TOW #11 "Like A Girl" Lauren Greenfield (Visual Text)

Everyone has heard the phrase “you run like a girl” but what exactly does this phrase mean? In an experiment held by Lauren Greenfield, a documentarian and brand ambassador for the company Always she explores what “like a girl” really means. She asks a group of teenage girls, older men, and young boys to act out throwing like a girl, or running like a girl. They make stereotypical efforts, and lack strength in these actions.  Then pre-pubescent girls are asked to do these same actions, but their attempts are serious and confident. The message Greenfield is trying to send is to change what “like a girl” means, and to build loyalty to her brand.

Greenfield is a Sundance film festival award winner, and commonly talks about issues with the new generation.  Competitor brands like Dove, and BBDO have been trying to run confidence campaigns for years, but none have been as effective as this one commercial. The true power behind this advertisement lies in the juxtaposition of the responses. The older audience is brought forward first and humiliates actions of girls, then after bringing humility to the phrase like a girl, pre-pubescent girls are shown. Their actions represent force and power, and capture what “like a girl” should be.

 For years companies have been trying to send a message of women empowerment, but none have come as close as Greenfields attempt. Through her juxtaposition she spreads the message that young girls believe in themselves, and believe that they are powerful but as they age they lose this feeling and think of themselves as less strong as males. Of course the purpose was to bring loyalty to the brand, but to also start a new movement of self-confidence. After seeing this video the phrase “like a girl” isn’t really an insult, and should be turned into a compliment.  

TOW #10 "A New Paradigm for Accountability: The Joy of Learning" (Text)

Image Credit

More than 12 years ago a program called No Child Left Behind started, but today how well has that program worked? In an article on the Huffington post by Diane Ravitch, a professor of education at New York University, and a frequent blogger explores how this program crushed children’s curiosity. Ravitch shares how No Child Left Behind and Race To The Top programs have left American education demoralized. She says that common core tests are the reason why lots of students are failing, which is why we are nowhere near the top. Being in the field of education Ravitch understands what her students really need, and what they have been missing all this time. In order to make a point about the failure of NCLB she suggests a program called No Child Left Out. Because in attempt of creating NCLB the school system eliminated things that disrupted children’s curiosity.

 She poses rhetorical questions such as “How many children had the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument?”

“How many children had the chance to play in the school band or orchestra?”

“How many children participated in singing, either individually or in the chorus or a glee club or other group?”

Her purpose of the article was to get people thinking about how creativity, and how innovation has now been eliminated from school systems. Children now don’t have the ability to think out of the box and use their imagination with strict programs. Ravitch does a wonderful job of proving her purpose by her use of questions, without answering these questions the audience is forced to think about what the fate of schools has now come to. School systems should require more work than test prep for something that will soon be forgotten.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-ravitch/a-new-paradigm-for-accoun_b_6145446.html

IRB Intro #2- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell is a best selling author, phenomenal speaker, and an award-winning writer. When I think about the word fame, and the word success I immediately draw a connection to hard work. In Gladwell’s book he dismisses common misconceptions people have about success. He argues that people are only successful if they were lucky or born into good life.

I decided to chose this book because its unlike I have ever read. If I never took APELC, I would probably never pick up this book…but APELC pushes me out of my comfort zone and encourages me to read new things. Its somewhat science-based with philosophical ideas.  Hopefully after reading Gladwell’s work I will be able to use his information to think on a higher level.

TOW #9 ASPCA advertisement (visual text)

ASPCA has a certain way of taking over your emotions, and making you tear up just a little bit when you view their ads. The ad predominantly appeals to pathos, the image of a sick animal evokes emotion in a pet lover. The viewers attention is drawn to the emotion on the animals face, and the hopelessness filled within them.  ASPCA uses a passionate tone by saying “Society says thin is in, but we beg to differ,” in bold white print. Underneath the image of the dog is information about the company itself, making them more credible. They present information on who they are, and how to get involved with their cause. They strategically use a passionate tone conveys that they are truly fervent towards what they do by saying “we are their voice.” These animals don’t have a say in what happens to them, and we as the humans should try to stop animal cruelty. The message the ASPCA sends is to become a part of the change, and try to stop animal abuse and cruelty. By using the word “we” the organization indicates that everyone should be in this together to stop this. The ad is targeted directly towards animal owners, or animal lovers. People who find an emotional connection with pets will connect with this ad better than people who do not own pets. The color scheme plays a great role into the advertisement. The information about the organization is highlighted by a bright orange color; it draws your attention into the information and then the picture of the dog. ASPCA does an excellent job of connecting to their audience, and making people become aware of animal cruelty.

TOW #8 The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (IRB)

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is a touching memoir depicting the hardships and uniqueness in Walls life. Being forced to grow up at such a young age has taught Walls many life lessons, but given her many obstacles to overcome. Her family situation was rough she had three siblings, and alcoholic father, and an unattached mother.  Growing up with this type of family forced them to move around quite a bit. Moving from place to place and never settling down or feeling a sense of love made Walls feel like an outcast. Annoyed and conflicted with her parents Walls and her sister Lori devise a plan to escape to New York. Walls ran away from life with her parents without a thought, until later when she finds out her father Rex had died from a heart attack. The death of her father changed her perspective on her “new life.”

Walls’ writes a thrilling and brilliant memoir conveying the story of her life with deep emotion. The chronological order aids to the purpose of finding peace within herself. By starting off with her hard life and finding a way to change her future while balancing her past is conveyed perfectly by the author with the arrangement of events.

I think Walls wrote this memoir to show the audience what she has overcome, and how she has done it. She writes this to show that in order to make a change in your future you must think about the past. Walls does a wonderful job of achieving her purpose in a inspiring heartfelt way.