SRTS

Hello Ms. S I finished my SRTS Love Nick!

Journal#9

I had a very positive experience in English 15S. I came into this class with the goal of furthering myself as a writer for my future experiences in the literature and writing department. The course did more for me than what I expected of it. I not only bettered myself as a writer but redefined how I think about art. I rarely ever paused to think about how all around us are beautiful things we take for granted every day. Just walking back from Irvings I enjoyed the sights of the beautiful campus that I would have passed off as boring and obsolete. The subjects we studied that had to do with Penn State were enjoyable because I could relate to them. It made it a much more enjoyable experience as we talked about subjects that I had an interest in. I gained a better flow in my overall writing. My writing used to be very choppy and staggered where now I have more confidence people will enjoy the overall flow of my papers. The piece we did on the Penn State podcast really stands out in my mind. Listening to the account of the campus from another person’s point of view was very interesting. Hearing all the different signs and tales of that one night on campus actually made me chuckle. I experience all the same things but with a different take. Some of the stats the podcast used were staggering and really opened my eyes up to Penn State as a whole campus and University. I learned more about the arts in this class than I have in my entire life. I had always struggled coming up with my own definition of art. I had trouble understanding everything that the word art encompassed. Now I have a clear understanding of everything that art is and have gained a new appreciation for art. I also gained a greater skill in the field of revising people’s papers. Before I would be hesitant on whether to tell someone to make a change here or there because of my lack of confidence. With the help of your class I have gained confidence in my writing abilities. The last research paper really had a large impact on me. I didn’t have an idea of what I was going to write about for our last paper for so long. I was frustrated with the topic being art, seeing as how I am not usually very appreciative of the arts. I thought about what I was going to write about forever until I looked at your suggestions. I noticed one of them was something called Fallingwater. I had no idea what this was or how it related to art. After hours of research and becoming familiar with the amazing house I was enticed. I actually enjoyed researching Fallingwater because I came to understand how wonderful it was. This class most of all helped me in the fact that it made me step outside my comfort zone. Not one part of this class was something that I felt comfortable doing but this is a good thing. Now in the future I will have had experience in this type of work and am very grateful for it, thank you very much!

Journal #9

2nd reading

Ms. Sheila Squillante’s reading was my favorite part of the class. It was awesome to be able to hear our teachers work told by herself. It made me appreciate the knowledge that you are instilling in us while validating your merit in the literary world. Your self-portrait story was very interesting in which you incorporated the use of symbolizing the rollercoaster to your life. It really made me have an understanding of the hardships you deal with in life while also realizing there are many positives you live through. Your poem about the color green reminded me of when we had a writing assignment to do the same thing my senior year of high school. I remember thinking for hours about what to write and having trouble coming up with material. Listening to your poem showed me how through innovation you can turn anything into a beautiful piece of literature. Your letter poem that had to deal with aliens showed me something that I had never heard of before. I thought it was beautiful how the piece functions as a poem and a letter. The difficulty creating a piece of that nature shows how creative you are. The piece itself shows the skill that you possess as well as a gift in words. I was blown away with how impressed I was of you as a writer. I believe you create pieces that are smart, as well as providing a message that is hidden within your works. Your writing is fluent and flawless. My favorite poem of yours is definitely the dream poem you created. I thought it was great how you took such a random series of events and tied them together in one story. My favorite part was the randomness involved while you were walking down the road. You were in a cul-de-sac, but not any ordinary cul-de-sac, at the end of this one was a massive temple. The dream also included such random things as a boy on a man sized tricycle, people practicing yoga, and a humidifier. This poem appealed to me so much because of how random it was. It stirred my emotions in a humorous way. I actually chuckled at some parts because I thought of them in a realistic manner. What if these things actually happened to you? If you were actually walking down a road to be greeted by a massive random temple, how would you feel? Would you be scarred or are you adventurous and would want to venture inside? This poem makes you think and visualize what you are hearing. Each person’s interpretation of the dream is unique. One person may have an idea or a visual image of something in the poem, while another person has the opposite picture or feelings.  Thank you very much for gracing us with your work. I found it to be very interesting and am grateful for the opportunity to hear your words. I hope continue your success and believe that the sky is the limit for you!

                 

Qarrtsiluni pieces

http://qarrtsiluni.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/switaj-inside-pre-rup-lg.jpg

                The photo by Elizabeth Switaj is very unique. The contrast of colors makes for a very interesting piece. There are bright shades of gold and green while the backdrop is a dark wall. It seems very dirty and grim around the people being depicted. The people themselves seem to be from a Japanese heritage. The gold trinket suspended above the people seems to be the focal point. It appears to be made of gold or bronze which stands out from the meek colors that surround the piece.  The photo creates a sense of beauty while also incorporating the theme of darkness.

http://qarrtsiluni.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/thompson-notre-dame-interior-lg.jpg

                Adrian Thompson’s photo of the interior of Notre dame is breathtaking. The cathedral is known for its beauty and attention to detail. The cathedral fully takes advantage of excessive lighting to illuminate the entire building. Shadows are cast off the ominous archways to create a medieval vibe. The center of the picture contains a large window compromised of stained glass set high in the cathedral. The size and beauty of the glass fits perfectly with the theme of the cathedral. Chandeliers hang giving off a soft warm glow on the hard stone walls. The picture is explained by the bystander’s expressions on their faces.  Each one is either standing in awe or quickly snapping multiple pictures to document the sight.

http://qarrtsiluni.com/page/3/

                This is personally my favorite photo that I have seen on this site. The picture seems to hold my attention with its eeriness. The use of sepia shrouds the picture in a creepy tone. It makes me think of times that have passed. This is exactly the type of scene you see in horror movies and ghost stories. The trees seem open up a lane for the wooden cross to stand. The rock and cross seem to be the only things breaking the monotony of the forest that encloses it. The picture is a sad one, but one that I take as a peaceful end. A quiet end in a beautiful surrounding.

http://qarrtsiluni.com/page/3/ Odds and Ends

                This poem raises the universal and forever sought question of religion. Joseph Harker takes a more personal approach to religion. I think his take on religion is very unique.  He focuses on why put emphasis in our religion on small things. He talks about how we interest ourselves in such minute things as the luck we adhere to when the year a penny is compared to when you were born.  He makes it seem like such acts are futile and useless.  He doesn’t believe significance comes from objects that are so small and ordinary. The piece opened my mind up to my thoughts on religion and how I personally feel. I was very impressed with the message of the poem and how the poem was composed. The use of two lines then a gap emphasizes each line and places more importance on them.

http://qarrtsiluni.com/page/5/ The peace movement

                M.G. Stephens seems to be giving advice in this wonderful poem he wrote. The poem is trying to send a message of what you should make a habit in your life. Such good things as be kind and ask how others are. It tells you to take time out of your day for what he deems as important. Stop to look at the stars and moon, take in everything around you. The poem tells you to read for at least two hours every day and to write down random thoughts or ideas. It then tells you to love yourself and others; to take care and be well. The poem gives a light air to the thought of making this world a better place. The piece is saying these steps will help to improve our life on earth. The poem outlines how to be a good samaritan. I enjoyed reading this poem and interpreting the message within.  The poem also uses soft words to put a positive connotation on all the suggestions.

Scandal U

                As a first year student at Penn State I will be honest, I am not all Ho ha Joe Pa like everyone else seems to be. I highly appreciate everything he has done for the school and all the positives that have occurred because of him. That being said I actually believe the penalty was well deserved. I believe Jon Stewart actually did a great job of driving the point home.  As everyone was very upset with the firing of the coach, it is almost disgusting how the victims were forgotten. I hated how Joe Pa became the scapegoat for the whole scandal while others were forgotten. Joe Pa caught so much heat only because of how prominent he is in the nation. Everyone knows who Joe Paterno is. Everyone knows who Penn state is. It was a university full of prestige and wonder. Now it seems like Penn State is a place which has a huge dark cloud hovering over top. It seems like this storm is going to be here for a long time so get your raincoat and umbrella.

                There is something that has been on my chest since this scandal started and now for the first time I am writing it down. In a way, I feel wronged. I did not sign up to attend scandal University.  I signed up to attend what used to be debatably the greatest university in the nation. Before I could wear my Penn State hoody and sweats with pride beaming through me. You could almost feel an aura about you that just emanated from your being. Now I think three times before I throw on my state gear. I’m not even sure if I want to stay here anymore. For the rest of my life, I will be asked where I attended school. If I stay for four years, I will say Pennsylvania state university. No matter who I tell that too, in the back of their mind they will think of “the scandal”. Most of the time it will probably be followed up by, “O yeah didn’t Joe Pa rape that kid?” I don’t want to live my life hearing this. I want to speak of  a university and the person to give me respect. I want to be able to be proud of my university.  I believe anyone that remotely knew of any info of sandusky’s actions should be cut from the university.

                I am not even sure how the students could have rioted. I thought the act was disgusting and could not believe the stories that were pouring into my phone. “Dude a van just got flipped”. That text from my friend stunned me. A man sexually abused children, many authority figures at the university learn of the actions, almost nothing is said or done. And a van is flipped because the people that did it got what they deserved? Disgraceful.

                As sad as I am from this scandal I am still unsure about everything

                We are Penn state, but is that a good thing?

Dear Incoming Freshman,

            Get ready to have the time of your life. This is one of the greatest institutions in the entire world. Pennsylvania State University is a thriving community filled with artistic value and self-expression which is held in the highest regard. Everywhere you go, the community surprises you time and time again with the relationship between the people who occupy this campus. Art is in abundance, just look around. You will see gorgeous buildings, a stunning landscape, and so much more. You will share an experience with many people who are just like you. When again in your life will you be able to share this experience with so many people within four years of your age. The experience you will undoubtedly love here is what I deem to be the purest form of art. The sheer enjoyment you will have here is art in itself. I believe art is anything that produces emotion and/or involves some form of skill.

            The first thing many people think of when they hear Penn State is partying. They think, “Oh, those drink hard and are wild”. Now that may define some people, but if that is why you’re coming here, stop thinking that now. Yes we like to have fun on the weekends a bit, and some may look down on that but school comes first. Everyone here had to have achieved supreme academic success, and must carry that forward. I believe that is actually art. The art of balancing school work and fun. To perfectly balance these two things takes skill and experience and is viewed differently by people.  Some people think it is ok to have too much fun and forget about the important things and why they come to school. You come to school to gain an education, that is a main stressing point on any campus. To have fun, one must work hard and achieve gains academically. If you do poorly in the classroom, you will not have a good time and will be overwhelmed with the high academic level you are held accountable for here.

            Once you get a chance to walk around this campus, keep your senses open to all aspects of different atmosphere this campus has to offer. Take a walk down East College at two in the afternoon and you will notice people hustling and bustling about, going about daily chores or going to class to learn. Next, walk down East College at two in the morning. It is even livelier than in the afternoon. People walking, talking, having a great time, maybe grabbing a bite to eat after the activities of the night. This to me reflects art. I believe this is art because it evokes different emotions in people. Some people are disgusted in the way people conduct themselves at this time of night. They believe kids should not be this loud or rambunctious at this time of day. Some people love the energy that is shown on the campus at this time. The loud noises and innumerous amounts of people create an atmosphere that is full of art. It includes sounds, sights, and smells that you probably won’t be able to experience with as much frequency anywhere else. And there is where I see art. Just stop and soak up all the stimuli that are presenting themselves towards you. Think of how art is shown everywhere around you.

            Not only the atmosphere at two in the morning is emotion provoking, but the actual landscape and architecture of the campus is. Take a walk down Shortlidge, past the Science building, and notice the beauty of the area. The red bricks below your feet, the beautiful kept grass raised on platforms which you can sit on and read a nice book, all of it is captivating. Then look off in the distance as you put your book down. Realize you are in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Take in the mountains in the far distance, covered to the top with trees and a beautiful lush green color. That is Mother Nature’s art right there.  Then notice the Science building that you passed. Notice the massiveness of the structure and how much beautiful glass was put into the construction of this building.. The building is one of art, and beauty. It is art in the fact that it catches your eye in many ways. You see all the glass window panes shining, reflecting the sunlight with almost a greenish blue hue to it. You notice that the structure dominates the landscape with the size of it. Art is all around you here, you just have to open your eyes and look.

            Take a trip down here on a Saturday game day and you will not believe what you are a part of.  The college expands to one of the largest cities in Pennsylvania to root for a team that is full of tradition. The sheer masses of people will astonish you. Art is all around you on game days. So much emotion and commotion is packed into this large campus. People are shouting before the game walking up. Numerous amounts of people, every single one of them dressed in that beautiful Nittany blue and white. Then as you walk towards the stadium the size of it takes your breath away. Once you get into the stadium, you look around and see so many people having a single-minded approach. A Nittany Lions win. The kickoff is just about to happen. Not a single person is sitting down, everyone is screaming at the top of your lungs. You turn to your friend who is trying to tell you about how great it is to be here. But his attempts are futile, you can only attempt to lip read what his inaudible words are. During one point of the game you pause to just take it all in, 110,000 fans in a sea of blue and white. It is one of the most beautiful spectacles you will ever be a part of. This experience and what you see is art.

            Penn State is rooted deep in tradition which is upheld by all. It is almost to the point where if you are part of Penn State it is a cult. Art as iv explained is everywhere you go. It is part of your everyday experience here. From the beautiful buildings to the magnificent sculpture of the Nittany lion that everyone pays their respects to. Art is deeply rooted in every aspect of Penn State. So take my word for it or not, you won’t fully appreciate all this university has to offer until you come here. I’m a Nittany lion and am very proud to say it. GO STATE!

           

Nick Conroy

1.     What is the thesis of the essay? What are the stated criteria the author is using to create the category of "art" or "artistic community?"  The orchids are a prime piece of art on campus and the podcast was downright disgusting with how it portrayed penn state. The criteria he uses is that of art invokes emotion and serves a unique purpose.

2. Who is the intended audience? Can you tell easily? Parents of incoming freshman. Yes
3. What appeals are at work in the essay? Are they appropriate for this audience? Be specific in your answer and suggest better/different appeals where necessary. All appeals are at work in the essay including pathos logos and ethos. Yes they are because his essay is very professional with great diction which would appeal to a parent questioning the prestige of the University. The only thing is he uses the word brainwash in the last paragraph. The podcast did not completely tear apart Penn state and actually offered many positives to the University.
4. Are the best examples being used to support the criteria stated in the thesis? If not, can you suggest others? Yes the best examples are used.
5. Has the essay anticipated the values and needs of the audience sufficiently? Has the author done the work of addressing any possible rebuttal issues or questions the audience might have? Yes this is where I believe his essay strives, he covers all the bases of the podcast and art at the University.
6. If the essay is taking on the question of re-definition at the institutional level, has the NPR podcast been utilzed well enough? Has the rhetorical situation in general and the exigence in particular--why THIS argument at THIS time--been made explicit in the essay? Yes the podcast is the main point. He methodically introduces point after point of the podcast and refutes with detailed reasons why he is doing so.
7. Is the sentence-level writing clear and concise? Is the organization coherent? Does the introduction engage and provide context? Does the conclusion remind us of main point and point us toward something new? The sentence level is astounding; I honestly wish I could write like he does. The conclusion is perfect and does a great job pointing towards something new which is hoping that parents have a clear mind when they consider Penn State.


Paper written by Chris Bizzell

Kiss me kate

The only musicals/plays I have ever been to were ones at my school. I went to two of them  and to be honest it was against my will. The theatre is just something that I am fine with not affiliating myself with. But I do hold all the people involved with theatre in a high regard. I don’t believe I could do what they do. The fact that they must learn all their lines and moves down perfectly amazes me. The actors must perfectly be in synch and know all their lines. This memorization to me is just amazing. One must also have the ability to sing at a fairly high level. The play we watched was spectacular in my regards. I thought Bianca was especially good at singing and captivating the audience.  I was very impressed with the play and thought it was done very well. The play we watched far outclassed the ones I’ve been to.  

                I think the musical theatre genre is one that is a little boring to me, but I know some people love them. I think that the talent involved in the genre is amazing though.  This play was the best play I have seen by far and actually had me watching; wondering what was going to happen next. I have not seen the Taming of the Shrew. I think that this actually helped in watching the play because I did not know what was going to happen next. I was interested in the plot which I thought was actually a little confusing. I actually didn’t realize that the story involved a play within the play while including backstage scenes for most of the play. I was very confused halfway through it. But once the realization hit me, the play made sense and was even more interesting. The switching of the play and backstage scenes actually was very interesting once I got it. I thought it was extremely clever and witty.

                I believe my favorite part of this experience is that it was so new to me. As I said early I never go to plays because I think they are very drab and boring. They don’t really appeal to me. But this was like opening a new door. I was surprised by how much I actually got into thinking about what it takes to make one of these plays perfect. You have to have the complete package to go on-stage. You have to be fairly attractive (let’s be honest), have great vocals, and incredible memorization. You must be able to dance extremely well and, what I think is most important, be able to captivate an audience through some means. I believe Bianca did a great job. She started out as somewhat as a ditzy blonde, then transitioned into finding her husband and being less clueless. Kate was also outstanding. I believe she was the best acting wise. She had to show emotions of love and anger back to back. She was the center of attention for most of the play. Even under having the star role, she produced a great performance which revolved around her. She had a great voice but expressed her hatred for boy in a perfect way. Her tone and expressions had you believing that this woman actually disliked men as a whole. Then in the last act had to show her soft side in accepting her ex husband Petruccio.

                Thank you for taking us! It was definitely an experience I am not used to and enjoyed my time.

We Are

            I thought this was going to be a drag to listen to, I was regretting this assignment since I heard about it. I mean just listening to something for an hour and a half? I could not have been more in the wrong. This podcast was actually extremely accurate and informative. Since I’ve been here I have seen a kid running down the street with a street sign. I have seen countless people hiding either  in bushes, behind dumpsters, or ironically, behind a generator deciding to risk It and release their urine in public. Listening to the nightlife, it reminds me of my weekend almost picturesque like. Even though all these things take place, I don’t feel upset. Yes, people make bad decisions while drinking, but I would be lying if I said that I haven’t taken part in a few bad decisions while under the influence. This doesn’t upset me because I feel college is a time to find yourself. A time when it’s all up to you to make your own smart decisions. If you want to risk it and drink underage, that’s on you. You just must know the consequence and be ready to deal with it if you are caught in the wrong. I believe for the most part this is an apt portrayal. We are Penn State.

            The ethos in this podcast is extremely strong, especially for the arguers. I believe the argument ethos wise lies largely in the tradition Penn State. Almost every alumni, as said in the cast, would be highly distraught if they were to ban alcohol at tailgates. Drinking is just a way of life here. Even Graham Spanier, the president of the university, when asked about the amount of alcohol consumed said, “I’m happy they are having fun”.  This shows that even the highest up in authorities connected to the campus believe that everything is fine and no radical change is needed. Arguers just hear of stories and jump to conclusions such as Penn State parties too hard and its dangerous.

            This podcast brings up a plethora of emotions. I was particularly angered with one part of the cast though. When the male student at the fraternity stated, “ I just want to get her drunk and take advantage of her later”. This legitimately upset me to the point where I actually got red in the face. The girl even just kind of blew it off and said something along the lines of, “That’s creepy”. Other than that though, most of the emotions were actually humorous such as when the kid took a leak behind the generator.

            Most of the logos used in the cast consisted of statistics dealing with drinking. They stated that 75% of students drink on the weekend. Most people will say that is a lot of people seeing as how that is about 30,000 students most of them being underage. But to me it seems kind of low. I don’t know of a single person that would not accept an invitation to a party on the weekend. This is where the arguers edge out the defenders of the college. Statistics don’t lie, but they also don’t tell the whole story. I guarantee most of the people arguing for change, went out just about every weekend whether they went to college or not.

                        The mention of a “fracket” brought a grin to my face. The first night I got here I wore a sweatshirt to my first fraternity and asked where I should put my sweatshirt. Everyone laughed and explained the term. Though most people will look at the definition and be disgusted, I see it as funny because it is the reality. Let’s be completely honest, most of those large fraternities get wild and messy most of the time, that’s just the way it is and will always be. Pre-gaming is also a definition up for discussion. This describes the act of having a few drinks (which usually turns into a lot) before you go out to your destination. Most people are aghast when learning of this practice, but why? I do not believe it leads to more drinking, which most people argue, because once you get there you will probably only have a few more drinks because your already fine. Also, when you consume the most alcohol that night, it is not in a party atmosphere but usually in someone’s dorm or apartment.

            I believe this podcast depicted Penn State as a place of partying hard, but also working hard. Yes there were some ridiculous things such as the delivery mans car, but then it also talked about the success of the students. I believe it depicted Penn State as the type of place that works so hard, why not be able to let loose on the weekend. We only have this chance for so long, why not live it up?

           

Mcdonalds

Mcdonalds at approximately ten o clock is almost barren, which is odd because you would think people would go for a late night snack. But the other night I went at 2:30 in the morning with some friends to grab a very late bite to eat. It is a whole new world. There must have been 50 people in Mcdonalds and  was much louder than the party I was just at. The smell of burgers Is ever so present in the place. People of all kinds are here from all different backgrounds. Most people are noticeably intoxicated but that usually means more business for Mdonalds so the workers were actually in a good mood. There was just so much commotion you could barely hear yourself think. This was at 2:30 in the morning! I would actually say my experience was a positive one. The people watching was just too much fun while munching down on some classic greasy food. One kid tripped right next to the caution floor is wet sign which provided much laughter in the place and everyone bonded because of the crazy atmosphere. It might not be for you, but I believe it is an experience that is eye opening and should be done at least once in your life.

Ad analysis

Fruit of the Loom recently published an ad in the latest “Sports Illustrated” advertising their new men’s white t-shirt. Since it is published in this magazine, their obvious target market is boys and men probably ranging from ages ten to sixty.  These boys and men all also have one thing in common, they enjoy sports.  Generally people that subscribe to sports illustrated are middle class but some buy it issue by issue. This is a prime location for an ad about white tees, which are generally worn by men under dress shirts or even just as casual wear.  Other ads contained in this magazine also pertain to this geographic. There is one ad with a famous basketball star selling the “got milk” slogan.  The demographic of the target audience is made quite clear by the ad and the product.  The ad effectively employs pathos, logos, and ethos to appeal rhetorically to their audience through such things as

Pertained in the ad is a very relaxed looking male in what appears to be his late thirties. He is walking down the street with his noticeably ripped chest and broad shoulders. He has almost that air of confidence but while being very relaxed and cool at the same time. The ad contains a woman on the right in a picture who appears to be starring at him. She has very bright red lipstick that draws your attention to her. Once you get past the lipstick, you notice her large glasses frames. Inside these frames are her dark eyes that you realized are fixed on the man walking down the road. You then start to notice the whole ad is pointing to the man walking down the road. Literally pointing at him. There is an arrow pointing down from a movie theatre directly above him. The man is conveniently just passing a left turn only sign that is pointing straight at him. Cleverly, the ad has the man perfectly in front of a van that is pulling out approximately ten feet behind him. The van is a sales van for a company whose logo is the sun. Yes, you guessed it, the man is positioned directly in the middle of the sun. Even better is the clock that is hanging off of the building right next to him. The time is cleverly 6:35, which means both arrows, are pointing at a southwest angle. The clock is northeast of him. The hands of the clock are even pointing at the man in the magical white tee.  Last but not least there is a traffic cop in the road. He is directing traffic to what appears to be the man since he is pointing directly at him.

The ad appears to be trying for the cool, laid back, nothing wrong with us image.  Credibility is trying to be achieved by their slogan, “The new men’s tee. A fit you can’t ignore.” This is followed by their famous symbol of fruits. Everyone knows this symbol and the company knows that. The company takes advantage of this because it symbolizes tradition. If you were to ask someone to name a company that makes white t-shirts, number one on their list would undoubtedly be fruit of the loom. They also add their website at the bottom. The website name is fruit.com. That is actually a pretty big deal if you are the people who hold the copyright to a website that is called fruit.  All these things contribute to the ethos of the ad.

Fruit of the loom comes right out and let’s you know what point they want to sell. At the very bottom it states, “ Feels softer. Holds its shape better. Lies flat in the collar.” All of these things are small gripes that people have ever had about the classic white t-shirt. They are trying to cover all the bases of the peoples wants with their t-shirts. Who wouldn’t want to buy a t-shirt that was softer and had a better shape? That is exactly what they are trying to get across. If you look at the man in the picture and the shirt he is wearing, all these things seem to be apparent.

This ad does not do too much in the pathos department. There is no real emotion you get from this ad other then a sort of relaxed one. Which is what they are actually going for because that is how you should feel when you wear the shirt. All the colors in the picture are very soft and light. Nothing quite jumps out at you being to bright and such.  The man is a pretty good looking guy so woman that read this ad will definitely divert their eyes to him and possibly think, if I buy this shirt for my husband, maybe he will look like this.  We all know that’s not true but woman will be more inclined to buy this product if the man wearing it is what they deem as very attractive.

I believe the ads objective is not to be boastful or to outgoing but more clever and subliminal. The ad doesn’t jump out at you but it is very interesting at the same time. It makes you stop and take time to look at, and the more you look at it, the more you notice in the ad. From the arrows to the woman starring at the man to the traffic cop pointing at him. You stop and look at the ad and go, hmm that is very clever. It is a win win ad. They have a great tradition and just use the logo to do most of the work while giving the reader a little something to think about. Their claims are not outrageous because all of this is revolved around a white t-shirt. That’s what it comes down to, selling this white t-shirt. But since you can’t really do too much with a simple white t-shirt, they use their tradition, simple design, and implicit details to compliment it. They combine ethos, pathos, logos, and other devices to successfully sell a product that is as simple of a product as you can get.

Journal #2

Affirmative Action

Acrylic on canvas

Jerry Kearns

The work of art depicts a woman who is dressed in a knee-high skirt. She is is avidly digging at the ground apparently picking up slop with a pointed shovel. She looks very determined judging by the scowl on her face and her mouth which is set in hard lines. She also is wearing a pair of high-heels which clashes with the picture. There is a city in the background. The pictures background is also very vibrant and colorful. I believe the author did this to grab your attention and make you focus on the piece. By doing this you first look at the painting, then you discern what the painting is getting at, which doesn’t take long. The painting really plays into the emotional side of you seeing this woman breaking her back just as any man would do.

                This piece was obviously created during the woman’s civil rights movement which occurred around the turn of the century (1900). Women were not really believed to be able to work at this point. They were taught and told to stay at home, cook dinner and do laundry. Even if they did work they were not paid the same amount even if they were doing the same work as a male counterpart.  This piece is trying to get the point across that woman can do work to. This woman is dressed very nice but seems to be trying her hardest to work and fit in. I believe this is showing that while woman may dress to impress, it doesn’t mean they also can’t get down and dirty with some labor. They wanted equal rights and the same pay for jobs. They could not believe that the same work could be done between a man and a woman and the pay would be half.

This painting is definitely persuasive. When you look at it, you have some sympathy for this woman who appears to be working very diligently in what looks like harsh conditions.  The painting was created for this sympathy factor. It is supposed to change your mind about women’s role in this world. It is saying they are not only good for cooking and cleaning but that they can actually do most things just as well and deserve a chance. This time was a time of struggle. Woman had to marry rich to go anywhere. And usually with that you had to have looks to score a man with money. That has even carried over into this day and age. Look at all the actresses, they are beautiful and almost all of them are fake. From fake boobs to surgery on almost every part of their body. Sex sells, that’s just the only way to put it. Women in that age though tried to change that whole philosophy around. They tried to start a revolution against it for equal rights and even more so to be thought of as equals.  This piece captures all of that in one painting.

               

Julian beever

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I beleive this is art at it's finest. Julian Beever is able to take something so simple as a sidewalk and turn it into a masterpiece. His 3-D style is able to make anyone that sees it skip a beat. It is breathtaking that he can create a complete scene out of a two dimensional sidewalk. People just stop and stare in amazement and that to me is as good as art can get. Invokes bewilderment and awe.

Journal #1

I have many strengths and weaknesses as a writer. I by no means am a perfect writer but i would like to believe i have the ability to capture my audience. I believe one of my major strengths is that i don't just compose a piece with boring, monotonous thoughts. I try to incorporate my true feelings so the reader can relate and understand what I’m saying has meaning to it. One of my other strengths is that I do not mind writing. It is not some undulating task that I regret for days. I enjoy putting my experiences and thoughts in writing for people to read.

One of my weaknesses is definitely the grammatical errors. I try to edit and re-read everything I do but I will leave some misspelled words or a misplaced comma here and there. Creating a thesis is what I believe is one of the most difficult aspects of writing. With the thesis you must make it so the reader understands what the piece is about and at the same time make them want to read more. It should give them a taste of what you have to offer and is the first thing they will usually read.  The largest weakness I have is the overall flow of my piece. I tend to jump from one subject to another without stopping and thinking of how the transition from topic to topic flows.

Improvement is something I always try to achieve. I am my biggest critic and would enjoy improving my writing in every aspect. I guess if I had to pick one certain thing to improve it would be using more enticing words so readers don’t just read, they visualize what I am saying. To improve I will ask my readers (being the class and my teacher) because they are the ones that determine if they enjoyed it or not. What I think sounds appealing my not be shared by my readers. This will make me a more successful writer and be able to understand what people enjoy reading and what they want to stop reading after a couple of seconds.

I believe this course will help me a lot because it is not so formal. With this course it’s all about expressing your true feelings and being unique. This will open a whole new chapter to my repertoire of writing skills. Also in this course we will focus on things that are currently happening. Concerning this writers have the topic fresh in their mind and can put specific details from memory into their work. When you write about a topic that you have personal feelings for, your piece is appealing because you care about it. It’s not something you have to write about but something you want to write about. I cannot wait to go to events around Penn State that are buzzing with energy and excitement. Everyone has different thoughts and personalities in such a small area. This is the only place in the world where this many people are together within four years of age. This makes for the most unique experience of your life. In this class I am excited to write about this once in a lifetime journey.