Reflections

Above the Influence by Elise Acree

I didn't think about the subtle ways in which these drug ads must make their case in an environment where many teens have already developed a jaded outlook on drugs. Very interesting look at two images that have become so common for me they have just faded into the background.

Not Even Once: Meth Use by Rachel Bowers

Very informative essay, I thought it was particularly interesting how the two images used fear to play on viewers in two very different contexts. I learned about meth itself and why it should not be used even once.

Visual Rhetoric Thesis Statement

This brutal image of communist China is primarily a protest of the Olympic games that were held in Beijing over the summer of 2008. Amnesty International believes that such a country does not deserve to host the celebrated tradition because of their human rights record. However the Olympics did give them a platform from which to beg awareness of the travesty that is China’s human rights policy. Before the time leading up to the Olympics all the common man had seen of Amnesty International were the hippie students on college campuses or perhaps a benefit concert by an influential musician on CNN. The Olympics are something that we are all intimately involved with and we cannot help but wake up to this harsh reality when we are so close to it, if only from television.

My Visual Rhetoric Topic: The Olympics in China

This is a brutal depiction of what the photographer believes was a very brutal reality in China leading up to the Olympic games. This photograph seeks to persuade viewers that this is a likely event in modern China, which by the way has one of the worst human rights records on earth. The image has several different elements that can be analyzed including the setting in a prison, the blurred faceless shooter, and the obvious downtrodden state of the victim. The author is from a group called amnesty international whose goal is to promote awareness of human rights violation that might otherwise be ignored by the media for aesthetic reasons such as the Olympic games. This is a disturbing image of an imagined reality. It is improbable that the author has actually seen an occurrence like this one, but he has probably talked to individuals who would have him believe this is a very natural happening. Regardless of whether this is a reality or not the author is making a point, which is that the Olympics is openly honoring a country that is unbelievably far behind the rest of the world with regards to the God-given rights of man. By modern standards did they really deserve to host this celebrated time honored event?

Saab and Ford Hybrid ads

The advertisement for the Saab is an apeal to those interested in sports. this is because it is on a runway with its doors open like wings on a jet. This comparison to a jet emphasizes the sleek nature of the car's design and that it can "fly." The background also appears to be blurred giving the idea that the car is moving at a very fast pace. This comparison makes sense because in the paragraph at the bottom they explain that Saab was founded by aircraft engineers. The Ford hybrid is located in a natural setting making it appear eco-friendly. The appearance of Kermit the frog with a quote from him pokes fun at pop-culture giving people something they can relate to. The quote: "I guess it is easy being green," tells the reader than in order to be eco-friendly all they have to do is by this hybrid vehicle and it draws him/her in. It's almost as if Kermit being there reassures the reader allowing him to trust the ad.

This is a picture of me on the left and my friend John. My name is Timothy Rogers and I am currently a freshman majoring in biochemistry at Clemson University. I played the saxophone in Tiger Band over the fall semester, which allowed me to go to most of the football games. This picture was taken on a camping trip in November. It was very cold that day and I did not have enough layers on so I was shivering through the night. On that trip I learned to be a little more independent and helpful; by gathering and chopping wood, building a fire, and tearing down a tent. I also got to meet a lot of people older and more mature crowd of people than I am used to. This was a very good experience for me because I was able to learn more about a close group of Christian friends who I did not know before. Even though it was bitterly cold the friendly atmosphere and fire helped to keep us warm.

Over the past weekend I viewed many different advertisements through a few different mediums. The first of these was an infomercial that came on ESPN for Oxyclean. The spokesman for this amazing product briskly demonstrates the ways in which it can make cleaning around the house much easier. It definitely employs a logical argument making it obvious for the viewer how it can be used to do incredible things other name brand products could never dream of accomplishing. Oxyclean is being sold through an infomercial so for the average who is at least a little perceptive it has already lost some of its credibility. This is due in part to the countless scams that infomercials are infamous for. This is why the spokesman uses every moment of his time showing off the products usefulness for a seemingly low price, at an unbelievably low price nonetheless.

On the background of my computer there is a picture advertisement for the Dave Matthews Band. The band wants to keep up its casual with the impression that it has yet to sell out to corporatism like so many other rock band before them. This is why they are wearing street clothes one might wear to play a game of frisbee on the weekend. In this way the band takes advantage of ethos by relating to their fans by sending the message that they are just like them (only with a little additional musical talent). This image holds has generally held true for the Dave Matthews Band throughout their history. It was only recently that Dave Matthews himself was in an American Express commercial, which is the first time I have ever seen the musician endorse anything.

When I was walking across the library bridge earlier today there was a group of students handing out booklets of coupons. On the cover of these booklets were pictures of dollar bills with a message running across the center saying "Back-to-School." Coupons are a form of advertising in that they give people a discount on things they might want with the hope that people will come in to buy more generic items at their store. The dollar bills convey the message that the coupons are just as good as money and that the customer would be stupid to throw the coupons away because they're just as good as U.S. legal tender. The booklets also contain coupons for many different stores which tells students with enough patience to hold onto them that there must be a coupon for something I need or want in it.

Later in the day on Sunday I saw a new trailer for the latest superhero flick "The Watchmen." The tag line for this one is simply "You've never seen superheroes like this." With this very simple explanation of the movie's main idea the trailer holds more attraction for a less geeky crowd. The tag line shows these people who haven't been drawn in by the other advertisement for the movie what's so great about this picture. It also doesn't bother with any seemingly bizarre scenes that do not make sense to those who have not read the graphic novel. Instead this trailer gives the viewer a few seconds look at each of the main protagonists starring in the film, only the superheroes mentioned earlier. These brief glances into the film along with the tempting tag line gives the viewer a lingering sense of curiosity concerning this motion picture that will probably want to satisfied when they see it is finally in theaters.

When I was walking into Harcombe I noticed the cover of The Tiger Town Observer. It portrays 3 major Democrats in three wisemen outfits promising "gold, francensense, and change." This cover does several things; first it takes note of the Christmas season by putting the faces of Nanci Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama on the body of the three wisemen. This clever portrayal of these figures that come bearing "gifts" for the American people pokes fun at the promises of change Barack Obama made throughout his presidential campaign and ties in the Biblical story of the birth of Christ. This funny idea given by the cover relaxes those passing by and allows it to transmit its message by connecting with the reader's sense of humor. This in turn pulls the reader in and allows the paper to relay some more serious messages.