Visual Arguments

Ron English is being very critical in his billboards. He is definitely getting his point through that cigarettes are harmful. His approach is very hands on and catches your eye. Basically he is very blunt.

A billboard that always sticks in my head are the abortion ones. They are also very blunt in getting their point across. They appeal to human emotion because of the pictures they show.

"The Politics of Design"/ "Analyzing Design of an Everyday Text"

This group of articles was about how designers are being used to create ads and design products for the sole reason of advertising products. It was interesting to read these articles because I never thought of graphic designers in this way. I do agree that in some ways they are being explioted by companies who hire them for profit, not so they can create their own true art.

I think writing this paper will be interesting. I have never written a paper like this before. I think one of the hardest parts will be to actually pick a subject because as I am writing now there are many objects that are going through my head that could be possibilities.

Beyond Words: “Car Culture”

This reading was very interesting. I enjoyed reading the different articles about buying preferences between men and women. The first article, "A Prius-Hummer War Divides Oscarville" is about different stars and how they arrive to publicized events. The article states that the older crowd are more likely to arrive in a Prius because they will probably be more environment conscious. The younger crowd is more likely to arrive in gas guzzlers because they may be more interested in how they appear to others. The second article, "Women Giving the Directions: Now, It's Time for Female Designers" states women "rule the U.S. auto market." Because of this fact, automobile makers are trying to market cars to women through design. The problem is there are not a lot of women car designers, so men have to almost think like women when marketing and designing cars. The third article, "Car Makers Aim for the 'Love It or Hate It' Category" describes how some auto makers are going to extreme measures to sell cars for their uniqueness. Either this idea works sometimes are flops on the market. The final article, "My Life, My Cadillac Escalade EXT" follows the story of a 16 year old getting an Escalade for her birthday. She gets it because she wanted a truck not a car. On some levels I agree with her. I drive a 2 door Honda right now, but I think I want an SUV for my next car because they are roomy and sit high.

MAC or PC user

I use PC's because that is what I have used all of my life so far. The first time I used a MAC was here at USC in some of the computer labs. Personally, I feel PC's are easier to use and navigate to locate certain information. This is probably because I have used them longer.

As far as outwardly design I think both PCs and MACs look very good. It seems to me that MACs have better advertisements on TV that make them look very sleek and in style.

Quote/Lyric

I chose a quote from singer India Arie. It is from her CD Acoustic Soul and she states: And to all of the names That I do not know But whose blood runs thru my veins This is a song for you. I love these lyrics because when she sings she is being very passionate about her music and is singing for all of those who came before her and helped paved the way for her success.

When I play flute or piano I like to think that I am playing for a greater being and for all of the people that support me. I am very passionate about my music because I love it so much.

Short Writing Assignment #2-Introduction

"Swamp Song" by Kwame Dawes explores the complexity of having a relationship strictly built on outwardly appearance. The narrator of the story is described as a "simple colored girl" who makes the central point of the argument. She states that getting involved with someone because of looks may seem okay at the present, but as time goes by he will lose the intoxication he once had for his mate. In his poem "Swamp Song," Kwame Dawes explores the emotions involved in being attracted to someone for the wrong reasons through his use of metaphors, imagery, and his word choice.

Topic Proposal #1

I have chosen "Swamp Song" by Kwame Dawes for the close reading assignment. The central claim of this poem is one should love someone for what is on the inside rather than the outside because outward appearance does not always last. I believe stanzas 11-22 are most central to understanding the text. Dawes uses many adjectives that add to the meaning of the poem. He describes some of the girls as "simple colored girls" instead of black girls. His diction definetely adds to the overall meaning of the poem. The words he uses also bring images to mind. Dawes also rhymes in the poem. All of these aspects add to the central meaning of the poem.

Thesis:
In his poem "Swamp Song," Kwame Dawes explores the emotions involved in being attracted to someone for the wrong reasons through his use of metaphors, imagery, and his word choice.

Sonny's Blues, Keyword: Laugh

The word laugh plays a significant role in the short story. The word is used at the beginning of the story when the older brother is describing the laugh of the kids in the playground. He says it was "not the joyous laughter which-God knows why-one associates with children." He is making a big statement here. He is saying that the laugh of these children is not light-hearted, but it contains negativity. This helps set the mood for the story. The mood is one of sadness for the children and is very melancholy. The word laugh is also used when the older brother and Sonny are talking about life after they have been united again. I felt as if this laugh were strained because these brothers weren't talking to one another as family members but as acquaintences. Laugh was also used at the nightclub were Sonny was playing. I thought this was the time when it was used most sincerely. It was used were Sonny felt comfortable with himself and was doing what he wanted to do. It seemed like at this point the story made a full circle.

Inhabiting and Transforming a Poem

1 Character

by Taslima Nasrim

You're a girl
and you'd better not forget
that when you step over the threshold of your house
men will look askance at you.
When you keep on walking down the lane
men will follow you and whistle.
When you cross the lane and step onto the main road
men will revile you and call you a loose woman.

If you've got no character
you'll turn back,
and if not
you'll keep going
as you're going now.

2 This poem is about how women should carry themselves in certain situations. The author is warning women not to stoop down to the level of some men. She is discussing men who are disrespectful to women and make unneccessary remarks. Nasrim is telling women to not respond to these men because it only encourages them. She says to not turn back.

3 Women sometimes receive remarks from men because of their appearance. If a woman responds to these remarks, she is hurting herself. If she ignores the remarks, she becomes the bigger person in the situation.

4 The narrator is a woman. She is probably the author of the poem. The narrator is speaking to females in general, but most likely young women. The relationship between the speaker and listener is very general. The speaker is warning women in general. Therefore, she doesn't really have a close relationship with the listener.

5 The theme is the character of a person is defined by how he or she reacts to situations. This theme can be seen in the last lines of the poem. Nasrim is basically trying to get the point across that if the woman acknowledges the man, she is encouraging the behavior. And in turn becoming what the man is calling her.

Videotape, Don DeLillo

I thought this story was really interesting. I found it intriguing that the videotape was taken by a child. This child filmed the murder and it felt as if while the murder was taking place she lost her innocence. This child was exposed to something that she most likely was not ready for in her life. If felt that the ending was cold because it states that people watch the video simply because it is out there and that the media plays it for entertaining. Morally this isn't right.

Lost in the Funhouse, John Barth

It was difficult to read "Lost in the Funhouse" due to all of the text that interrupted the story. After reading the story I thought funhouse was used as a metaphor. I took the story to mean that sometimes you get lost in life and it may not seem fun. However, you can call on others for help and try to better your life for yourself. My analysis may not coincide with others. It was difficult for me to interpret and get a clear understanding of the story.

Sonny's Blues, James Baldwin

I found this story very interesting. The two brothers have a complicated relationship in which the narrator, the older brother, doesn't necessarily always listen to what his brother, Sonny, is saying. The brothers have different personalities and handle situations differently. Sonny has a problem with drugs, which is the event in the story that reunites the brothers. At the end of the story Sonny gets in touch with his feelings and suffering through music. He is able to let everything go and focus on his music. By the end of the story the brothers gain more understanding of one another and their lives.