1. Huijser, Henk. "Exploring the Educational Potential of Social Networking Sites." Studies in Learning, Evaluation, Innovation, and Development. N.p., Sept. 2008. GoogleScholar. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://eprints.usq.edu.au/4426/2/Huijser_2008_Sleid.pdf>.
This source us definitely objective. It covers one main viewpoint, engulfing the effects of Social networking sites such as Facebook and other sites like 'wikis', and this new 'Generation Y's' educational potential. The social context on information (ie what other people think about it), and how the uses of 'Web 2.0' can determine certain potentials.(depending on how it is used - so the article isn't all negative)
The article definitely represents the opinions and biases of educated professionals of an older generation; people who have researched this topic and who want to believe that these sites can definitely be harmful.
The author seems to come to the conclusion that “Web 2.0 is a potentially disruptive technology because of its potential to change the model of higher education from the traditional classroom framework to an asynchronous 24/7 mode. "Also, he concludes that 'If these experiences include Web 2.0 technologies, it is up to us as educators, to exploit their educational opportunities, to avoid unwelcome imposition, and hence to create meaningful learning experiences for Generations A through to Z." He means that while these resources can be helpful in many ways, there is a fine line between educational resources and social destruction for the generations being taught, and who use these resources every day.
From this article, my viewpoint of this issue was not altered because I agree for the most part with what the authors are saying - that social networking sites and this Web 2.0 is great to an extent, but that it is not the only basis for meaningful learning and existence for students and young people in this 'Y generation.'
This text will definitely be useful in my project because it focuses on one main viewpoint, including countless examples and evidence from scholarly sources that I can use to get my points across and to explore this issue of social networking and the internet, and how it affects our younger generation education and social- stauswise.
2. Bugeja, Michael J. "Facing the Facebook." The Chronicle of Higher Education, 27 Jan. 2006. GoogleScholar. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://vpss.ku.edu/pdf/PSDC%20Facing%20the%20Facebook.pdf>
This source is also more objective, though it still encompasses the basic idea of the first source. The author claims that 'Unless we reassess our high-tech priorities, issues of student insensitivity, indiscretion, and fabrication will consume us.' His tone is slightly more comical and casual, making it seem like he is directing his argument toward a more modern and broader audience. He expresses a 'yes, but' view at the beginning, stating his original claim about distractions and Facebook, but goes on to explore the different uses of Facebook and the ways it can be used to connect people usefully. This makes his argument seem more qualified and exploratory instead of objective. he concludes that most professors at Universities don't want their students using Facebook and other social networking sites during class, and different teachers expect different resources to be used in learning environments. He decides that the issue is more about the 'misuse of technology' rather than the use of it in general.
I liked the article, because instead of arguing a certain point, it explored multiple views and the conclusion wasn't really what I expected. I agree with most of his claims- Facebook has a place and a time, and maybe it's time to re-evaluate these cues.
I think this source will be helpful in my project because it explored both how Facebook is beneficial in some areas and destructive in others, such as education.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
SWA #21 In CR
1. It is obviously being argued in this short article in a sarcastic way that Americans have become entirely too lazy when it comes to reading and understanding articles and long blocks of text in newspapers, magazines, and the like. The author is dramatizing the fact that everyone would rather read about colorful, exciting pop culture happenings than whatever is contained in something that looks boring, even if it contains the exact same information. You can tell he is arguing this because he makes such a big deal of describing how horrified Americans seem to be when they 'see' this text.
2. The hyperbole the author uses is his main tactic in being effective in his observational argument. The article is almost funny, because the author makes this 'mass block of text' so extreme, when in reality, something as trivial as a newspaper article without pictures would never be regarded as something of such attention. He says that 'businesses were shuttered, and local governments ground to a halt', which obviously would never happen, but these descriptions make his argument all the more easy to understand and perceive.
2. The hyperbole the author uses is his main tactic in being effective in his observational argument. The article is almost funny, because the author makes this 'mass block of text' so extreme, when in reality, something as trivial as a newspaper article without pictures would never be regarded as something of such attention. He says that 'businesses were shuttered, and local governments ground to a halt', which obviously would never happen, but these descriptions make his argument all the more easy to understand and perceive.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
SWA #19
1. The position that the author takes on the definition of a sport is that it doesn't really have one. You define the word yourself, and 'you know it when you see it', because no one can ever agree on what we should define the word as, and everyone wants their sport to be defined as a sport. There is as much or as little criteria as we would like.
2. It seems that it would only be important to have actual accepted criteria for what constitutes a sport for events such as the Olympics or the X games, where certain sports are honored in various ways and everyone can agree that that is their place. Professional football games and such would also be a good place, just so there are specific rules to be abided by in order to play fair.
2. It seems that it would only be important to have actual accepted criteria for what constitutes a sport for events such as the Olympics or the X games, where certain sports are honored in various ways and everyone can agree that that is their place. Professional football games and such would also be a good place, just so there are specific rules to be abided by in order to play fair.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
SWA #18: Topics
Topic 1: Facebook and other social networking sites versus the intelligence, attention, and potential of younger generations and how they perceive themselves.
It was quite easy on Google Scholar to find at least three good articles I could use. Most of them are opinionated articles, but they have scholarly evidence and explore different claims and ideas and opinions, such as narcissism and image of these younger generations, as well as how certain habits are impeding their social and intellectual growth.
Topic 2: What our children are eating, in America and other overdeveloped countries. How cafeteria food has changed for the worse and who has the right to change it for the better.
I already have at least one non-scholarly source for this, Jamie Olliver's show, which has some great demonstrations and points I could use to argue how awful children's food around the world is. This one would require a bit more research I think, but it would still be relatively interesting and easy to write on.
Topic 3: Climate change and global warming: Is it real? Is it a rick to our health and our children? Can we really help stop it?
I definitely think this would be an interesting topic to write on, but ti would require more scientific research, such as looking at weather and different conditions and trends around the world. There are a huge number of articles on this topic both on google scholar and the USC library database, and I'm sure most would be helpful, especially for exploring different viewpoints for the exploratory paper. Otherwise, I think it might be difficult for me to pick a side to argue for the policy/proposal paper.
It was quite easy on Google Scholar to find at least three good articles I could use. Most of them are opinionated articles, but they have scholarly evidence and explore different claims and ideas and opinions, such as narcissism and image of these younger generations, as well as how certain habits are impeding their social and intellectual growth.
Topic 2: What our children are eating, in America and other overdeveloped countries. How cafeteria food has changed for the worse and who has the right to change it for the better.
I already have at least one non-scholarly source for this, Jamie Olliver's show, which has some great demonstrations and points I could use to argue how awful children's food around the world is. This one would require a bit more research I think, but it would still be relatively interesting and easy to write on.
Topic 3: Climate change and global warming: Is it real? Is it a rick to our health and our children? Can we really help stop it?
I definitely think this would be an interesting topic to write on, but ti would require more scientific research, such as looking at weather and different conditions and trends around the world. There are a huge number of articles on this topic both on google scholar and the USC library database, and I'm sure most would be helpful, especially for exploring different viewpoints for the exploratory paper. Otherwise, I think it might be difficult for me to pick a side to argue for the policy/proposal paper.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Response to 'Factory food artificially cheap, bad for your health' article
This article was about contamination in our food in recent times, how it comes about, and how to fix it. The author's claim is that factory farms are not only bad for the environment, but bad for the people eating the food they produce because they breed disease and contamination. One reason he uses is that The Chicago Tribune cited a USDA statistic stating that Americans spend significantly less of their income on food nowadays compared to a decade or two ago, and compared to other countries, because the quality of food has driven the price down because of these factory farms producing high amounts of low-quality meat more effectively and faster. He also talks about he gruesome living environments in which the animals live before they are slaughtered. These places are a great place to spread filth and disease between animals. He uses such phrases such as 'toxic' and 'food safety' to convince his audience how bad factory farms are, and how we should eat more sustainably. His argument is well thought out and definitely convincing to me through all of these tactics.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Fear Factories Response
Scullly believes that cruelty to animals should be conservative, and most other people probably believe this as well. He makes his case by referencing plenty of other people, such as CS Lewis, Judge Glenn, PETA, and many others. This tactic definitely makes him appear more credible and resourceful in his case. He also talks about moral and ethical standards, appealing to the pathos in the reader and audience, and provides a logical argument as to why animal cruelty should be conservative, for even the sole reason that it 'has no tradition, no code of honor, no rules, and no decencies to spare for a fellow creature,' and 'conservatism is supposed to revere tradition.' He uses plenty of appeals and examples to build his argument, and plenty of credible sources to support it.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
RA #2 Analysis
Thesis: Advertisements can be very flexible, targeting many different audiences in order to sell the same product. The two ads I picked for Jose Cuervo are selling the exact same type of liquor, but due to the vast contrasting details and phrases depicted in the ads, they are both effective at targeting a different audience.
1. The first ad (with the older man) is targeted toward a more mature audience who've been drinking for many years. The designer of the ad's use of lighting, color, and strategic wording give it the effect of exclusivity and maturity, and high class.
-Navy, khaki, beige, brown: dark and ageless colors that suggest intelligence.
-Phrase suggest timelessness of alcohol and the smoothness of taste and feel.
-Audience wants to feel classy and interesting (ie men with money)
-Kairos: It's an older ad, and it targets certain values that men of that age would want to have
2. The second ad, geared toward a younger, less realistic, more dream-oriented audience, utilizes a tactful color scheme and a dreamy phrase to persuade its audience that the Jose Cuervo will 'make their daydreams come true.'
-The black-and-white color scheme makes the ad look simple, and the flow of alcohol at the bottom makes it pop and look very smooth and inviting.
-The words used make the younger audience more inclined to want to drink and have fun with either friends or someone of the opposite sex.
-Everyone wants their dreams to come true: ad is more appealing and exciting.
-Kairos: Young, modern, exciting. Young people want to be the people in the ad
Conclusion: The way these two ads are portrayed tell a lot about the audience and the product being sold. The creators of the advertisements utilize tools such as wording, arrangement, coloring, and kairos to get their points across sufficiently and effectively, in order to make their target audiences want to purchase their products.
1. The first ad (with the older man) is targeted toward a more mature audience who've been drinking for many years. The designer of the ad's use of lighting, color, and strategic wording give it the effect of exclusivity and maturity, and high class.
-Navy, khaki, beige, brown: dark and ageless colors that suggest intelligence.
-Phrase suggest timelessness of alcohol and the smoothness of taste and feel.
-Audience wants to feel classy and interesting (ie men with money)
-Kairos: It's an older ad, and it targets certain values that men of that age would want to have
2. The second ad, geared toward a younger, less realistic, more dream-oriented audience, utilizes a tactful color scheme and a dreamy phrase to persuade its audience that the Jose Cuervo will 'make their daydreams come true.'
-The black-and-white color scheme makes the ad look simple, and the flow of alcohol at the bottom makes it pop and look very smooth and inviting.
-The words used make the younger audience more inclined to want to drink and have fun with either friends or someone of the opposite sex.
-Everyone wants their dreams to come true: ad is more appealing and exciting.
-Kairos: Young, modern, exciting. Young people want to be the people in the ad
Conclusion: The way these two ads are portrayed tell a lot about the audience and the product being sold. The creators of the advertisements utilize tools such as wording, arrangement, coloring, and kairos to get their points across sufficiently and effectively, in order to make their target audiences want to purchase their products.
Topic Proposal based on Guidelines
2. I’m analyzing alcohol ads for the same type of liquor, Jose Cuervo tequila.
3. One ad is from a blog written by a woman called ‘The French Exit’, and one is from a media education website designed for high school and college students. One audience is definitely older, and one is definitely a younger generation, both of which correspond to the two ads. The blog is definitely geared more towards a classier, older, more tasteful audience. The alcohol education website is more for teenagers and young people trying to learn about alcohol.
4. The first ad has a mature-looking man standing in front of a bar with a sort of smug look on his face. What he’s wearing is formal and dark: A navy blazer, khaki pants, a Ralph Lauren tie. You can tell he means business. He’s drinking his Jose Cuervo in a glass ‘on the rocks’, suggesting that he is older and more experienced. The caption says “I always drink Cuervo Gold. Now and then.” The ‘now and then’ also implies something about his age, proposing that this drink is timeless and that he’s been drinking for a long time.
The second ad features a young man holding a young woman. They appear to be on the beach, because they are wearing bathing suits. They are both smiling sort of foolishly, like they are extremely happy. The ad is black and white, without much detail. At the bottom, there is a string of gold, the color of the alcohol, and there is a picture of the bottle in color. There is a caption stating “Pursue your daydreams”, insinuating that when you drink Jose Cuervo, you can make your daydreams come true. This ad is definitely geared toward a younger audience with such ‘daydreams’.
5. I chose these two because they are both advertising the same type of alcohol, which I thought would be interesting to analyze, because of its versatility. They both seemed exciting to me. The first one grounds a stereotype about older people (men, especially) who feel are classy and mature, while the second one shows the stereotype of young people just wanting to have fun and ‘daydream’ all day.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Ad 3
Source: GOOD Magazine
Target Audience: Most people (probably geared more towards younger people, as Toms have become more of a trendy fashion statement as of late)
Product: Toms shoes
Target Audience A has assumptions that wearing toms makes them a better person, because voting and giving blood are associated in the same category of 'civil duties' and 'being a good person' all around. (ie if you vote and give blood, you automatically should wear Toms because doing good should come naturally to you.) The consumer should want to do good, since Toms donates a pair of shoes to someone in need every time you buy them. (Guilts people into buying)
Buying these shoes can make you feel fulfilled and like you have made a difference in someone's life who may be in need or who doesn't have shoes.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=shoes+magazine+ads&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=578&tbm=isch&tbnid=1lvHJxutTjVF5M:&imgrefurl=http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/good&docid=MBl2u-18Pi2U8M&w=2628&h=3378&ei=ubWJTvnHOeff0QGyj5XaDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=244&vpy=169&dur=868&hovh=255&hovw=198&tx=122&ty=102&page=2&tbnh=172&tbnw=134&start=20&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:20
Target Audience: Most people (probably geared more towards younger people, as Toms have become more of a trendy fashion statement as of late)
Product: Toms shoes
Target Audience A has assumptions that wearing toms makes them a better person, because voting and giving blood are associated in the same category of 'civil duties' and 'being a good person' all around. (ie if you vote and give blood, you automatically should wear Toms because doing good should come naturally to you.) The consumer should want to do good, since Toms donates a pair of shoes to someone in need every time you buy them. (Guilts people into buying)
Buying these shoes can make you feel fulfilled and like you have made a difference in someone's life who may be in need or who doesn't have shoes.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=shoes+magazine+ads&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=578&tbm=isch&tbnid=1lvHJxutTjVF5M:&imgrefurl=http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/good&docid=MBl2u-18Pi2U8M&w=2628&h=3378&ei=ubWJTvnHOeff0QGyj5XaDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=244&vpy=169&dur=868&hovh=255&hovw=198&tx=122&ty=102&page=2&tbnh=172&tbnw=134&start=20&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:20
Ad 2
Journal/Source: Glamour Magazine
Target Audience: Young women/people that want to be fit and healthy
Product: Streamliner-Delicious, protein-filled yogurt
Audience A has a need to be healthier and better nourished, to look and feel her best, and apparently isn't currently feeling that way until she tries Streamliner. ('Be fit, feel good').
This consumer should buy this product because it will make he or she feel great, look fantastic, and be able to do the things shown in the ad (ie lying on the beach or catching air while skiing). It is also high in calcium!
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=glamour+magazine+ads&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=578&tbm=isch&tbnid=fKt0aliDjGXdJM:&imgrefurl=http://www.leivadesigns.com/htmdocs/portfolio.html&docid=YJiKQlq9vUUMIM&w=738&h=540&ei=ELSJTpShFqHh0QH1v_zwDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=261&vpy=271&dur=2540&hovh=192&hovw=263&tx=193&ty=85&page=1&tbnh=117&tbnw=160&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0
Target Audience: Young women/people that want to be fit and healthy
Product: Streamliner-Delicious, protein-filled yogurt
Audience A has a need to be healthier and better nourished, to look and feel her best, and apparently isn't currently feeling that way until she tries Streamliner. ('Be fit, feel good').
This consumer should buy this product because it will make he or she feel great, look fantastic, and be able to do the things shown in the ad (ie lying on the beach or catching air while skiing). It is also high in calcium!
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=glamour+magazine+ads&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=578&tbm=isch&tbnid=fKt0aliDjGXdJM:&imgrefurl=http://www.leivadesigns.com/htmdocs/portfolio.html&docid=YJiKQlq9vUUMIM&w=738&h=540&ei=ELSJTpShFqHh0QH1v_zwDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=261&vpy=271&dur=2540&hovh=192&hovw=263&tx=193&ty=85&page=1&tbnh=117&tbnw=160&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0
Ad 1
Magazine ad
Target Audience A: Adults/businesspeople with busy day-to-day lives
Product B: The Palm Centro personal organizer/cell phone
This target consumer's life is busy, hectic, and chaotic, and he or she needs a way to fit everything and be at peace.
This consumer should obviously buy the palm centro because it is small and easy to carry around, and can fit all of your needs into one place. It will make you feel more organized, and therefore more calm and confident about your life. It can provide happiness and peace.
http://koreansensation.deviantart.com/art/Palm-Centro-Magazine-Ad-70375854
Target Audience A: Adults/businesspeople with busy day-to-day lives
Product B: The Palm Centro personal organizer/cell phone
This target consumer's life is busy, hectic, and chaotic, and he or she needs a way to fit everything and be at peace.
This consumer should obviously buy the palm centro because it is small and easy to carry around, and can fit all of your needs into one place. It will make you feel more organized, and therefore more calm and confident about your life. It can provide happiness and peace.
http://koreansensation.deviantart.com/art/Palm-Centro-Magazine-Ad-70375854
My Postsecret
The 'secret' in my postcard was that some famous, beautiful celebrity secretly hates herself. I displayed this information pretty explicitly, instead of providing a clue or implicit way of stating it for an audience to deduce. I chose to include two different 'girly' colors, pink and purple, as well as a full heart and a broken heart drawing. I also write in cursive, the effect of all these manipulations being that the card seemed sweet at first glance, and sort of sickly sweet after you read it, especially with the broken heart. I wanted to portray this persona as vulnerable and down-to-earth, so that the average audience member could maybe feel some satisfaction from reading it, knowing how big of a celebrity this person is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)