tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307479616348926822024-03-13T20:07:23.884+00:00AM 1111 2011 Spark group #2Alasdairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12472339767520015607noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-20425165491507810812011-12-12T02:01:00.002+00:002011-12-12T02:13:53.605+00:00Jay Gatsby and rappers such as Jay Z and P.DiddyComparisons can be drawn between Jay Gatsby and that of rappers like Jay Z and P.<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Diddy</span>. Jay Gatsby would throw lavish Jazz age parties and live an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">extravagant</span> lifestyle, leading everyone to become curious over who he is, what hes done, how he makes his money and what ladies he has in his life. these curiosities are then <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">spurred</span> on further by the fact that he is hardly ever around or hardly ever even makes an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">appearance</span> at his own parties.<br /><br />This is much like that of modern day rappers such as Jay Z and P.<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Diddy</span> who splash out thousands of dollars on throwing massive parties which they sometimes <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">don't</span> ever make <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">appearances</span>, like that of Gatsby. In addition to this like Gatsby, Jay Z and P.<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Diddy</span> have earned some of their money through doing <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dodgy</span> deals and shifty illegal occupations.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Another</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">comparison</span> which can be drawn between Gatsby, Jay Z and P.<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Diddy</span> is all the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">rumors</span> and speculations which surround them - with Gatsby it is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">because</span> no one ever sees or talks to him and so <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">don't</span> take the time to find out the truth about who he is or how he has made his money. With Jay Z and P.<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Diddy</span> its with the press who make up stories and make up relationships about them and other celebrities causing a rift in the celebrity network, who then print these stories in their magazines and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">papers</span> - spreading the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">rumors</span>.Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04915438467112695655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-49500065808780988032011-12-11T16:06:00.004+00:002011-12-11T16:55:18.418+00:00The Only Way is East EggDrawing comparisons from The hit ITV series 'The Only Way Is Essex', in which we see a direct comparison to The Great Gatsby and how the theme of high-society exists today. Like Gatsby, The characters from TOWIE are self-made. They are not born into upper class, however they live an upper class lifestyle. The characters from the series are self involved, notoriously extravagant and party driven. This ties in precisely with the kind of characters from the novel. <div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/sep/16/the-only-way-is-essex-tour">http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/sep/16/the-only-way-is-essex-tour</a></div><div><br /></div><div>The above link explains the kind of lifestyle the characters in the show have. They are superficial and pretentious. This can be compared to the character of Nick, whereby on page 5 he mentions 'I lived at West Egg, the - well, the less fashionable of the two' we are immediately introduced to a distinctive difference of districts and how one is preferred over the other. An exact parallel to Essex and the attitude which surrounds the residents. The friendships in the show are known for breaking down regularly due to rumours and cheating. This can be seen to exist in the Jazz Age when the book was set, in The Great Gatsby, Tom cheats on Daisy with Myrtle, who by the affair is cheating on her husband and similarly, Daisy cheats on Tom with Gatsby. We can see an intertwined relationship disaster, just as in the show.</div><div><br /></div><div>Other than cheating, there are shallow attitudes within the plot of the novel, which ring true to the show. The characters in the show are known for talking about each other behind their backs and do not hold much respect for one another. Just as when Gatsby dies, no-one other than Nick and Gatsby's father show up for the funeral, none of Gatsby's 'so called' friends attend. It provides a chilling response to the attitude high society have towards relationships.</div><div><br /></div><div>In fact, the part in the novel whereby Nick goes to meet Daisy for the first time in years, Tom is described as having 'arrogant eyes' and when Nick makes his way to the garden, after being shown around the house, Jordan and Daisy are both said to be 'wearing white'. Jordan seems very condescending, as if she is looking down on everyone by 'balancing something on her chin'. The scene set by Fitzgerald mimics the type of scene you are likely to see on the ITV series. And so we see a relation of The Great Gatsby existing today.</div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454401894170814074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-80154508134632415692011-12-10T22:50:00.011+00:002011-12-11T22:01:13.676+00:00The Great Gatsby -Society and Class<div><div><div><div><div><div>The Great Gatsby is set among wealthy, educated people, who have lots of leisure time and little<br />concern about people who are not in their social milieu. Nobody’s concerned about politics or spiritual matters but everybody cares about how they are perceived socially. Those who do come from other classes seek and envy the glamour and lifestyle that they see in the elite. Jay Gatsby, the protagonist, is able to attain a certain amount of wealth, but he cannot fake education or social behaviors that only come with "old money." The novel’s two main locales, West Egg and East Egg, are distinguished also by class. East Egg represents "old money" while West Egg represents the nouveau riche. East Eggers consistently look down on West Eggers for precisely this fact. Class and wealth are virtually indistinguishable from each other, but if a person lacks education, then he is clearly not part of the upper echelon.</div><div> </div><div>These different worlds can almost be seen in the reality- drama series 'Made in Chelsea' and 'T.O.W.I.E'. Made In Chelsea is meant to represent East Egg (old money) whilst Jersey Shore would be West Egg (new money) </div><div> </div><div>Made In Chelsea</div><div> </div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 107px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684657712467224450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mlF4n1sfTYNeOwgTRvRXo0WWZ1C1LmxJVYXA02LbjzS_2QObevJWTYf86nDpy2nnLCkcWlGdFJsMKoaygF9wVOiRL0jS_vG2V-nSFJkVQP3CCgs74y6EPYVOYlRe9yhkZSSsxyt-xQ/s400/Made+in+Chelsea+U.png" /></div><div> The Made in Chelsea cast are meant to represent the privileged, rich, glamorous cast. Some of the characters have gone to private school, spend most of their lives livivng in Chelsea and Kensington where most have shopped in Sloane Street. Others are portayed as living off their 'parents money' as some parents and ancestors invented the Jaffa Cake, Digestive and Rich Tea<br />biscuits but also created Topshop. </div><div> </div><div>Jersey Shore</div><div> <img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 294px; height: 213px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684982735338969938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSgTaJ5bjaLaqbRfWI-YMEd0FgvKq7Vz-Qq-TxU-gZVK4CTd5q821GEKOTZvfekiyq9SXHs_xps6uCWzld5LakBqZxAJ2HBizQmegtC7Vi2wOKmNIIn-sJvHG7_wdx0hKlw4QEYuS8Q/s400/Jersey+Shore.png" /></div><div>Jersey Shore is a hit MTV reality show that premiered in the summer of 2009. The show follows the lives of eight Italian ''guidos'' and ''guidettes'' as they drink and party. There fake tan ways have lead them to be a phenom that many people spend their weeks watching. This has lead the once average Joes to now start thier own empires revolving around cosmetics, star in talk shows and DJ in the most exotic parts of the world. Not only are they making money off people watching them but they are now considered to be celebrities as they are 'paparazzi-ed' every where they go and each have thousands of followers on twitter. </div></div></div></div></div></div>Serina.Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16756711291007071172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-91532020062985791412011-12-09T23:17:00.003+00:002011-12-10T00:38:07.284+00:00American Socialites and the Great GatsbyOne of the main themes of <em>The Great Gatsby</em> is the sociology of wealth; mainly, those who have recently risen to riches without any connections and therefore know nothing of subtle social signals. Fitzgerald portrays them as not possessing the elegance, taste and subtly that those born into money do –instead they are greedy, graceless and vulgar.<br /><br />You can argue this applies within society similarly today. It’s for this reason I decided to research and write on American Socialites today in relation to the socialites in <em>The Great Gatsby</em> . Those who grow up with wealth do not feel the need to tastelessly show it off – at least to the same extent those new to it do – whereas those who are new to the socialite scene just superficially spend and show off their money in hopes of rising within the circle. A good example of this would be the (possibly “old”) Hollywood ‘IT’ crowd. While most were born into a wealthy family, if they are introduced to fame they suddenly become greedy for more and need to find ways of attracting it instead of working for it. The best example would be Kim Kardashian.<br /><br /><a href="http://humour.wikinut.com/Kim-Kardashian-Famous-for-Being-Kim-Kardashian/3h3o1w7v/">http://humour.wikinut.com/Kim-Kardashian-Famous-for-Being-Kim-Kardashian/3h3o1w7v/</a><br /><br />Introduced by Paris Hilton to the socialite scene, she didn’t become known until she released a sex tape, and then scored a reality TV show with E! a few months later. As she doesn’t really “work” (sex tape and reality TV show don't really count...) to earn her money and fame, she has to come up with new ways of gaining the public’s attention and “love” (or hate, which ever gets her attention) and has to out do herself each time. In contrast, often children born to "stars" usually don't choose a silimar life - those who have a brush with the police or try to follow their parents' legand might gain attention - and choose to keep privacy and use their inherited money wisely. Trying to bring up a good example is hard as they are hardy ever in the media once they're 10 or over.<br /><br />The example of Kim Kardashian is true to<em> The Great Gatsby</em> painting of the new generation and newly rich kids being materialistic, vulgar and simplistic; while this is not true for not of them, it remains a growing fashion for alot of American Society and is now the American Dream for alot of American kids.HannahBthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631825277546123267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-43449482637833514522011-12-05T00:13:00.008+00:002011-12-05T03:03:37.538+00:00Coca-Cola Christmas Adverts<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.researchplan.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/time1931-wmaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.researchplan.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/time1931-wmaster.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>The brand Coca-Cola has been around since 1886, and since its creation and aggressive promotion has become a household name, even when in the 1970's the brand went on to connect Coca-Cola with fun, friends and good times. </div><div></div><div>The iconic Coca-Cola <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Christmas</span> advertisements started in 1971 when the company made the decision to associate their products with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Christmas</span> and Santa Claus to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">remind</span> customers that Coca-Cola could be drunk all year round and not just in the summer. Since then Coca-Cola's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Christmas</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">advertisements</span> have always drawn consumers attention to the fact that it is a family suitable brand, this is due to the image of Santa Claus draws in children and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Christmas</span> season making Coca-Cola suitable for all ages. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">recurring</span> image of a jolly, kind old man with rosy cheeks and twinkling eyes is the most popular view of Santa Claus which is known today world wide - making the brand bring together various <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">different</span> countries into the season of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Christmas</span>.</div><div></div><div>Today it is known by many people that once they have seen the Coca-Cola <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Christmas</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">advertisement</span> - they know that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Christmas</span> is here which provides proof that it is such a well known and traditional family product which focuses on the values of family and bringing everyone together all around the world for the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Christmas</span> season.</div><div></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1CRvIj7R6k&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1CRvIj7R6k&feature=player_embedded</a></div></div><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/e1CRvIj7R6k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04915438467112695655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-81140355040063245592011-12-04T16:07:00.006+00:002011-12-05T03:02:14.966+00:00Apple Mac Advert<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIVQ44dtbXo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIVQ44dtbXo</a><br />
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The link above, is an animated Christmas TV advert, advertising the Apple Mac featuring the Mac’s rival, the pc. Two people are representing each, computer, the Mac represented by a a man who looks to be in his early twenties who is interested in putting his differences aside for the holiday season, and the PC who is represented by a much older man who displays bitterness towards the Mac in the advert.</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the advert both ‘PC’ and ‘Mac’stand either side of Santa Claus, which appeals to the public as it is a festive advert. They are also singing a rendition of ‘Santa Claus is coming to town’ however ‘PC’ spoils the song by slipping in a sales pitch towards the end. The key intention I got from this was to portray the PC as only being interested in selling, whereas the Mac is portrayed as possessing Christmas spirit, through wanting to get along with PC and not mentioning his product, representing the image of a happy community who are interested in the ‘real’ meaning of Christmas and not the consumer side. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I think the significance of the PC being represented as an older figure is interesting, as it enhances the Mac character as young and vibrant, introducing the image of the Mac being the ‘ultimate upgrade’ a newer and exciting product. The fact that PC is bitter towards the Mac and feels the need to deliver a sales pitch, suggests perhaps the financial worry the PC possesses of the Mac overtaking it, in the consumer world. Apple tries to appeal to the public in a clever way, as it at no point promotes itself having a better product but instead uses the PC’s supposed arrogance and bitterness to portray itself as the better and most honest party. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tsP4_QaipA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tsP4_QaipA</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></o:p><br />
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Another advert I came across was this alternative advert in which PC asks Mac “Do you know why I love this time of year?” to which Mac replies “Because it’s the season of peace on earth?”, which ties in with the Mac representing the true meaning of Christmas to appeal to the public. PC instead replies “No it’s because we can be animated, and we can do anything”, and he proceeds to show Mac what he can do which could represent the arrogance of the company. Towards the end of the advert, a rabbit says he is going to the apple store to pick up some last minute gifts, to which PC pushes a snowman on to the rabbit. This could represent how the company wish to sabotage Apple, and don’t believe in an honest way of selling which in result gives Mac a honest and reliable image which the public would prefer.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></o:p> I think the advert is effective as its main value is to promote its own product to sell, which it achieves. It does this in a clever way as through the PC character trying to promote itself at every opportunity we instead are attracted to the MAC who appears to value the public as people, rather than just for their money. This is ironic as the Apple Company have created this perhaps untrue bitter and money obsessed image for the PC, to shift opinions in their own favour. Through the portrayal of the PC character, Mac have managed to make all PC users into a stereotype, by using an old business man in a brown suit, which also creates the image of a mundane, everyday product. This contrasted against the Mac character who is described in the Mac vs. PC article as an '20-something, self satisfied hipster' poses the question who would you most want to be like?'.</div>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09899954625834373843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-25038496746049527222011-12-04T10:23:00.006+00:002011-12-05T03:04:43.945+00:00Not So Old Spice<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The Link will take you to an advert for 'Old Spice'. Old Spice began in 1937 with it's first product called, Early American Old Spice.<br />
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The brand is now aimed directly at women for men, dominated by shaving soap and aftershave lotion. What's interesting is that the advert has applied to the changing statistics, that women make the majority population. It has found a way of attracting women to encourage men to purchase the product. What's resonant in the advert is that it is in keeping with American ideology. Giving a direct example to what women expect from men in society; handfuls of</div><div>diamonds and owning a horse and boat. What it shows is not only that your man should be like</div><div>this, but what every man should be like and it gives an example of what constitutes an attractive lifestyle from a woman's expectation.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Comparatively the kind of advert shown in the 30's is as below...</div><div><br />
</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682222102748752594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJhtCK2GrD2bUncS3TomMqnCcM6TvuNJ7XSL578JtJPe_O5XfVw8Km1uQA3NTBoTfdFdJFM8Tq9VTLgbcjjQPrhwbQdD58FUzDLSpJBhPRctzzk5A6YUMEuhzx2gJta4dWHvpdo9FP0g/s320/8QvnthvHq4UxPu1.jpg" style="color: #0000ee; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; width: 240px;" /><br />
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</u></span></div><div>The interesting thing about the ideology shift is, as mentioned, this advert now attracts the females market. Arguably the 1930's advert above does the same thing, however the emerging 'consumer culture' has introduced a link to lifestyles even when the advertising for this company first began. Again we see links to success in American culture, men with important roles in society use this aftershave and everyone should want to be successful. There is a constant notion throughout the American lifestyle that success by sense of virtue is manifested in all area's, whether it be The Bill of Rights, Horatio Alger Myth or in the above example, not so Old Spice.</div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454401894170814074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-40975711548166151232011-12-04T09:30:00.004+00:002011-12-05T03:05:55.107+00:00iPod Touch Ad - "Share the Fun"<div>http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=gGrDMVk2isc</div><div><br />
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The advert's title tells yous straight away that the ad is going to convey the notions of friendship, sharing, diversity and fun. You can tell the advert is modern by all the effects used, to pass the iPod and connect the people onscreen. Apple is a fairly modern company, and despite being founded in 1976-77, has gained really gained increased popularity in the last ten years - since the invention of the iPod. Since gaining popularity the company feels the constant need to update it's self and follow the technological demands of the world that we live in. This is shown by the fact the iPod now has a <i>touch screen</i> and more of the interesting apps shown in the advert. </div><div><br />
</div><div>To appeal to wide audiences, the Advert shows the American need for diversity - in both the apps shown and the people modelling the device. Firstly, music isn't actually shown on the iPod until the end of the advert. Before we see it's main use, we see new games, the camera, some form of I-Messaging, social networking apps and other functional uses the iPod now contains that can connect you not only your friends but the rest of the world. This also shown in the advert at around 18 seconds in - when the girl starts off by herself on screen, and is then joined by four friends; all of whom are connected to her via the iPod.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The advert also shows diversity by the models/commercial actors featured. Not all are white Americans; there are some African-Americans, Asian-American, and Hispanic. This is partly to show and connect with the world wide audience that Apple has, and the sense of equality that America likes to think it has and portray in it's media. </div>HannahBthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631825277546123267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-90772013946457352682011-12-03T23:47:00.007+00:002011-12-03T23:56:48.144+00:00Smirnoff Vodka Advert<div><iframe height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2SKOR38Aryk?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="480" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div>Smirnoff Vodka</div><div><br />"SMIRNOFF is the world's number-one premium vodka brand, and it's important for us to communicate that in everything we do. In our continuous effort to assess our appeal, we recognized the need to update the SMIRNOFF image to make a contemporary statement about our portfolio of quality products. Consumers are more interested in premium brand attributes and our research reveals that our new look communicates to them this all important 'style' and 'quality' distinction."- Sharon Lichten, Smirnoff Brand Director.</div><div><br />Smirnoff Vodka is an iconic brand as many people all over the World recognise not only the brand but have tasted their drinks. Smirnoff has revamped the image of this iconic brand to reflect both the brand's Russian heritage and modern successes. The bottle is very creative and can almost be seen as being fashionable as the bottles features reflect broad shoulders something that is very much current in fashion design. The sharp colours used to represent all the different flavours and the logo draw inspiration from awards bestowed upon Pierre Smirnoff as an Official Purveyor of the Imperial Russian Court in the late 1880s.</div><div><br /><a href="http://www.smirnoff.com/en-us/main/drinks/cocktails/#product-">http://www.smirnoff.com/en-us/main/drinks/cocktails/#product-</a> U.S Smirnoff Products</div><div><br />CRAZY NIGHTS CAMPAIGN - <a href="http://www.smirnoff.com/en-us/main/bethere.aspx">http://www.smirnoff.com/en-us/main/bethere.aspx</a></div><div><br />“We see different people from different cultures not simply enjoying great nights-they're making them. From New York to Johannesburg to Bangkok, from intimate gatherings to concert halls, we've turned our camera on creative people around the world-hip hop artists, dancers, friends-creating extraordinary nights.”</div><div><br />These campaigns are interesting as they show case adults who are unique and different who enjoy dancing, signing showing off their talents no matter whom and what they are. The thing that joins them together is Smirnoff Vodka. The fact there are so many diverse people in this advert could represent the different flavours Smirnoff have to offer. Another way to look at the advert is that you need Smirnoff to have ‘An Extraordinary Night’ that you will never forget. Smirnoff Vodka is the choice of adults whether they are young or old enjoy socialising out with friends or at home having a quiet drink. </div>Serina.Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16756711291007071172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-49684772041831827192011-11-28T01:01:00.002+00:002011-11-28T01:09:40.205+00:00The Horatio Alger Myth<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/horatio-alger">http://www.squidoo.com/horatio-alger</a><br /><br />In this link the writer talks about how the myth of working hard to achieve what a pe<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">rson</span> wants in life and going from 'rags to riches' became so popular. This was mainly due to the fact that back when Horatio Alger released his range of novels about his various rags to riches stories was at a time when anyone in society had an equal chance that if they worked hard then they would <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">eventually</span> make it to where they want to be in life. For example in the time when there was an industrial boom in America - this created many opportunities for practically anyone to become a businessman and so a very rich person <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">because</span> of this - having achieved the so called American Dream and proving the Horatio Alger myth right.<br /><br />However this link (<a href="http://www.americansc.org.uk/online/American_Dream.htm">http://www.americansc.org.uk/online/American_Dream.htm</a>) talks about how the American Dream has changed throughout the years, and the phrase 'pluck and luck' <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">which</span> Horatio was known for can be seen in this link in the sense that through the years the American Dream has changed and the 'luck' of winning things like the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">lottery</span>, compensation lawsuits or taking part in big time game shows has replaced the sense of the Horatio Alger myth in the sense that the social divide between the rich and the poor has become to large for this myth to still exist and has been replaced with get more get rich quick sqhemes.Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04915438467112695655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-34481248653512758952011-11-27T23:11:00.005+00:002011-11-28T00:01:53.098+00:00Snap, Crackle, & Pop Culture: The American Dream in American Chopper<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://bawall.popacademy.org/archives/tag/horatio-alger-myth">http://bawall.popacademy.org/archives/tag/horatio-alger-myth</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; ">"It is such a romantic idea; going from dirt poor broke to rich and famous by working hard at doing what you love... </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; ">This plot is often referred to the Horatio Alger myth and many theorists argue that this is a form of propaganda implemented to make individuals look past social issues at hand"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; ">This article at first talks about Teutul's rise to success (star of <i>American Choppers</i>) and his rags to riches tale. The author was inspired by another article that offered 'different critiques of the show' and got 'the vibe that this show reinforces the American Dream'. And so the writer links this to the Horatio Alger myth, and quotes Michael Moore:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; "><br /></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; ">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; ">The message was that anyone can make it in America, and make it big. We are addicted to this happy rags-to-riches myth in this country. People in other industrialised democracies are content to make a good enough living to pay their bills and raise their families. Few have a cutthroat desire to strike it rich. . .So, here’s my question: after fleecing the American public and destroying the American dream for most working people, how is it that, instead of being drawn and quartered and hung at dawn at the city gates, the rich got a big wet kiss from Congress in the form of a record tax break, and no one says a word? How can that be? I think it’s because we’re still addicted to the Horatio Alger fantasy drug."</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">I thought that was interesting. I'd never seen this idea as some sort of cover-up from the government. The author then goes onto write about how "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; ">you get graded in school based on “how hard you work,” so in general students with higher grades generally have more opportunities in life because people buy in to this good work ethic idea". However, you're not actually graded on this... Alone. The author then quotes that despite the Horatio Myth says that it doesn't matter what you're born with/as you can still make it - actually in school it <i>does</i> matter what you're born with. You're </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; ">race, class background, gender, national origin, sexual orientation <i>do</i> matter in real life. It's then linked to TV - American TV is <i>full</i> of these </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; ">tell 'stories of everyday men and women who succeed against all odds due to their hard work and perseverance.' It provides an escape and hope, but in reality is not so easy for the average joe. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">In contrast to </span></span><i style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; ">Ragged Dick, </i><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">I think that we all now see the rags-to-riches tale as poor-to-billionaires. For someone to simply say they got out of school without any qualifications and now run a nice little business or how someone finally has a four bedroom house instead of a tiny bungalow, we wouldn't see it as the Horatio Alger myth coming true. Perhaps the only way the myth can be denied is that our standards have changed since then.</span></span></div>HannahBthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631825277546123267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-44216251032417678112011-11-27T22:26:00.004+00:002011-11-28T00:15:18.842+00:00Horatio Alger and the American Dream<div>The American Dream can be considered as a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes a promise of the possibility of prosperity and success. The American Dream is symbolised as life being better and richer and fuller, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement regardless of social class or how you were born.<br />
Alger's stories including ‘Ragged Dick’ have inspired generations of people to strive for greatness, no matter the odds. The young adolescent ‘Richard Hunter’ struggles against poverty and adversity to rise to success through hard work, determination, courage, and honesty.</div><div><br />
<a href="http://www.aboutfreedom.org/?q=content/horatio-algers-bootstraps">http://www.aboutfreedom.org/?q=content/horatio-algers-bootstraps</a></div><div><br />
The website I have looked at focuses on people who have had simple or hard early childhood problems but have not let them use these as permanent deterrents in their lives. This website reinforces the myth and strengthens the saying that ‘it’s not how you start but how you finish, that counts’. The writer also suggests that young people need to remember Horatio Alger stories as they provide hope but also freedom and that their dreams if they work hard enough can relate into reality. ‘Through hard work, perseverance, and character.’ All characteristics that help ‘Ragged Dick' empower himself. The writer Daniel McLaughlin, clearly believes in the Horatio Myth as he declares that he has seen it happen as he writes about his own personal account of someone who turned their life from ‘rag’s to riches’. </div><div><br />
However, an interesting point to make it that Horatio Alger American dream consisted of ‘Ragged Dick’ getting an education, getting a job that pays enough for him to support himself, something that everyday people achieve. The Horatio myth can be seen to have changed as Daniel McLaughlin views it as only being reserved for people who now make millions or billions people like the guy who owns Microsoft, KFC and Tiger Woods.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Serina.Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16756711291007071172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-44104246959064910992011-11-27T13:58:00.002+00:002011-11-27T14:28:27.101+00:00'The Horatio Alger Myth is Alive and Well in American Culture'<div>The Horatio Alger myth apparently rings true to society today according to the following link -</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1899396/the_horatio_alger_myth_is_alive_and_pg4.html?cat=9">http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1899396/the_horatio_alger_myth_is_alive_and_pg4.html?cat=9</a></div><div> </div><div>This article claims that the way in which you work hard is only 'slightly different' to the way suggested by Alger, in that the work is different, not the attitude. The writer claims that they key to success is still with education. It is true that this is how 'Ragged Dick' made his way to success. Even though his interviewer was obliged to give him a job, as Dick saved his son, Dick was still questioned on his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">arithmetic</span> ability and was asked to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">demonstrate</span> that he could write his name.</div><div>The problems facing today's society in question to the Horatio Alger myth and hence the restricted success of Algers other Novels, is with regard to the Majority population, the female's place in the working world.</div><div>The writer claims that success is capped almost by 'a glass ceiling' in the female working society, which Alger does not depict in 'Ragged Dick' for obvious reasons that feminism had not came into place when it was set. The writer mentions that females in todays settings are finding it 'difficult to advance through the ranks' of occupations previously dominated by men. </div><div> </div><div>It could be argued that opportunity is still being given by chance to other races. An interesting point made in the article is that current Universities are obliged to give spaces to black students, when in fact the University may not even be best suited to the academic record of the individual. There is a definite sense of descrimation, through 'affirmative action' of giving people opportunity, which defines even now a definate struggle for individuals to succeed and a definite sense of chance which comes their way. </div><div> </div><div>There are parallels from this article to 'Ragged Dick', in that, yes education gives you better opportunity to succeed. However, the biggest critiscism I have with what was sat about being able to work hard and succeed in America, is that this is rare. Mark Zuckerberg is a common beacon of the Horatio Alger Myth, noting that not even Dick reached his kind of success. Mark does not represent the majority, it may be that not enough people try hard enough to demonstarte the possibility of the ethic, however it more than likely demonstrating the impossibility to acheive in todays standards, by the restriction set out in the article linked above. Sexism being a comparitve devlopment of today, providing reason to question the myth</div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454401894170814074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-44600302251147682742011-11-26T21:35:00.001+00:002011-11-26T21:36:41.537+00:00The Horatio Alger Myth<p class="MsoNormal">The ‘Horatio Alger myth’ is a criticism of the ‘rags to riches’ message throughout Alger’s books, which is the idea that someone from a poor background can achieve success through hard work and determination. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I looked at the website <a href="http://www.fightbacknews.org/2004/01winter/algermyth.htm"><span style="color:windowtext">http://www.fightbacknews.org/2004/01winter/algermyth.htm</span></a> which was a short news article written by Adam Price, looking at the ‘Horatio Alger Myth’ and used it in relation to the story of ‘Ragged Dick’, which portrays Dick, a young bootblack, and his story to success. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The article supported the idea of ‘rags to riches’ which can be shown through the quote ‘Many poor and working class Americans did achieve a better way of life, buying a house and sending their children to college’. However it seems Price does not agree with the concept behind this of ‘luck and pluck’ which drives the characters in stories such as ‘Ragged Dick’ to succeed stating that the American Public’s success ‘<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white">had less to do with luck and a wealthy patron</span>’. This can be seen in ‘Ragged Dick’ which contains many scenarios which appear to be due to ‘luck’, in particular where the character of Dick stumbles upon Mr Whitney in the first chapter by chance who gives him new clothes and money. Mr Whitby stirred a change in Dick as he took his advice, which led him to stop spending his money and to open a savings account, without this event perhaps Dick would have continued spending his money and stayed in the same position for most of his life, supporting the idea of luck having a positive effect on the ‘rags to riches’ idea. Price believes the success of the public had more to do with the strength of unions who forced businesses to pay a living way and the expansion of public colleges and universities rather than this idea. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background:white"> I think it is hard to relate to the stories of Horatio Alger today due to the high standards of the public. Gaining a job as a clerk for $10 an hour as Dick does in ‘Ragged Dick’ would not be considered as a success in the modern world today, as the character has not become ‘rich’ as the phrase ‘rags to riches’ suggests, he has merely secured a low-level job in a company. With evidence shown in the article such as ‘Only 10% of less educated poor fathers have very successful sons’ it supports the idea of ‘Rags to riches’ idea no longer existing. </span></span><span style="background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09899954625834373843noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-79186328537631655822011-11-21T00:45:00.003+00:002011-11-21T01:12:12.063+00:00For and Against Gun Control<div><div>Pro-Gun Control:</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.americangunculturereport.com/">http://www.americangunculturereport.com/</a></div><div> </div><div>The American Gun Culture Report is a magazine who are "dedicated to expanding gun culture beyond it's stereotypical social confines". In order to do this the AGCR post articles in their magazine and on their website to break down the barriers which prevent their wider acceptance of firearm ownership.</div><div>I thought this was a good website as although it looks slightly agressive, it isnt't trying to push or scare people into running out and buying a gun. This is primarily because the AGCR are more about informing and educating people on gaining a healthier attitude into respecting the reasons behind why people own guns - providing honest views on other political subjects focusing around gun ownership. "AGCR doenst suggest everyone should go out and buy a gun, but only that this journal may help in making better educated choices, whether you decide to live your life armed or unarmed. In addition to this this webiste is differnt to alot of the other pro-gun websites as it doesn't mainly focus on only the 2nd ammendment to the Bill of Rights but the whole of it.</div><div> </div><div>Anti-Gun Control:</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.stophandgunviolence.com/about.asp">http://www.stophandgunviolence.com/about.asp</a></div><div> </div><div>Stop Handgun Violence is a non-profit organisation who are commited to preventing gun violence through education, public awareness, effective law enforcement and common sense gun laws. This website is alot better layed out than the last as straight aware you can see and tell who the organisation are and what they are trying to achieve.</div><div>This organisation uses more of the shock factor and gun violence facts rather than personal opinions to gain peoples attention. (eg. - the flashing texts on the main page of the website which are mostly about how many peope lare killed by guns everyday).</div><div>Compared to the pro-gun website I liked this one more as it's facts can shock you into the actual realisation of what guns can do on an every day basis. I also preferred this website as it even mentiona that "we are not calling for restrictions to our Constitutional Rights, but just common sense legislation that will help save lives".</div></div>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04915438467112695655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-57783897387137199242011-11-19T23:49:00.012+00:002011-11-21T01:08:27.066+00:00Gun Posts<div><div>Pro-Gun Control</div><div><br />
It was really hard trying to find a website that was dedicated towards gun control but I did manage to find one. <a href="http://www.a-human-right.com/views2.html">http://www.a-human-right.com/views2.html</a></div><div><br />
This was one of the best websites I found as it was quite interesting as the website kind of convinces you to buy a gun. It does this by listing all these questions and you have a multiple choice answers but the one you pick or choose are the ones that make owing a gun sound more appealing. For example: Given a choice, I would prefer to defend myself with...<br />
<br />
· my bare hands<br />
· an ineffective weapon, such as pepper spray<br />
· an effective weapon, such as a firearm</div><div></div><div>Of course most people if not everyone would pick option 3. This website is very simple as anyone would be able to answer the questions and it plays on people’s emotions to protest themselves, families and love ones. The site doesn’t list any clear facts about owning a gun but outlines all the negative things that could happen if you didn’t have a gun. Another interesting positive thing about this website as it doesn't confront you with the 2 Amendment and doesn't talk about the Constitution, something very different form all the other Pro- Gun control websites.<br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div>Anti-Gun Control </div><div>This video was made by International action network on small arms<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylvAovoO2kk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylvAovoO2kk</a><br />
<br />
This video starts out really interesting as it’s a bullet being fired at all these random food and drink objects, when the bullet makes contact with the object they make all these different and exciting shapes. This could represent the beginning time when someone buys a gun, its new very</div><div>powerful can destroy anything and you want to try it out. The objects being shot at are weak and have no chance of surviving their original shape. However, the tone of the video starts to change when the next object is a child. The watcher then realises that a gun is not a toy and that it can have serious consequences. The end of the video reminds me of horror school shootings; where<br />
innocent school children die because someone managed to easily obtain a gun and takes out their frustration on school mates and teachers.</div><br />
Comparing the Websites…<br />
<br />
At first the Pro Gun control website made me realise that owing a gun might not be that bad however, watching the video made me see sense and that ultimately owing a gun is dangerous and has the potential to kill innocent victims. It then made me think that the Pro Gun control website doesn’t take into consideration of when gun usage has gone terribly wrong. Even though many people when first owning a gun wouldn’t think of hurting innocent people and they would still remain a peaceful person. However, you are more likely to kill or injure your own family member than a criminal. </div>Serina.Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16756711291007071172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-55921231255582370412011-11-19T12:03:00.002+00:002011-11-19T13:36:08.780+00:00Websites on Gun ControlAnti-Gun Control<div><br /></div><div>The following link contains some interesting arguments from one individual. It claims that the second amendment is dated and doesn't apply to today. It also argues that British crime rate has gone down since the gun ban. However, it is not as official as some other sites and a lot is to be questioned about the validity of the sources. One of the points made though, involving the phrase 'Guns don't kill people, people do', the websites says, why then doesn't the government send soldiers to war without guns. There is a long list of 30 reasons to oppose gun control, overall though in comparison, the website seems too subjective.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.guninformation.org/reasons.html">http://www.guninformation.org/reasons.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Pro-Gun Control</div><div><br /></div><div>This website is much more of an accurate argument, it's facts are clearer and well set out. The website looks at both sides of the argument but it was so well arranged, I considered it worth mentioning. The pro points are well argued, one of them says that criminals are much less likely to attack their victim if they believe they are in possession of a fire arm. Something quite interesting is that the website mentioned since the presidency of Barack Obama, who is known to be anti-gun control, according to the previous year Ohio saw a 67% increase in gun permits. The website argues that people were worried he would change legislation and sort of impulse purchased more guns. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://concealedguns.procon.org/">http://concealedguns.procon.org/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>In all honesty I can see both reasons why gun control should and shouldn't be legislated, however from the examples given, the website showing both arguments, but particularly Pro- gun control, seemed to be well argued. There are some fantastic cases and pdf's worth looking at in the second site and it stand better on it's own. I genuinely believe from the websites that gun ownership in America is mostly nothing more than a response to compensate for the safety, which citizens feel the government do not provide.</div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454401894170814074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-68920835826533078862011-11-19T10:48:00.003+00:002011-11-21T08:48:24.518+00:00Pro-Gun and Anti-Gun<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Anti-Gun Control:</span></div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.armedfemalesofamerica.com/">http://www.armedfemalesofamerica.com/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>Armed Females of America is a site and organization that encourages the rights of guns for everyone.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">AS ARMED FEMALES, our mission is to proudly represent all patriotic, strong, intelligent people...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div>They believe in the right to 'keep and bear arms' and that it's a 'god-given right' for them to do so, and therefore cannot be 'legislated'. They do not believe that IDs should be needed for buying Guns, nor should you register once owning a gun, as that destroys 'our rights as free Americans'. Despite what message this might send and bring to mind (my first thought was; are they <i>crazy?</i>), The women believe that Gun-Control in America is an embarrassment, and a 'colossial' failure. They want to prove there are 'well-educated, thinking' women out there who need a gun to protect their families. </div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div>The site itself holds a little information about how you can get involved, and about their mission. The site is in the patriotic red, white and blue, and holds gun-edited classic feminist pictures [such as the one below] and images of <i>pink</i> guns to get across their message and encourage females. </div><div><br />
</div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.armedfemalesofamerica.com/img/AFA%20PIX/AFA%20Art%20Work/we_can_do.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 114px;" /></span>On another interesting note, the site links to "Tea Party Patriots" [you can make of that what you will].</div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Pro-Gun Control</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></div><div>I was surprised by how few sites were Pro-Gun Control... There was lots of articles or news clips but hardly any solely dedicated websites! I came across <i>2!</i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><a href="http://www.bradycampaign.org/">http://www.bradycampaign.org/</a></div><div><br />
</div><div>The Brady Campaign site is also red, white and blue, but looks far more polished, like a Presidential Campaign site than the Anti-Gun control site. Their mission statement is for stricter laws on guns, and to raise more of an awareness 'through grass-roots activism'. The campaign was started after James Brady was left permanently disabled - and almost dead - after an assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan. (James Brady was his former assistant and White House Press Secretary).</div><div><br />
</div><div>The site is very factual, features lots of videos and holds links for those wishing to get involved. The site honestly reminded me of Michelle Bachman's site in many ways... with the patriotic colours, videos, layout, links and connection to social networking sites like facebook.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Comparing the Two...</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div>I think I prefer the latter! </div><div><br />
</div><div>The Anti-Gun Control site looking amateurish, messy and the text was hypocritical. The latter was clear, slightly more modern, and more factual in it's approach to encouraging people, I found this was important as the first seemed to rely on the reader already holding Anti-Gun Control feelings instead of telling them facts and trying to persuade the reader. </div>HannahBthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631825277546123267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-36961878530554914082011-11-17T01:13:00.000+00:002011-11-17T01:14:15.943+00:00Gun Control In America<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Cambria">Anti Gun Control <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Cambria"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><a href="http://gunowners.org/protect.htm" style="font-family: Cambria; ">http://gunowners.org/protect.htm</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; ">The link above is the website Gun Owners of America (GOA) a non profit organisation formed in 1975 interested in preserving and defending the Second Amendment rights of gun owners.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The website relies heavily on the support of the public shown through the headings such as ‘Take Action’, ‘Join GOA’ and mentioning the public as having a ‘central role’ driving the point of ‘the united voice’ in order to get results. It contains news reports, a radio station and a store where the public can buy various <st1:place st="on">GOA</st1:place> merchandise such as t-shirts to show their support. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> The feature I liked most about the website was the Source Studies page, which detailed studies that support the use of guns, which I thought was important as it actually provided reliable evidence, rather than just opinions. One I found particularly interesting was the ‘International Crime Victim Study’, which declared <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region> as having the worst crime rate of all major countries, following a near total ban on civilian ownership on firearms. This shows the public the potentially bad effect it could have on <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I think the <st1:place st="on">GOA</st1:place> website provided a sufficient amount of information as to why it is important to defend the rights of gun owners, through persuasion. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="font-family:Cambria">Pro Gun Control</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><o:p> </o:p></span><a href="http://www.bradycampaign.org/" style="font-family: Cambria; ">http://www.bradycampaign.org/</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; ">The link above is the website run by the Brady Campaign whose aim is to prevent gun violence allowing the nation to feel safe in their communities. The Campaign is interested in reforming the gun industry by enforcing sensible regulations and increasing public awareness of gun violence.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The website tries its best to influence the public through bold writing such as ‘Enough is Enough’ and facts at the top of each page such as the one below, creating the feeling of urgency. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><a href="http://www.bradycampaign.org/xshare/pdf/facts/Brady_GodBlessAmerica.pdf">http://www.bradycampaign.org/xshare/pdf/facts/Brady_GodBlessAmerica.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> Similar to <st1:place st="on">GOA</st1:place>, the website also contained facts and figures supporting their cause for example States with higher gun ownership and weaker gun laws were found to have more gun deaths than those with strong gun laws and households with less guns. A thing I found particularly striking was in the right hand corner of the homepage it displayed how many people have died from guns this year and also today in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>. When seeing something such as this in numbers, it drives home the point of why gun control is needed in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; ">I thought both websites displayed a good amount of information and used persuasive techniques in order to draw the public in to their way of thinking mostly backed up with facts and figures. I found that the Brady Campaign was the most convincing as it displayed a lot more emotive statistics such as the significantly high deaths in </span><st1:country-region st="on" style="font-family: Cambria; "><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; "> compared to other countries. Although I originally found the </span><st1:place st="on" style="font-family: Cambria; ">GOA</st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; "> website to have valid points that were successfully backed up, these points were only to protect the second amendment and the use of guns. I found the Brady Campaign instantly more important as it was protecting human life and seemed to be in the best interest of Americans. </span></p>Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09899954625834373843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-77506654498502642982011-11-17T00:58:00.000+00:002011-11-17T00:58:55.212+00:00Presentations<i>Ragged Dick</i> - Hannah and Stephen Wk9<br />
<br />
<i>The Great Gatsby</i> - Holly, Serina, Georgia Wk11. However if ONE of you three wants to do Ragged Dick as well, we can split the topics that way instead. Let me know by email asap - first come, first served.Alasdairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12472339767520015607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-30069055670767416002011-11-13T23:23:00.008+00:002011-11-13T23:55:19.513+00:00The Wounded Knee Massacre 1890<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCmElw3rpUnUOy91pYcpgzttRkY2h8qSWgrclHYUMYy4bxntmfVksfT7eZrWYi_Pkz5Pcl8RejS_-A6Q3A1XRoQ4ISv0wIZO1ikzfM8tqEo-0Ry8J1dZ7vSBzijaoqY11cwTOKxKu3A/s1600/Wounded+Knee.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="451" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674625240735327170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCmElw3rpUnUOy91pYcpgzttRkY2h8qSWgrclHYUMYy4bxntmfVksfT7eZrWYi_Pkz5Pcl8RejS_-A6Q3A1XRoQ4ISv0wIZO1ikzfM8tqEo-0Ry8J1dZ7vSBzijaoqY11cwTOKxKu3A/s640/Wounded+Knee.jpg" style="display: block; height: 282px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="640" /></a><br />
A civilian burial party and U.S. Army officers pose over a mass grave trench with bodies of Native American Lakota Sioux killed at Wounded Knee, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota. 1890</div><div></div><div><br />
This picture was taken by North-western Photographic Co. at the end of the Battle of Wounded Knee, it shows just how catastrophic the battle was for many Native Americans as over 200 Sioux Indians were killed. The Indians were being held there by soldiers because they believed that the Native Indians were preparing for an armed rebellion. Shooting started when a Sioux Indian resisted surrendering his weapon to the army. In a struggle with several soldiers his gun fired turning a tense situation into chaotic fighting. Many out of control soldiers shot at unarmed and retreating Indians such as women and children who tried to flee the scene. The burial pit is quite deep reinforcing the view that Wounded Knee was more of a Massacre than a battle where a whole Tribe was almost wiped out. The picture shows many soldiers standing over the grave looking at the camera, posing for the picture emphasising their lack of respect towards many Natives and showing that they viewed them as savages or dogs that had to be ‘put down’. There is no remorse or guilt on their faces reinforcing the idea that many American people felt the need to get rid of the Natives as they had no place, did not belong and were only in the way of western expansion. The dead bodies are also just placed in one big dump reinforcing the fact that the army just doesn't care.</div><div><br />
The fact that so many Natives where killed compared to the troopers suggests that the Native Americans where at a real disadvantage the picture reflects this as all the troopers have guns and weapons in their hands. Furthermore, the Natives didn’t really stand a chance against the soldiers as they were all men, whereas in the Native American tribe there were a number of innocent women and children. <br />
<br />
</div><div></div>Serina.Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16756711291007071172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-26031542133276717332011-11-13T19:54:00.002+00:002011-11-13T20:28:42.709+00:00Native American by Charles Erskine Scott Wood<a href="http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1060/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1060-298.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 350px;" src="http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1060/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1060-298.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(100, 100, 100); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12px; ">White Crane Cayuse Indian 1891 Charles Erskine Scott Wood (19th C.) Watercolor & pencil The Huntington Library, Art Collections, & Botanical Gardens, San Marino, Californ</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px; " ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px; ">This painting is a very plain painting of a Native American - there is no background other than a block of colour of earthy brown - and because of this, it makes the subject the painting instantly the main focus. The subject of the painting is also plain; wearing just a plain brown shirt with his hair loose down his back. It's hard to tell what the painting is trying to tell us about Native Americans. While it is not a negative image, it's not exactly a positive one. My first thoughts were that for a start, the man isn't wearing anything Native - just a shirt (which while Native Americans wore shirts, they weren't fashioned so). While American settlers wore shirts, they would rarely wear </span><i style="line-height: 12px; ">just</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px; "> that. Cowboys would add at least a neck-tie and/or waistcoat. The shirt is also has a loose front creating an effect that seems too casual for the 1890's. On the other hand, the shirt is still a western piece of fashion.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;"><br />Upon more research of the artist and his other drawings/paintings of Native Americans, it seemed to me that they were just sketches he'd draw on observing them. They all are wearing shirts - one with a belt [see below for reference!] and the other was entitled "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; ">Untitled Study of a Native American". Perhaps all we </span><i style="line-height: 14px; ">can</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "> really tell from this photos is an honest image (in comparison to some around this time), in which the Indians are more westernised than they were before the settlers.</span></span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 350px;" src="http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1060/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1060-543.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1060/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1060-269.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 350px; " /></div>HannahBthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631825277546123267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-30408372065126467562011-11-13T14:20:00.006+00:002011-11-13T23:54:47.828+00:00The Battle of Tippecanoe 1811<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.glogster.com/media/5/25/46/74/25467462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://www.glogster.com/media/5/25/46/74/25467462.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div>This painting was painted by Alonzo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Chappel</span> (1828-1887) who is known for painting events from the American Revolution and early 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> Century American history. This particular painting is called The Battle of Tippecanoe and shows a battle between white settlers (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Governor</span> William Henry Harrison and his men) and the Native American Ohio River Valley's Shawnee Tribe.<br />
<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Without</span> knowing the history of this painting it shows the white settlers going in for battle against the natives and that the natives are turning and running from them in order to stand a chance. However the absence of any native women or children indicates that this is a sort of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">pre</span>-arranged attack on a battle field, and so the white settlers <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">haven't</span> actually invaded the natives home tribe. From looking at the picture it seems that it was the native Americans who were the ones to start this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">particular</span> conflict as the central native in the red looks as if he has gone ahead, attempted to spy on the white settlers and then retreated. As well as this it seems that they both have arrived in a potential space to battle as the white settlers are lined up along the left and the natives lined up along the right ready to fight.<br />
However it seems that the natives <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">wern't</span> expecting so many white settlers and for them to have such advanced <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">weaponry</span> - and so once they realised that they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">didn't</span> stand much of a chance - <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Begin</span> to run in retreat. It looks like the white settlers are very calm and confident with their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">numbers and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">weaponry</span> and so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">don't</span> actually look like they are putting much strategy into the battle itself as they can already predict the outcome. Whereas the natives look like <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">they've</span> been taken by surprise by the confidence of the white settlers and are instead turning and running from them rather than continuing with the fight. At this point in the conflict they have one casualty east although looking further into the picture the army of white <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">settlers</span> seem to be more organised and look as if they are in battle formation, with a soldier in the centre of the picture looks like hes about to kill another native.</div>Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04915438467112695655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-68410837176274402382011-11-13T13:08:00.002+00:002011-11-13T13:33:26.222+00:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESsP_tBjxN9XJtmYnoeFpn5QrN_x2wPQE3W-xABteGfLfQeJ1OSCtqxD8BqPO1jVs2HXTs95McegqkWRhnHWyDpiCiN3HndD1kht9LVnDokkwynMK3mg45Xr2NxOiqYf0V9kYCh8HaQ/s1600/pa_neh_12.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674467418109416418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESsP_tBjxN9XJtmYnoeFpn5QrN_x2wPQE3W-xABteGfLfQeJ1OSCtqxD8BqPO1jVs2HXTs95McegqkWRhnHWyDpiCiN3HndD1kht9LVnDokkwynMK3mg45Xr2NxOiqYf0V9kYCh8HaQ/s400/pa_neh_12.jpg" border="0" /></a> The painting above was created in the 1860's by George Catlin, and shows the artist himself painting a portrait of Mah-to-toh-pa, a Mandan chief, while members of the tribe watch him work.<br />The painting very much centres on the chief and the act of painting by Catlin, potrayed by the glow the figure of the chief and the canvas seem to give off. This can be contrasted to the dull colour of the tribe which causes them to almost blend into one other. Catlin's european clothing is starkly contrasted with the elaborate clothing of the chief, which is very detailed unlike that of Catlin and also the tribe around him. Most of the tribe are sitting down or potrayed as stooping, causing the effect of the chief to appear as the tallest. He is also central to the painting and potrayed in a noble stance, suggesting importance. Many members of the tribe are displayed with open mouths and most seem to be watching Catlin closely suggesting they are in awe of the activity. This represents the simplicity of the Native American way of life who would not have watched an activity such as this and would have found this experience entirely new.<br />Many members of the tribe are displayed with weapons, Catlin is surrounded by people with bows and arrows and the chief is holding a spear. Although weaponry is primarily linked to violence, the painting gives off a sense of serenity and comfort. Catlin is clearly at ease with the tribe, and they are the same with him. This shows that the Native Americans were not always the savage and fierce characters they were often depicted to be.Georgiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09899954625834373843noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30747961634892682.post-67696261139538008202011-11-12T23:59:00.004+00:002011-11-13T23:57:19.251+00:00Native American ManThe following visual interpretation was taken from The Library of Congress. It dates from 1859.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2009633697/">http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2009633697/</a></div><div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBU_lxJKqu8Tnyglf62w0UbBSYxSmQ3SCm8BmN9lMhxKcjB_0iPDaIZwItC2o7O4hfY2mXM_4WpAxaMoc6OWSIX-0ZWitGstzIvZv2DIW0mVNrrCLvR56wA0lMy64XIKakVdgrRyZZMzI/s1600/1859+native+american.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674280815301781474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBU_lxJKqu8Tnyglf62w0UbBSYxSmQ3SCm8BmN9lMhxKcjB_0iPDaIZwItC2o7O4hfY2mXM_4WpAxaMoc6OWSIX-0ZWitGstzIvZv2DIW0mVNrrCLvR56wA0lMy64XIKakVdgrRyZZMzI/s320/1859+native+american.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 261px;" /></a>For a few reasons it seems difficult to accept much accuracy from this image. The connotations it brings are quite important though. In terms of it's accuracy, the clothes seem to be far too bright in colour. They seem to have been enhanced and as a consequence, are more European, or British even. His clothes are royal blue and red in colour, when they would much more likely to be a beige. Wi Jun Jon by George Catlin demonstrated more clearly what the attire specifically looked like. This is most definitely, an interpretation.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So why is he made more appealing to the eyes of the British? It may be so that they have a better level of understanding or empathy even, the artist may be trying to draw on this. He has his weapon in his left hand, as it was known at the time, archers would hold their bow in their left hand as well. It may be that the artist is attempting to gain respect from the viewer, by making him seem more civil, more European, more like them. The Native American man looks desolate and he is viewing the rest of the land around him in sorrow. He is also stood in quite a noble and territorial stance. If you look to the background, the village people are being assaulted. Why is the Native American man not doing anything?</div><div><br />
</div><div>He looks proud and noble but the overall feelings is that he does not wish to do anything about it. He does not look as though he is angry, worried or panicking. He actually looks calm and sad, its as though the message the image is giving is that; we, the Native Americans are being made to move on or die and fine, we will not fight against this. An image like this, where the focus is of comparatively less violence than the image by John Gast, American Progress for example, can actually provide a larger impact on the viewer and a greater feeling of empathy. I believe this is why the image of the man has been interpreted in the way it has.<br />
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</div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454401894170814074noreply@blogger.com0