Writing to Conclude: Karla

By karlavillacis |

Monday, December 7, 2009

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When I would hear blogs mentioned, I thought about pieces of writing that were a product of teenagers who had too much time on their hands. I know it sounds really harsh and tunnel-visioned since I hadn't really read many blogs before this assignment but that's the way I perceived it. The few I had read were about a usual day in a teenager's life and how they hated every other thing that came along their path. Today I beg to differ. This type of writing has a long list of pros both benefiting me personally and whoever reads it as well. I've always known that writing is the best way to vent out your thoughts and spread the word but blogging is on the next level.

Blogging allows me to brainstorm more easily and it offers a sense of authority which makes me even more confident and willingly to share my ideas with the world. When I blog I feel the need to put out my best in me and give my audience no less than they expect when they open up my posts. I feel my writing has become stronger especially in the diction aspect since my goal every time before I post is to make my reader agree with me. One's writing improves when they blog since there is such a diverse, and mysterious audience you have to write for. Everyone could possibly read it since your work is no longer limited to your teacher and fellow classmates. Now your thoughts are open to the whole world online. It made me a better writer and it makes me feel like a better person to know that I can spread ideas that can benefit others.

Writing to Conclude: Ayana

By Ayana Campbell | 0 comments

Through this project I've learned the benefits of working on a team. I'll be the first to admit it, group projects definitely aren't one of my favorite things. I'd much rather work on my own without having to wait on anyone, or have anybody wait on me. However, working with Matt and Karla made this experience much more enjoyable than I anticipated. It was nice having two other people to collaborate with and bounce ideas off of. There were often times when I experienced writer's block and just could not express the thoughts and ideas in my head in an effective way. But with the help of my team, we were able to talk things out and finally get the job done. This relates in the same way to community. Within a given community, the members look out for and help each other because they know that doing so will ultimately benefit everyone.

Writing to Conclude: Matt

By Matt | 0 comments

This project has helped me to discover my writing flaws and offer me a chance to fix them. For example, several of my cores contained poor language, in my re-writes I was able to add some polish, making my writing succinct yet powerful. In working together as a group, I’ve learned the importance of communication and time management. We all have different strengths and weaknesses but by helping and experiencing the writings of each other we’ve all improved our writing ability.

This course as a whole has presented to me a new outlook on community. People are social animals; we depend on one another for survival. By communicating we share ideas, continuing the survival of the species. Our writings contribute our ideas to society, whether it be at a distance or long after we have left this planet.

Writing to Comment: Thinking Twice Before Shooting Up

By karlavillacis | 0 comments

What ever happened to that famous saying "Beauty lies beneath"? Is it more important for a woman to love herself or to love her dermatologist and Botox? In today's society, it has been noticed that women everywhere are fighting the battle to look younger. They define younger as desirable, successful, and confident. The pages of magazines are filled with celebrities who normal people like you and I look up to. this is just among one of the strategies that companies use to sell their products. Another is the beginning of any statement with "Doctors suggest" or "statistics show." Beauty advertisements stress that you must fill your body with chemicals and surgeries which is not true. Those ideal images everyone seeks don't even exist anywhere beyond Photoshop, so why spend all that money on beauty products?

Everywhere in the world, women are expected to look a certain way if they expect to be categorized as beautiful. Not every country has the same ideals though. In America, we portray beauty as young, tall, and flawless. In parts of the Middle East, on the other side of the world, obesity is beauty. Sounds crazy right? Every country seems to have their own definition of what they admire but it's safe to say that for every country there is a standard bar waiting to be met. We can also narrow it down to every community. In every community there are basic criteria that is expected of members. You must be loyal, a good citizen, and be involved. Apparently that's all changing as the years go by. There is still an interest in being a law abiding citizen but is it PREFERRED to be a good looking law abiding citizen?

The fundamentals of a community have slightly changed and i believe we are overlooking it's actual purpose. It's not about how many members use the new Ultra Lift Pro serum to hide wrinkles, It should be about how many people help out their fellow members. Flipping the pages in our magazines we see what our community wants us to look like but through our works we need to show them that the important stuff comes from within, not how we look like on the outside. The same way companies use written advertisements to sell fake products, we can use our thoughts written on paper to remind our society of what's truly important which is giving back to our community.

Writing to Comment: Forever Young

By Ayana Campbell | 0 comments

It used to be that a woman who showed signs of aging was considered mature, wise even. While it was true that she was no longer in her prime, she’d still be considered beautiful. But the times have changed and society’s obsession with youth is at an all time high, especially among those of the fairer sex. Upon witnessing the first sign that they are [gasp] getting older, they rush to the nearest drugstore or makeup counter seeking a magical concoction to correct even the slightest blemish. Cosmetics companies have unfairly preyed on the average, aging woman’s insecurities through their promotion of an array on anti-aging products which promise results that are both “immediate” and “long-lasting”.

Perhaps the fervent desire to stay young stems from the picture of the ideal woman society has painted. She’s skinny, beautiful, and most importantly, young. And she’s everywhere too, especially in magazines. Chances are you’ll never look as good as she does, at least not with a little help. It’s no wonder then that cosmetics companies are marketing their products to women everywhere in these same magazines, giving them the false hope that they too may one day look as good as that girl in the center of the magazine.

Take the two-page ad for L’oreal Paris’ new Colour Riche lipstick for example. One page of the ad boasts the claim that it is “The 1st Lipstick with Anti-Aging Serum” and promises to create “fuller, smoother lips”. The other page features former supermodel Linda Evangelista in a sexy side-glancing pose wearing bright red lipstick on her seductively parted lips. Including Evangelista was a crafty tactic implemented on L’oreal’s behalf. The marketers of this product recognized her as an aging woman and knew that their target audience would draw an instant connection with her. It’s very smart move except for one tiny detail…she’s a supermodel! During her prime back in the early 90’s she was gorgeous, an exotic beauty admired by women across the globe. And guess what? She still is. It’s quite apparent that she’s aged gracefully since her modeling days, not to mention the fact that any indications of her age have most likely been eliminated with cosmetic surgery or Photoshop. For L’oreal to suggest that Evangelista’s use of their product somehow enhances her beauty and makes her appear younger is absurd. If that was the case, why not include Janet Reno or Barbara Walters in the ads instead? Their aging too and surely this lipstick could take at least ten years off of their appearances, right?

It’s plain to see that through the use of a variety of tricks and underhanded manipulation, cosmetic companies are cashing in on the insecurities of aging women all over. Until our society changes, and women come to terms with the fact that the aging process is natural and unavoidable they will only continue to profit. We should all learn to love the skin we’re in, no matter how wrinkled, scarred, or blemished it may be.

Writing to Comment: The Shiny Apple

By Matt |

Sunday, December 6, 2009

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C.P. Snow once said, “Technology… is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other.” When one pictures a computer, the typical image contains a loud, ugly, beige box which causes all types of frustrations and headaches. Due to this negativity, many people great dislike interacting with computers, often referring to them as necessary evils. Technology doesn’t have to be loud and ugly or used with fear; they ads from Apple successfully reel in and illustrate to the viewer that technology can be beautiful and fun. Most importantly Apple’s ads illustrate that while they may “Think Different” but they make products that “Just work.”

Since their creation in the late ‘70’s, Apple has strived to make their products simple in all aspects of the word. Apple has chosen to mirror the simplicity of their products in the simplicity of their ads. Take, for example, an ad Apple ran for the first generation iPhone. The first thing to grab one’s attention is the completely black background. This contrasts and highlights the iPhone and hand that appears to emerge from the darkness. While most cell phone ads try to use as many colors as possible listing feature after feature, Apple’s stance is effective in portraying that this phone is not like anything anyone has ever seen before. With a complete touch screen interface the iPhone changed the definition of a cell phone, making it more than just a device to talk to another person. Apple summarizes this revolution with the simple phrase, “Touching is believing.” This statement fulfills the inner human desire of wanting to feel everything, like a kid in a toy store running through the aisles grabbing everything within reach.

While Apple wants their products to be fulfill those inner human desires, they have a deep commitment to designing products that are remarkably functional and easy to use. Apple’s iMac is the flagship that demonstrates precisely this belief. In the ad, the first words one sees is the bold, “You can’t be too thin. Or too powerful.” Those two short sentences get right to the point; drawing the customer in by effectively saying, this computer is sexy, it doesn’t create wasted space, and it’s a workhorse for whatever you can throw at it. In the not-too-distant past, it was difficult to show a newborn daughter to her grandparents who lived across the country. In this ad, Apple tells the potential customer, “Super simple to share and enjoy [your media] like never before.” With this computer, Apple makes it effortless to upload pictures to the internet and send Grandma an e-mail containing the web address. In addition, due to the camera built into every Apple product, Grandma can see live video of her newborn granddaughter without the cost and mental anguish of air travel.

Ads such as these show a significant transformation in Apple. When they were Apple Computers a magazine ad was full of text, explaining a situation in which a Macintosh came through in unbelievable odds (a house fire for example). The modern day ads do more than just tell the reader the reasons to buy a Mac, they show the reader what owning a Mac can do or how easily it will fit into one’s life. Apple strives to break the mold with their products and their ads show that they live their motto: Think Different.

Writing to Reflect: Covering Our Earth in Sunblock

By karlavillacis | 0 comments

Walking into the Cape Florida Ballroom in the Student Union at my University, I was handed a quarter sheet of paper which read: Danny Orlando, Storm and Opportunities: An Energy and Climate Discussion. We waited approximately ten minutes for everything to be set up and the sponsors to introduce Mr.Orlando. He was here to speak about Energy Star (his employer) and the dangers of Global Warming. Dressed Professionally and speaking formally to his diverse audience he began a speech that from the beginning was catchy and extremely effective. His strategy with visual aids, small jokes, and easy-to-understand examples kept the crowd listening to the very last minute.

Starting with a presentation of pictures on a slide show he explained how us humans, are having an exponential negative impact on earth's well being every year. We've all heard the stories on the news about the new types of energy, how to recycle and what's happening to our ozone layer, but Orlando's speech was different. He found a way to make everything he spoke about directly effect each individual in the audience, no matter the age. Personally, I realized that if change isn't made soon enough by MY generation; MY kids will suffer the consequences. By making it feel like we were doing something honorable instead of carrying a burden, Orlando made us feel the desire to put a little effort into saving our planet.

He emphasized the importance of getting involved in our community and helping out so in the future we can harvest our accomplishments. Through his works, he's able to reach out to people like me who in turn will share my ideas with friends and family. The same goes for Orlando's papers that he has published. Not everyone can go out and give speeches like Orlando, but everyone has the ability to write up their thoughts and make them available for others to agree or disagree with. Viewing how his papers was just as effective as his speech, it shows how much power words have on a paper when written with dedication. It just proves that everyone can be a writer and that should be taken full advantage of to get involved with out community.

Writing to Reflect: Grounded

By Ayana Campbell | 0 comments

The event, A Pilot Lights the Way: Jesse Leroy Brown, First African-American Aviator & Blacks in Aviation, provided in conjunction with the Zora Institute, was free and open to the public. It consisted of a screening of a commemorative documentary to Jesse L. Brown.

Upon my arrival, I learned that the host was going to be late. After tiresome waiting, a man with a briefcase and a key in his hand zoomed passed me. Taking no time to introduce himself, he simply asked, “You guys here for the screening?” unlocked the door, and ushered us into the dimly lit room. Once seated in my chair, I observed the mysterious man fumbling with the monitor and video player equipment behind the podium. It was obvious that he wasn’t completely sure of how to work the technology. My classmate took it upon himself to lend the man a helping hand and was able to get the movie started.

The documentary, which was basically a narrated slideshow of black and white pictures, chronicled Jesse L. Brown’s life from his adolescent years growing up in Mississippi to his death at the age of twenty-four. After defying all odds and become the first African American naval aviator ever, his life was cut short when a plane he piloted was shot down over the Chosin Reservoir in 1950 during the Korean War.

The movie was effective in commemorating Brown’s life and emphasized the importance of his accomplishments. Its visuals were clear and appropriate to the topic at hand. The only interviews included were from Brown’s wife, Daisy, who spoke to his character with quotes and personal anecdotes. Her commentary was successful in making the presentation more personal, however, interviews from other people close to Brown would have added to the sincerity.and a narrator whose tone was more upbeat, as opposed to monotone like it was, would’ve made the presentation much better.

After watching the film, the host finally took the time to formally introduce himself. His name was Anthony Major and he held the title of program director at the Zora Neale Hurston Institute for Documentary Studies. His title and knowledge of the events surrounding Brown’s life and unfortunate death added credibility to the presentation and made up for many of its negative aspects.

Overall, A Pilot Lights the Way: Jesse Leroy Brown, First African-American Aviator & Blacks in Aviation, was effective in recognizing the lives and accomplishments of Jesse L. Brown and other influential African-American aviators, however, more planning and attention to details would have made the presentation a greater success.

Writing to Reflect: The Big Beg

By Matt |

Saturday, December 5, 2009

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In today's society one can be entertained in a plethora of different ways. One could spend hours on the Xbox, killing people around the world, or one could go to Facebook and catch up with old friends, but one dying form of entertainment is a play. During this past October, the Orlando Shakespeare Theater held a play entitled The Big Bang, a musical comedy featuring Jed, played by Philip Nolen, and Boyd, played by T. Robert Pigott. The show took the audience on an adventure through time; portraying the entire history of the universe in a single play. No doubt a daunting task, but Jed and Boyd amusingly leapt through time, exposing only the most important events in history. Overall, The Big Bang was a hilarious show that kept its audience entertained throughout the entire 75 minutes.

After the seats were filled and the lights dimmed, the audience was informed that the current production was to be only snippets from the full “12 hour, $83.5 million” fabrication. In the performers world, the audience was a group of potential investors and it was Jed’s and Boyd’s job to convince us to invest. Throughout the play the actors enlightened, and often amused, the audience by doing that entertainment faux pas: breaking the fourth wall. This technique was commonly employed to provide exposition regarding details that would be present in the final production. At other times, the fourth wall was broken for comedic effect. For example, at one point during the play, Jed opened an umbrella revealing a “YOUR AD HERE” picture. As the audience grasped the irony, the room erupted with laughter. Antics such as these seized the audiences’ attention for fear that they’d miss a phrase, a dance, or a subtle image.

By far the most amusement came from the fluidity of Boyd and Jed throughout the entire spectacle. The first time the audience experienced this quirk was ‘pre-show’ as the two entered and exited the stage at just the precise moment such that both were never on stage at the same time. Another occurrence happened while describing the final production, Jed says, “enter 40 singers who dance.” Followed up by Boyd without a beat missed, “And 40 dancers who sing.” This maneuver kept the attention of everyone as they waited for another duo to happen.

During a scene just before the American Civil War, a phone rang. Jed answered it and informed Boyd that the owners of the apartment they were using as their stage would be home soon. They quickly cleaned up, explaining to the audience what the rest of the show featured. On their way out, Jed and Boyd tossed out fortune cookies and flyers urging the audience to donate. With the disappearances of all actors, and Albert the piano man “clapping off” the final light, they received a standing ovation from the crowd. Personally my cheeks hurt due to the amount of laughter and smiling I had done. Once I got home, I cracked open the fortune cookie, revealing my fortune, “Invest now- Opportunity knocks.”