Reflection

Doing this class blog has really been fun and interesting to do. The blog allows others as well as myself, to expand our voice and learn about other people and their ideas. It was fun creating the whole blog because you could make it the way you wanted to by choosing a background, your font, format, and style of writing. It really expressed who I am as an individual and it showed people who I am as well. I also liked how you can comment on other people's blogs. It gives great feedback to people, and gives them constructive complements on their work. When people do this, it really makes me and I'm sure others, feel good and inspired by the  work they've done, and promotes them to keep up the good work.  I would definitely do another blog if I got the chance to. It was a really great experience.

Obsessions with Women In The Media

Now days in the media, women are brain-washed into wanting to look like celebrities and have a perfect, sexy image.   This is conducted by the way media advertises women, by giving an image that is false by photo shopping, stray tans, and computerized touch ups.  The media has convinced women in believing that they could be beautiful and sexy with the styles that famous women advertise, in which are pretty pricy,  when in reality, women are just as beautiful as being themselves.  Women are so obsessed by what they look like, they start feeling that they have to raise their standards, and look like the women in the media in order to feel pretty and beautiful. My best friend is a hair dresser and she  told me about all the women who constantly come in with pictures of women from the media, such as famous people, and they ask her to do their hair like the picture they brought in. So I went into my friends work and watched and analyzed the women that came in for appointments. For the whole day that I was there, 5 out of 7 clients brought a picture that was from a magazine or off the internet of a women they didn't know. The clients got good results, so they are repeatedly drawn back into the cycle of looking like women from the media and getting their look, when in reality it was the hair dresser who created the outcome of beautiful hair, not the picture.  This just really shocked me because they wanted to look like the women that the media advertised, but didn't want to have their own voice in the way they looked. This just really showed me how much of an impact advertising really has on people. Advertising takes away originality from people and limits the creativity a person can have on their own, by making women believe they have to look like a certain image in order to feel beautiful and accepted.

Before:                                   After:

Secret Life Of Bees

 On the last page of S.L.O.B, page 302, Lily says, " This is the autumn of wonders, yet every day, every single day, I go back to that burned afternoon in August when T-Ray left. I go back to that one moment when I stood in the driveway with small rocks and clumps of dirt around my feet and looked back at the porch. And there they were. All these mothers. I have more mothers than any eight girls off the street. They are the moons shinning over me."  When Lily says this, you can really feel the struggles she went through and the outcome of happiness she now lives. Throughout the whole book Lily has pain and mourn in her heart for her mother, and the author uses bees as a metaphor to express how much having a mother, or " queen bee" is important to her. She has Rosaleen, August and her sisters who love and care for her. Even though Lily's mother is dead, you can tell she feels close to her when she stays with August, June, and May, because August took care of her mother when she was little. This quote also holds an event from the book where T-Ray lets Lily go and stay with the three sisters. It shows that he really does care about Lily, even though he would never show it. She is with people she can love and grow with and she is truly happy.

" Is Harry Potter Evil? "

In this Essay by Judy Blume, she talks about how now days famous children books are being banished for the most absurd reasons. People these days are so concerned about the content that books hold. They bash some of the greatest books that really told an important message or that brought imagination to children. It's crazy! Why are children not allowed to imagine. For example in this essay where they banned Harry Potter because of its witchcraft and wizard content. What if one of those books, from all the books that they've banned, saved someone's life, or even inspired them? What is the harm in that? I think that if a parent doesn't want their child to read something, then that's ok, don't have them read it, but don't take really good books away from other children that could benefit from them.

" Yahoo Says Americans Work Too Much"

In this essay by Jason Lee Miller, I strongly agree with the author when he says that you should seperate your at home life and your work life. When you work, you should do a good job and call it a day. People are gone from their families all the time because they're working, and they come home from work ready to work some more. It's absolutely crazy. Spend the time that you have with your family to bond more and have the time to do family things. Not hop on your iphone or computer and check your emails for work. Life goes by fast, and people don't realize that they are missing out on their families, friends, and not to mention the time to rejuvenate their body. It just seems crazy to me that people would rather work more than spend the time at home with their family or friends. How can Americans be more happy working more than taking time to relax with the people they love?  We're NOT ROBOTS PEOPLE! We're not programmed to work every second of our lives. Know the limits from work and your at home life and spend time with the people around you, because they won't be there forever.

Movie Review

The Notebook is a 2004 romantic dram film directed by Nick Cassavetes, based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks . The film stars Ryan Gosling and Racheal McAdams as a young couple who fall in love during the early 1940s. Their story is narrated from the present day by an elderly man played by James Garner. Im sure that many of you have already seen this movie. It is my absolute all time movie favorite! I love this movie because the story is just so touching, and truly expresses the value of ever lasting love. The message that stood out to me was that if you love someone, then never give up trying. This message was important because throught the whole movie it expressed how even though Allie ( Racheal McAdams) moved away and was with another man, Noah (Ryan Gosling) still tried to show her that she was happier and was her true self with him.  And after all those years, he still never gave up on her. This movie is very sad, because after all those years together, Allie develops Alzhimers and Noah reads her the story everyday so that she'll come back to him. It is the best romance movies of all time!! So if you haven't seen it....Go rent it!!!

Cartoon Analysis Compare & Contrast

I found this cartoon on the inernet and I am comparing and contrasting it to the cartoon on page 172 of "What Materrs in America" in which I could not find online to display. Both of the cartoons are media and technology related. This cartoon expreses how teens are so addicted to facebook and social netorks and a broader idea, media. In the other cartoon, it's expressing how violence in the media affects people, and how it adds "fear" to peoples lives. Both of the comics were done by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman based on the comic Zits, and shows how media has an impact on peoples lives in a negative way.

Book Review

The novel I read, "Starry, Starry Night," by Lurlene McDaniel, was published on september 13, 2011 by Random House Digital, Inc and contains 272 pages. The novel is a three story book that gives you a touching experience,  and you feel the struggle these young teens go through and how they overcome them.  In the opening story, "Christmas Child," 15-year-old Melanie feels cheated when her baby sister, born during the holidays, lives only a few hours. But the baby's brief life shows Melanie the lasting value of love. Brenda struggles between noble intentions and earthier desires when she becomes a dying boy's final chance for happiness in "Last Dance." In my favorite story, the closing story, "Kathy's Life," presents a 16-year-old who appears to have it all. Kathy is beautiful, intelligent, and has the perfect job as a live-in caretaker for a couple's baby boy. But not everything is as perfect as it seems. Kathy gives up the one person she loves most in the world, her child Christian to a couple that wants to adopt. This was my favorite story because it shows the struggles a teen mom has to go through in order to make the right decision for her baby. I couldn't imagine having to give up my child, especially at a young age. " Christian can have a wonderful life now. I love him but I am just not at the time in my life where I can raise a baby. He will forever be in my heart." Says Kathy. This quote really shows the maturity Kathy has and the love she has for her baby, Christian. She is willing to do anything to make sure her child has a good life, even if it means spending it with someone else. You will be inspired, enlightened, and comforted by these moving stories that depict the many kinds of love in the world. I highly reccomend this book because every novel that the author, Lurlene McDaniel has wrote, I have absolutely loved! Her books have a way of keeping you in intrested throughout the whole book, and leaves you wanting more. If you love romantic, adventurous, touching novels, this author and book is the one for you!!!

Does Money= Happiness?

I personally don't think that money equals happiness. Does money relieve alot financial stress from people's lives? ....ofcourse, but when you get the meaning of true happiness it has nothing to do with money. You could be a billionarie and still be lacking happiness. Alot of people who are famous have tons of money, but still have no happiness. Happiness comes from the heart, and to me family and the joy of love brings the greatest happiness. Growing up, I never really had alot of money in my family, but my dad did the best he could, and brought me so much joy to my life that money never really mattered because we had eachother. So money isn't everything. It's more of a want than a need, and yes, is nice to have, but we people over look the finer things in life when it comes to happiness. Money does not equal happiness. Love is the greatest treasure we hold when it comes to happiness, we just have to find it.

You Decide

When my partner, Devin A, and I worked together to decide whether or not the video game image should be the homepage image, it wasn't very difficult at all. We both strongly agreed that specific images are targeted to a general audience and ones maturity level is highly influenced by what a person considers to be right and wrong. If an image is there to support the advertisement of a game, it is okay because their intentions are to portray a visual idea of the game for use of entertainment, not to represent acts of violence being okay.

        We believe video games are definitely a form of entertainment. The video game image in our opinion had nothing violent about it. It looked more Sci- Fi if anything.  We agreed that the video game image would be appropriate to have on their homepage.  On the other hand, we argue that video games that involve violence are not going to put a psychological hold on the gamer to act out in violence. Video games like all media that has inappropriate images for young viewers,  have ratings. If you're a parent and you have a 6 year old who wants Call of Duty, and is rated M for mature, it would be in your best interest as a parent, to not buy that for your child. Kids at that age aren't mature enough to understand the difference between using your imagination to be aggressive in the game,  and  knowing that it's not ok in real life. It's definitely all about the audience and viewer. You need to know who is going to be the audience in order to judge whether or not the image or game would be appropriate.

PBS Culture Shock

  Me and my partner Devin A have decided that video games are a form of art because their visuals are created to entertain.  We did not find the video game image to be offensive or objectionable. The images were graphic but were not offensive, because I am at the maturity level to get the concept of the images. Would these images disturb a younger audience yes, because they are not at a maturity level to understand the material. Its all about the audience.  It wasn't difficult at all trying to figure out whether or not the image should be on the homepage, because the image showed no signs of violence to us. It looked more Sci-Fi to Devin and I, and we both agreed that it would be appropriate to have on the homepage.   Some of the quotes from the site did try and sway our decision.  They really do try and change your mind to feel strongly aginst the image, but they weren't strong enough to change Devin and I's opinion. No we don't believe that violent video games is an outlet for our aggression, because if anything it would antagonize the situation or their state of mind. We believe that their way of balancing violence in games is a way to entertain. Should little kids be playing violence games? No because they game organizations have and limits to gamers by ratings, and it is the people's responsibility to abide by those rules. 

Working as a group

Working as a group always has its pros and cons. The pros are you get different creative ideas and you get to know other students and connect with them on an educated level. The cons are its hard for most people to meet up togther, and some people end up sending information at the last minute so it can be frustrating. But overall, the pros over power the cons and it can be a really great experience.

Arnold + Booze = Hatred

Q ( 7. )   Alcoholism has really put an impact on all indians, but mainly Arnold. He had three people he cared a lot about die from it. His grandmother, who he loved dearly, was hit by a drunk driver. She never drank a day in her life, and she was taking by the hands of alcohol Arnold describes Grandmother Spirit as a women you loved anyone and had the tolerance and patients for people. The last words Arnold's grandmother said before she died was "for give him." She wanted her family to forgive her own killer. It just goes to show how big of a heart Grandmother spirit had. Arnold's uncle Eugene was shot by his best friend who was drunk and couldnt even remember killing Eugene. Eugene always was at Arnolds games telling him "you can do it" and really lifted Arnold's spirits up. Arnold's sister Mary, was also killed by alcohol. Arnold loved his sister, and his uncle and grandmother very much, and it really hurt him to have the people he loved most, die. Arnold believed he had cursed his family by leaving the Rez, so he was a fault for his family members dieing. This part of the book was very sad, and you could feel the pain Arnold was going through. He promises his mother he will never drink or be an alcoholic. His life has been torn apart from this deadly drug, and he wishes to have no part in it. Arnold is strong for everything his been through. I couldnt image going through the struggles he did, nor can I image going to 42 funerals. Arnold is a very brave, strong willed character, and he deserves to be happy.

Cartoon analysis

     
                    The cartoon on page 29 of Mr. P is hilarious! Junior describes his teacher as extremely skinny, has a big nose, dirty clothes, and has dandruff. It just really portrays this goofy, funny looking guy, and I can see why Junior makes fun of him. He does seem wierd, but in the end Mr. P does care about Junior and he wants him to become something in life. He doesn't want Junior becoming like everyone else on the Rez, and that's why Mr.p influence Arnold ( Junior) to go to Reardan ( an all white, rich school) so that he can better himself in education. To me, Mr. P seems like a warm-hearted, genuine old man that truely cares for his students, and you can tell he feels bad for how he treated "indians" in the past, and he confesses to Junior his faults. It takes alot of strength to admit your faults, and you can tell Mr. P himself is trying to become a better person and wants Arnold to do the same.

Dolce & Gabbana Ad

1. Whats happening in this ad is what looks to be a middle class women doing her dishes. The product theyre selling is Dolce & Gabbana perfume, and I believe theyre saying that any women no matter what class youre in, can wear and buy this perfume and be sexy.

2.The women in this ad is doing the dishes and seems to be appalled by something, possibly her chindren or husband, or maybe even a friend. Personally , I think the elements definately do connect to the product, because like I said before, the message Im getting for this ad is that any women can wear this product and that you dont have to be rich to afford it. It is a very clever idea.

3. I think it would be hard to tell what the ad was for, if the Dolce & Gabbana wasnt there. Just because it could be for anything! A soap ad, or maybe even an ad for a brand named dress, but you dont get perfume out of it besides the fact it says the name on there.

4. I would stop and read it simply because I like all of Dolce & Gabbana's ads. Theyre very catchy and creative!

5. Yes, because the way her house looks and the fact that shes "doing" the dishes by hand.  Most people these days with money would most likely have a fancy dishwasher, but not her, and it portrays the setting of a middle class house.

Burger King: The Lunch Battle Is Over

1. Who is the woman in the ad? What is she wearing, and why?
-The women in the ad looks like a women in her 30s, fairly young. She is wearing what looks to be a viking suit, but is made out of cooking utensils. She is wearing it because she is supose to be  "battling" for lunch

 2. Where would you expect to see an ad like this, and why? If you were an advertising executive, where would you place this ad? How would you target your public? Explain.
-I would expect to see this ad all over. To me, its really funny and really draws the people to it. So if i was an advertising executive, I would place this every where!

3. What connection does the tag line, "The Lunch Battle Is Over" have to the product? What association or product image is the company trying to promote?
-I believe this ad is saying that kids are picky eaters, and its going to be a "battle" when feeding them. I believe Burger King is saying the battles over if you come hand bring your kids here.

4. What is Burger King trying to do with this ad? Who are they targeting? Is there a primary audience and a secondary one? Explain.
-Burger King is trying to target mom's in to bringing theyre kids to burger king. I believe this ad targets likely everyone, but mainly moms and their children. Everyone has gone to burger king probably once in their life,  and this is just a humorous way burger king is advertising it.

Six Word Memoir

   Life is always a daring adventure.

 

Are you so much cooler online?

The laguage of advertising

I chose to write a response to Charles A. O'Neill's essay " The Language of Advertising", because Personally I completely agree with O'Neill, simply because I believe that advertisements will always be a part of our lives. There's no way to avoid them, and I think that people are definitely capable of thinking for themselves and I think it's time to start doing that when it comes to making decisions about what were buying and not have big corporations make these decisions for us. If we had a better understanding for advertisements and truly new the pros and cons of a product that was being sold, instead of letting them hypnotize us, we could be able to make that buying decision independently and not feel pressured to buy it if you didn't want to.

Lipton Superfruit AD

The advertisement I chose was Lipton Green Tea Superfruit. I chose this ad because it showed more being sold than just the tea. I visually see it promoting health by all the different variety of fruits that are being presented into the tea. It really gives you an idea of how fruity the tea may taste. If you're a FRUIT LOVER...this is a great way to draw you to Lipton's Greentea Superfruit!