obese woman bikini.
abdominal fatty.
why it's important to lose weight.
kids at mcdoogals.
sitting on a chair.
14 April 2009
Topic Proposal #4
Topic: The increasing rate of obesity in America.
Proposal: The solution to obesity would be as follows: to incorporate a nation-wide mandatory P.E. class for every grade level up through high school; to increase genetic obesity awareness; and, to create more healthy fast food options. This proposal will be in a serious tone, much like 60 Minutes. Also, we will include a BMI calculator to increase awareness of obesity on a more personal level.
~
These are some health consequences of being obese.
Proposal: The solution to obesity would be as follows: to incorporate a nation-wide mandatory P.E. class for every grade level up through high school; to increase genetic obesity awareness; and, to create more healthy fast food options. This proposal will be in a serious tone, much like 60 Minutes. Also, we will include a BMI calculator to increase awareness of obesity on a more personal level.
~
These are some health consequences of being obese.
09 April 2009
SWA 8
The audience of the root beer commercial was geared toward early to mid 20-year-old males specifically because of the tagline ‘Sometimes the best beer is a root beer.’ The advertisement was trying to persuade viewers to drink root beer instead of imbibing in alcoholic beer, showing a man waking up from unknown activities the night before – this imagery was used to show that sometimes it’s safer to drink root beer than alcoholic beer because of the effects of alcohol on the human body.
The idea of invoking laughter was crucial to the commercial: getting the viewer to sympathize with the idea either because they’ve experienced the same thing or have known someone that has. This commercial would personify the brand in a positive way because of its safer connotation than regular beer. A reason this advertisement wasn’t as successful as hoped could be because of the lack of root beer in the commercial – there wasn’t any mention of the drink except for the tagline, and this could’ve caused the viewers to become apathetic toward it.
With one adjustment I believe the commercial will be fully supported and endorsed. Instead of focusing on the morning after, the ad will focus on the night before, showing beer drinking men engaging in ill-advised activities, such as daring one another to get I Love Mom tattoos on their arms juxtaposed with root beer drinking men going to a party at a friend’s house and having a good time. The tagline of ‘Sometimes the best beer is a root beer’ would still come into play, advocating root beer over regular beer. The actual image of someone drinking root beer will greatly decrease viewer's apathy by showing the drink in a fun situation.
The idea of invoking laughter was crucial to the commercial: getting the viewer to sympathize with the idea either because they’ve experienced the same thing or have known someone that has. This commercial would personify the brand in a positive way because of its safer connotation than regular beer. A reason this advertisement wasn’t as successful as hoped could be because of the lack of root beer in the commercial – there wasn’t any mention of the drink except for the tagline, and this could’ve caused the viewers to become apathetic toward it.
With one adjustment I believe the commercial will be fully supported and endorsed. Instead of focusing on the morning after, the ad will focus on the night before, showing beer drinking men engaging in ill-advised activities, such as daring one another to get I Love Mom tattoos on their arms juxtaposed with root beer drinking men going to a party at a friend’s house and having a good time. The tagline of ‘Sometimes the best beer is a root beer’ would still come into play, advocating root beer over regular beer. The actual image of someone drinking root beer will greatly decrease viewer's apathy by showing the drink in a fun situation.
06 April 2009
SWA: Ads
Ads:
Canadian Breast Exam
and
Root Beer Commercial
1. What do these ads persuade you to think, do, or believe—especially beyond simply purchasing their products?
The breast exam one persuades me to think about how breast examining is important and that you shouldn't rely on other people to do it for you. The root beer commercial persuades me to think that drinking root beer is a safer alternative than drinking alcohol, namely beer.
2. What implicit elements argue here?
The idea that if you can get the audience laughing then you have their attention and they're more open to listening to what the speaker has to say.
3. Basically, what might purchasers of these products expect to get from them that an inexpensive, generic version would not provide? Evaluate the ads in terms of use-value appeal and exchange-value appeal—how does each address use and exchange concerns? Do they all do both? Do any of your observations contradict what you might have expected?
The breast exam commercial isn't really about selling anything - it's really an ad for self-awareness and helping women become better knowledgeable about their bodies. The 'Breast Cancer Society of Canada' at the end could be saying that they're one of the best places to go in Canada to get information about breast cancer. The root beer commercial gives purchasers the impression that this root beer could keep you from making dangerous decisions that you won't remember in the morning. The breast exam commercial was completely different than what I thought it was going to be, and the realization of what was actually being advertised by Cam had me laughing.
4. Who would you say the imagined audience for each ad is? What magazines do you think each came from?
The breast exam commercial would definitely be for woman of all ages. The root beer one probably for more late teens and 20s of both gender. They're both videos but if they were on print the breast exam would've probably been in a women's health magazine like Shape and the root beer ad in a men's magazine.
Canadian Breast Exam
and
Root Beer Commercial
1. What do these ads persuade you to think, do, or believe—especially beyond simply purchasing their products?
The breast exam one persuades me to think about how breast examining is important and that you shouldn't rely on other people to do it for you. The root beer commercial persuades me to think that drinking root beer is a safer alternative than drinking alcohol, namely beer.
2. What implicit elements argue here?
The idea that if you can get the audience laughing then you have their attention and they're more open to listening to what the speaker has to say.
3. Basically, what might purchasers of these products expect to get from them that an inexpensive, generic version would not provide? Evaluate the ads in terms of use-value appeal and exchange-value appeal—how does each address use and exchange concerns? Do they all do both? Do any of your observations contradict what you might have expected?
The breast exam commercial isn't really about selling anything - it's really an ad for self-awareness and helping women become better knowledgeable about their bodies. The 'Breast Cancer Society of Canada' at the end could be saying that they're one of the best places to go in Canada to get information about breast cancer. The root beer commercial gives purchasers the impression that this root beer could keep you from making dangerous decisions that you won't remember in the morning. The breast exam commercial was completely different than what I thought it was going to be, and the realization of what was actually being advertised by Cam had me laughing.
4. Who would you say the imagined audience for each ad is? What magazines do you think each came from?
The breast exam commercial would definitely be for woman of all ages. The root beer one probably for more late teens and 20s of both gender. They're both videos but if they were on print the breast exam would've probably been in a women's health magazine like Shape and the root beer ad in a men's magazine.
26 March 2009
Topic Proposal 3
I'm going to use The Onion and downplay the effects of obesity, giving facts about weight gain and health problems in a different light.
19 February 2009
Topic Proposal 2
Is euthanasia ethical or not? This is the topic I will be talking about in my essay.
Sources:
1. Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide Should Not Be Legal
2. Legalized Euthanasia Would Not Lead to Involuntary Killing
3. Physician-Assisted Suicide Is Moral
4. Physician-Assisted Suicide Leads to Abuses
Sources:
1. Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide Should Not Be Legal
2. Legalized Euthanasia Would Not Lead to Involuntary Killing
3. Physician-Assisted Suicide Is Moral
4. Physician-Assisted Suicide Leads to Abuses
16 February 2009
11 February 2009
No Justice, No Foul.
The Hirabayashi v. United States case is a case I'd never heard of before, along with Bowers v. Hardwick. There wasn't much basketball jargon to decipher, but I wasn't aware of what a 'turnover' was.
29 January 2009
Topic Proposal
Relaxing the Rules of Reason by Robin Hemley makes excellent points about how humour is a matter of perspective, which I will discuss in my first paper.
The questions that I will be answering are:
1. What is the purpose of the argument? What does it hope to achieve?
2. What claims are advanced in the argument? What logic? What evidence? How is the evidence arranged and presented?
3. What shape does the argument take? How is the argument presented or arranged? What media does the argument use?
4. How does it try to make the writer or creator seem trustworthy?
The reason I picked these questions is because I hope their answers will provide a clearer understanding of how humour is a matter of perspective and that humour differs from person to person. My earlier blog summarized most of the points above which I will delve into further.
The questions that I will be answering are:
1. What is the purpose of the argument? What does it hope to achieve?
2. What claims are advanced in the argument? What logic? What evidence? How is the evidence arranged and presented?
3. What shape does the argument take? How is the argument presented or arranged? What media does the argument use?
4. How does it try to make the writer or creator seem trustworthy?
The reason I picked these questions is because I hope their answers will provide a clearer understanding of how humour is a matter of perspective and that humour differs from person to person. My earlier blog summarized most of the points above which I will delve into further.
27 January 2009
Writing Response 2
Relaxing the Rules of Reason by Robin Hemley in the Laughing Matters book points out many different things regarding humour; a sense of humour is determined by things such as age, socioeconomic background and culture; writing humour is a matter of perspective; and, also, don’t be afraid to write something stupid.
One of the main points I’d like to focus on is not to be afraid to write something stupid. There are always things that some people think are funny and some don’t. No two people have the exact same sense of humour, and trying to appease everyone with your specific brand of humour will never work.
Some people prefer cynical jokes while others might prefer a lighter brand of comedy. There are so many different variables to factor in when considering a sense of humour – everyone has their own likes, dislikes, opinions about certain topics that make them more susceptible to laughter or opinions that will have a joke go flat, or even be construed as rude.
If you’re writing something and the reception your joke gets is less than desired, you can always go back and edit; writing something uninhibited is the main goal, even if you think your writing might be thought of as dumb. Some may think it’s the best joke they’ve ever heard while others may think it’s dumber than a pet rock. It’s all a matter of perspective.
The video below is of the comedian Ralphie May - some may think he’s incredibly offensive with his tearing down of the blank-American label, while others may think his joke has merit and they laugh.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9mytOPDeeE
One of the main points I’d like to focus on is not to be afraid to write something stupid. There are always things that some people think are funny and some don’t. No two people have the exact same sense of humour, and trying to appease everyone with your specific brand of humour will never work.
Some people prefer cynical jokes while others might prefer a lighter brand of comedy. There are so many different variables to factor in when considering a sense of humour – everyone has their own likes, dislikes, opinions about certain topics that make them more susceptible to laughter or opinions that will have a joke go flat, or even be construed as rude.
If you’re writing something and the reception your joke gets is less than desired, you can always go back and edit; writing something uninhibited is the main goal, even if you think your writing might be thought of as dumb. Some may think it’s the best joke they’ve ever heard while others may think it’s dumber than a pet rock. It’s all a matter of perspective.
The video below is of the comedian Ralphie May - some may think he’s incredibly offensive with his tearing down of the blank-American label, while others may think his joke has merit and they laugh.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9mytOPDeeE
26 January 2009
Writing Response 1
Chapter one of the Comedy Writing Secrets was a nice introductory explanation of what is going to be covered in the following chapters. Mostly the chapter talked about the importance of humour writing and stressing the point that anyone can write humour. A big rule to note is not to be inhibited when writing; you can always edit later. This chapter introduced the concept of MAP – Material, Audience and Performer, and further explained what each letter signified.
I liked this chapter because of its brevity and introduction to the workings of writing humourously. The quotes incorporated throughout provide a nice cut in the readings so the chapters don’t seem dull or heavy-handed. It was an easy read without being boring; it kept my attention.
The ‘What if?’ section seemed like a great tool to utilize when writing humourously – anything could be looked at in a different, and comical, light. Some of the examples that the chapter used were a great starting point and really helped me think differently about everyday objects.
The ‘Showtimes’ at the end of the chapter looked like they could be useful exercises to employ to become more familiar with writing comically, especially the exercise about explaining why you thought the jokes you picked were funny.
One of the questions that could generate class discussion is: Do you think it would be difficult to be fully uninhibited while writing and/or structuring your jokes?
I liked this chapter because of its brevity and introduction to the workings of writing humourously. The quotes incorporated throughout provide a nice cut in the readings so the chapters don’t seem dull or heavy-handed. It was an easy read without being boring; it kept my attention.
The ‘What if?’ section seemed like a great tool to utilize when writing humourously – anything could be looked at in a different, and comical, light. Some of the examples that the chapter used were a great starting point and really helped me think differently about everyday objects.
The ‘Showtimes’ at the end of the chapter looked like they could be useful exercises to employ to become more familiar with writing comically, especially the exercise about explaining why you thought the jokes you picked were funny.
One of the questions that could generate class discussion is: Do you think it would be difficult to be fully uninhibited while writing and/or structuring your jokes?
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