How things mean

Peace Sign Buttons

1. What do they suggest?

The buttons suggest peace, and somewhat of an anti-war attitude.

2. How do do they suggest it?

Both buttons include the “peace” sign, one specifically says “peace” and the other says “make love, not war.”

3. Which elements of each image work on the viewer in various ways?

The image on the left, suggests a more playful, laid back attitude toward this notion of “peace,” versus the image on the right, is a more refined and professionally done organized logo/button. Both may appeal to differing audiences while still illustrating the same point.  

Rolex & Hello Kitty watches

1. What do they suggest?

Both suggest that the watch is somehow a fashionable and that the the consumer will be making a statement by wearing the product.

2. How do they suggest it?

They show off their features and their key feature (one being the Hello Kitty, the other being that it has diamonds and that it is a Rolex)

3. Which elements of each image work on the viewer in various ways?

Obviously the two audience's are significantly different, however toward their audience, both have the same point; to sell their watch.

Outline:

       Thesis: Each of the pairs of images illustrate the same point toward two different target audiences.

1. The watches have the same goal - to sell their product that do the same thing. The way they present each one is different.
1. The Rolex is more formal and sophisticated (aimed toward rich adults)
2. Hello Kitty is playful (aimed toward kids)
2. The buttons have the same goal - to advocate for peace and love. The way they present each one is different.
1. The “peace” button is more whimsical (aimed to more hippies)
2. The “make love - not war” button is more organized and simple (aimed at people advocate for peace and love but are not hippies)
3. The level of formality, style and appealing features differ depending on the audience, however within the pairs, the goal of the watch or button is consistent.

reading sources critically

Tim Wise; “Use Of The N-Word”

1. What arguments does the author make?

The author makes all arguments toward the position of not verbally using the N-word. Multiple arguments are brought up from playground examples such as “I can talk about my mother, but you sure as hell better not talk about my mother!” Another example that Tim Wise used was about a particular comedian Jeff Foxworthy and his jokes regarding “rednecks.” He argues that because Jeff may somewhat fall into the category of group that he is making fun of, it is seen as acceptable. On the flip-side, if Jerry Seinfeld was to use these same jokes in a standup routine, it would be inappropriate. His main position is that white people should not use verbally the N-word, however it is at the discretion of black people to use freely.

2. How persuasive do you find the argument?

The argument is very persuasive. Tim Wise supports his stance on the topic with plenty of evidence. Wise is clear on why this issue is important, while giving his view of how it should be handled. He explains more than just the white man's point of view, and explains the point of view of a black man. The medium allows him to express his authority with a strong tone.

3. What is the author's stance?

The stance the author takes is that he believes it isn't his place to determine how and when it is acceptable to use the word due to him being a white person. Although he does take a firm stance that it’s not his place to determine the above points, he does voice very clearly that if you’re not black you shouldn't use the word.

4. Does the publisher bring a certain stance to the work?

His speech was part of Boston College’s FACES organization, which is designed to promote awareness about discrimination and racism. Boston College is interested in race relations and wants their community to be a part of discussions like this.

5. Do you recognize ideas you’ve run across in other sources?

To my limited knowledge on the subject, Tim Wise brought up some new original and very persuasive ideas to the table to help illustrate his point. Some of the more generic things he said about Mark Twain and his use of the N-word in his book Huckleberry Finn I had heard before.

6. Does this source support or challenge your own position - or does it do both?

I am in agreement with Tim Wise and his statements of when it is appropriate to use the word. As a white person, hearing other white people say the N-word sounds very inappropriate and out of place (being that this is not the 1950’s anymore). His examples only furthered my own belief/stance on the subject, and I think this was a very informative and explanatory video.

7. What can you tell about the intended audience and purpose?

The purpose of the piece is to educate and offer some solution on who/ how the “n-word” should be used. The intended audience is students and faculty members who attend Boston College. He also aims to further educate people like who are fans of his writing, take a particular stance on the subject, or raise awareness of his opinion on how the topic should be dealt with. Also, since Tim Wise’s video is on YouTube, it can be intended for the general public and anyone who is interested in being involved in the topic.

Yes we can

The whole point of this video is to promote Obama in such a way that reaches people in a non-political way. The music is a vehicle to not only deliver the message, but it is used to connect to people. Music is a global language, and there is no other medium that can use emotion as effectively. Also, the video uses many well known  people doing the voiceovers, which shows the wide support that obama has. The words "hope" and "yes we can" are the ones that stand out, and are repeated many times, further backing up this sentiment.


Thinking about My Writing:
In my latest email, I was arguing a position of what I wanted to do that evening. I made my motivation clear by stating my emotional state, and my energy level as a result of what I did that day. Additionally, I made several arguments about what I would like to do given those factors. I also took into consideration what people previously said they wanted to do, and offered my willingness to do that, or an equal alternative. The biggest part of offering my stance is acknowledging the oppositie, and I think I did that well.

Reading Summary:

This reading explains the many pieces of arguing that we use in every day life, and that we use in writing a paper. According to this piece, we argue to achieve these things: to understand, to explore, to inform, to convince or persuade, to make decisions, or to reach consensus. The text uses many real life examples like Madonna's controversial performance in 1998, MLK's many profound speeches, and Gaddafi protesters in 2011. Important parts of finding, or making an argument are identifying who is making the argument, and where it is coming from (the media type, and it's credibility). Another important part is identifying your stance, and knowing well why you argue that way. You must also identify what is at stake, and put the most effort into getting the facts, defining the issue, stating why it matters, and telling what action should be taken. A claim is similar to a thesis, in that it makes a statement that must be proven with evidence. Finally, an important part of an effective argument is using ethos, pathos, and logos (emotion, logic, and credibility) to drive your point home.

Opinions and MLA format exercise

How does it appeal to you - or why does it fail to appeal?

This opinion does not appeal to me in the slightest for many reasons. The fact that he feels like he has to say “NOT” being racist is absurd. The only reason people say “not being racist but” is so they can go ahead and be racist. Additionally, he spelled Asians wrong, and his grammar overall is horrendous.

What kinds of words, images, or sounds does it use as supports for its position?

It uses horrible grammar, ugly white people, and even more racist comments to “drive” his point. They are using their horrible opinions to bash on the statistically most intelligent demographic in the world, and further proving their ignorance. It’s posts like these that make me very pessimistic about the human race. Oh well.

If you were going to revise it for a different audience, what would you do?

I would revise it by burning it to the ground and giving this ignorant idiot a stern talking to. Opinions that denounce, degrade, or discriminate against any group or individual are not opinions, they are abuse. Although the internet is filled with things like this, ideally there is no place appropriate for content like this.

If you were going to create it in another medium, how would it be different?

I would burn it to the ground, then make a youtube video of all the reasons this person is a racist A-hole.

How does it appeal to you - or why does it fail to appeal?

The ad appeals to me because I agree with the message it is promoting. The ad was created during World War II to promote women to join the workforce.

What kinds of words, images, or sounds does it use as supports for its position?

A powerful slogan is at the top of the page, “We Can Do It!” “Rosie” is the main focus of the poster, she is a working women flexing her arm to show her strength. A yellow background makes the poster pop.

If you were going to revise it for a different audience, what would you do?

If the poster was directed towards men, convincing them to persuade their spouses to join the workforce. I would change the color scheme to more patriotic colors of red, white and blue. Possibly have multiple women walking into the jobs as men was away from the jobs to symbolize the need for women to fill the empty jobs. As well as that women could work just as hard as men.

If you were going to create it in another medium, how would it be different?

If we were to turn the poster into a video, it might show multiple women working - showing strength in numbers. A patriotic song might be playing in the background since this was created in time of war.

How does it appeal to you - or why does it fail to appeal?

This poster I find very appealing because of it’s wit, satire, and bitter truth. This gay rights protester is using one of the anti-gay rights major arguments against them.

What kinds of words, images, or sounds does it use as supports for its position?

The quote directly from the bible is brilliantly chosen for the specific issue. I can say with confidence that many homophobes use the bible as an excuse for their intolerance, yet are sinning in many ways  similar to this ^ :)

If you were going to revise it for a different audience, what would you do?

I would not revise this sign at all. It is perfectly written, and the title above the quote is well placed and spot on with the issue.

If you were going to create it in another medium, how would it be different?

I would like to see many other quotes from the bible like these listed or made into a video. The bible argument for anti-gay protestors is absurd, and overused. Arguments like these help to dull that, and make them seem even more absurd. We need more brilliant minds and readers like this man in the fight for gay rights. BAM

How does it appeal to you - or why does it fail to appeal?

This political cartoon, like most, uses humor to illustrate (literally) a point or position on a particular issue. Generally the caricatures are given labels showing what aspect of government or politics they represent. Here the artist shows the difficulties for both the taxpayers and our future by supporting a large government. Two small children are dragging a cargo ship through the desert full of “out of hand” government activities.

What kinds of words, images, or sounds does it use as supports for its position?

The hot sun screaming down on the two small children attempting to drag the government (ship) through where it should not belong (desert).

If you were going to revise it for a different audience, what would you do?

I suppose for big government supporters you could potentially flip the positions of the ship and the kids. Aka the “big government” dragging the future and the taxpayers through the desert.

If you were going to create it in another medium, how would it be different?

If this image was to be say, a video, it would probably be much more informative, but a lot more work for an artist. It could include the loading of the ship and the heat waves of the desert to really give the full dramatic effect toward the issue.

Works Cited

"50 Funniest Protest Signs Ever - Funny Blog." 50 Funniest Protest Signs Ever - Funny Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2015.

"I'm Not Racist, But..." I'm Not Racist, But... N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2015.

Miller, J. Howard. “We Can Do It!” Poster. Wikipedia. 1942. Print.

Varvel, Gary. "Political Cartoons." Teach-Learn-Explore. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2015.

Taking a position exercise

All times I've taken a position:

1. What to have for dinner
2. Where to go for lunch
3. What show to watch on TV
4. What to wear that day
5. Current events (national issues)
6. Talking to my friend about an opinion on a new show I'm watching
7. Reasons why my political class is pointless
8. Taking a position on my favorite (the best) game console

There are many times daily we find ourselves taking a position or a certain issue. These are not always involving others. Many decisions we make are based off of our own personal preference, and how we are feeling in that particular moment in time. For example, choosing what clothes you want to wear that day is usually an individual issue that you "take a stance" on, or make a decision on. The other side is taking a stance on things that involve others, like deciding what to make for dinner, where you have to take into account the other person's ideas, but you also have to argue your decision to influence the other person. Most often, conversations that we have on a daily basis involve some sort of argument, or topic to take a side on. Whether it be discussing current events, or talking about a new show you watched, and how you feel about it. 

Taking stock of my writing

1.        How did you go about analyzing the text? What methods did you use—and which ones were most helpful?

Given there was not a lot of texts on the ads that I chose (because they are picture ads), the real methods I used were in interpreting the images, and using the texts as a baseline for that. The texts complimented the pictures in such a way that the analysis was simple. Analyzing these texts was quite easy, because most ads only have a few words to a few sentences on them. This way, they have to be pretty clear cut so anyone can understand them. 

2.       How did you go about drafting your essay?

I created a rough outline of my paper. I started by taking the 7 questions we used for the other ads and applied that to each ad. From there, I created a thesis statement, and began writing. 

3.       How well did you organize your written analysis? What, if anything, could you do to make it easier to read?

I feel as though I organized it pretty well. Each paragraph has a description and my analysis of an individual ad, and it compares to the other ads in the essay. The topics are strong, and help to back up my thesis. Perhaps to make it easier I could have three description paragraphs and then one comparing paragraph.

4.       Did you provide sufficient evidence to support your analysis?

I believe I do provide sufficient evidence. Each ad is unique in design, media and content, and they all work to prove the same point. 

5.       What did you do especially well?

I believe the strategies of the producers of these ads that I identified is my strongest point. They use big signs, small shirts, or online media, as well as humor, simplicity, and well known people to give their ads substance.

6.       What could still be improved?

My sentence flow and my transitions paragraph to paragraph could be stronger.

7.       Did you use any visuals, and if so, what did they add? Could you have shown the same thing with words?

The visuals were the whole point of the paper. Without them, the paper would be very confusing. Using just words wouldn't have been effective in proving my point at all. 

8.       How did other readers' responses influence your writing?

Other reader's responses were mostly grammatical fixes. They did not help much in changing my structure or style of my paper.

9.       What would you do differently next time?

Next time I would choose a different topic of ads to write about.

10.   Are you pleased with your analysis? What did it teach you about the text you analyzed? Did it make you want to study more works by the same writer or artist?

I am pleased with my analysis, I enjoy discovering the whit and strategies that go into making ads like these.

11.   What are the transferrable  skills you can take from this into other writing situations?

Analysis is a very important skill to use in writing, and I will use it many more times in the future.

Ad Analysis Draft

A massive debate that has been sweeping the nation this year was finally put to rest only months ago: gay marriage. Although to many it seemed like a no-brainer, that all humans lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual, pansexual, and transgender should be granted the same rights; many groups with religious affiliations, or homophobic groups opposed letting non-straight people merry. Much of the combat that took place between both sides was in the media and advertisements. Thousands of advertisements were published over many different medias, and in many different ways. A total of 379 major companies like Amazon, Apple, Coca-Cola, and Facebook expressed their public support for gay rights. Many of these companies used creative, bold, and colorful advertisements to do so. The three advertisements below are different in design and structure, but all express the same important message: that gay marriage is a right, not a privilege.

This first ad has been published in a very unique, but effective way: on clothing. Big companies have been marketing their brands on clothing for a long time. It is effective in grabbing people’s attention because in this day and age, people don’t look at signs as often as they do the people around them. If you are anywhere outside of a big city, odds are there aren’t going to be massive screens or boards like in Times Square; selling shirts with messages on them is a great way of adjusting and advertising in different environments. This ad is intended for anyone who takes the time to read the shirt of a passerby. Depending on the opinion of the spectator, this ad can be effective in starting up a conversation about the issue, and perhaps swaying someone’s opinion. It is a smart design, because the words “right” and “not” stand out. It draws your attention first off, and also highlights the important words. That “marriage is a human RIGHT / NOT a heterosexual privilege” (Marriage is…). The word “right” is often connected to our Constitution; many people argue that freedom of speech is their “right” or they have the “right” to bear arms. Much like this, they use the word “right” to show how necessary it is for many people. Additionally, anyone purchasing this t-shirt is not only showing their support for the cause, but they are also directly supporting the cause, when many of the proceeds from these shirt sales are donated to campaigns and programs working to improve gay rights. This simple, yet powerful ad provokes a strong feeling of passion and cause.

One of the most profound and puissant strategies in advertising is humor. Companies who use humor in their ads argue that humor is a “universal language,” that also “humanizes” advertising (Gulas). This second ad uses satire and somewhat historical humor to expose the hypocrisy and irony of legislation about gay rights.  It reads: “Gay people getting married? (Next They’ll be allowed to vote and pay taxes)” (Kenneth Cole). The obvious humor in this concise quote is the second part which reveals a hidden truth about this country’s history of discrimination. It is common knowledge that before LGBTQA citizens were being denied their basic human rights, it was slaves and blacks, other minorities, and women. They all had to fight for their freedom and rights when they never should have had to. All the while, America was being praised by its white male citizens for its “liberty” and “freedom”. Although gay individuals are indeed allowed to vote and pay taxes, Kenneth Cole’s wording highlight the clear parallels of these issues. Another important aspect of this particular ad is its size and location. Billboard advertising has been used since before the 1800s, but its explosive growth came in the early 1900’s when automobiles became more popular, and roads and highways began sprouting up around the country (History of…). Billboards are one of the most effective ways of reaching a large audience in a short period of time. A board like this over a busy city highway would see thousands of different people a day. In this particular circumstance, the ad for gay rights is intended for that such audience: anyone and everyone who may be passing by the billboard. The thought provoking quote, mixed with the isolation of driving could get many people thinking, and seeing those parallels with other issues of the past. Compared to the first ad, which was seen on t-shirts, this billboard ad is guaranteed to reach a large audience. The t-shirts are not as big and bold, and may not be seen or read by many people. Although, they are both quite effective, and creative types of advertisements that we don’t see as often.  

This final ad is one that has become much more common since the boom of social media. Famous celebrities and other well-known people can create their very own pages on sites like Facebook to inform people of their lives and their views. When campaigning in 2012, Obama’s official Facebook page posted this ad. It shows a defiant, wise looking Obama with a quote box in the forefront. It reads: “Every Single American - Gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, transgender - every single American deserves to be treated equally in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of our society” (President Obama). The words “Treated equally” are made larger and highlighted to show their divine importance. Within minutes, this ad had reached thousands, if not millions of people, which is why it is the most effective form of advertisement today. A huge part of getting support for a cause is being endorsed by big names; and there is no name bigger in the united states than Barack Obama. Although this particular advertisement was used by the Obama campaign to gain support for him, hundreds like it have been made by LGBTQA support groups and activist groups to show the very significant support that their cause has drawn. They can use this to gain even more support from people who like Obama, and are less aware of the gay rights issue, or people who are on the fence about the decision. Compared to the other two advertisements, this one takes the cake for reaching the furthest, and being the most effective. This ad can be seen all over the world, and on an interface that millions of people are guaranteed to use every day. It is an instant conversation starter for families, or strangers online to give their insight into the issue of gay rights. The internet has made these types of issues very well known all over the country, and campaigns like the Obama Campaign are using it to declare a stance, and spread awareness of the issue.

Although all three of these ads are very different in design and media type, they all work to convey the same message: that gay rights is a major issue that needs to be addressed, and that every citizen, not just heterosexuals deserve the right to marry. Thousands of advertisements like these have been published on all types of media: newspaper, television, billboard, clothing, online, and in magazines. Each one has it’s benefits and it’s faults. The t-shirts are a great way for individuals to show their support, but they reach a very small audience. The billboards are a classic way of reaching thousands of drivers, but they may be looked past a lot. Online advertisements are the most effective in reaching a large audience, and they are the most effective in starting a conversation on the issue. Despite the legislation passed to make gay marriage legal, there are still many issues of discrimination that gay couples have to face. There have been cases of offices refusing to give marriage licenses to gay couples, and churches refusing to marry said couples. Their fight for liberty and equality is not over. Advertisements like these continue to help the cause by spreading awareness to a wide variety of audiences. They all drive the cause in different ways, none less important than the other.

Works Cited

Gulas, Charles S., and Marc G. Weinberger. Humor in Advertising: A      Comprehensive Analysis. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2006. Print.

"History of Billboard Advertising." History of Billboard Advertising. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.

Kaufman, Alexander C. "Here Are The 379 Companies Urging The Supreme Court To Support Same-Sex Marriage." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.

"Marriage Is A Human Right Not A Heterosexual Privilege T Shirt." Marriage Is A Human Right Not A Heterosexual Privilege T Shirt. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.