- What is the overt message?
The overt message is "eat less bread". This is shown by the woman standing in the picture carrying a soup pot. The message is very clear that the creators of the ad want people to eat less bread.
- What is the covert message?
The covert message is that people need to change. At a time when most people mainly ate bread, the ad tells people to eat less, meaning they have to find something else to eat and change their habits. I think message says this is because they want to get people to start thinking about change, to start creating new ideas and advancements. Change is the key to victory, the key to winning the war.
- How does the disparity between the two make it propaganda?
Instead of straight out telling people that change will bring them victory, they disguise it with a comparison the the kitchen, making it a covert message. They are trying to persuade people without them realizing it, they are trying to get people to think about change, this is why it's propaganda.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
"Clampdown" the Clash
- What is the song about? How do you know?
I thought the song was about the Holocaust. I thought because in the song, the man who doesn't fit in is assumed to be a Jew. Also, the lyrics say "no man born with a living soul can be working for the clampdown." The people working for the clampdown would have been the Nazis and they treated the Jews in a very inhuman manner. It also says "stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming, only a fool would think someone could save you." During the time of the Holocaust, the situation seemed pretty hopeless like the singer mentions.
- What music elements add to your lyrical interpretation?
The beat of the song is very steady and fast making the song seem extremely structured. This can be connected to the Nazis who were very structured and uniformed.
- How does it relate to propaganda, rhetoric, and persuasion?
There's one particular line in the song that struck me as a connection to propaganda. That would be when he says "we train our blue-eyed men to be believers". Instead of saying the blue-eyed men ARE believers, he says that they have to train them to become believers, this makes it seem as if they're forcing them to believe in what they say.
I thought the song was about the Holocaust. I thought because in the song, the man who doesn't fit in is assumed to be a Jew. Also, the lyrics say "no man born with a living soul can be working for the clampdown." The people working for the clampdown would have been the Nazis and they treated the Jews in a very inhuman manner. It also says "stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming, only a fool would think someone could save you." During the time of the Holocaust, the situation seemed pretty hopeless like the singer mentions.
- What music elements add to your lyrical interpretation?
The beat of the song is very steady and fast making the song seem extremely structured. This can be connected to the Nazis who were very structured and uniformed.
- How does it relate to propaganda, rhetoric, and persuasion?
There's one particular line in the song that struck me as a connection to propaganda. That would be when he says "we train our blue-eyed men to be believers". Instead of saying the blue-eyed men ARE believers, he says that they have to train them to become believers, this makes it seem as if they're forcing them to believe in what they say.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Rhetoric/Propaganda/Persuasion Quote
Quote: 1033 "To the academician, the language of the reporter is excessively casual, trivializing, and simple-minded, if not downright wrong or silly. To the journalist, the language of the academicians is excessively passive, technical, and complication, if not downright wordy or pompous. ... Academic language strives to be informative and accurate. ... To the reporter, though, the result sounds like nitpicking; it encumbers the research with so many qualifications and exceptions that the results seem meaningless." Carol Tavris
In this quote, Tavris explains that there are two different types of using language to convey a message or an argument. The first, the language of reporters, focuses completely on emotions and rhetoric devices to persuade or inform. Tavris also explains that this causes academicians to view them as "simple-minded" and inaccurate, which may also make them seem ignorant or "silly". The second type of language, the language of academicians, does not use rhetoric devices or emotions to persuade but rather it is strictly factual and statistical. The evidence and support is extremely concrete, however, to a reporter the argument often seems "wordy or pompous" and may even cause the message to seem meaningless. With this said, I think Tavris is trying to convey that the most successful way of using our language is to incorporate both rhetoric devices AND informative facts. This way, the argument will not be overwhelmed with research and yet, it will certainly not be dismissed as "simple-minded". Therefore, the strongest argument will be one that includes both rhetoric devices to persuade and irrefutable evidence to support.
In this quote, Tavris explains that there are two different types of using language to convey a message or an argument. The first, the language of reporters, focuses completely on emotions and rhetoric devices to persuade or inform. Tavris also explains that this causes academicians to view them as "simple-minded" and inaccurate, which may also make them seem ignorant or "silly". The second type of language, the language of academicians, does not use rhetoric devices or emotions to persuade but rather it is strictly factual and statistical. The evidence and support is extremely concrete, however, to a reporter the argument often seems "wordy or pompous" and may even cause the message to seem meaningless. With this said, I think Tavris is trying to convey that the most successful way of using our language is to incorporate both rhetoric devices AND informative facts. This way, the argument will not be overwhelmed with research and yet, it will certainly not be dismissed as "simple-minded". Therefore, the strongest argument will be one that includes both rhetoric devices to persuade and irrefutable evidence to support.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Reading Blog #3: Brave New World
1. In Brave New World and 1984, what symbols are used to portray the government's control through the use of technology?
2. After reading Brave New World, how much do you think Huxley would sacrifice to reach a society without starvation, poverty, and pain?
3. Do you think Huxley is implying that technological and scientific advancements should be monitored and/or repressed after a certain point? If so, what are the limitations?
2. After reading Brave New World, how much do you think Huxley would sacrifice to reach a society without starvation, poverty, and pain?
3. Do you think Huxley is implying that technological and scientific advancements should be monitored and/or repressed after a certain point? If so, what are the limitations?
Sunday, December 4, 2011
"Communist Utopia"
- What about the painting indicates communism?
The eyes on the wall indicates communism. It makes it seem like the government is always watching and making sure that no one steps out of line. People do and say what they're supposed to. Also, the majority of the painting is grey or shades of grey. This makes it seem like the government is trying to paint everyone equal and monotone. Having everyone grey ensures that nobody stands out or is different. This can be compared to the communist ideal economy. Everyone gets the same and nobody is different.
- What is the artist's view of communism?
The artist views communism negatively. I think this because he titles the painting "Communist Utopia" and everything in the painting seems gloomy or miserable; it is not perfect and happy.
- Explain the title.
I think Thomas Hornung chose to name the painting "Communist Utopia" to emphasize the fact that communism is horrible and frightening. The painting shows that the perfect communist society is wretched.
The eyes on the wall indicates communism. It makes it seem like the government is always watching and making sure that no one steps out of line. People do and say what they're supposed to. Also, the majority of the painting is grey or shades of grey. This makes it seem like the government is trying to paint everyone equal and monotone. Having everyone grey ensures that nobody stands out or is different. This can be compared to the communist ideal economy. Everyone gets the same and nobody is different.
- What is the artist's view of communism?
The artist views communism negatively. I think this because he titles the painting "Communist Utopia" and everything in the painting seems gloomy or miserable; it is not perfect and happy.
- Explain the title.
I think Thomas Hornung chose to name the painting "Communist Utopia" to emphasize the fact that communism is horrible and frightening. The painting shows that the perfect communist society is wretched.
"Don't You Want Me"
- What's the subject matter?
The subject of the song is the relationship between the guy and the girl.
- What's the difference of the two sides of the story?
The guy thinks that the girl wouldn't be where she is now without him; he thinks that he brought her into a better life. The girl argues that she would have gotten their eventually with or without his help. She also thinks that it's time for her to go and to move on.
- With who do you side with and why?
I side with the girl because it's her life and she wants to move on. Also, if the guy truly loves her, he would let go of her and let her move forward in her life. Not the mention, the guy also seems too controlling and it's a little bit freaky.
The subject of the song is the relationship between the guy and the girl.
- What's the difference of the two sides of the story?
The guy thinks that the girl wouldn't be where she is now without him; he thinks that he brought her into a better life. The girl argues that she would have gotten their eventually with or without his help. She also thinks that it's time for her to go and to move on.
- With who do you side with and why?
I side with the girl because it's her life and she wants to move on. Also, if the guy truly loves her, he would let go of her and let her move forward in her life. Not the mention, the guy also seems too controlling and it's a little bit freaky.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Reading Blog #2: Brave New World
1 How does Brave New World show the relationship between science/technology and political power?
Throughout the story, it is shown that scientific and technological advances can aid the government's power. The very beginning of the book opens up with the Director giving a tour of the 'London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre'. Even the very name of this organization connects science with the effect it can have on the government. In the hatchery the workers and scientists have developed astonishing ways to mass produce embryos. This is to the advantage of the government because they are able to monitor every development of each embryo and also of every baby/child after he/she has been decanted. Also because everyone grows up in the conditioning center, the government has complete control over what everyone believes, enjoys, and does. With the scientific ability to mass produce babies, the government has the power to condition everyone to their liking.
2. In Brave New World, what is the government's view of a good citizen?
The ideal citizen in the society of Brave New World is one who is always happy and who loves one's class. The government encourages everyone to participate in activities that will make them happier. For example, little children in the conditioning center have "Elementary Sex" which shows that from a very young age, children are taught to pleasure themselves. Also, people are given soma which relieves them of stress and gloominess. The government's stress on happiness is especially prevalent when the Director says, "this colleague of yours-- or should I anticipate and say this ex-college? -- has grossly betrayed the trust imposed in him. By his heretical views on sport and soma, by the scandalous unorthodoxy of his sexlife, by his refusal to obey the teachings of Our Ford and behave out of office hours, 'even as a little infant' he has proved himself and enemy of Society, a subverter, ladies and gentlemen, of all Order and Stability, a conspirator against Civilization itself" (Huxley 156). This shows that the government looks down on people who don't force themselves to be happy.
3. If everyone (with a few exceptions) is happy, why might this society still seem like a dystopia?
Even though most people seem pleased with their life in Brave New World, we (as readers) still view it as a dystopia because the people in the society don't actually know if they're happy or not, they're just told that they are and they force themselves to be happy. This is proved when the Savage says, "well, I'd rather be unhappy than have the sort of false, lying happiness you were having here" (Huxley 184). This shows that the soma and the erotic activities don't actually make people truly happy, they just trick them into thinking they're happy. Also, in this society, the government has complete power because they condition, which is almost like brainwashing, everyone from when they're babies into believing and enjoying what the government wants them to believe or enjoy. This is horrible for us (American readers), because we grow up fearing all-controlling governments. For these reasons, the society in Brave New World seems more of a dystopia.
Throughout the story, it is shown that scientific and technological advances can aid the government's power. The very beginning of the book opens up with the Director giving a tour of the 'London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre'. Even the very name of this organization connects science with the effect it can have on the government. In the hatchery the workers and scientists have developed astonishing ways to mass produce embryos. This is to the advantage of the government because they are able to monitor every development of each embryo and also of every baby/child after he/she has been decanted. Also because everyone grows up in the conditioning center, the government has complete control over what everyone believes, enjoys, and does. With the scientific ability to mass produce babies, the government has the power to condition everyone to their liking.
2. In Brave New World, what is the government's view of a good citizen?
The ideal citizen in the society of Brave New World is one who is always happy and who loves one's class. The government encourages everyone to participate in activities that will make them happier. For example, little children in the conditioning center have "Elementary Sex" which shows that from a very young age, children are taught to pleasure themselves. Also, people are given soma which relieves them of stress and gloominess. The government's stress on happiness is especially prevalent when the Director says, "this colleague of yours-- or should I anticipate and say this ex-college? -- has grossly betrayed the trust imposed in him. By his heretical views on sport and soma, by the scandalous unorthodoxy of his sexlife, by his refusal to obey the teachings of Our Ford and behave out of office hours, 'even as a little infant' he has proved himself and enemy of Society, a subverter, ladies and gentlemen, of all Order and Stability, a conspirator against Civilization itself" (Huxley 156). This shows that the government looks down on people who don't force themselves to be happy.
3. If everyone (with a few exceptions) is happy, why might this society still seem like a dystopia?
Even though most people seem pleased with their life in Brave New World, we (as readers) still view it as a dystopia because the people in the society don't actually know if they're happy or not, they're just told that they are and they force themselves to be happy. This is proved when the Savage says, "well, I'd rather be unhappy than have the sort of false, lying happiness you were having here" (Huxley 184). This shows that the soma and the erotic activities don't actually make people truly happy, they just trick them into thinking they're happy. Also, in this society, the government has complete power because they condition, which is almost like brainwashing, everyone from when they're babies into believing and enjoying what the government wants them to believe or enjoy. This is horrible for us (American readers), because we grow up fearing all-controlling governments. For these reasons, the society in Brave New World seems more of a dystopia.
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