Sunday, February 24, 2008
Why is Wright Really Hungry? (I don't really know)
Richard Wright is physically hungry because no adult in his life will give him food. Obviously. Wright’s hunger is more than just something physical though. Wright’s hunger is fueled by his anger and confusion at why he can’t eat, one of life’s three basic necessities for survival (food, shelter, clothing). He sees his preacher eating fried chicken right in front of him, yet Wright cannot eat it too. He sees a white family eating an abundance of food, yet Wright is given only their scraps. He sees his father living comfortably with his concubine, yet will give Wright no money for food. Wright expresses his indignation and confusion in this passage. “Watching the white people eat would make my empty stomach churn and I would grow vaguely angry. Why could I not eat when I was hungry? Why did I always have to wait until others were through? I could not understand why some people had enough food and others did not.” (P 19). It is not the hunger that he feels burdened by but his anger over it. When his mother begs him to go ask his father for money for food, Wright refuses. If Wright were simply physically hungry he would go to his father for food. Wright refuses though out of principle.
No More School
John Taylor Gatto writes an impassioned article questioning the need for schools in America. He quotes H.L. Mencken, alludes to the Prussian education system, and sections the six areas Ingle’s writes about in the Principles of Secondary Education. Gatto’s article was well researched and definitely appealing to a high school student such as myself. However, I don’t completely agree with Gatto in his belief that The United States should completely eliminate the public education system.
I have attended a public high school for two years and worked at a public elementary school. I am in complete agreement with Gatto in his argument that there needs to be a change. I believe we need to change the curriculum, change teacher’s wages, change what is being taught, change everything. I do not believe we should completely eradicate schools. When Gatto references the six steps created by Ingles, examples of every step popped into my head. The function I found most interesting was the selective function. This function covers the education system’s ability to catalogue certain children. This happens in both extracurricular and academic circumstances, in elementary and high school levels. In elementary schools the ‘gifted’ students’ desks were put into a pod separate from the rest of the class. The ‘disruptive’ students’ desks were pushed literally to the outskirts of the classroom, completely isolated from every other students. Every single one of these children had a D in math. High schools allow a group of students to make up special courts at dances to set apart only the most popular students. These are only a few examples to just one of the six functions the Gatto refers to in his article. Does this mean I there should be no more organized education. I personally feel that in more primal times a lot more would get done if everyone were left to their own selfmanagement. But this is an era where many mathematical, scientific, and artistic advances have been made. I believe there is so much information to be taught to future generations, there must be some form of organized education.
I have attended a public high school for two years and worked at a public elementary school. I am in complete agreement with Gatto in his argument that there needs to be a change. I believe we need to change the curriculum, change teacher’s wages, change what is being taught, change everything. I do not believe we should completely eradicate schools. When Gatto references the six steps created by Ingles, examples of every step popped into my head. The function I found most interesting was the selective function. This function covers the education system’s ability to catalogue certain children. This happens in both extracurricular and academic circumstances, in elementary and high school levels. In elementary schools the ‘gifted’ students’ desks were put into a pod separate from the rest of the class. The ‘disruptive’ students’ desks were pushed literally to the outskirts of the classroom, completely isolated from every other students. Every single one of these children had a D in math. High schools allow a group of students to make up special courts at dances to set apart only the most popular students. These are only a few examples to just one of the six functions the Gatto refers to in his article. Does this mean I there should be no more organized education. I personally feel that in more primal times a lot more would get done if everyone were left to their own selfmanagement. But this is an era where many mathematical, scientific, and artistic advances have been made. I believe there is so much information to be taught to future generations, there must be some form of organized education.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Do I Value My Nonacademic Education?
I value my nonacademic education, a privilege most do not have. I wake up every morning excited to go to school. We argue, explain, challenge, question, and examine many different ideas. University offers many classes and activities that that guarantee an education on the skills needed in life. From intellectual to moral education, University covers the broad spectrum needed to shape the pliable mind of young individuals.
From a student’s perspective, University maintains many goals. These goals fall especially into of Horace Mann’s categories of intellectual and moral education. University upholds 6 core values, one of these being mutual respect. Respect for your elders, peers, and inferiors is a value impressed upon all community members in University. Respect creates a trusting environment within University. There are no locks on the lockers and no one even uses a locker during an organized sport practice. The students are trusted to respect each other and their peer’s property. They are given respect by their superiors, the teachers.
Part of what makes University so challenging is the expected student responsibility. Students must make it to class on time, no bells for reminding. Students must find their daily homework assignments. And the teachers at University high school trust their students to do their homework on time and on their own.
From a student’s perspective, University maintains many goals. These goals fall especially into of Horace Mann’s categories of intellectual and moral education. University upholds 6 core values, one of these being mutual respect. Respect for your elders, peers, and inferiors is a value impressed upon all community members in University. Respect creates a trusting environment within University. There are no locks on the lockers and no one even uses a locker during an organized sport practice. The students are trusted to respect each other and their peer’s property. They are given respect by their superiors, the teachers.
Part of what makes University so challenging is the expected student responsibility. Students must make it to class on time, no bells for reminding. Students must find their daily homework assignments. And the teachers at University high school trust their students to do their homework on time and on their own.
Friday, February 15, 2008
presentations day 2
Looking back on the two days of presentations there are a few examples that stick in my mind. Eli had some great pictures but my favorite would have to be the picture of a Farmers market in Portland, Oregon. Every product is displayed for people to be enticed by and there are a lot of little markets because then there is more of a variety for people to buy. His strongest point about this picture though was in Portland Oregon most people are “hippy”. All-natural, homegrown, fresh foods appeal to Oregon’s population.
I also thought a couple of Allie’s pictures were quite interesting. My favorite of all was the picture of Jordan, Steven, and Jamie with linked arms. This picture made it seem like Jordan, Steven, and Jamie were all the best of friends and having so much fun together. . But before she snapped this photo Jamie had thrown a rock at Steven. Jordan was in between them to get them to make up and be friends. Allie’s point was that even though you think you know exactly what is happening from some pictures, they can be misleading. I thought this was a clever example of exactly that.
Alex’s presentation was really interesting as well. He made a lot of good points about politics and University. His best example of rhetoric was probably the folder University gives to new students. 5 of the 12 pictures in the folder featured Britney in them. Aaaaand the largest picture on the cover is of Bwill talking to Mr. Cirek. Alex’s point was this is not coincidental but used for rhetorical appeal an prospective new families. I would even take his example Bwill even further to say Bwill excels at volleyball and basketball, takes AP classes, is quite charismatic and exotically beautiful. Not to mention black. She is a perfect candidate to put on university’s cover because she is not only a black student here, but she is a successful black student here. University wants here to represent us on the cover of something because of what she looks like AND who she is.
I also thought a couple of Allie’s pictures were quite interesting. My favorite of all was the picture of Jordan, Steven, and Jamie with linked arms. This picture made it seem like Jordan, Steven, and Jamie were all the best of friends and having so much fun together. . But before she snapped this photo Jamie had thrown a rock at Steven. Jordan was in between them to get them to make up and be friends. Allie’s point was that even though you think you know exactly what is happening from some pictures, they can be misleading. I thought this was a clever example of exactly that.
Alex’s presentation was really interesting as well. He made a lot of good points about politics and University. His best example of rhetoric was probably the folder University gives to new students. 5 of the 12 pictures in the folder featured Britney in them. Aaaaand the largest picture on the cover is of Bwill talking to Mr. Cirek. Alex’s point was this is not coincidental but used for rhetorical appeal an prospective new families. I would even take his example Bwill even further to say Bwill excels at volleyball and basketball, takes AP classes, is quite charismatic and exotically beautiful. Not to mention black. She is a perfect candidate to put on university’s cover because she is not only a black student here, but she is a successful black student here. University wants here to represent us on the cover of something because of what she looks like AND who she is.
Day one of Presentations
The AP Class’s examples of rhetoric were very thought provoking. From Mallory’s examples of Victoria’s secret and Gap Body to Derek’s use of Hollister, I was surprised by how much rhetoric I see in my daily life but don’t notice.
I liked Mallory’s presentation most because you could tell she put a lot of time and effort into finding examples to present to us. Her strongest example of rhetoric was Victoria’s Secret. She pointed out that Victoria’s Secret originally had the Pink section facing the main entrance to the mall then they replaced it with the more risqué section. This is an example of the most obvious use of rhetoric in advertising, sex sells. She then compared Victoria’s Secret to Gap Body, two very different stores in regards to public appearance. Victoria’s Secret featured a black border around the entrance to their store and had very life-like mannequins in sexual positions. Gap on the other hand featured a picture with a woman smiling happily wearing almost all white. The word over the photograph was Love. I would never have noticed any of these appeals to rhetoric had Mallory not pointed them out. Gap sells love and creativity (another example in her presentation) while Victoria’s Secret sells sex and naughtiness. This section of her presentation obviously required thought before and after she went to the mall. Mallory very observantly exposed subtle approaches that gap and Victoria’s Secret used for enticing the American public to their stores.
Derek also exemplified a stores use of sex to sell products. Derek pointed out that Hollister used loud music and sexy half-naked mannequins to appeal to America’s younger generation. I believe Ethan had an example of a Hollister mannequin without a shirt on and almost part of its genitals hanging out. On most days that I go to the mall I probably walk past a mannequin just like it and don’t notice any of these rhetorical arguments.
I liked Mallory’s presentation most because you could tell she put a lot of time and effort into finding examples to present to us. Her strongest example of rhetoric was Victoria’s Secret. She pointed out that Victoria’s Secret originally had the Pink section facing the main entrance to the mall then they replaced it with the more risqué section. This is an example of the most obvious use of rhetoric in advertising, sex sells. She then compared Victoria’s Secret to Gap Body, two very different stores in regards to public appearance. Victoria’s Secret featured a black border around the entrance to their store and had very life-like mannequins in sexual positions. Gap on the other hand featured a picture with a woman smiling happily wearing almost all white. The word over the photograph was Love. I would never have noticed any of these appeals to rhetoric had Mallory not pointed them out. Gap sells love and creativity (another example in her presentation) while Victoria’s Secret sells sex and naughtiness. This section of her presentation obviously required thought before and after she went to the mall. Mallory very observantly exposed subtle approaches that gap and Victoria’s Secret used for enticing the American public to their stores.
Derek also exemplified a stores use of sex to sell products. Derek pointed out that Hollister used loud music and sexy half-naked mannequins to appeal to America’s younger generation. I believe Ethan had an example of a Hollister mannequin without a shirt on and almost part of its genitals hanging out. On most days that I go to the mall I probably walk past a mannequin just like it and don’t notice any of these rhetorical arguments.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Bomb.com
All of the commercials were bomb diggity. My favorite by far was Eli, Tony, Jordan, and Christina’s group. Not that everyone else’s was inferior…but Eli, Tony, Jordan, and Christina’s was superior. I’ll admit, I am a sucker for comedy. If you can make me laugh I like you. The same goes with commercials, the commercial made me laugh, I might consider paying more attention to the commercial which may lead to me buying the product. My favorite part of the whole commercial was near the end when Tony would say his line in an extra excited voice. But then again I really really liked the beginning with Eli. I cannot decide.
On a more serious note, I thought Allie’s, Tina’s, Nick’s, and Alex’s was quite effective as well. I liked that they presented a more serious commercial toward my age group. To me it meant they took my opinions and what I wanted seriously. A very good appeal to pathos. They also targeted vast majorities of my age group personally by featuring a basketball player, a smarty-pants, and a regular ol’ kid as people drinking their product and enjoying it.
The last commercial I want to talk about is the car commercial. The graphics were aesthetically pleasing and made the car so much more “cooler”. I feel like you depended on the greatness of your graphics mostly though. As visually tantalizing as the commercial was it didn’t engage me completely. My personality is the type that I like a lot of drama or jokes to catch my attention and I don’t really like cars. My lack of interest in the commercial could have been related to one or the other or both. I want you all to understand that it was evident that lots and lots of work went into the commercial which is what made the commercial so good.
On a more serious note, I thought Allie’s, Tina’s, Nick’s, and Alex’s was quite effective as well. I liked that they presented a more serious commercial toward my age group. To me it meant they took my opinions and what I wanted seriously. A very good appeal to pathos. They also targeted vast majorities of my age group personally by featuring a basketball player, a smarty-pants, and a regular ol’ kid as people drinking their product and enjoying it.
The last commercial I want to talk about is the car commercial. The graphics were aesthetically pleasing and made the car so much more “cooler”. I feel like you depended on the greatness of your graphics mostly though. As visually tantalizing as the commercial was it didn’t engage me completely. My personality is the type that I like a lot of drama or jokes to catch my attention and I don’t really like cars. My lack of interest in the commercial could have been related to one or the other or both. I want you all to understand that it was evident that lots and lots of work went into the commercial which is what made the commercial so good.
Pottery Barn
Pottery barn, like most retail companies, researches constantly to find a way to make the most durable and classic product but for a reasonable price. Pottery barn even goes to the extreme of creating a contest that requires teenagers to send in pictures of their rooms with the intent of enabling the pottery barn designers to see thousands of teenager’s rooms. This business of tricking thousands of American teens into sending in pictures of their private rooms I find a little creepy. I understand that the teens consensually send in these pictures but I can’t help but feel a little unsettled at the fact that Pottery Barn easily tricked a portion of America into sending in pictures of their private spaces, quite simply too. If Pottery Barn is capable of a maneuver like that, what exactly are other companies capable as well?
I think there are numerous positive aspects to this article as well though. To start mostly women with a position of power are featured in this article. I think it is awesome Pottery Barn is doing so well especially with a driving force like senior vice-president Celia Tejada behind it. Tejada runs her business with care and enthusiasm. Telling her staff they must be living life before coming to work creates a positive work environment. She also sends them out to flea markets and encourages them to throw dinner parties in order to take notice of what the guests like or need. Her staff must really respect her as a boss and therefore work harder for her. But this paragraph really has nothing to do with the rhetorical devices Pottery Barn uses in order to boost sales.
Pottery Barn targets not only the adult (ones with da money) demographic but the teens and children as well. Parents will buy what their children want therefore Pottery Barn cleverly makes products intended to entice the child’s or teen’s eye. They also keep their prices affordable. Who doesn’t like that?
I think there are numerous positive aspects to this article as well though. To start mostly women with a position of power are featured in this article. I think it is awesome Pottery Barn is doing so well especially with a driving force like senior vice-president Celia Tejada behind it. Tejada runs her business with care and enthusiasm. Telling her staff they must be living life before coming to work creates a positive work environment. She also sends them out to flea markets and encourages them to throw dinner parties in order to take notice of what the guests like or need. Her staff must really respect her as a boss and therefore work harder for her. But this paragraph really has nothing to do with the rhetorical devices Pottery Barn uses in order to boost sales.
Pottery Barn targets not only the adult (ones with da money) demographic but the teens and children as well. Parents will buy what their children want therefore Pottery Barn cleverly makes products intended to entice the child’s or teen’s eye. They also keep their prices affordable. Who doesn’t like that?
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Can't Argue With Abercrombie and Fitch
Targeting young white teens, Abercrombie and Fitch continues to annually rake in established annual sales of $3,318,158,000. I walk into the store and am bombarded with pictures of sexy muscular men sensually pushing their pants down, beautiful women eyeing the camera, and (my personal favorite) half-naked men and women intertwined on top of couches, in fields, and on beaches. Why use these photographs, erotic photographs to appeal to white 18-25 year olds? Are teenagers not extremely hormonal? Are teenage girls not the most self and body obsessed people? Why not! But A&F doesn’t just stop at the attractive pictures covering every wall (including within the dressing room), but makes sure to only hire ‘attractive’ workers as well. The dress code at A&F has recently been covered by CBS news. In the article A&F must reimburse prior A&F employees for clothing purchased in California stores during that period of time that employees worked there. Evidently, the employees were ‘encouraged’ to wear only Abercrombie clothing while on the job. If A&F only hires attractive employees why would they force their workers to wear only the A&F clothing? Hmmmm
All of Abercrombie and Fitches clothing is splattered with the A&F insignia and company name. Anyone (and I am completely including myself in this statement) who wears A&F clothing is basically a walking billboard. This is a wonderful rhetorical device used on the American population because if an A&F item of clothing is being ogled at, the ogler will know where they can get an exact replica.
Now before you comment, know that everything I have just said totally applies to me and I am perfectly willing to admit it. I know A&F is (usually) overpriced and understaffed. I know I shouldn’t buy into the rhetorical argument A&F stores make. The point is, I like their clothing. I think it is attractive and I usually want it enough that I’ll buy it. I believe I buy the clothing simply because I like it but maybe there is some pathological manipulation I am unaware of here. To that, I give you another hmmmm…
All of Abercrombie and Fitches clothing is splattered with the A&F insignia and company name. Anyone (and I am completely including myself in this statement) who wears A&F clothing is basically a walking billboard. This is a wonderful rhetorical device used on the American population because if an A&F item of clothing is being ogled at, the ogler will know where they can get an exact replica.
Now before you comment, know that everything I have just said totally applies to me and I am perfectly willing to admit it. I know A&F is (usually) overpriced and understaffed. I know I shouldn’t buy into the rhetorical argument A&F stores make. The point is, I like their clothing. I think it is attractive and I usually want it enough that I’ll buy it. I believe I buy the clothing simply because I like it but maybe there is some pathological manipulation I am unaware of here. To that, I give you another hmmmm…
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Live Your Dreams!
I forced myself to sit through the lamest teen romance movie in order to fully understand the meaning of this phrase. I watched Save The Last dance airing on TBS from noon to 2pm. The movie was as cheesy and cliché as ever and the commercials were no better. I watched commercials about fast-food restaurants, osteoporosis and birth control pills, and make up. All had interesting implicit and explicit rhetoric within the commercial. The osteoporosis commercial featured Sally Hansen playing with children and sitting on her picnic table endorsing the pills to strengthen bones. The creators of this commercial used Sally Hansen because she appeals to the middle age female audience. Middle-aged America has grown up with Sally Hansen and it’s comforting to them that Sally’s bones are deteriorating just like theirs. This commercial ties directly in with all of the make up commercials I saw as well. Every single make up commercial that aired featured a celebrity endorsing the product. Jessica Alba for cover up, Sarah Jessica Parker for hair dye, and Vanessa Hudgens for facial cleanser. The creators of these commercials ingeniously use celebrities as an appeal to women because these celebrities are culturally considered pretty. The faces of Alba, Parker, and Hudgens are everywhere, mocking women as if to say, “This is Beautiful”. If companies put these “beautiful” women on TV literally saying, “ I use “X” to wash my face” America will want to too. People may argue this rhetorical tactic doesn’t work, that America is smarter than simply going out to the store to buy something because a celebrity endorsed it. If this were true then why do companies still use this rhetorical tactic?
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