Hjblack's Blog

The Blackspot Unswoosher

hjblack — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:20:21 +0000

Questions on Meaning

1. This ad is saying that the environment needs to be preserved. Also that big companies like Nike don’t care about the environment. They use materials that aren’t organic and get those materials by being cruel to animals. Also that Nike really doesn’t care about the environment because they don’t use recycled materials to make their shoes. I think that this is a pretty convincing ad. I have never really thought about what my shoes were made from. So this ad really surprised me.

2. The conflict that this ad brings up is the fact that we have all this technology to make synthetic materials and yet Nike uses some of those materials, but also uses many natural materials as well. They also make it sound like Nike makes their shoes in a sweatshop and treat their employees badly. Since a lot of factories are switching to making their products with macines. But since Nike has the name that it does, no one thinks of these issues because no one else does.

3. One feature of the Unswoosher is the Sweet Spot. They say that this is ”for kicking corporates ass.” This shows that they are against big companies and the corporate world in general. They have recycled tire soles, organic upper, and vegetatian leather. These qualities would appeal to the people that are environmentall friendly. The theme that this advertizement addresses is that we need to be more environmentally friendly and don’t just buy items becuase they are considered cool.

Questions on Rhetorical Strategy and Style

1. It shows a real item that people would legitimately buy. Then it makes fun of the big companies that sell this kind of item.

2. When you first look at this ad you notice the shoes and the words pointed to certain parts of the shoe. The shoe is also tilted like a scale. The highest(best) part about the shoe is the Sweet Spot. Then all the information is in small print under the shoe.

3. Yes the visual and textual elements of this ad work well together. You first see the shoe and then you want to learn about what is so great about it so you read all the little arrows that are around it and finally the information about the shoe at the bottom. They work together because the visual shows what the text is talking about.

4. It looks like the Nike swoosh is unraveling. This says that they plan on making Nike the second rate company. Since it is unraveling it is breaking down the Nike company.

Breast cancer ad

hjblack — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:18:25 +0000

http://ww5.komen.org/ - bake for the cure ad

The main audience for this ad would be women from about 20 years old on up. I think that this is the target audience because when you think about baking we think of women. Also teenagers don’t tend to be big on baking so it wouldn’t be aimed at that age group, so that is why it is women 20 on up because they tend to bake more. The rhetorical appeal that is being used would be pathos. Pathos would influence this audience because something as simple as baking some cupcakes could change the lives of millions of women that develop breast cancer. I think this tugs at the heart strings of women and would make them want to bake cupcakes for this cause. The advertizing appeals that are being used are: the need to nurture, need for affiliation, and physiological needs. I think the need to nurture is the main appeal for this ad. Women tend to be nurturing all the time. They don’t care if the are caring for an infant or an adult. Women of the target age group tend to want to nurture someone. This ad can make them feel like they are caring for women how have and will have breast cancer just by baking cupcakes. The need affiliation is also present here. When other people find out that you donated to breast cancer research they might think of you as a better person. They might think that you are this wonderful selfless person. People always like to feel like they are a good person. Physiological needs are also present in this ad. When you see the image of a cupcake it may make you hungry and want some food. Since it is aimed at women and most women love cupcakes, exspecially ones with lots of icing!

When you look at this ad you see these big pink cupcakes and a big pink ribbon, so already you probably know that this ad is for breast cancer. Then you notice the words “in support of OUR PROMISE” so you know it is wanting you to support breast cancer research. How this ad was made says a lot about the company that produced it. They have their name the smallest and probably the last thing that you see. This shows me that they are more focused on getting people to support breast cancer research than they are getting their name out. They want the viewer to notice the cause and not the company’s name. I believe that this ad does rely on the stereotype that all women love to bake since that is their target audience. To me it says that you are already baking, so why not just make one more batch for breast cancer. This ad can definitly influence viewer outside of the target audience. It could be very influencing to men and women of all ages that have had a family member or close friend with breast cancer. It reminds them of the struggles that person ahd to go through and they want to help others from having to go through the same thing. Yes I think this ad is very effective beause it gets the point across and can effect pretty well all people.

Health campaign Posters

hjblack — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:20:39 +0000

For my health ad I chose a tuberculosis ad that has a picture of a small child on it. It says “Protect them from Tuberculosis.” The target audience for this poster are parents in general, but more specifically parents of small children. I think the rhetorical appeal that is being used here is Pathos. I think it is pathos because no parent ever wants their child to be a little sick, let alone have tuberculosis. This would tug at the heart strings of any parent who has a child that is close to the age of the child in the picture because they can imagine that picture being of their very own child. When they would see the picture of the small child they would think of someone that they know who is about the age of the child in the piture or a child of their own. I think that the advertising appeals that are being used in this ad are: the need to nuture, the need for guidance, and the need to feel safe. I think it shows the need to nuture because it shows a small child on it. Everyone knows that a child that age could not take care of itself. That makes us want to do all we can to keep that child safe and healthy. I think it shows the need for guidance because again we know that a child that age doesn’t know everything it needs to know to stay healthy. So it makes us want to guide that child into doing the right things to prevent tuberculosis from spreading on to future generations. I think that it shows the need to feel safe because when we see this poster we think of the children we know and how we would do anything to keep them safe. Since this ad is targeted toward parents it makes them think how they would do absolutely anything to keep their child safe. If the only thing in the way of them keeping their child safe is preventing tuberculosis, we all know that they will do whatever they can to prevent the spread of tuberculosis and keep theitr child safe. In my opinion this ad is not really aruging anything, it is just trying to change your thinking. This is a good cause to get people to think about because tuberculosis may not be a big threat today, but earlier in history it was a huge threat to people’s lives. So this ad is very good at getting across the point that they needed to protect their children from the horrible disease of tuberculosis.

Works Cited

hjblack — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:20:35 +0000

Hanna Black

ENG 106

October 28, 2009

Works Cited

“American Civil Liberties Union.” Aclu.org. The American Civil Liberities Union, n.d. Web. 8 April 2009

Barth, John. The Floating Opera. New York: Anchor Books, 1956. Print.

Bearman, Joshuah. “The Legend of Master Legend.” Rolling Stone December 2008 – January 2009: 70-

77. Print.

Benstock, Shari. “Authorizing the Autobiographical.” Women, Autobiography, Theory: A Reader. Eds.

Sidonie Smith and Julia Watson. Madison, Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1998. 145-55. Print.

DiFranco, Ani. Repreive. Righteous Babe Music/BMI, 2006. CD.

Fine, Jon. “ Who Directed that Ad?” Business Week 4125 6 April 2009: 96. Academic Search Premiere.

Web. 8 April 2009

Mersal, Iman. “Eliminating Diasporic Identities.” PMLA 123. Comparative Racialization (2008): 1581-

1589. Print.

Research Topic

hjblack — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:12:01 +0000

For my research paper I am thinking about doing something about breast cancer. Maybe something about cancer research. Many people complain about how much money is being spent on cancer research and that there is still no cure. So people are beginning to wonder if all the money that they put into cancer research is really worth it. Things that just now become known, like the Swine flu, have vaccines in like 6-8 months. While things like breast cancer that have been around for a long time and still don’t have a cure. Also maybe talk about how when people think or talk about breast cancer they automatically think about women, when actually something like 1 in 5 men get breast cancer. That way when I make my ad I could aim it more at men, since most breast cancer/research ads are aimed at women. I’m not completely sure about what other things I could talk about in the breast cancer area, that would be related to the angle I’m getting at.

Questions to Help You Analyze Images

hjblack — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:13:52 +0000

http://www.diytrade.com/china/4/products/5115741/oil_painting-famous_painting.html#normal_img

What issue motivated the author of the image?

The artist who created of this picture made this painting to show how a city comes to life at night. How even when most people are alseep the city is still alive with activity.

What is the author’s primary purpose?

The purpose of making a painting like this would be to show how the artist felt at that time or how they felt when they saw this kind of scene in the city.

How does the image’s arrangement canvey its purpose and message?

The way this picture is arranged is very important to how the emotion of it comes through. You see this starry sky and just a few other lights from the buildings you feel at ease. Then off to the side you see this bright restraunt thriving with business, which makes you kind of excited. It also gives you the perspective that you are standing on this street looking at the commotion. This makes the viewer more connected with the painting.

What response is he or she trying to provoke in viewers?

The repsonse the artist is probably wanting is awe. There are many other emotions that people might have, but I think awe would be the most common feeling. When I see this painting I am stunned by the beauty a city can have. We just don’t get to see it much, so when you see a painting like this you have to take your time looking at it to take it all in.

Why did the author choose the particular medium?

The artist chose to show this in a painting becasue that is the best way they knew how to show their feelings. They might have been having a bad day and wanted to see something happy so they painted this picture. A painting was the best way from them to get out their feelings to the rest of the world. Also with paintings you can add texture to the painting to make it more 3D and interesting to the viewer.

How does the image conform(or not) to the conventions of that medium?

This painting conforms to this medium because this is how most painters get their feelings out. They normally don’t feel like they can show how they feel through words so they paint it, and it works for them. It also will provoke some emotion from every person, whether good or bad.

How did the author intend the image to be viewed originally?

The artist probably wanted the painting to be seen face to face. They didn’t want you just to see a reproduction of it on the computer or out of a book. You really can’t get the full emotion of a painting unless you are looking at the real thing.

How has the image been reproduced, what meaning is thus lent to it?

This painting has been reproduced by people making copies of this picture to show in classrooms and to put on the internet for people to buy. This artwork was meant to be enjoyed by any and all who want to see it.

Sept. 2, Elements of Argument

hjblack — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:37:41 +0000

SOURCE: A New Assignment: Pick Books You Like by Motoko Rich

CLAIMS: Letting the students choose the books the read for class is beneficial to the students. Letting the students takes away from true learning.

DATA: PROS – he students are actually interested in the books they read. They will interact with the book much more. CONS – How can a teacher keep up when all the students are all reading different books? They lose more meaningful insights with the group. Students lose interest in reading.

WARRANTS: No student is going to read Moby Dick when they can read a book that actually interests them, explicit. Students will try to cheat when they don’t have to read certain material, explicit. Students will read the easiest books they can just to get them done, implied.

BACKING: Students will score higher on standardized tests because they are reading and writing more since they are actually interested in what they are doing.

QUALIFIERS: Not all students will do better with this approach 7, but you will never know if we don’t try.

REBUTTALS: Some people may view the pros of students picking books not enough to outweigh the pros of group reading.

EVALUATION: I think this is a good strong argument. It is very relatable to its readers. It has good support as to why we should let students pick the books, like the test scores of Ms. McNeill’s class. It also shows how well kids like and want to read this way. This even makes me want to go back and try reading this way, and seeing if it helps me out the way it did the kids in the argument.