The End

Coming into any writing class is very painful for me, but as it was required, I could not help it. Coming from a school where I’ve done papers for almost every class I have taken, I thought what else is there for me to learn? I had done both twelve pages research papers, compare contrast papers and analysis papers. One thing I’d never done was a blog. In fact, starting our postings I thought I had to do it in an impersonal way, not referring to myself at all. Later, I realized that our Prof. wasn’t actually going to be grading on content and that made it so much easier. Now, I still don’t like doing everything online and I find it a big hassle for the most part because for one of my posts, I tried to make everything the same font but couldn’t get it to work, and thus I got points deducted. If I could have just turned it in by paper, this wouldn’t have happened. But being able to enter hyper links and videos, and format how we like is a pretty cool feature, as is being able to read other people’s posts. The in-class portion, however, was to me a more painful experience with the awkward pauses and questions that no one could really answer, I suppose this happens in most small classes but that doesn’t mean it is any less annoying. But on the whole, the class hasn’t been that bad and I’ve enjoyed reading the other posts. Have a great summer everyone and God Bless You!

An Ancient yet Current Worldview

Romans 5:2b-4 : Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

I don't think anyone is actually happy about crises or bad things that happen in their life. I know I'm not. But what I've had a lot of people say is that if those bad things had never happened to them, they would never have experienced the good things that have happened. The trials we face make us into better people and more complex people. What could be the worst thing at a point in your life could end up changing your life in a positive way. In my short 18 years, God has blessed me so much with my family and living in this country, but I know the really hard times are still to come. When I don't think I can handle a decision or crisis, I know he will be there to guide me through. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28,"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest"(NIV). So many people wonder why bad things happen to good people, but I believe that humans are fallen and sinful first of all. Second, for those trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, God wishes to make them stronger and grow closer to him, like the Romans verse I started with. If you're still reading, thank you, and I just want to say that my faith is not blind, but based on the Bible, the historically accurate and inspired Word of God.

Piano Lesson

It Figers

Six sheep, four with their heads up, stand amid scraggly green grass. Three of the sheep look alertly to the left, one stares straight out of the photo, and only the rears of the right two can be seen. Behind them, an old scraped white-washed fence pens them in. Splayed fully in the background is an American flag. Only a tree to the left of it keeps the flag from being the entire background. It is slightly wrinkled, perhaps from a breeze, but it is mostly pulled taut. The bottom front right corner sports the red, white and blue Tommy Hilfiger logo with a phrase below it saying "follow the flock."

Essentially, I think this ad was originally trying to use the classification rhetorical strategy. Tommy Hilfiger is using the flag to broaden their allure to the American audience and not simply an age category. The sheep also add an appeal to animal lovers to those who are suckers for a cute looking animal with an old time flare (by including the fence). This strategy uses both the pathos and ethos appeal. The audience is supposed to feel some type of patriotic feeling, with the historical country background of the fence and sheep. The ads also looks to emote feeling by just having the sheep, for those animal lovers. Another dimension to this ad is Hilfiger aims to boost their character by not showing clothes but their patriotism. In essence they are saying their an American company for the American people.

The little words added to their logo, however, change the message entirely, creating a parody. "Follow the flock" is a phrase meant to back Tommy Hilfiger, implying that the stupid sheep in the ad are the American people (or those that buy their clothes). Instead of a pro American ad, Hilfiger is characterized as a manipulative company herding their patrons wherever they choose to lead them. Americans are thus gullible consumers and will follow an one who will lead, just like the brainless sheep.

Where are the Jeans?

In this ad for Calvin Klein Jeans, the attention is first focused on the woman sitting in the black car to the left. Her bare legs rest outside of the car, and her bare arms drape around the steering wheel and driver's seat. The yellow tank top saying "Calvin Klein Jeans" she's wearing is the focal point. The jean shorts she's wearing can barely be seen. A few accessories highlight the outfit including her rainbow colored bracelet, silver necklace and studded white belt. The next frame shows Calvin Klein Jeans logo superimposed over the empty black car.

The sex appeal used here is a little more subtle than ads with scantily clad women. It's used mostly by the shortness of her shorts and her thin body. Essentially, instead of seeing the jean shorts, her legs are more prominent, making a female audience think that by wearing those shorts her logs will also look that good. I think this is actually a very effective ad because it doesn't reveal too much, yet it also sells the product. Another view would be for guys. She's sitting in a nice looking car which would also attract the male audience into buying into the ad. They may suggest a girl by those shorts as well.

Using the pathos tactic of over-sentimentalization, the ad also enhances its appeal. This ad is supposed to be for Calvin Klein Jeans, however, only a fragment of the model's jean shorts can be seen. They are covered up by her legs, and the fact that she is sitting down. The purpose is for people to want the jeans because of hew the model looks and not because of what her shorts look like.. Besides the logos, the audience wouldn't know what product the ad was trying to sell. But overall, the ad seems effective because of its sex appeal.

Triple Step

The first thing to notice about the picture is that it's a black and white photograph. The people in the picture are probably real. Having black and white takes away the busyness of color and makes you focus on what's happening in the picture and other aspects of the picture. The light plays a very important part in this picture. It highlights or focuses on the man in the picture and moves the woman to an after thought even though she is a larger part of the picture. The light also reveals the movement going on. The black couple is dancing, not posing. It's a live action photo that captures the moment. It's interesting where the photo was taken. the view of the photo is angled upward so a lot of the ceiling is captured where the light beams out in almost a circle. And the woman is a large part of the right side, but the focus is on the man which takes up a smaller portion of the left side of the photo. The man also seems to be doing more the dancing than the woman in this particular shot. And it may be important to notice it's a black couple. By all this, the photographer is probably trying to show how fun dancing is , as the man's face looks really happy. He doesn't look like he's doing anything complicated and the blurry shot makes his moves look easier. Just the act of dancing could make you happy, particularly for black people and those who aren't professionals.

A Step Forward

My initial impression of this picture was that it is from another era. It wasn't just the black and white, but the way the male dancer was dressed and how many people in the audience were dressed. In present times, many of the people would be wearing ball gowns to these type of events or at least more fancy than what I see. The dancer's would also have more flashy attire. I think this because it looks like a dance competition. The one couple performs on the dance floor while the judges are off to the side critiquing them. I love to watch dancing shows and the competitions on PBS. This picture definitely looks older than the shows today. Another point is that this picture looks like a live action photograph. Both the man and woman dancing looks a little blurry in parts. The man's legs don't even look solid and the woman's arm are also blurred. Since it is not all that focused. The picture in general just makes me feel happy. The man is smiling and looking like he's having fun. Is that's the Twist he's doing? Even though I wasn't born in this era it makes me feel like remembering fun times I had as a child when I danced through the house to 50's and 60's music on the cassettes and turntable. This ballroom kind of dancing is coming back though, especially with all the shows on T.V.

A Step Back

Curved streams of light beams down from bulbs on the very high ceiling of a ballroom in this black and white photograph. A black couple dances in the spotlight though the woman is much bigger and more blurry than the male dancing partner. She is wearing a dark halter dress and up swept hair.The gray scale hues make the woman a shadow almost in the foreground, but her partner is clearly seen in the mid ground. Light reflects off his slicked back black hair and suit shoulder pads as he dances to the left of his partner. His mustache covered mouth is opened wide with a wide smile showing his teeth. The white crisp shirt contrasts with his tie and suit coat. His legs are bent as he dances on his toes, but they are extremely blurry, like the woman's hands. Beneath his feet and short black shadow splays on the otherwise completely white light splashed floor. The audience watches the couple dancing from the background. It looks like they are observing in two different levels. Directly to the man's left, on the dance floor level, a blond haired girl, with the only light colored shirt noticeable among the women in the audience, watches the dancing, though I can't tell if she's seated or standing. Above her are a couple of men in suits, white shirts and ties. A white sign above the men and behind the dancing man's head clearly says, "CESAR" but the rest is too blurry to make out. To the right of the woman, a man in the floor level of the audience is bending over. Above and behind him more people stand facing the dancing couple.