In class lab 10/27/15

Summary:
This Ad is for 'new' Rolling Rocks beer and it features a picture of the actual bottle and then a baby drinking it with it's feet. This ad is clearly using satire but at the same time advertising the drink in a funny way. Also it is addressing the fact of genetically modified food by saying that this beer is genetically modified. Also it throws in that the drink is carb free trying to appeal to the general public trying to be healthy. Overall alcohol is normally given a negative connotation but with this Ad it makes you laugh and makes your think of how the description is so off.

Paraphrase:
If you feed your baby a 6 pack of rolling rock he will turn into a genius with finely tuned motor skills. Also it is carb free so your baby will be skinny!

Quote:
"New Rolling Rock is genetically modified and clinically proven to significantly improve your baby's intelligence and motor skills with every six-pack"

Summary, Quote, & Paraphrasing

In Melissa Rubin's breakdown of a singular Coca-Cola ad from 1950, she argues that Coca-Cola has been leading the way in pushing for an ideal America. In her paper she describes how the placement of specific items within the ad are pushing workers to have this picturesque idea about American workers working together for a united country. When describing Sprite Boy, Coca-Cola's early mascot, Rubin says the he is "god-like" and "a powerful force," (178) to further illustrate her point of the company's goal of togetherness and in turn, America coming together. Additionally, she points out the emphasizing of the military personnel in the ad as to demonstrate to the reader that since WWII has been won, military men are returning the workforce, which is why they are presented in the very front of the ad. Rubin also notes the large gender and racial biases that were present in America during the late 1940’s and 50’s. As she observes,

            The way that Coca-Cola chooses to place the objects and depict men

            and women in this ad speaks volumes about American society in the

            middle of the twentieth century: a white, male-dominated society in

            servicemen and veterans were a numerous and prominent presence (179).

In her conclusion, she again remarks how Coca-Cola reflected American ideals and norms in it’s advertising, but also wanting to show the world what it was like to be an American. She says it best with her closing statement, “The message: theirs is a life to be envied and emulated, so drink Coca-Cola and live that life yourself” (180).

In class lab 10/22/15

1. Some of the publishers in this text are freedom for animals, PETA, and mercy for animals
2. These texts are intended for  animal lovers everywhere. and shoppers to help bring awareness to the product.
3. How can we tell? By the text and images presented show a somber mood, and make you feel for them by showing their "sad" eyes and face. For example the pig in the ad criticizing Walmart, you can see that the pig is "behind bars" and the message is that the harm is being done by Walmart.
4. The purpose is to get the message out that there is overuse and mistreatment of animals and animal products. To not support Walmart, and their massive meat distribution
5. Animals have unique personalities and the message is to really move the idea of empathizing for them
6. "If you wouldn't wear your dog, please don't wear any fur" Additionally they capitalize on the cruelty of what the effect is when you shop at Walmart.
7.  So as a group, these ads tell us that we need to discontinue the use of animal fur manufacturing, inhumane practices of processing meat and make-up testing, we end up having a larger effect on ourselves and may lose more than we think. 

Q & A from pg. 181 with summary

Summary:

Author Melissa Rubin breaks down a classic Coca-Cola advertisement from 1950 and how, through the use of advertising, can unite a country. She begins by describing the overall ad and how each placement of certain items within the ad were a direct reflection of 1950 American ideals. Specifically, she says, "In this advertisement, the buildings surround the people, symbolizing a sense of community and the way Americans had come together in a successful effort to win the war" (pg. 178). She also urges readers to come to this conclusion by pointing to the placement of wording within the ad by saying that not only will a Coke refresh you, but it will also unite you (pg. 179). She also points out that the ad itself is a direct reflection of the ideal middle-class American society. At the end of her essay, she points out that throughout the years, Coca-Cola has played an important role in not only American society, but throughout the world, by saying, “The message: theirs is a life to be envied and emulated, so drink Coca-Cola and live that life yourself” (pg. 180). 

Q & A from pg. 181:

1. Ms. Rubin's insight that she gleans from this ad, is that Coca-Cola started off reflecting the ideals of American  middle-class society and eventually showing the world that this is how all Americans are and they should drink a Coke to become more like us (pg. 180). Her conclusions are supported when she describes the people used in the ad, which are mostly white, blue and white-colared, males congregating together and enjoying a Coke together suggesting that a job can be done if everyone is united (pg. 179). She is further supported in her conclusion when she points out that the placement of Sprite Boy in itself is a "uniting force" (pg. 178). Her analysis has persuaded me that her conclusions are correct and are represented well in this single ad. 

2. She incorporates historical context by pointing out several ideals that were very prevalent in 1950. Her description of the people that make up the ad supported her contextual thoughts that during the early 1950's most workers were white men, fresh from serving in the war and the incorporation of housing near the plant in which they worked were closer together than they were in the previous decade. Additionally, she points out that this ad was used in the years after WWII and the start of the Korean War and how that played into Coca-Cola choosing the people to be depicted in the ad.

3. Some other questions that can be answered from an ad is, what type of lifestyle is a company trying to promote? How can this product improve your life? Where will you be when you "X" happens? 

4. A recent ad from Coca-Cola depicted the life of foreign workers in Dubai not making enough money to pay for regular phone calls home. What Coca-Cola does is develop a phone booth that uses phone calls for currency. This is an especially poignant commercial showing that the average worker in Dubai only makes $6 an hour and can cost up to $.91 per minute to call back to their families. This machine converts a bottle cap into 3 minutes of time in which they can use to call home. Additionally, the ending directs the viewer that "Because happiness is a Coca-Cola, and a phone call home," we should have a Coke and enjoy life. This is further evident when Coca-Cola uses their phrase "Open Happiness" at the very end of the ad. These two ads are comparable because they both depict working class people and their need to enjoy a Coke in order to be happy. Both ads show what Coca-Cola can do for them in order to become a happy and harmonious unit. The message for both is that Coca-Cola can and will unite workers and to drink more Coke to because happy. 

In class lab "Stay Sweet As You Are"

Group Topic:
Think about other people’s writing as well as your own while writing an analysis. Use and point out specific details that support your thoughts.It's important to focus on the argument and stick to a clear point to relate to the audience.  One way to approach writing an analysis is to back up your statements, same characteristics as writing a narrative. The author should make a clear thesis and support it throughout the analysis with multiple resources mentioned to back it up.


Individual Topic:
The essay definitely fits the criteria for an analysis paper. The author is talking to a mixed audience because he does not truly identify a specific gender for his essay,however, he does make the article more relevant towards women. He does this by pointing out how advertising, in three specific eras, specifically identify that women have been told from a certain age that they need to be as physically attractive as possible in order to have a man in their life. His purpose for this essay is to shed light on how women have been objectified throughout modern history and the three ads chosen continue to support his thesis and add more emphasis.

Q & A for Page 175

1. The main insight to the author's essay is that we, as a society, have lost what it truly means to live the "American Dream." She points specifically to the show Mad Men as a poignant example of how we have, in a sense, lost ourselves and what is important to us by always trying to "keep up with the Jones."  She explores the character of Dom Draper and his need to always want more.
2. She establishes her authority of being able to write this piece by living it. She is a writer for a published magazine and one can assume that she works more than forty hours per week and tries to juggle a household with a husband and a couple of kids in order to exceed the expectations of what someone else says how she should live. She clearly states this when she says, "-we're instructed to hope for much more (pg. 170)." This statement alone demonstrates that the author, at some point in her life, had been told that she should not settle on one thing, but she should go after more. 
3. She appeals to readers emotions with the opening statement in the third paragraph by stating, "In other words, we're always falling short, no matter what our resources, and we pass this discontent to our offspring (pg. 171)." This statement is a compelling statement of truth. No matter what we do in life, society says that we have settled for what we could achieve and we can do no better. Some people have broken the mold, but society tells us that we need to have more and more and more. She continues to appeal to the reader's emotions by pointing out that, "The ambition and conflicted desires of these characters in their pursuit of happiness is what makes Mad Men such a singular and resonant reflection of a particularly American puzzle (pg.174)." This could not have been better said. We are all trapped by trying to out do what our parents have done in their lives, just as they were trying to out do what their parents did. She sums up her point at the end of the essay when she says, "the birth of the advertising age coincides directly with the birth of our discontent as a nation-and what got lost in the hustle was our souls (pg. 175)." This closing statement really plays on the readers emotions because she is basically saying that we have lost part of ourselves and our history by always wanting what somebody else is telling us that we have to have in order to be better than our neighbors. 
4. I was not familiar with the show prior to reading this essay, however, through her descriptive words, she has interested me in the show. I understand that the show is about a gentlemen, who is in the ad agency during the late 1950's until the 60's and is always wanting to be more than what he has now. He looks at everything as though it needs to be upgraded every few years, for example his wife and he leaves her and their children. The show describes his boss as an older version of the main character and he, too, is always wanting more.  It seems like an excellent show with well developed characters and a great setting. 

In class lab

Decisions, Decisions,Decisions.

Decisions	Affected Life Areas (Information gathered)
Last week: 1. Christmas Vacation to Hawaii (Small) 2. When to Pilot a new course (Large) 3. Red Berries or French Toast Crunch for breakfast (small) 4. Last minute changes to have nasal surgery	1.       Personal  (My wife wanted to take a vacation; decision made)       2.       Professional (Had a meeting with Learning Standards Officers; looked at “big picture” schedule vs. new equipment installation)       3.       Personal (Which one I wanted more)       4.       Personal (Wife has a show that requires my help; the amount of sick given would not have supported my junior personnel)
Last Month:          1. Pushing for replacement parts or new systems for our equipment          2.  To Build a covered storage area for pellets	1.       Professional (This equipment will extend current operations & will replace current broken or damaged equipment; cost benefits)       2.       Personal (Cost of lumber & materials; will help access in my garage; reviewing multiple projects on Pintrest and other sources)
Last Year:              When to transfer from previous duty station.              What to say when checking out from last duty station             Whether or not I wanted an End of Tour award	1.       Personal/Professional (When the opening day for the new Avengers Movie; how many leave days I have on the books; when I can leave to have minimal impact on the command)       2.       Professional (How & what comments are most important to me to relay to others in the chain of command; can these comments make an immediate impact or not; how well will they be perceived)       3.       Personal/Professional (I didn’t feel as though I deserved the award; may limit my career growth by not getting the award; just wanted to prove a point)