By displaying powerful messages on billboards it's easier to get the message your trying to send out to people. Billboards are everywhere and are always easy to see and read. This device of advertising is effective because no matter what the message is people are bound to read it. I know when I am driving I always notice the billboard ads and they always stick out to me and are easier to recall then perhaps an ad in a magazine or newspaper.

Homework Blog 2/26

After reading the article I got a good idea on how to correctly analyze an object, and how to break down each part of how an object is made up. The article gave a clear example of how to analyze an idea, object, or text. After reading it I found it very interesting how girl power is promoted yet how following "girl power" the idea is that the girl is expected to fit into a stereotyped category. For example, a girl is expected to achieve the position of being thought of as a "queen", meaning they must be skinny and glamorized like a supermodel with an "anorexic frame". They're also supposed to be "daring", meaning they wear flashy and border line provocative clothing to be categorized as powerful in the movement of girl power. Not only does the article breakdown the girl power movement into negatively framing girls to fit this perfect image to appear "powerful", but I agree with the concluding statement that says, "Even in the midst of 'girl power', this T-shirt shows us a woman still dependent on men", which contradicts the whole purpose of "girl power".

Beyond Words: "Designs and The Design of Everyday Things"

After reading the article, I found it very interesting how the media plays a role in design in society. Designers are forced to design what the public wants after being exposed to the media and the entertainment world to try to buy what is "in" according to the media.
The entertainment world such as movies, puts stereotypes on products, in the article they describe the design and movie's impact on car designs. The Media puts stereotypes on cars to appeal to audiences as a way of advertising, where the designers take those hints and design cars that people want to buy. So in a way not only does the media shape what the designers should make but it advertises for those designer's products.
For example, in a movie where you see actors living in mansions and having luxurious lives, they will specifically drive a type of car for instance, a mercedes, to symbolize wealth. Moreover, a person watching this movie and seeing this, might then want to appeal wealthy to others, and therefore they will most likely purchase a mercedes to seem rich. Also, rappers who enjoy "big nights out" will drive around hummers or limos and someone wanting that type of lifestyle may buy a hummer or rent a limo to achieve the "party life style".
I also found it interesting that women are the top buyers for SUVs and trucks when usually they're advertised as a "mans car". In the article it also describes the designers demand to satisfy the want of the women customers wanting their cars to have "sex appeal" yet they must be safe.

Mac vs PC class blog

Although i was not thrilled about having to get used to using my new mac last year, after using it about a couple days I would have to say that I prefer a mac over a pc. The designs of the mac or my "macbook" laptop that attracts me more than a regular pc is the fact that it is this new fresh looking white that you are able to change it's outside color with different laptop covers. Also that fact that it's smaller and more lightweight than most older pc laptops which is also why the mac appeals to me. the software of the mac is also more high tech and is better when blocking viruses which can really destroy a computer considering all the sites I like to go online shopping and downloading music from. Their campaign ads the fact that mac's don't usually freeze and are faster than pc's which appeal to me as well.

Assignment 2: intro

In Paul Brown’s short story, “Swinging”, Steve who is home from college, discovers the news of his parents getting a divorce. Throughout the story the reader is able to detect Steve’s sense of instability and uncertainty to whether happiness exists with in a person. Brown uses a variety of literary devices to argue the issue that when one is faced with life’s barriers, it is essential for them to overcome those challenges in order to discover their true self and achieve lifelong happiness.

Assignment 1

Short Writing Assignment 1
Topic Proposal:
1. The text I have chosen is Paul Brown’s short story, “Swinging”
2. The text’s main point and central argument is that life is full of struggles a person must face, in order to find their true self. The text advises that one must not use their past as an escape route to protect them self from their uncertainties, however they must let go of their past and move on with an open mind in order to find themselves, because in their own found world, is where lifelong happiness exists.
3. The passage I have chosen to mainly focus in is the last paragraph of the story. The last paragraph is very significant to the meaning of the entire story and concludes with Steve’s realization of his self, life, as well as Brown’s story.
4. Within the passage I chose, the author uses various literary devices to demonstrate a deeper meaning for the reader. Brown uses the rope as symbol of the past as well as the diction for the action of rope swinging to represent the constant back and fourth motion (swing) of Steve’s thoughts on his past and future. The Rope swinging also represents the “ride” or in other words the journey that life takes us on. Brown uses powerful words to represent his feeling of panic about his life when describing Steve’s experience on the rope swing. Brown also uses color imagery such as darkness, to symbolize Steve’s confusion and what is potentially unknown.
5. My passage’s distinct rhythm of Steve’s turn on the rope swing describes his adrenaline pumping ride on the rope and how Brown dramatizes it using strong diction. It’s known that a swinging motion starts off fast, and then slows to a stop. This is similar to how Brown begins the passage with intense, unpleasant imagery such as “thundering heart” to describe the negative emotion Steve feels because of his parent’s divorce. Brown’s rhythm continues to a slower state of swinging, not fully angry yet Steve doesn’t feel full closure, Brown adds, “gravity and rope tug at him”, this quote relates to Steve’s reaction, feeling confused and hesitant toward who he now considers himself as, based on believing his parents were happy throughout his childhood, and now after the news of their divorce isn’t fully surprised of their decision. Towards the end of the passage the rhythm slows even more where Steve feels “weightless” representing Steve coming to terms with the reality of his parent’s divorce and understanding he still has the ability to achieve happiness.
6. The literary devices present in Brown’s passage are used to express deeper meaning of the text in order for the reader to gain better knowledge of Steve’s emotional situation. The text also provides a hidden meaning towards Steve’s thoughts, where he feels lost and confused, where Brown uses the literary devices engage the reader, forcing them to be active in interpreting the true meaning of preventing one’s past from discovering them self.

Thesis:
Brown uses a variety of literary devices to argue the issue that when one is faced with life’s barriers, it is essential for them to overcome those challenges in order to discover their true self and achieve lifelong happiness.

in class- quote

The quote that continually replays in my head is from an episode of the tv show, "the oc". It that says "the sooner you realize things are never going to go back to the way they were the sooner you'll move on". I think this quote sticks with me so much because I've used it as advice severall times concerning different things. I believe that it is very true and it's helpful for someone in a situation where they are sad, or angry because they aren't content with their situations at that time and continually think back to a previous situation in which they would like to go back to but in reality isn't possible. Accepting and applying this quote one can read it and realize that living in the past will only make them feel worse and that the only way to move on is to accept the past, forget about it, and move on.

2/4 homework

I really enjoyed James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" because it reminded me of the book Invisible Man which I really enjoyed. Both stories are about a black man's struggle in a white society, and how racism limits the african americans from opportunities. I can relate to Baldwin's story because the character re directs his frustration and struggle into his music, where for me I take my frustrations out in cheerleading or tumbling at practice. In this story there are many symbols throughout the text that represent suffering and pain yet his music acts as an escape to release him of his struggles.

I found John Barth’s “Lost in the Funhouse” different compared to the other short stories. In this piece, Barth has an interesting sense of humor in a way to relay his message in his story. He also uses metaphors to show represent his struggles with his parents.

In each story there's a common theme of struggle but each authors displays it in their writings a different way.