Thursday, September 20, 2012

Summer Assignment


Men’s Men.


 

The Surface Meaning
The Chevy ad portrays a man with a new Silverado truck, and other men who own various models of Chevy trucks and in this commercial all “Chevy owners” have survived the end of the world! It juxtaposes the first man with his best friend/dog and other friends that drive Chevy’s, he asks about his friend Dave and someone tells him that Dave didn’t drive a Chevy, he drove a Ford.
The Advertiser’s Intended Meaning
The advertiser wants to try and show men that if they own a Chevy then they will have a certain masculine vibe to themselves, and they also can survive almost any problem they come into contact with, the ad shows that the Chevrolet trucks have a strong frame and an amazing build! It has to be built well if it can survive the Mayan Apocalypse of course!! The company wants to depict the truck in a way that the buyers can believe that if they get stuck or they need to haul a large load then they can rely on their truck to make the trip.  BUT only Chevys can do this job! NO FORDS ALLOWED!
The Cultural or Ideological Meaning
As the Chevy appears from the rubble of a crumpled bridge a bright song is playing proclaiming the words “looks like we made it!” The song choice contradicts the devastating appearance of worlds end and the black and white colors of the dusty torn apart city. The song continues to blare as the man and “man’s best friend”  pull up to what looks like the only people who have survived the collapse of the universe, and they all around circled by their beloved Chevrolets, the idea that is being absorbed here is if you have a Chevrolet and all your friends have a Chevrolet then nothing can stop you. When this man asks about his friend Dave a man with a antique Chevy replies and tells him that Dave didn’t make it because he didn’t drive the longest lasting truck on the road, Dave drove a Ford. Then his other friend offers a Twinkie like everything is just peachy and then it starts raining frogs. This shows the masculinity of the men and that is the kind of man every other man wants to be, so if they have a Chevrolet then they can be a macho man too!

 

Men’s Women.


 

The Surface Meaning
A woman enters a beer store and the man first politely lets the lady go through the door but when he notices she is going for the last case of Miller Lite it’s a sudden strategic fight for the last case of beer! He wants the beer, and he will quite possibly do anything for it!
The Advertiser’s Intended Meaning
The advertiser’s wants to shows that Miller Lite is show good you will practically fight a girl for it! As the woman eyes the beer the man is keeping a close eye on both the woman and his favorite drink! As they both go for the beer, the two latch on to the case and the man calls “off sides” on the woman and she starts talking penalties right back! The advertiser was to illustrate the desperate measure you will go through to get this beer after you taste it.
The Cultural or Ideological Meaning
When men are posed with a skimpy dressed woman and beer there is no telling what is going to happen, it’s like a switch clicks on and they’re a different people! The tank top and skirt shows how a man likes a woman to dress and the bonus that she knows how to talk football with him is that much more attractive. This commercial shows how shallow men can be, and how immodest woman can be. When a man gets an opportunity to sit and share a case of beer with a barely dressed girl and talk football he will jump on the chance. So the commercial depicts all of these things that a man wants from a woman, plus beer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women’s Men.


 

The Surface Meaning
The Old Spice body wash commercial depicts a man telling the women that if they keep buy their men women scented body wash then the men are never going to buy you tickets “to the think you love” or buy you “diamonds.” If your man smells like Old Spice “anything could happen.”
The Advertiser’s Intended Meaning
The advertiser’s wanted to target the women with this commercial because they know the women do the grocery shopping, so they are the ones that buy the body wash, the promoter of Old Spice wants to ingrain into women’s head that if you buy Old Spice and your man smells manly then anything you want can be possible.
The Cultural or Ideological Meaning
The body of the man that is supporting this body wash influences the women’s thoughts persuading her to think that if she buys her man this manly body wash maybe her man will look as sculpted as this man. The background of the boat and the colors used such as whites, light blues, and light browns, promotes tranquility and romances this makes the brain seem to accept what it is being told, as the commercial compares women’s body wash and men’s body wash the women is obviously going to buy her man the men’s body wash because of the possibilities offered such as if you buy your man this body wash, he will buy you tickets to your favorite shows, and get you diamonds! What girl doesn’t want that? Diamonds are a girl’s best friend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women’s Women.


 

The Surface Meaning
With these appliances the mom will be able to
spend less time in the kitchen and more time with
her family. The faster cook times, the faster spin
cycles, and the more space will accommodate your
family.
The Advertiser’s Intended Meaning
The advertisers wanted to make sure this commercial appealed to women because women are the ones in the house hold that use the washer and dryer, and cook in the oven, the men use the refrigerator but they could care less about what it looks like they just care how much food is in it and the more room the more they are going to tell their wife to get the bigger one. So LG tries to make sure that they make their washer s and refrigerators the nicest, sleekest, and fastest. 
The Cultural or Ideological Meaning
The ideological meaning intended for this commercial is that with the women being the ones doing most of the cleaning, and household chores they have a set thought in their head that their time is taken up with all of the chores, and they don’t spend any time with their family. With the washer and dryer offering a shorter wash cycle and the oven supporting a quicker cook time, its gives the mothers and wives more time to spend with their families and less time in the kitchen. The refrigerator presents more spaces and more “fun capacity.” This shows that the more space offered the more space your family has to fit cookies that they spent time together making! The idea that was portrayed was that with the LG products the more time you will have with your family.

 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

The Bucket List!

1. The Snow that Falls on Cedars
David Guterson
      The Snow that Falls on Cedars won the PEN and Faulkner Award and was also a number one best seller. The book is about a trial of a Japanese American accused of killing a white man. I’m aspiring to be a lawyer and I LOVE Law and Order so I thought I would like reading about a trial since I like watching them.

2. The Sledding Hill
Chris Crutcher
    This book depicts the life struggle of a boy who has lost his dad and best friend. But he “refuses to let death” get in his way. I love the fact that this blurb of the book characterizes such a bond between the two friends and I would love to find out how this ends.

3. Perfect
Nastasha Friend
    The amount of stress we have to overcome in high school is absurd and then with the constant push to “climb the social” turns our life into a downward spiral. This book describes all of the coping a young girl with a disorder has to go through and the way she endures high school.

4. Thinking in Pictures-My Life With Autism
Temple Grandin
   Temple Grandin is an amazing women, she pursued life not with doubt upon herself, but with the drive to learn. The movie about Temple was an eye opening motion picture and I absolutely loved it! I think this book will be a realization for me and I hope it will be as captivating as the movie. 

5. Perfect Chemistry
Simone Elkeles
   This love story is almost like a modern day Romeo and Juliet. Where social groups and stereotypes threaten to separate the true love of a couple. I love these new world remixes of Romeo and Juliet, they are sweet and it is what every girl wants in a relationship; compassion and tension.

6. Fifty Shades of Grey
E L James
    This daring love affair intrigues many, the reason I chose this book is because shows the other odd side of a relationship, instead of the lovely dovey cupcake public stage. This is about a college student who goes on an interview and realizes she wants the young entrepreneur she is interviewing. This odd means of meeting and the secrets kept in this book make it an interesting read.

7. The Fault In Our Stars
John Green
   This book about a girl who has been “completely terminal” her whole life has found a boy in her Cancer Support Group. Her life is about to change completely. The story of a doomed cancer child in love makes this book a must read, it reminds me of the movie/book “A Walk to Remember.”

8. The Perks of Being A Wallflower
Stephen Chabosky
   I know it seems like I am picking tons of teen books, but I love to read about highschoolers and the way they persist through their high school career. I love reading books that are written different, like in poems or in this case letters. The fact that’s it’s not a straight up chapter by chapter book makes it a more enjoyable read.

9. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Ransom Riggs
   This odd book is full of an odd and chilling story of a boy exploring an island that once had a “Home for Peculiar Children.”  This book is filled with a captivating story that screams MYSTERY. I love the idea of odd and creepy children ghost lurking around the remains of their old and disturbing home.

10. Pretty Little Liars
Sara Shepard
   The TV series is amazing. The murder of a close friend of four girls unravels all of the secrets they knew and some new ones. The twisted and unbelievable turns these girls face are crazy and almost impossible to keep track of. The love stories and the search for A’s killer. Who killed A?

Monday, April 16, 2012

On the Brink

The ship is sinking! The ship is sinking! All the people are running to their rooms to grab their belongings, they think they're going to survive this. The captain lied to us, there is no way this ship isn't going to sink; rumors spread that there is around 3 hours left till we go down, but I don't believe we have even that long. I am running with my family, my three boys and husband, they are shoving us on to the lifeboats, my boys and I; my husband is being pulled from my arms, I will not leave him. Our grasp is separated and the boat is already being lowered, if my boys and I survive this I will never be able to forgive the captain for his mistake; how could he not have known about the iceberg? My husband is being left to die on a "Titan Ship!" Captain Smith will never be forgiven in my eyes, nor through the few that will survive this tragedy. I look back to my boys and realize that William is missing; Captain Smith will never be forgiven. My son and husband are left to drowned or freeze in the icy hell of "The Titanic."

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Speaking to Me

“Very few of us still prayed” (Wiesenthal pg. 80).
The pathos of this statement is spilling out of the quotations. I feel automatic sympathy for the ones who lost their faith throughout their journey in these horrible concentration camps. The loss of faith at this time can tear a person apart; this also makes the reader think of the old women who said that "God is on leave." All the Jews who stopped praying at that time must have thought that God has abandoned them; what else would someone think?

Friday, March 30, 2012

Murdering Forgiveness

A young women aborts her baby to avoid the social stigma of being an unwed mother; when posed with this statement I feel that this mother shows how shallow she is. She killed her own child so that it would not be viewed as an illegitimate child. This mother obviously reveals that the worry of her social status overcomes compassion for her child; if she was to birth an illegitimate child the societies prospective of her would be skewed. This portrays her vanity. She cares only for her reputation instead of letting the love for her child overpower her self-admiration. These acts do not deserve any kind of forgiveness; she murdered her child to keep her reputation. 

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

"Aliens or Citizens?"

They sit in your class-
Unseen to you and others.
They walk among us-
Undetected by many.

They aren’t homeless,
Rent snatches up every penny.
They make countless sacrifices-
Choosing between food and bills.

We encounter these Americans daily.
Some notice their hardship
The concerned offer a dollar or two.
Or cut eyes at them like razors

We shop at the mall
They search through piles at second hand stores
We enjoy fast food and hearty meals
They wait in line at local soup kitchens

Do you continue to ignore them?
Do you stop to let them know you care?
Do you make a meager contribution?
Or will your paycheck be their beacon?

They provide the questions,
We refuse to answer.

Friday, November 11, 2011

The Wanabe

          In John Steinbeck’s historical fiction novel, “Of Mice and Men”, Curley is the typical “boss’s son.” His character is arrogant and feels entitled because of who his dad is. He is made out to be a rude over protective husband; although Curley seems tough and independent, he is really just insecure about his relationship, and himself. Ultimately Curley wants to be one of the guys.
        Newcomers get the vibe that, “Curley ain’t givin nobody a chance,” including his wife. Curley has an issue with demanding to know where his wife is. He never gives her “a chance” to be her own person, and limits her to doing only certain things. Curley doesn’t let her hang around the guys because he feels that she is going to fool around with them. He is so insecure about his relationship that he doesn’t trust his own wife. Due to his insecurity in his relationship, he is always wondering if “any of [the] guys [has] seen a girl around.” This leads Curley into believing he can’t have a normal life style, because “he has married a tart”, unlike the other guys on the farm.
       Curley’s exudes arrogance even when he is desperately trying to fit in with the farm hands. He tries to play in their horseshoe games, and also jokes around with them. It seems though that every time he opens his mouth it comes out haughty and overconfident. The workers don’t see Curley for the man HE sees himself as. To them, he will always be the brash, “son-of-a-b****,” “boss’s son.”
        Curley is a short, stalky guy who is “always pickin scraps.” And it seems like he is always picking on “the big guys.” Curley was trying to talk to Lennie, a mentally challenged GIANT, and George, Lennie’s friend, answered for him. This made Curley mad, which made him reply in a harsh tone with the comment “let the big guy talk.” Curley seems to try to make himself seem tougher then he actually is, by pushing people around. He wants the guys to know he is tough, and it doesn’t help that he is well, undersized.
        In this story Curley is just trying to find away to fit in with all the guys. He ultimately just wants to be recognized as the masculine man he thinks he is. Curley is a insecure, misunderstood, “boss’s son.” Who thinks it’s okay to boss around his wife, and pick on men taller than him. One day, Curley will understand that if he wants to be one of the guys he is going to have to be a better human being.