An Imperfect Reality (RL9)

1.) The Autism Speaks advertisement encourages us to think or realize that autism is much more prevalent than most people are aware of, and that the likeliness of a child becoming such things like a fashion designer is incredibly unlikely compared to that same child developing autism.

2.) Hollingsworth discusses the advertisement's key elements of color and organization. She perfectly analizes the colors in the image and shows how they add to the tone of happiness and creativity. This is all counteracted when one reads the slogan printed in front of those colors. She states that by organizing the layout of the ad to have the slogan most forward and the little girl and the colors all towards the back the message is loud and clear.

3.) The author connects the idea that the little girl in the ad is the 1 in 150 children that are diagnosed with autism with the idea that it could be any one child, the viewer's child. She also links the meaning behind Autism Speaks' logo with the many questions parents of autistic children may have. Finally, Hollingsworth finds a comparison between this single ad and all other ads that do the exact same thing, striking fear in us before shoving truth right down our throats.

My Ad...(RL7 part two)

I got the idea after I remembered hearing something about a man sueing some fast foot chain, because he couldn't fit in their booth. I knew exactly what I wanted to do from the start. However, I am not that skilled in photoshop or any photo editing program for that matter. I have no skills at all actually. So it did not turn out the way I wanted it to. This is what I ended up with after a few hours. I think the message is clear enough. At least, I hope it is.

Ads...(RL7 part one)

I chose this Ad, because of the debate it strikes up. The Ad, printed by the always controversial network, MTV, presents the number of fatalities that occurred on 9/11 and the number of deaths that have been a result of poverty. The ratio is incredibly disproportional; that much is true. However, the question that is posed, through my eyes, is "Which is more important? Those killed during the September 11 tragedy or those who fell to poverty?" In my opinion, poverty is a huge issue all across the world. It is a problem that needs a solution and needs it now. Still, 9/11 and the lives lost on that tragic day should never be forgotten.

This Ad sparked my interest because I am intrigued by the iconic figure printed on it, Abraham Lincoln, even if he isn't his normal thin size. The Ad is humorous while still presenting the serious issue of obesity. The slogan says it all, "If you don't move, you get fat." The Lincoln Memorial is the perfect symbol to use to make this point. Lincoln represents America, and America is an obese nation. The plaque at the bottom of the statue reads "Deutscher Olympicher Sport Bund" which in English is the German Olympic Sports Confederation. This organization issued the Ad. So from this, it can be assumed that the Germans are making an example out of Americans to its own citizens. The image has a clear target audience and the message is even clearer.

Watch this!

I strongly recommend this eight part mini-series to anyone who has the smallest interest in the incredible stamp on American history left by this iconic family. The story is moving and eye-opening and inspiring. The actors, which include Greg Kinear, Katie Holmes, and Tom Wilkinson in the roles of JFK, Jackie Kennedy, and Joesph Kennedy Sr., are superb. It just won four Emmys this past Sunday, which includes Outstanding Lead Actor in a Mini-Series or Movie for Barry Pepper who captured Bobby Kennedy perfectly, and each one was well desereved. If you can, check it out on Netflix.

Best X-Men movie?....I think so!!!

The Mighty Image (RL6)

2.) Johnson begins his essay by stating several hard questions Americans have to answer for themselves on a daily basis. What to wear, what to buy, what to drive, where to shop. The questions seems simple enough, but I agree with Johnson in that they are in fact difficult to answer at times. This is so because there are so many influences that weigh on each question, things like pressure from society and the status quo along with gazillions advertisements and images and the emotions and feelings that they evoke. By stating these questions and in the tone at which he did, Johnson displays to readers that he sees those influences on the simple things in daily life as a bad thing. That things like ads and images produce a hunger in people that cloud their better judgment and logic. It is trickery. He goes on to say that "people do make free choices only insofar as they are free from overt oppression, but they do not make choices that are free of culture." This quote reminds me of a memorable line from Supernatural- "Free will is an allusion." In today's culture, this reigns true. Yes, people make their own choices technically. But at the same time, those choices are not made in a right state of mine as average Americans are tricked and lured into a web of consumerism that has no true "escape...solitude and security." It only holds the allusion of all those things. So it seems that American culture is something corrupt and flawed and not something to be very proud of, and that is one tough pill to swallow even if it is true.

Rise of the Image Culture: Re-Imagining the American Dream (RL5)

1.) Thoman connects images and lifestyles by showing how one affects the other. She explains how images have altered the way people live their lives over time. Images have made people want more. They want to own more, want to do more, and want to be more than they were before, whether or not they fully need it. Yes, images have progressed the average lifestyle and standard of living, but Thoman highlights that there are some negative effects as well and that those effects need to be monitored.

2.) The main idea of the essay is that progressions in images have lead to many effects on people, both positive and not so positive effects, and that there are things the people can do to limit those changes today. The title of the essay focuses the reader on this main idea, because in nine short words in spells out that the image culture is rising and it is altering the American Drive, or way of living.

3.) Thoman uses history a key tool in stressing her main idea, because with it, she is able to discuss the changes in technology and imagery in chronologically order. Doing it this way, allows the reader to see that the changes happened consecutively and naturally with each advancement, from the basic camera to the radio to the television. She furthers her points by mentioning historic figures like Ronald Reagan and Ghandi and writing the opinions of other men including Oliver Holmes and Stehpen Garey.

4.) The essay is in part a call to action, because Thoman writes of all the ways she thinks people can counteract the power images have over them, or at the least make them less influential in negative ways.

5.) The last paragraph about the philosopher and the cave threw me off a bit. Maybe the author could have explained that scenario a little bit further for someone like me to understand, because it seems pretty significant. I feel like I missed the pivotal conclusion to the entire paper, and I wish I could say I didn't. Other than that, I think Thoman provided enough support for her points throughout her essay.

Can the 23rd get here already??

Speaks for itself.

And the best Dad of the year award goes to...

A Beat Education

RL4

1.) Leonard Kress writes about education as if it something that is flawed and insufficient. I think that he implies that children learn much more outside that classroom than they do inside of it.

2.) The larger discussion is education and where is it that students actually learn. Yes, the classroom is the main source of a child's learning, but there are other places where they can learn just as much. Like on a freight train.

3.) When I was about fourteen, I was just flipping mindlessly through the channels on my television. I randomly stopped on AMC to see what a movie titled "JFK" was about. I had always been a American history fan, but I had never really experienced that interest outside school. After watching an hour of this movie, my view on school, government, and my career path were completely different. I realized that the schooling I had already been through had not taught me everything I needed to know; I realized that the American Government can be a corrupt system; I realized that a strong need to become part of that American Government and history had struck inside of me. Now nearly five years later, I am working hard to to make that final realization part of reality.