Creating a philosophical post about language with emojis
takes some major patience, along with acceptance—this way you can accept the
fact that no matter what you will not sound philosophical in any way using tiny
cartoon pictures. I had much difficulty attempting to portray my message
because of the limited amount of images I can choose from. You are using a
method that is used best for communicating with children or just others who
don’t understand the language. It is a form of language that everyone can
understand, if maneuvered correctly to make sense. The benefit comes with
conflict, because anyone of any language has the ability to understand it, the
language has to be completely basic. Writing in a high school level thought
process for a high school level blog post is an extremely slow process having
to make every word simple. The end product comes out sounding unsophisticated,
not only in the words, but the ideas as well. Being forced to write
simplistically causes your ideas to morph; slight changes with every word in
order to write in emojis. Writing in emojis is so limited that the only real
way you can portray them is through iphone and if not then a picture from the
iphone. This language limits every aspect of writing—from the wording all the
way to the viewers—which creates a morphed message that strays from the original
idea.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Easy, Breezy, Beautiful, COVERGIRL
Perfection is what every human being strives for. Now we
have all heard the same argument of how the media is to blame for putting these
ideas in our head! Although I do believe that as well as I do believe that I
feel like I’m viewed as taking the easy way out by choosing a Covergirl ad to
analyze, but I have had a few things I’ve been wanting to say about this
company. Now that I have the perfect opportunity to do so I will use it to my
advantage!
Starting
with the basics--the first thing your eye is drawn to is of course the
celebrity Drew Barrymore who takes up about 4/5s of the page. Specifically her
bright blue eyes draw your attention because of the Covergirl product smeared
all over them that make them pop. Clearly trying to sell the eye makeup in this
ad, but they didn’t stop there in making Barrymore the perfect face. You notice
the rosy cheekbones that transition downwards till you see her pink lips. Even
though this is a clearly photo shopped face because nobody I know is flawless,
this ad convinces you that this is what beauty looks like and you should want
to look like this if you want to be someone. Now this is the part that really
gets me, how Covergirl cleverly picks celebrities who already have natural
beauty. By using them to sell their makeup they are saying “this face is
beautiful because of Covergirl,” taking credit for this persons own beauty.
Taking credit for something that is not yours is cheating! I cannot be the only
person who has been angered by this, I’m sorry Covergirl, but Drew Barrymore is
beautiful makeup or not!
Moving
back on track, other than the large “COVERGIRL” at the top of the ad, the next
words that pull your attention is the “fadeproof. waterproof. Ignore-proof!”
I’m sorry what was that? “Ignore-proof?!” are you implying that without this
“intense shadowblast makeup I will be ignored?! I do fine not getting ignored with out Covergirl and even on the days
when I’m shamefully in public without any makeup on people still talk to me and
acknowledge me. There is also the possibility that they may be talking about
that cute guy you’ve been trying to impress at work or school. If you wear this
makeup it’s destined for him to finally notice you and ask you out.
I
found this ad in Teen Vogue so judging
by the placement, the celebrity that teen girls look up to, the “ignore-proof,”
and although not on the ad the cheap price of the makeup I would say the target
audience are teen girls. If a girl is looking through Teen Vogue it shows that they already care about their image
since it is a fashion magazine that updates you on the newest trends and
occasionally celebrity gossip. The flawless image of Drew Barrymore who stars
in many favorite movies of teen girls, she works as an idol that the girls look
up to. If Barrymore wears this makeup I should too so I can look just like her.
Now
I am not blaming society’s need for perfection and beauty on this ad or on the
media completely. We are the consumers and we are the people of this culture
that has learned to value such things so it is only logic that an ad would
bring up these ideas of perfection to sell their product.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Reflection
I’ve started to take a step back and look at the culture of
my area from an outsider’s stance a while ago when I first started CGS. The
subjects in my classes got me thinking of what an outsider would think of us.
From doing this project I picked up on mostly negative things our area values.
Starting with what was prominent in most of my posts, which were the
stereotypes; this is a value of not only Fairfield County, but our nation. We
are starting stereotypes at a young age by having them in our children’s TV
shows. Teaching them of un-acceptance and out casting from the very beginning.
This then progresses to be our source of entertainment as we get older. Making
jokes of all the most recognized stereotypes out there, like in The Big Bang
Theory they have the most common group of stereotypes: dumb blonde, Indian,
Jew, and Nerd.
In
Fairfield County specifically, we have the issue of valuing social class and
wealth. Being one of the wealthiest counties in our country, we are known for
being the most stuck up, back stabbing, and uncaring. Although I’ve grown up in
a town and school that isn’t as famous for being stuck up, I know many friends
that go to schools such as Darien High School where social class means the
world to them. Where you stand in that school is determined by not just what
you wear but whom you wear, then there are also the certain standards for
behavior—doing anything outside the norm will get you shunned. This is where my
McDonald’s observation comes in yes they all may eat there, but they choose to
hide it by strictly using the drive through.
What
I find to be undervalued in Fairfield County is acceptance it is rare around
here. What ever happened to accepting people for who they are? I don’t like the
use of stereotypes, if you are a male and ask me to make you a sandwich I will
most likely not make you a sandwich. The last thing I ever want to hear which
for some reason I hear a lot is “you’re a woman you belong in the kitchen.” This
project has made me realize that even though America is diverse, we are the
least bit accepting of difference.
Arthur
I chose to watch three episode of
Arthur for my required 90 minutes of cartoons. It brought back so many
childhood memories, but it was very weird watching it now and realizing how
easily entertained I was. One half of an episode really struck me, (there are
two stories per episode) it was about Brain, the smart nerd character that was
training to be in a free throwing basketball contest to earn money for the
library. He slipped on a banana peel and broke both his legs (very realistic)
so he was bound to a wheel chair which made him declare the library was doomed
in the upcoming contest. A young girl who is also in a wheel chair, but has
been her whole life over heard Brain say this and reassured him that he could
still win the contest with her help since she is on a wheel chair basketball
team. Now this is where it starts to get interesting, she convinces Brain to
give it a try by writing mathematical equations that prove he can still shoot a
hoop from his wheel chair. I then thought of the connection that the two kids
in the wheel chair are both considered nerds. The show went on and after they
practiced shooting the young girl brought up the math once more on her notepad
and that’s what they really bonded over, she even wrote one of the formulas
down on his cast because Brain wanted to memorize it. What really shocked me
was when the two of them decided to write down the Pythagorean theorem on
Brains cast for decoration. To any elementary student hearing a fellow student
using mathematical terms that aren’t introduced until high school would be
considered geeky and nerdy. Introducing kids in wheel chairs to children who
probably don’t see that very often, you would probably want to stay away from any
idea of creating an outcast situation. By portraying the only two kids in a wheel
chair as nerds to an audience that most likely aren’t used to kids in wheel
chairs will make them assume that anyone they meet who are binned to a wheel
chair is a nerd. I don’t think the producers thought this part through very
well because we want to be teaching our kids of acceptance, not stereotyping.
McDonald's Social Customs
Fast food has always been a weakness of mine—although
terrible for you I just can’t get enough especially when you’re so hungry and
its right there ready to be handed over and eaten. The largest fast food chain
is McDonald’s which is one that I frequent. Shamefully being there many times I
know that everyone is a customer of McDonald’s, but different groups of people
are found in different areas of the place.
In
the drive through of McDonald’s I tend to find more cars consisting of
Mercedes, BMWs, Audis, Escalades, pretty much more expensive and newer cars
that a wealthier person or family would own. As you would imagine inside those
cars you usually find the preppy soccer mom with a car full of private school
kids fresh out of school, or just wealthy people in general. You are always
bound to find one when going through the drive through, but for some reason if
you ever walk inside there are never anywhere to be found. It’s interesting
because everyone is aware of the how important your social image is in a
wealthy community and being caught inside of a McDonald’s could possibly spark
rumors of losing money and having to cut corners, or not having enough class as
the other members of the community.
Inside
the actual McDonald’s you can usually find more middle to lower class people,
obese people, and minorities. Now you might write me off to be insensitive and
racist, but it is merely just an observation. Interpreting this these are
usually the people who come here often, it says a lot more about these people
who can “bear” to be seen inside. Some are there because that is all they can
afford for their family, others are because of an addiction, and others are
there just because they wanted McDonald’s. This is more of a no eye-contact
atmosphere; the bright lights, cheesy decorations, and chairs and tables nailed
to the floor set a mood of eating and getting out fast. I will admit, the times
that I am inside I try to get out as soon as possible.
There
is one more group of McDonald’s consumers that are seated instead outside in
their parked cars. Here you usually see the stressed and rushed businessman or
woman quickly getting in a burger and fries before returning to work. There are
also the emotional eaters who can be compared to walking out for a quick smoke
to relieve some built up stress, instead they come to get a quick snack that
gives them relief. These people range from wealthy to poor.
iPhone Friend
Zooey Deschanel iPhone Commercial
As an avid New Girl watcher, when I first saw this commercial
featuring Zooey Deschanel I was quickly intrigued. Her quirky daily life was
depicted as a rainy day spent with her iPhone friend Siri (voice command). She
looks outside as she asks her iPhone friend Siri the obvious question of “is
that rain outside” the useful iPhone then shows her the weather. The lovable
and childish Deschanel keeps up the conversation with her iPhone friend when
suggesting to get tomato soup delivered as Siri responds with giving her a list
of near by restaurants that deliver. Apple using such an enjoyable character as
Deschanel makes their iPhone look appealing to everyone. Since the newest and
fanciest technology is often associated with angry businesspeople or rich snobs.
Lets not also forget about the biggest disadvantage of new technology, how
complicated it is to learn how to navigate it. By having Deschanel talk to
Siri, iPhone’s voice control, she personifies the phone by making it seem like
an easy helping friend she can talk to when no one else is around. Personifying
the iPhone with such a happy and loving character creates such an image for a
cell phone. If you buy this iPhone you will have a happy and loving friend by
your side that can give you information anytime you need.
In particular I really like the end
scene of the ad—dancing out of the room with the iPhone. The image that is left
in your head is of a girl who just got the weather report, soup delivered to
her house on a rainy day, set a reminder for later, and is now happily dancing
out of the room with this phone that accomplished it all in an instant. I don’t
know about you, but I would want that phone. Very clever Apple.
Another very important marketing
ploy they pulled was choosing an actor of a popular TV series. From now on
anytime you watch New Girl you will associate it with the iPhone. This ad is an
ad that just keeps on giving.
Monday, January 7, 2013
The Big Bang Theory Based off Stereotypes
The Big Bang Theory is one of those shows that I really
like, but can’t stand at the same time. What I can’t stand is the loud fake
laughter they put in the background of the show that is followed by the
horrendously stupid jokes, but for some reason I still always find my
self-laughing along with the fake audience. After looking more carefully at the
characters I realized the terrible stereotypes the show is made out of. They’ve
got the dumb blonde woman as well as the Indian who is still controlled by his
parents. Since I am known for picking out the sexist things in the world I
figured I would go down another path and focus my efforts on the Indian
character Raj.
Raj is part of the nerd clan, but is a shy character that
although wants to meet and socialize with woman cannot speak a word to them
with out alcohol. He is also the dumbest character out of the group, he is
constantly being corrected on his mistakes by other characters as well as
saying odd and spacey things such as “Big or small I don’t like rabbits they
always look like they are going to say something, but they never do.” Another
interesting thing to think about is in one episode Raj had won a title in the
list of “Most Interesting People of the Year” in a big magazine for something
related to stars and space. Although his friends may have fake smiled and
congratulated him, they were all shown later bickering as to why Raj out of
everyone would receive this title and down playing his large achievement. I
found this prominent characteristic of Raj to be rudely stereotypical of
foreigners. For foreigners, specifically those from impoverished countries,
have the stereotype of being dumb because of the bad education systems many are
known for as well as from speaking another language and not being able to
communicate as well.
One of the biggest stereotypes that I found specifically
to Indians and Middle Easterners was Raj’s controlling parents. We occasionally
get to see him video chatting with his parents, they first come off as over
concerned and loving like any parent would. Then they soon have to reassure
that Raj is not dating an American because he has to save himself for his
arranged marriage as well as other conservative concerns for their son. Most
conversations with the parents end in yelling and Raj slamming shut the
computer. This is another well known stereo type of the controlling Indian
parents that don’t want their child to become Americanized. The Big Bang Theory
is sending a message to its viewers that make them think that these stereotypes
are very real and very acceptable which is false.
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