Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Alcohol advertising & young adults: article

Take a few minutes to read the brief article found here:

Blog your reactions. What do you think about issues raised in the article?

Friday, August 21, 2009

Checklist for a Good Blog Post/Comment

1. Spend some time THINKING about what you will say.

2. Use complete sentences, understandable grammar--and make an attempt to spell words correctly. While this isn't a formal paper, you want to be understood by fellow posters.

3. Do give your fellow posters the main gist or idea of what you are trying to say in a few sentences at the beginning of your post.

3. Use specific examples from the film clip, art work, poem--or whatever--you are responding to help your fellow posters understand what you are trying to say.

4. If you disagree with a fellow poster, or see another angle--do so in a polite, non-threatening way. It's o.k. to disagree--as long as you still respect others' opinions. Always remember: WE ALL DESERVE RESPECT.

You might end your post with a question that would allow for responses from others.

Example of a Blog Comment: Take the second Swat clip we watched through a particular lens.

The second Swat clip involved a car chase through a city neighborhood. If one looks at this clip throught the lens of race and culture, several stereotypes become apparent. For one, the chase scene makes it seem that every city neighborhood is dangerous and crime-ridden. It's the typical "ghetto" scene where ONLY crime and destruction are apparent. Also, mean dogs are pictured--as if people only have dogs in this environment to protect territory. Stereotypically, the perpetrator of the crime is African-American, and he's wearing a purple jump suit. His costuming plays into the common stereotype that "pimps" dress in flashy colors. The Latino woman is portrayed as "crazy" or "loco",which is also a common stereoptype. She's protective of her man, throws a skillet--could be violent.

The S.W.A.T. Team, however, has mixed race people in it. Are the filmmmakers saying that the SWAT team sees beyond race?

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Take a look at these advertisements. Apply ONE lens to the advetisement--then post your reactions through that lens..

Who are the advertisers trying to sell these products to? In other words, who is their TARGET AUDIENCE?