blog #7

1. TCU Tailgates.

     This issue on campus has been talked about quite a bit this year. We have a #6 ranked football team and yet, the stands still aren’t full. Many people are blaming it on the lack of tailgating. The target audience for this issue would be TCU students and fans. Possibly the best way to reach this audience would be to stir up emotions. Facts that compare the attendance at TCU games with other schools (especially rival schools) would be easy to find. Statistics could also answer the question, “Do schools with tailgates generally have a higher attendance at football games?” Obviously, facts and statistics would play an important role in this argument. Pathos could be applied in relation to the support that our #6 football team is not receiving enough of.

 2. Materialism.

     I chose this issue because it one that almost everyone is affected by. There is evidence of it everywhere: “My Super Sweet Sixteen,” Hollywood, high fashion, multimillion dollar houses..etc.  Possibly the easiest way to reach the audience would be to ask some questions. Why is it that people will spend $500 on a purse? How many cars does one need to be happy? What’s the point of owning a ten room mansion when only two people live there? Rhetorically, pathos will be easy to apply, especially visually. Pictures of poverty vs. pictures of wealth make a clear statement. In terms of logos, facts will be easy to supply. How much money a year does the average person spend on clothing? How much money a year does the average person spend on charity? Etc…  

     A positive way to speak to the audience would be to speak in terms of empowerment. People with wealth are blessed with the power to produce change. Why spend $100 dollars on a necklace when you could change the lives of two children in poverty for the same price?

blog #6

 

           Jamison Green told a very interesting story. Putting aside the moral issues of whether what he did was right or wrong, I respect the method he used for making his decision. Although it might sound cheesy, Green followed his heart. He knew that something wasn’t right. He stopped listening to what the rest of the world was telling him and he stood by what his heart told him was right. I have never experienced a question of identity quite like Green did, but every day I face questions like “What is the type of person I want to be?” “Where is my life going?” and “Am I on the right track?”

            Whenever I am facing a difficult decision or question, my mom’s voice never fails to pop onto my head:).  I don’t know how many times I have heard her say it, “Well, what is your heart telling you?” This simple question makes me block out every other person’s opinion and connect with what I really think or want. I think this is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself.

            At the beginning of last year (my freshman year), I was faced with one of those difficult questions and had to ask myself what my heart was telling me. I had heard from multiple people that it was a good idea to rush freshman year, even if you weren’t sure you wanted to join a sorority. So, just like pretty much every other girl I turned in my application and began rush a week before school. I went through the first few days just taking in how interesting the whole process was. I had a notion that Greek wasn’t for me, but everyone I talked to said to stick with it and I would love it. The day before bid day I decided to drop out because Greek just wasn’t the right fit for me. I really had to listen to what my heart was telling me to make this decision because basically everyone I knew was telling me the opposite. Now, I am thankful I listened to my heart because I am happier now because of it.

            Jamison Green faced a little bit more difficult decision than whether or not to be in a sorority, but none the less, the idea behind the decision is the same. When you follow your heart, no matter how cliché it sounds, you will generally make the right decision.

blog #5

      A few weeks ago my roommate came to me raving about this amazing book on tape she was listening to. She explained how clearly and directly the author shared his perspective on faith. I asked her the name of the book because I was currently reading a similar book and it turns out we were both referring to the same book! So, we sat down and listened to parts of his audio and I showed her the actual book, Crazy Love, by Francis Chan. We shared with each other how moving it was to hear him speak and how staggering his arguments were. Personally, I became part of the audience when I was just browsing through Barnes and Noble and stumbled upon this book. The reason I chose to purchase the book was because of the direct tone used on the back of the book. Here’s what I first read that made me interested in the book: http://www.crazylovebook.com/ (click on the middle box with the cover of the book that says, “What is crazy love?”).

     The most powerful and effective way Chan speaks to the audience is through a very direct tone, it’s as If he is speaking right to you.  For example, chapter one begins, “What if I said, “Stop praying”? What if I told you to stop talking at God for a while,        but instead to take a long, hard look at him before you speak another word? Solomon warned us not to rush into God’s presence with words. That’s what fools do. And often that’s what we do.” By including himself, saying “that’s what we do,” Chan lets the audience know that he’s not necessarily preaching at them, but he is walking the journey with them. He speaks with directness to gain authority, but includes himself in the group signify humbleness. Chan also draws many scripture passages and quotes from the Bible, a source that most of the audience would probably consider credible. He encourages his own interpretations, while strengthening them with the Christian Church’s teachings.

     Direct, inclusive, and informal: Chan’s main methods of argument. These methods could be very helpful in creating a collaborative proposal, especially in making an argument for change. I believe people are more apt to listen when you speak directly to them, even if it’s in an informal manner. Also, by including yourself in the audience there’s probably a smaller chance that people will become defensive. Chan provided a great example of how you can encourage and persuade people without coming of as arrogant.

      Crazy Love has had a profound effect on my life because it has shifted my perspective on faith. Through this book, Chan did not necessary change my beliefs, but he gave me a different way to look at them. The main concept behind the title Crazy Love is: “when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.”

blog#5

Catholic: Argue against the stereotype that Catholics attend church but do not practice their faith or have a relationship with God.

Sources: interviews, anti-catholic blogs, Catechism of the Catholic Church

An American striving for the American Dream: I think the stereotype that all American’s are just working to get to the top isn’t a positive stereotype because it suggests that we are selfish and are only working for ourselves. I would rather be described as someone who is eager to help others, rather than just to get myself to the top. Does that make sense? It makes sense in my head, but I’m not sure how phrase it.

Sources: interviews, foreign perception of Americans

TCU student: Preppy, rich, stuck up

Sources: interviews, news articles

blog #4

     I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I saw the title of the book, “Becoming a Visible Man.” I became even more uncertain when I discovered it was written by a transgender about his experience. What was the author’s tone going to be? Would it be merely informative? Would there be animosity towards the intolerant? What emotions will he exhibit for the reader?  In some ways, the matter of sex change is an unspoken taboo subject, especially in school, so I was interested to read what the author Jamison Green had to say.

      Pure curiosity initially made me part of Green’s audience. In a more directed perspective though, I believe Green is targeting anyone who is uncomfortable with the term gender as defined by WHO. The World Health Organization identifies gender through the characteristics of masculine and feminine. Green is arguing that this definition is wrong because no one person can define gender. In his perspective, gender is something that belongs to each individual internally and that it is a private matter which cannot be labeled by an “objective” observer.

     Green’s argument is directed at those who are unsure with the WHO’s definition of gender because he is making an argument for change. The people who read “Becoming a Visible Man” are probably struggling with the concept of gender the same way Green does. Green picks this specific audience in order to address those who may have a deeper and more personal understanding of the matter because they have experienced it personally.

     Green wishes to change the definition of gender because he feels it is too limited. He raises the question, “What if you don’t fit into either category?” He is compelled to make this argument through the personal experience of not feeling like he is anything. By making this argument Green is pushing the traditional boundaries and fighting for a more liberal perspective on the idea. He does say however that the boundaries should not be limitless because it would create a deficit in rigidity.

     Personally, I have never felt that gender is a contestable definition, but that was before I read the WHO’s definition of gender and heard Green’s argument. Prior to reading this excerpt it never even occurred to me that there was a difference between gender and sex or that there could be a disconnect between the two. Green’s argument makes sense. I was pessimistic when I found out what we would be reading about, but now I feel more informed about the subject and agree that maybe in some cases gender is a contestable definition.

 

Blog #3

Red, green, yellow, blue, black and white are prominent colors throughout the entire M.I.A music video 20 Dollar, clearly exemplifying the political argument the video is making. The colors of the African flag help identify that the argument M.I.A is making involves the battles the third world country is confronting. More specifically, 20 Dollar addresses the use of the AK-47, the nonchalance of the western nations and the materialism and greed that fuels the situation.    The repeated lyric throughout the video is “where is my mind?” I believe this refers to her main argument which asks “where is the focus of Western civilizations?”

The audience M.I.A is addressing is those who are ignorant, or just chose to ignore the situation in Africa, especially in Uganda. In general though, I believe she is speaking to the Western culture, those with money and power who have the ability to listen and act. She aggressively and directly speaks to the audience, “Like do you know the cost of A.K.’s up in Africa? Twenty dollars ain’t shit to you.” Ak-47s are assault rifles used in Uganda, many times by children to fight the ongoing war occurring there.  M.I.A is referring to the wealth in the Western culture, where twenty dollars does not count for much, but in Uganda It’s the price used to purchase a weapon.  M.I.A further addresses her audience saying, “Is those diamonds helpin’ ya? Don’t you like my bandanna? My stains hang low on my shirts like aiy aiy aiy.” I believe in this phrase she is addressing diamonds in reference to the “blood diamonds” produced in Africa and uses the word “stains” in place of “chains” to compare the poverty of Africa to the wealth of Western nations.

The tone M.I.A uses to address her audience is aggressive. I am a part of the audience because I am aware of the struggles in Africa and I have the fortune of living in the United States. Although M.I.A’s tone was aggressive I did not get defensive listening to the song, but rather I listened to what she was saying. She developed ethos by simply singing about a subject matter of more significance than love songs, which is what every other artist on the radio is singing about.

The music video was effective in emphasizing the subject matter she was addressing. The use of color was a strong aspect in her video as well as images of poverty, war and materialism.  There was a strange mix of images and graphics that were sometimes not entirely clear, but maybe it was the fact that they weren’t clear that made the video stand out from the rest, just like her lyrics stand out.  M.I.A’s lyrics are sometimes difficult to understand if you don’t read them before listening to the song, which is another reason the video was affective in getting its point across.

Blog #2

     The audience the speaker is trying to reach is anyone who heard Chris Brown’s apology clip about the Rhianna incident, specifically those who sympathized with Brown.  The speaker is obviously attacking Brown’s apology and is therefore speaking to all of Brown’s audience. Possibly even more importantly though, the speaker is addressing Rihanna’s audience and probably more effectively reaching her biggest fans.  I am a member of the speaker’s target audience because I listen to Chris Brown and Rihanna’s music and I heard Brown’s apology.  When I first saw the clip I thought it was pretty funny, but when I watched the original clip one more time, my perspective on the speaker of the video changed and I questioned his ethos, rather than Brown’s. Here is the original apology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzZUsNC76GU

     The speaker’s argument attacks the motives behind Chris Brown’s apology, although, through his argument the speaker is saying something about his own character in the way he degrades Brown’s request for forgiveness.  Through mockery, humor and sarcasm the speaker argues that Brown’s statement was a poor excuse for an apology and that he made the statement for selfish reasons, such as, to continue his career, make millions of dollars, and get back on tour. Also, the speaker further addresses Brown’s character attacking his arrogance. In the beginning of the clip, the speaker mocks Brown’s defiance of the lawyer’s advice not to address the public saying, “My lawyer told me not to say anything about it, but I had to address it, I’m nineteen years old, I’m a singer, and God know I know more than a lawyer who went to college and graduated.”

     The primary argument used is pathos because the speaker appeals to the audience through humor. The speaker took advantage of this approach to get his point across because the subject is very sensitive.  Brown’s assault towards Rhianna made many people very upset and greatly affected Brown’s reputation.  The speaker’s attitude exemplifies the contempt that many people feel for Brown at this point in time. Through humor, the speaker connects with his audience by expressing feelings that others may have felt while watching the apology video, because after all, the speaker is merely voicing his response to the apology as well.  More specifically, the speaker stirs the emotions of women by making the statement, “ I figured the amount of times I drop kicked her, kicked her in the face,  it was wrong for me to do it, but you have no idea how women can provoke you sometimes and make you want to do what I did.” Through his humor and sarcasm the author appealed to the portion of the audience that consisted of already angry women towards Brown.  At the end of the video the speaker also makes a political jab at the Middle East explaining why he has punching gloves for hands, “These are my normal hands, these are not Hulk gloves, these are just my normal hands, and I was born with these. I was raised in the Middle East and where I was raised hitting women was okay, so now I’m in America, I didn’t realize that you can’t hit women!”   Through his humor though, the speaker may have offended more people than were originally offended by Brown.  So maybe appeal through pathos wasn’t entirely effective in this argument.

Blog #1

     I found this advertisement in a Google image search for creative advertisements. The image lead me to the website toxel.com. I had never been to the site before, but  it seemed pretty interesting. When I began exploring the site I found that it basically featured postings about clever advertisements, new innovative technology, and modern designs. For example, it had a post on creative designs by nature and showed items like jewelry and flip flops made out of grass. All the posts have pictures to go with it, so its very entertaining, I highly recommend checking it out:  http://www.toxel.com/

      This particular advertisemnt I chose is an ad for a job agency called jobsintown.de. Jobsintown.de uses the ad to urge viewers to explore the different job postings they feature on their website. The advertisement is meant to capture the general audience of common people who are in search of the right job, which applies to many people. The ad probably best reaches those who have been in the workforce for a longer amount of time because those are the people who have explored the work force, found what they like and don’t like and are still searching for the right job. I think the ad can definitely also target college students, particularly those who are just graduating. The target audience also includes those workers who are very unhappy.

      The very small, cramped and uncomfortable space the man in the picture is working in just makes you cringe at the thought of being put in that situation, thus the ad greatly appeals to pathos. I believe the ad almost creates an emotional distress through the image.  It also  depicts a situation that many people can probably relate to: being in a uncomfortable job, feeling isolated, and not feeling like you have the freedom to spread your wings. The quote “Life’s too short to be in the wrong job,” creates a sense of urgency, grabbing one’s attention and saying, “Hey, you need to change something and change it now.” The quote in the ad also presents an argument that may provoke thought in the viewer. For example, someone may see the the ad and at first think, “Oh, I’m happy in my job, I don’t need a new one,” but on further thought thay may decide, “Well it is true that life is short, how happy am I really?”  which urges the viewer to explore jobsintown.de.

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