Sunday, May 16, 2010
Parable of the Ring Around the Collar
This commercial was a Lowes home improvement advertisement in which a couple went into Lowes for appliances for their patio and ended up getting more than they planned. They went to Lowes in order to buy light bulbs and a man working for customer service walks up to them and asks if they need anything to go along with their patio. The wife starts to say yes as her husband stands there confused at first and then abruptly changes his facial expression and agrees with the wife on purchasing a bbq and more. The man working for customer service was told by the couple that they were on a budget and he continues to show them seating and other outdoor appliances all labeled with an “everyday low price” tag on them. At the end of the commercial it shows the husband at the new bbq, and the wife sitting in a chair at her new table. The last 10 seconds of the commercial close with the wife explaining how it was all a great idea and how they love their new deck, including the light bulbs. The customers seem happy at the end of the commercial, and their deck looks nice, so the message sent by Lowes may inspire others to do the same.
Analyzing Advertisments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlXRengzZoc
This video add is exhilarating, moving, motivating and inspiring. Troy Polamalu and Ladanian Tomlinson make this add through flashbacks of their lives were they were involved in football every since birth. This is an advertisement for Nike, which targets athletes, more specifically football players. The film is of the two running through obstacles and the two are portrayed as very athletic throughout the commercial. It displays each of their journeys to the NFL and shows them playing in a game, where Tomlinson is tackled by Polamalu with the Nike symbol visible in the center of the screen to close out the add. The Nike symbol is world renown and an icon for all athletes. Nike has become so popular that it takes something as simple as an athlete to sell Nike products. The beat that is playing in the background is by none other than Jay-Z from his song Blueprint 2 that gives the commercial an inspiring and entertaining aspect. There are no words in this advertisement only the music playing in the background, the destructiveness of Troy Polamalu and the quickness of Ladanian Tomlinson.
This video add is exhilarating, moving, motivating and inspiring. Troy Polamalu and Ladanian Tomlinson make this add through flashbacks of their lives were they were involved in football every since birth. This is an advertisement for Nike, which targets athletes, more specifically football players. The film is of the two running through obstacles and the two are portrayed as very athletic throughout the commercial. It displays each of their journeys to the NFL and shows them playing in a game, where Tomlinson is tackled by Polamalu with the Nike symbol visible in the center of the screen to close out the add. The Nike symbol is world renown and an icon for all athletes. Nike has become so popular that it takes something as simple as an athlete to sell Nike products. The beat that is playing in the background is by none other than Jay-Z from his song Blueprint 2 that gives the commercial an inspiring and entertaining aspect. There are no words in this advertisement only the music playing in the background, the destructiveness of Troy Polamalu and the quickness of Ladanian Tomlinson.
Killing Us Softly 3
Crest toothpaste, Listerine, Nike, Jordan, Adidas, Vans, these are just a few of the brands that I use and wear daily that are found throughout my closet. There are other brands as well, such as a variety of dress shirts and pants by brands such as Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Alfani.
When I use these products I feel confident with myself. However if I did not use these products daily, I would still maintain a sense of self-confidence, but also would not feel presentable if I were in public, which I would be somewhat ashamed of. Therefore the necessity of using these products is a detrimental aspect of my everyday life and part of what makes me and how I carry myself.
There are messages in advertising that sometimes purpose a distorted view of what is normal in society. Beauty and athletic advertisements are notorious for this type of propaganda. The desire to be the best athlete or the most beautiful model is represented in commercials by professional athletes or celebrities. Which essentially makes people have concerns with themselves.
Advertiser’s responsibility to society is a great one non-the less, however it all depends on how you perceive these perfected images of advertising. If one sees the advertisements as something that sets the bar for society instead of seeing it for what it is, then one will become infatuated with the unreal world and perfections in advertising techniques.
I am honestly not sure of the ways the ideal image of beauty in advertisements benefits women. Society should be more concerned about the ways these advertisements destructively affect some women. Eating disorders are common amongst women primarily because of the fact that they want to look like the women on the covers of your common beauty magazines, and I quite frankly find it to be sad.
Jean Kilbourne asserts her opinion by saying that “women of color are disproportionately shown as animalistic and exotic”. To me models are all the same, it makes no difference weather or not they are black, white, or purple. However a common problem amongst all models haunts society when they see how the media portrays true beauty. Twenty years ago the average model was 5’4’’ and 140lbs. Today the average model is 5’11’’ and 117lbs. The changes in average height and weight of models over a period of twenty years is astonishing. To put it into perspective imagine a basketball player twenty years ago being 6’0’’ 200lbs, fast-forward twenty years, now basketball players are 6’11’’ and 167 lbs! It is common knowledge knowing that being this skinny and this tall is considered unhealthy so why would models risk their lives being this small in order to advertise clothing. The message that models send is horrendous in my opinion.
When I use these products I feel confident with myself. However if I did not use these products daily, I would still maintain a sense of self-confidence, but also would not feel presentable if I were in public, which I would be somewhat ashamed of. Therefore the necessity of using these products is a detrimental aspect of my everyday life and part of what makes me and how I carry myself.
There are messages in advertising that sometimes purpose a distorted view of what is normal in society. Beauty and athletic advertisements are notorious for this type of propaganda. The desire to be the best athlete or the most beautiful model is represented in commercials by professional athletes or celebrities. Which essentially makes people have concerns with themselves.
Advertiser’s responsibility to society is a great one non-the less, however it all depends on how you perceive these perfected images of advertising. If one sees the advertisements as something that sets the bar for society instead of seeing it for what it is, then one will become infatuated with the unreal world and perfections in advertising techniques.
I am honestly not sure of the ways the ideal image of beauty in advertisements benefits women. Society should be more concerned about the ways these advertisements destructively affect some women. Eating disorders are common amongst women primarily because of the fact that they want to look like the women on the covers of your common beauty magazines, and I quite frankly find it to be sad.
Jean Kilbourne asserts her opinion by saying that “women of color are disproportionately shown as animalistic and exotic”. To me models are all the same, it makes no difference weather or not they are black, white, or purple. However a common problem amongst all models haunts society when they see how the media portrays true beauty. Twenty years ago the average model was 5’4’’ and 140lbs. Today the average model is 5’11’’ and 117lbs. The changes in average height and weight of models over a period of twenty years is astonishing. To put it into perspective imagine a basketball player twenty years ago being 6’0’’ 200lbs, fast-forward twenty years, now basketball players are 6’11’’ and 167 lbs! It is common knowledge knowing that being this skinny and this tall is considered unhealthy so why would models risk their lives being this small in order to advertise clothing. The message that models send is horrendous in my opinion.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Independant Research Topic
4, April. "Cell Phone Society." Pew Research Center. Web. 01 May 2010. .
Cell phones benefit society and are potentially harmful in many ways for society as well. However the beneficial rolls that cell phones play in our lives outweigh the negative reasons why technology is corrupting society. This link above talks about the negative rolls of cell phone use such as how talking on the phone while driving increases the chance of an accident, as well as other facts about cell phones and how they corrupt society.
4, November. "Social Isolation and New Technology." Pew Research Center. Web. 02 May 2010..
This link above questions the use of cell phones and technology rather than choosing a distinct side and speaks of the social networking aspect of technology. It talks about how individual's social networking groups in society have become more diverse due to websites such as Face-book and Twitter. The technological advancements in society make this social networking possible and allow us to communicate quicker and more often than we would if websites such as these were not in existence. This link talks about how there may be a correlation between social networking websites and the diversity of the group of friends one has. This information is helpful/interesting because of the data it provides that I believe will be helpful while writing my essay.
"Cell Phones Equal Possible Downfall of Society." AQsaint.com. Web. 02 May 2010..
This link provides information about the certain aspects of cell phone use that could potentially corrupt the word because of a potential technological downfall. I found this information to be very interesting since I believe with most of what it states. I believe that the world has gained a dependence for the use of cell phones, which in some cases could be unhealthy. This link poses one of the many questions of which i plan to address in my essay, such as how have cell phones distanced us from some things in life and how they bring us closer and keep us better connected with the world.
Lenhart, By Amanda. "Teens, Cell Phones and Texting." Pew Research Center. Web. 01 May 2010..
This last link has a copious amount of informational and interesting statistical data that will assist me in writing my essay. The link will send you to a website that takes into account the text messaging network amongst teens and how the attachment to their phones is "an area of conflict and regulation".
All of these sources will come in handy when I start my essay, especially this last link that talks about cell phones being a "mixed blessing", this website has a lot of data that will support my thesis and will provide me with statistical data in order to prove my thesis indefinitely.
Cell phones benefit society and are potentially harmful in many ways for society as well. However the beneficial rolls that cell phones play in our lives outweigh the negative reasons why technology is corrupting society. This link above talks about the negative rolls of cell phone use such as how talking on the phone while driving increases the chance of an accident, as well as other facts about cell phones and how they corrupt society.
4, November. "Social Isolation and New Technology." Pew Research Center. Web. 02 May 2010.
This link above questions the use of cell phones and technology rather than choosing a distinct side and speaks of the social networking aspect of technology. It talks about how individual's social networking groups in society have become more diverse due to websites such as Face-book and Twitter. The technological advancements in society make this social networking possible and allow us to communicate quicker and more often than we would if websites such as these were not in existence. This link talks about how there may be a correlation between social networking websites and the diversity of the group of friends one has. This information is helpful/interesting because of the data it provides that I believe will be helpful while writing my essay.
"Cell Phones Equal Possible Downfall of Society." AQsaint.com. Web. 02 May 2010.
This link provides information about the certain aspects of cell phone use that could potentially corrupt the word because of a potential technological downfall. I found this information to be very interesting since I believe with most of what it states. I believe that the world has gained a dependence for the use of cell phones, which in some cases could be unhealthy. This link poses one of the many questions of which i plan to address in my essay, such as how have cell phones distanced us from some things in life and how they bring us closer and keep us better connected with the world.
Lenhart, By Amanda. "Teens, Cell Phones and Texting." Pew Research Center. Web. 01 May 2010.
This last link has a copious amount of informational and interesting statistical data that will assist me in writing my essay. The link will send you to a website that takes into account the text messaging network amongst teens and how the attachment to their phones is "an area of conflict and regulation".
All of these sources will come in handy when I start my essay, especially this last link that talks about cell phones being a "mixed blessing", this website has a lot of data that will support my thesis and will provide me with statistical data in order to prove my thesis indefinitely.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
The First Technology
Peter F. Drucker poses the question, "[d]oes the story of the irrigation civilization show man to be determined by his technical achievements, in thrall to them, coerced by them? Or does it show him capable of using technology to his own, to human ends, and of being the master of the tools of his own devising", in his writing in Technology and Culture. In today’s astonishing world of new technological advancement the cell phone has become a device that roughly 8 out of 10 people own in the U.S. today. In this case I believe that technological advances with cell phones aid greatly not only in the aspect of rapid communication, but also with the possibly ability to use the internet wherever you may be. This opens a wide window of possible knowledge to those who own cell phones that have the ability to connect to the Internet.
With new innovations to the cell phones we use on a daily basis, it is hard to keep up in a world of such technological intelligence. When you buy a phone for instance in January lets say, and use the phone for a year, you will most likely be surprised to find that your next cell phone will be extraordinarily better than the last. The innovations that are made to the cell phone each year make browsing the web faster, phone calls clearer and signal connection stronger. Society as a whole benefits from this device because of the ability of staying connected.
As we enter the second decade of the new millennium we are trapped in the idea of never ending innovations to technological devices, some of which benefit society and some that could potentially harm the World and existence of man. Cell phones are becoming more and more like a pocket computer each year. So to put it into perspective think of all the things that a computer allows us to do today, and then take into account all of those possibilities and put them into the palm of your hand and you will have the cell phones of tomorrow. The concept is exciting but if this advanced technology falls into the wrong hands it could potentially prove to be disastrous for the entire world, which is something that needs to be taken into account.
With new innovations to the cell phones we use on a daily basis, it is hard to keep up in a world of such technological intelligence. When you buy a phone for instance in January lets say, and use the phone for a year, you will most likely be surprised to find that your next cell phone will be extraordinarily better than the last. The innovations that are made to the cell phone each year make browsing the web faster, phone calls clearer and signal connection stronger. Society as a whole benefits from this device because of the ability of staying connected.
As we enter the second decade of the new millennium we are trapped in the idea of never ending innovations to technological devices, some of which benefit society and some that could potentially harm the World and existence of man. Cell phones are becoming more and more like a pocket computer each year. So to put it into perspective think of all the things that a computer allows us to do today, and then take into account all of those possibilities and put them into the palm of your hand and you will have the cell phones of tomorrow. The concept is exciting but if this advanced technology falls into the wrong hands it could potentially prove to be disastrous for the entire world, which is something that needs to be taken into account.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Favorite American Vacation Destinations
The American Leisure website has two videos that captured my interest. The one that I found most interesting was the Yale vs. Princeton football game where there were 50,000 people attending. The style of play displayed in the video seems abnormal compared to the more organized style of play today where a variety of different formations are used. In this aged video from the early 1900’s shows the football teams playing in a similar style as the sport of rugby. Which is in fact how the sport of football originated in 1879 with similar rules and regulations instituted by a man named Walter Camp, known as “the father of American football”, who was both a respectable player and coach at Yale University.
The second video that was of interest to me was titled “The Ball Game”, where two teams seemed to be scrimmaging but the video footage is not clear or specific because of old age. However the sport of baseball has not changed much and has remained part of “America’s Pastime” for centuries.
The tourists in the Disneyland video are venturing through the park exploring the different lands that create this “dreamland” in its entirety. They are busy fulfilling their exciting experiences while being entertained by the different musician groups parading up and down the streets.
I have only been to Disneyland a couple of times with my cousins who live in Southern California, and to them, it is just another walk in an entertaining festive park. To my cousins, this entire thrilling atmosphere is mundane. But to the new traveler who is an amateur to this paradise, such as my brother and I, every sight around every corner offers a new adventure.
Main Street in Disneyland is the entrance into this world where excitement and fun fill the mind and where the feeling of “being a kid again” is something everyone can feel as they venture down this historical route.
The history of Main Street at Disneyland is more than just a gateway to the world-renowned adventure land in Southern California. It holds the title as “The Happiest Place on Earth” and with all the people that come to visit for this reason in search of a leisurely family vacation, the reputation of Disneyland and every part about it, including Main Street, respectfully grows amongst the public.
The second video that was of interest to me was titled “The Ball Game”, where two teams seemed to be scrimmaging but the video footage is not clear or specific because of old age. However the sport of baseball has not changed much and has remained part of “America’s Pastime” for centuries.
The tourists in the Disneyland video are venturing through the park exploring the different lands that create this “dreamland” in its entirety. They are busy fulfilling their exciting experiences while being entertained by the different musician groups parading up and down the streets.
I have only been to Disneyland a couple of times with my cousins who live in Southern California, and to them, it is just another walk in an entertaining festive park. To my cousins, this entire thrilling atmosphere is mundane. But to the new traveler who is an amateur to this paradise, such as my brother and I, every sight around every corner offers a new adventure.
Main Street in Disneyland is the entrance into this world where excitement and fun fill the mind and where the feeling of “being a kid again” is something everyone can feel as they venture down this historical route.
The history of Main Street at Disneyland is more than just a gateway to the world-renowned adventure land in Southern California. It holds the title as “The Happiest Place on Earth” and with all the people that come to visit for this reason in search of a leisurely family vacation, the reputation of Disneyland and every part about it, including Main Street, respectfully grows amongst the public.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Why We Travel
Many people travel for different reasons. Personal joyful travel, or travel for business, whatever the reason for travel, our experiences along the way can strengthen who we are as individuals, how we perceive ourselves and how we want others to perceive us. I travel in order to experience the world and different cultures. I find joy and excitement in this and love learning of new places and cultures, one of the most enjoyable things for me is trying to break the cultural barrier and communicate with some of the locals wherever I may be traveling. I do not feel shy while doing this because of my ambition for learning about the world around me and how my culture differentiates with the other cultures. My mother has had the opportunity to travel the Mediterranean and I have questioned her about her adventures. One of the places she said was most appealing to her in Italy was the Vatican, more specifically the Sistine Chapel. She said the artwork was phenomenal and the locals were open to discussion about where the “best place for a home cooked Italian meal” was and where the best wines could be tasted. This strengthens my desire to one day travel to Italy and experience all of this for myself so I can one day make my own interpretations of such a trip and inspire someone else to travel.
While traveling I have seen many amazing and astounding things that have had me at a loss for words. I can recall a trip with my family to Yosemite National Park where it was early dawn and I was awoken by a loud grumbling and a crash coming from a campsite that was approximately one city block away. As I emerged from my tent I could see my friends and family staring a monstrous bear tipping a dumpster over in order to get to her bear cub that was too small to get out by itself. I had never seen a bear in person before. This excitement captured my ardor for camping and fulfilled my camping trip experience.
In Pico Ayer’s article explaining his beliefs on “Why We Travel”, he states “Travel is the best way we have of rescuing the humanity of places, and saving them from abstraction and ideology”, which is not particularly true for myself. When I travel somewhere I do try to communicate with others and enjoy the different cultures however “saving them from abstraction and ideology” is something I do not stray into. For this could cause potential conflict if I try to inflict my westernized ways of living upon a different culture. Because of this, I would only share the array of different hobbies and possibly add in a few fixed intervals of business into the conversation.
I do consider anonymity to be an important part of the entire traveling experience because without it, personal encounters would not be as exciting. When I am traveling I do in fact imagine the place in my mind to the fullest extent. For example, when I go camping in a new location I imagine everything in detail. From what the lake will look like as the warm sun shines on the undulated murky water, to the granite mountains surrounding the lake announcing their decorum of beauty of the entirety of the place. Upon arrival I think of how my campsite will appear to me as well as how I would like it to be. As I drive through whatever environment I am venturing into I feel like a voyager who is merely out on a quest in search of relaxation. Once I arrive to the campsite, to my dismay it is not how I appeared it to be. However being and optimist and one who is open to newfangled ideas, I accept this newly found vacationland and rather than suffering from a slight case of neurosis from the entangled vision I once had of this place I on my quest in search of relaxing satisfaction.
While traveling I have seen many amazing and astounding things that have had me at a loss for words. I can recall a trip with my family to Yosemite National Park where it was early dawn and I was awoken by a loud grumbling and a crash coming from a campsite that was approximately one city block away. As I emerged from my tent I could see my friends and family staring a monstrous bear tipping a dumpster over in order to get to her bear cub that was too small to get out by itself. I had never seen a bear in person before. This excitement captured my ardor for camping and fulfilled my camping trip experience.
In Pico Ayer’s article explaining his beliefs on “Why We Travel”, he states “Travel is the best way we have of rescuing the humanity of places, and saving them from abstraction and ideology”, which is not particularly true for myself. When I travel somewhere I do try to communicate with others and enjoy the different cultures however “saving them from abstraction and ideology” is something I do not stray into. For this could cause potential conflict if I try to inflict my westernized ways of living upon a different culture. Because of this, I would only share the array of different hobbies and possibly add in a few fixed intervals of business into the conversation.
I do consider anonymity to be an important part of the entire traveling experience because without it, personal encounters would not be as exciting. When I am traveling I do in fact imagine the place in my mind to the fullest extent. For example, when I go camping in a new location I imagine everything in detail. From what the lake will look like as the warm sun shines on the undulated murky water, to the granite mountains surrounding the lake announcing their decorum of beauty of the entirety of the place. Upon arrival I think of how my campsite will appear to me as well as how I would like it to be. As I drive through whatever environment I am venturing into I feel like a voyager who is merely out on a quest in search of relaxation. Once I arrive to the campsite, to my dismay it is not how I appeared it to be. However being and optimist and one who is open to newfangled ideas, I accept this newly found vacationland and rather than suffering from a slight case of neurosis from the entangled vision I once had of this place I on my quest in search of relaxing satisfaction.
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