MAC vs PC

What kind of computer should I buy, a PC or a MAC? MAC tries to make this answer obvious using their commercials. The older man featured in the commercial represents a PC, while the young kid represents a MAC. MAC does this for an obvious reason, to make their computers look hip and cool. It makes regular PCs featuring windows look outdated, old, and nerdy. The older man fits the stereotype of a computer nerd, with the glasses, the suit, and hair. But not the MAC, he has a more casual style that does not appear nerdy. MAC directly attacks windows in this commercial, making fun of the windows vista security which asks for certain permissions during operation. This is to prevent viruses or hijackers getting into your computer, but at the same time annoying. This commercial strongly emphasizes this and promotes how MACs don't have this problem. The commercial uses this logos in a comical fashion. It is trying to promote the logical benefits of using a MAC to the audience while at the same time using pathos as a way to show that the MAC is the new hit. The commercial is directed to anyone looking to get a computer or even someone who already has a computer. The MAC character is especially designed to attract younger, college students.

E-Trade Baby

Marlboro Country

Do you want to go to where the flavor is? Then you should go to Marlboro country, according to their company. This advertisement makes smoking look like an everyday thing. Everyone who wants to be a cowboy should smoke Marlboro reds. This is mainly directed towards men, especially rugged, tough men. This advertisement also makes it look like Marlboro owns the country, which I don't think they do since the last time I checked. This advertisement is trying to coerce people into smoking cigarettes with this advertisement. They have to use text in order to do this, or it would be just another cowboy smoking. This advertisement does not seem very logical to me. According to the advertisement, the flavor is in Marlboro country. But Marlboro country is not a physical place. It is smoking Marlboro cigarettes. The advertisement contains some pathos. It says in the small text, "either way, you get a lot to like." People want something they will like; Marlboro is trying to convey that their product will do this. It is appealing to people's emotions, because people want to be cool like the Marlboro man.

Synthesis

The Banking Concept of Education by Paulo Freire discusses the practice of the banking education, the repetition of recording, memorizing, and repeating. This practice of education dehumanizes students and turns them into robots. It distorts the students' understanding of what true reality is. In order to fix this boring practice of banking education, Freire describes a problem-posing method. The problem-posing method forces students to think critically. They have to analyze information given to them by the teacher, not just record, memorize, and repeat. The problem-posing method of education allows students to see true reality. It gives freedom to students to learn.

The banking concept occurs in several schools across America. One movie, School of Rock, deals with this boring practice of education. A man named Dewey Finn, played by Jack Black, is kicked out of his hard rock band. He then pretends to a substitute teacher at a prep elementary school. The type of education used at this education is similar to the banking concept that Freire describes in his essay. Dewey Finn decides to not conform the the school's teaching styles. He ends up teaching the students music through his own style. He not only teaches them about rock and roll, but about life and reality. Dewey Finn proposes a solution to fix this problem of the banking concept of education.

Joy Synthesis

"The feeling of joy is the ability to not worry about anything and just live your life in the moment." --Tom

"Joy is more of being content with what you have and the life you live." --Me

Being content is having no worries in life, which produces a joy unlike any other.

What is Joy?

I see joy as a pleasure beyond happiness. Most people see little difference between the two, but I see them as two different meanings. Joy is more of being content with what you have and the life you live. It has nothing to do with material possessions. Joy does not come gaining worldly possessions, happiness does. Happiness is a superficial feeling, while joy is much deeper than that. Joy is being glad for what you have.

The Allegory of the Cave

The Allegory of the Cave, written by Plato, is about prisoners bound in chains. These prisoners were raised in the cave, only seeing shadows on a wall created by their keepers. The keepers used puppets and fire to cast shadows upon the wall the prisoners were fixed upon. The picture on the left illustrates the basic idea Plato is trying to show in his allegory. The prisoners see the shadows as reality, they do not know of the world outside of the cave. People of today are also bound in chains in a similar way to the prisoners in the cave. Reality t.v. has taken over the 21st century. Viewers watch t.v. like it is reality. This is especially true with MTV. Many of the shows appear to be reality when they are truly staged, similar to the images on the wall in the cave. In The Allegory of the Cave, Plato discusses going beyond reality. One must ascend into a higher intelligence level. The prisoners eyes are stuck on the shadows cast on the wall of the cave. They are stuck in the dark, hidden from the true light. Plato states in his allegory, "the turning of a should round from a day which is like night to a true day--this is the ascent into real being, which we shall say is true philosophy" (232). One must go beyond what he sees as real in the darkness and step into the light. Plato's allegory illustrates the idea of seeing what is true reality and going beyond the tangible.

Gender Roles

Gender roles are defined as the behavior that defines a man or a woman in a culture. Gender roles differ among cultures while many share similar characteristics. These characteristics are shared among a certain population and that is what a male or female must follow. This basic idea of gender roles has dramatically changed over the years. It used to be that women would stay at home, take care of the kids and do essential household duties. The men would support the family by working and do all of the physical labor. Nowadays, especially in America, those roles have changed. It is common for women to also work and help support the family. Women still play the role of a caretaker, but it is acceptable if they don't. Gender roles have dramataically changed due to feminist movements.
One major change has been the laws. The 19th amendment to the US Constitution says, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." (http://www.house.gov/house/Constitution/Amend.html) This was a major step in changing gender roles. This amendment gave women a say in the government, which didn't happen until 1920. This gave way to a new role for women, especially in present day. Hilary Clinton is now potentially a presidential candidate for the Democratic party. Even 50 years ago, this would not have been accepetable in society. Many viewed only men as running the country, but women's movements have made it acceptable for women to play this role in society. Politics has greatly influenced gender roles in today's societies and these stereotypical roles will continue to change over time.

Tag Advertisement

What comes to your mind when you first see this advertisement? Do your eyes go straight to the dog pile? Or does the warning catch your eyes so that you have to read the rest of the text? The warning text reads, " The makers of new tag body spray will not be held liable should any girl-on-girl-on-girl-on-girl-on-girl-on-girl-on-guy action occur. Please carry card below at all times." The card below says, "If I'm critically injured in a TAG related pile-on, please notify my buddy ______ at (___)______. (He'll think it's hilarious.)" Combined with the picture, this immediately makes men want to use the product created by TAG. This advertisement is directed at young, single men. TAG is trying to sell their product even more by using an advertisement. Even though the picture isn't very probable, men want to think that this can be them. The warning stands out, and makes men think that something like this will happen to them when they use TAG body spray.
The TAG advertisement uses pathos and ethos but it lacks logos. The emotional appeal is directed for men to get women, and a lot of them. It uses men's desire to have all the women he wants. This advertisement makes men want to be the guy at the bottom of the pile. The advertisement shows that TAG can help men do this. TAG is a well known fragrance company among men. It has credibility by being a well-known company, also running television commercials. This advertisement lacks logos. It is not very logical or realistic. If it was logical then not nearly as many people would buy their product.

Shitty First Drafts

Anne Lammont describes a long writing process that requires many revisions. She states that the first draft is for getting all of your ideas written down, no matter how good or bad they may be. The first draft will give you direction of where you want to take your writing, then you can revise from there. A writer can't expect the first draft to be perfect or even close according to Lammont. She says that every good writer writes terrible first drafts and has to revise their work. My style of writing is a little different than what Lammont describes. I believe that good writers can write great first drafts, but of course they are not going to be perfect. When I write it is not a long and tedious task as Lammont shows, but I am not quick or sloppy. Also, I do not like to revise my own writing. If I do make revisions, they are usually minor. I prefer to have someone else make suggestions on what to change or improve rather than doing it myself. I don't really like revising my own work. I understand Lammont's view that revising will improve whatever is being written, but I think the first draft is as bad as she describes. I think it also has to do with what you are writing and what style you want to have. Some styles require more revision than others. If I am writing something like a blog, I don't see much need to revise it. If I am writing a ten page paper for English class, than I should probably revise several times. I think blogging will help my writing, it is good practice. My writing style might be different on blogs than on regular class papers because it does need to be as formal. Different subjects require different styles.