read the same literature that he reads. The other link “give” is another link tha can consume a large amount of time if you thouolly browse through it. The link is to a charity that Islam is on the chair for. Along with heartfelt stories and a good cause, it shows what is on the mind of Yusuf Islam. Again if this critic sounds repetitious it is simply because I had the overwhelming feeling that working threw Yusuf website was almost as personal as having a conversation with him.