TOW #24- History of Japan

Amazon Prime Commercial "Lion"

In the Amazon Prime Commercial, "Lion", we find a loving golden retriever faced with a dilemma. He is unable to become friends with his new family member, the baby, because she is too scared of him. Forced to sit to the side, afraid of scaring her even more, his owner comes up with a solution after seeing his daughter play with a stuffed lion. With the help of Amazon Prime, he is able to order the dog a fake mane so that he can match the lion. Thus, the baby is much more welcoming and happier in the presence of the dog.

Much of commercial leans towards pathos, trying to pull on the audience's heartstrings through the dog's brilliant acting, the face of true sadness and desperation that only a dog can truly portray. His cautious, slow steps when approaching the baby makes the audience feel bad for the baby, and hope for a solution. The moment the baby pets the dog's head when he is wearing the mane delivered by amazon prime makes our heart melt and causes us to be thankful for the true hero: Amazon Prime.

The music also plays a significant part in the video, the lyrics tying into what the dog's inner voice may be. However, as soon as the baby accepts the dog, it becomes more lighthearted and allows the reader to find satisfaction in the new-found relationship.

The introduction of Amazon Prime into the video was subtle enough so that it didn't take away from the video, but also apparent enough so that we can go "The Amazon Prime Commercial with the dog" instead of having to describe all the details of the video on its own. It really helps put a name to the face of the video, and no matter what, we'll always remember that precious little dog face tied in with the name 'Amazon Prime.'

TOW #22- Why Slaves' Graves Matter

Sandra A Arnold is the founder of the National Burial Database of Enslaved Americans whose essay, 'Why Slaves' Graves Matter' was featured in the New York Times. In this piece, she describes the community in which she grow up in, where they would recognize all of the graves within the African American cemeteries even though several were unmarked and unrecognizable. She brings to light the current problem that the African American community is facing. There are often unmarked burial grounds for former slaves and, when a developer comes and plans to build on top of it, they find that they are often disturbing the resting places of many generations. She believes that we should be more considerate in recognizing the locations fo these graves and keep a sharper lookout on where they may be located. Thus, she created the National Burial Database of Enslaved Americans in order to keep a record of where these bodies are located so that they can be left to rest properly.

This has not been an idea that I've considered before, as most of my familiarity comes to the common marked graves. However, understanding that there are so many places in which ancestry is stored, I agree that more research should be done in order to be able to adjust the boundaries and maintain records of where bodies may be located. Not only is it unsanitary to unearth them, but unintentionally disrespectful of the person who was digging up the corpse didn't expect there to be a corpse in the first place.

Arnold also brings up the idea of a community. As a child, her family would follow the tradition of putting a bouquet of flowers on every single grave at the cemetery in order to pay respects of those that were lost within enslavement. Despite not actually knowing them, or despite them not being family, hey still continued to treat everyone equally within the cemetery. Thus, this created a stronger sense of community among them and allowed them to create a bit more of a social unity. If we are able to spread this type of idae and find more slave graves that have been developed, we may find that the unification of our African American community can grow even larger.

I believe what Arnold is doing will create a positive influence and allow old wounds to heal, perhaps not completely, but to a degree that more people can live happily.

TOW #21- The Pear

The image above is a vintage advertisement by the Warner Brothers advertising their new girdle. In the time period, advertisements like this were very popular, and often considered normal on a day-to-day basis.

The advertisement uses a pear to say that a woman with larger hips without larger breasts to balance them out is unnatural, therefore not beautiful. The comparison to a pear makes the woman in question seem like an object opposed to a person. Though it is affective in the message is trying to send, body images are still something that we are trying to improve today. With modern images of the same message, we are failing to advocate for respect for our bodies in both men and women. Naturally, all people are born in different shapes and sizes. Wider hips, broader shoulders, and different attributes prepare the human body for different things depending on their circumstances. One may find that swimmers tend to have much broader shoulders and backs as well as flexible legs so they can properly traverse through the water quickly and efficiently. On the other hand, who run track tend to have much leaner upper bodies with stronger legs in order to guarantee maximum performance. If we reference the picture, a woman born with wider hips is considered the best for childbirth. Considering where a woman who is, by the bodily standard, 'pear-shaped', we may find that her origins of birth go back to a period in which childbirth was common and praises. Thus, the shape is natural. How is it then, that a shape like this is unnatural for women?

People these days blame photoshop and other media for the bad body image that the generations have faced. However, we fail to consider that it is just a way to make it much easier. If we go back and consider things like the girdle, the corset, and many other beauty devices, we may find that the negative images are tied much deeper down than we think.

TOW #20- The Tipping Point

While reading Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point, I was able to observe many key rhetorical devices that he uses in order to make his argument: Everything is caused by something else, whether that be morally, economically, or just a day-to-day event.

Several times throughout his book, he puts together several rhetorical events that allow us to visualize the situation much better. He talks about the idea of yawning, and how yawning can often trigger a chain of yawning that eventually ends in a large yawn party. He even asks of the reader themselves is yawning (I did. Are you yawning now?). He also asks how many times you expect a piece of piece of paper until it's 50 times in order to talk about geometric progression. This way, we are able to visualize and apply information in order to comprehend what is happening.

He also uses listing in order to help the reader understand his points. In order to define the principles that make things lead to something larger, he says "..one, contagiousness; two, the fact that little causes have big effects; and three, that change happens not gradually but at one dramatic moment," (Gladwell 84). This helps the reader follow along with the meaning and the idea that he is trying to put forth.

Overall, this book helped me come up with ideas that can help me look for signs in the future. It may help me find connections to the causes in order to see how they can lead to something bigger. It may be able to improve my writing, plotting, and overall, my way of thinking.

TOW #19- The Wrong Way to Teach Math

Andrew Hacker is an American political scientist and public intellectual. He has written various books on better education, improving mathematical intellect, and philosophy. He is a frequent contributor to the New York Review of Books, in which he writes several articles question whether mathematics is necessary. He says “Making mathematics mandatory prevents us from discovering and developing young talent.” In his recent article, ‘The Wrong Way to Teach Math’, he criticizes the teaching of math in school through continuous drill. He makes several strong arguments and I am inclined to agree. Mathematics in school is not being taught well, and we need a way to transition to a method that will stick with students long-term.

One of Hacker’s key points is that many adults today are unable to do simple math when they must calculate things like the coverage of a 26x30 inch carpet, or the price of five apples with a cost of $2.35 without having to get help. Though it seems a bit farfetched, I have been on plenty of trips to the store with adults, and the frequency in which I find that I need to assist them in simple calculations or formulas is astounding. Though it can be argued that, currently, our generation is much more educated than the last, I expect to give it a few years before I forget the formula to find the circumference of a circle. We do not have enough day-to-day experience with mathematics in order to properly memorize the methods. Therefore, what should be focused on is making it stick the first, second, or third time you learn it opposed to drilling it into students and making them apply it to specific numeric occasions.

Hacker offers a reference to something that they did in his class: making it applicable to real life situations. He makes it something that we may see on a day to day basis. Not “Jimmy buys 30 watermelons…” but instead focusing on visualizing data that they may come across. He asks them to connect two charts and put together an idea on how they could relate, while asking why questions. This develops an interest in the topic that the students can more likely apply to their day-to-day world. Personally, I find that these are the type of problems that I can better associate on a day to day basis. Things that I can casually apply and think of without even knowing it, and continue applying later on.

Overall, Hacker is right. The current mathematical system just isn’t working based off of the evidence that we’ve seen in the current generation of adults. The best thing to do is find a proper alteration. Instead of looking at how much math is being applied, we should instead look at how it is being applied. 

TOW #18- Obama Political Cartoon

The image above is featured on the cartoons page of US News under their Cartoon Section. Above, we can see a comic featuring a caricature of Obama speaking of the responsibility that his job entails, and then proceeding to make an appearance on comedy television shows. Using Barack Obama's quote, Tom Stiglich, a cartoonist who graduated from the Art Institute of Philadelphia, provides the argument that Barack Obama contradicts his original message by appearing on comedy shows. However, this statement is invalid, as it is a natural part of a political agenda to try and put on a positive image to its people.

Examining each of the shows that he attends as listed in the second panel, two of the three are actually related to his political career. On the Daily Show, he has an interview reflecting on his past terms. The Tonight Show is a skit making fun of Donald Trump, allowing Obama to make a joke of him in order to push him as far away from the White House as possible. The Jimmy Kimmel show, featuring Obama in a way in which he least relates to his career, allows him to relate to others featured on the show. Though it can be argued that it makes him appear less formal, it also makes him appear more likable through his witty humor and casual manner. Though someone may not approve of his political choices, they may find satisfaction with who he is as a person through his appearance on these shows.

Obama was able to serve two full terms. Despite whether or not you believe that they were well spent, people can argue that he is the most 'real' president to date. His appearances on these shows play out as honesty and allows him to appear genuine to the audience, which is, conveniently, his voters. Thus, his statement regarding the relationship between presidency and reality shows still hold true despite what this author implies. Presidency is not a reality show, but that does not mean that any humor must be derived of it entirely.

TOW #17- Suicide Squad Trailer 1

Suicide Squad was a popular comic in the DC universe consisting of the 'worst of the worst' villains serving the government as makeshift superheroes, forced to work under the simple encouragement of bombs in their heads. The team consists of Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Enchantress, Killer Croc, and many more infamous villains. Just mentioning that these guys are coming to the big screen got plenty of fans up and ready to run to the movie theater. However, there was much more than that drawing in the audience.

For those unfamiliar with the DC universe, the sense of familiarity comes with the use of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". The song cuts in and out between dialogues throughout the commercial. It starts with the beginning of the song, slow in order to properly introduce the content of the film. However, as the action packed scenes begin to fill in, the fast-paced and exciting interlude of the song accompanies it. Each aspect of the music is accompanied it by the movie's audio as well, bullets matching fast-paced drum beats. As audiences who are familiar with a song know that this is definitely the part to jump in singing with no regret, encouraging a thrill along with the blast of machine guns, bombs, and other weaponry. Concluding with the song's trademark "Nothing really matters to me" after Harley Quinn breaks a window to steal a purse, it reveals the true intent of the villains: They really just don't care about this. This carefree persona sheds light to a rather violent film, and makes people question what will really happen to the characters or how they'll react.

The trailer also involves humorous dialogue interludes. In contrast to the original trailer, which was much more serious, this shows more of the humor that may be involved with the film. The dialogue includes nonchalant descriptions of each villain's abilities such as "He's a crocodile and eats people... and she's just crazy..." or Will Smith as Deadshot asking if his recruitment to the Suicide Squad was simple "cheer leading tryouts." This appeals more to the younger audience, who may be looking for something light-hearted and rigorous that appeals to their rebellious, carefree sides.

Overall, I believe that the trailer was a rather impressive. Comparing both of the trailers, one introduced a few months back, and this one about a month ago, it proves that DC is being incredibly strategic with their advertising strategies. The first was dramatic, theatrical, and suspenseful. This one was exciting, full of thrill, and colorful. This allows them to appeal to their various audiences. Two different perspectives of superhero (Excuse me, villain) movies. This ability to expand among audiences makes me believe that, while their are conflicts between how it will really be pulled off in theaters, Suicide Squad will have no problem selling tickets, even to an audience with little familiarity with the DC universe.

IRB Intro Post #3- The Tipping Point

Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian journalist, a staff writer for The New Yorker, bestselling author, and speaker. He has written five different books, all of which ending up on the New York Times Best Sellers list. In his nonfiction piece, The Tipping Point, Gladwell introduces us to the butterfly effect or, as some prefer, the domino effect, in which one event can lead to something else on a much larger scale. We hear these often, in matters of cause and effect or ‘everything happens for a reason’. However, we never consider how far back something could go, whether the flap of a wing of a butterfly could really cause a tornado elsewhere, or if that bad grade on the test in junior year will really come back to haunt you in your adulthood career. In a Q&A, Gladwell calls his book “a book about change” that presents a new way of understanding why change happens so quickly and unexpectedly. He plans on analyzing the social epidemics that have erupted over time, such as the increase of teen smoking or decrease of crime in 1990s New York City. His goal for writing the book is to help people recognize the pattern that emerges from these butterfly effects and easily find sources of cause and effects. Despite being an in-the-moment person, I tend to also have curiosities and constant questionings of ‘where did that even come from?’ As a person also trying to put together novels and stories, I hope that I may be able to use this to my advantages in order to make a successful plot. For a book that has settled itself on the New York Times Best Sellers list, I hope that I’m not disappointed with the content within the book. However, I find that books concerning matters that I’m not familiar with often go over my head, so hopefully this is something that can keep a hold of my attention span and introduce me to a world I am unfamiliar with.

TOW #16 - The Lucifer Effect

Written by the man who organized the Stanford Prison Experiment, Philip Zimbardo, The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil is an intriguing analysis of what ultimately changes people from good to bad. Zimbardo continues to use personal anecdotes and historical allusions in order to help put together theories as to why evil develops within seemingly normal people. Analyzing his own experiment, Zimbardo writes "The power of this situation ran swiftly and deeply through most of those on this exploratory ship of human nature. Only a few were able to resist the situational temptations to yield to power and dominance while maintaining some semblance of morality and decency," (4147). As a psychologist. Zimbardo's words establish a predetermined sense of ethos among his obervations. Also, there is less bias in his observations, as he is using the actual data of how many people reacted negatively towards  how people reacted positively. However, Zimbardo fails to specify where the line between morality and evil lies in his research. It's a very objective perspective, so had he specified his limitations, that would have been much easier to comprehend. At the beginning of every few sections, Zimbardo also makes sure to remind the readers of the prevalence of the developing evils using historical allusions. He once says "More than 50 million people have been systematically murdered by government decrees, enacted by soldiers and civilian forces willing to carry out the kill orders..." (433) and proceeds to list a copious amounts of events in which this statement is relevant. This provides a sense of realism to an idea that seems so unrealistic, even in the namesake. Even for those who may not believe in actual evils or the 'lucifer effect', they are given proof that this is prevalent enough of a topic to develop a sense of curiosity about. I think the Lucifer Effect does a brilliant job of executing an out of the box idea to a universal audience, pulling multiple perspectives underneath his wing in order to project his views forward.

TOW #15- No Smoking

This is an advertisement made by the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program which promotes a tobacco-free society. The image depicts a young woman who has a cigarette in her mouth. The portion which is touching the cigarette directly is turning purple, and almost appears to be turning her old. Her teeth also appear to be rotting and turning yellow. This develops the idea of a decomposing or sickly figure, connecting the idea to cigarettes. This makes the viewer believe that smoking cigarettes results in this disfigured image. The contrast between the healthy side of the face and the sickly side causes the viewer to instantaneously compare the two and choose which one they would rather have. The obvious answer is that they would prefer the right half of the image. The text that is considered important is bold and written in a way that a magazine would write it, such as having eye catching titles to for wait loss or new makeup looks. In this case, it addresses cigarettes indirectly in the text by saying 'quit'. However, the text does not direction mention quit. It makes the reader develop the connection themselves between the fact that cigarettes do not make someone look better. Considering the style of this advertisement, which is similar to a fashion magazine cover, this advertisement seems to have an audience directed towards women, who may be worried more about how they look as they age. Overall, I think this is rather effective and eye catching with its techniques. It is also well placed with the time, as the amount of women smoking is slowly increasing. This is a good way to discourage them from doing so. I'd be interesting in seeing any advertisements that this program may develop directed to men, as it may be significantly different from the women's advertisements.

TOW #14- The Joy of Psyching Myself Out

Maria Konnikova is a writer and journalist who primarily writes about psychology and literature. In her op-ed piece ‘The Joy of Psyching Myself Out’, she compares her experience as a psychologist to her experience as a writer. Originally, she claims that she feared that the transition from a psychologist to a writer would be rather severe. However, she comes to the conclusion that the two are surprisingly similar in their methodology, following the ideas of making scenarios and predicting results. The only difference is how you execute your ‘experiment’.

To advocate her ideas, Konnikova turns mostly to allusions to famous scientists that any psychologist would be able to recognize. Many of these names include William James, Sigmund Freud, and Anton Chekhov. The quotes that she provides from each all circle around her ideas, such as Chekhov’s quote from 1887, “A writer must be as objective as a chemist… He must abandon the subjective line; he must know that dung heaps play a very reasonable part in a landscape.” This particular quote draws a connection to the two seemingly different careers. On one end, all of the theories are for stories and stories alone, to create a book. On the other, all of the theories are to be tested so that we can put together conclusions about the human mind. However, the connection in between are the obstacles that are put forth in order to create these conclusions that will hopefully come to make a similar impact.

Konnikova often turns to the contrasting elements of objective (which was the primary influence in her psychology career) and intrinsic (the primary influence in her writing career) values. Describing her psychology career, she often complains that she felt restrained by the need to devise experiments and consider every detail that went into them technically and financially. Despite turning to writing as a way to escape the objective career, Konnikova reveals that within the intrinsic interest, the thinking process that came from the psychology career never left. So in reality, the two ended up to be surprisingly similar to each other.

I believe that Konnikova put forth an interesting idea into the argument whether or not creativity and science can live hand in hand. While the two are so seemingly different, Konnikova puts forth a personal anecdote in order to offer her perspective. I believe her allusions to other psychologists definitely called out to any psychologist that may be reading the piece. However, the simplistic descriptions that she used throughout definitely allowed those who may not be so in tune with psychology to join into the conversation.