1: Is it necessary to have a common language to truly understand one another?
2: the English language is mad, kooky, wacky, and totally bombastic. Makeup your own fun sentences, and unlocks the power of words. Today! -@Irish _Dinosaur RT
3: Language can be used to convey so much, but are our emotions limited by the extent of our language?
4: Communication is key. #wordstoliveby
5: One language is never seems to be enough. Maybe that’s why we have to take a language in school.
6: Fun fact: The United States does not have an official language.
7: I purchased one of those expensive Rosetta Stone foreign language learning programs so I can finally learn how to order coffee at Starbucks. -@Carmel_Coleman RT
8: There are so many languages and code tricks to learn within cultures #dontsoundclueless
9: I’ve developed a special language of annoyed sighs and frustrated exhales to better communicate with my family, children, and ppl in general. -@Imajika25 RT
10: This girl thinks gestures and exaggerated breathing methods equal effective communication #issheserious
11: It makes me so mad when people don’t know English and don’t even try to learn it, you came to AMERICA, here we speak English. -@ohhdaamnsam RT
12: Not everyone speaks the same language, but that doesn’t make one inferior to another
13: Should everyone have to learn and speak the language of the majority population living in a country?
14: What is the point of grammar if we can usually get our point across without it?
15: There are so many different ways to communicate with others #eyeopening
16: #LT Spoken word, written word, text, tweets, sign language, gestures, noises, grunts
17: Lack of communication leads to fear, anger, disunity, and turnover. What they don’t know while hurt them. -@EntreLeadership RT
18: I wonder if the lack of a universal language is what leads to a lot of the conflict between different cultures around the world
19: But at the same time, a universal language would suck out the individuality of dialects and codes that make up the human tongue
20: The use of technology is making communication more and more impersonal
21: Phone calls and face to face encounters are less common
22: Is humanity losing the ability to hold a conversation?
23: Right now I could be talking in a French accent and you wouldn’t know
24: #Dutch is considered one of the easiest languages for an English speaker to learn. -@Languagebandit RT
25: Most English speakers probably can identify these colors from #Dutch: rood, blauw, groen, oranje, bruin, & wit. -@Languagebandit RT
26: The world is changing so much and language will change too, regardless of what a select powerful group may want.
27: The increasing use of technology may build bridges between the world, but it is diminishing the need for personal interactions and the development of spoken word, regardless of differences.
I found it to be extremely difficult to communicate what I wanted to say in each tweet within the 140 character limit. I had a lot of ideas, but having to convey them was hard considering I had to break up the points in tweets. My thoughts jumped from place to place and it was easy to get distracted by other trending topics instead of focusing on reaching my eventual thesis. It is clear that having to communicate over the internet could create potential problems in the future, as it is challenging to complete a full thought in 140 characters. Despite this, I think that I was able to develop a string of tweets that lead to an overall message. This exploration of the English language through the Twitter world was aided by fellow tweeters, whose tweets I “retweeted” several times. The opinions on language and communication varied greatly, but there seemed to be a general appreciation and recognition of its importance. The increasing use of technology may build bridges between the world, but it is diminishing the need for personal interactions and the development of spoken word, regardless of differences.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I'm Addicted
While in Dublin, Ireland over the summer vacation, I witnessed a series of ads for a radio station known as Radio Nova. I had more or less forgotten about the advertisement until now, but they stuck in my mind which says a lot about the advertisement's effectiveness. The particular advertisement I chose out of the series was especially striking and memorable.
The girl, Fiona, is predominately displayed in the ad and my eye was immediately drawn to her and the devious grin displayed across her face. The use of this grin makes viewers feel like they're being let in on a secret, before jumping to the text. The "Fiona, 30. Addicted to Sex" is the largest piece of text and what one's eye jumps too after glimpsing at Fiona. At first I was shocked and surprised that such a confession was being splashed across billboards throughout the city. However, my eyes then travel down the remaining red section. I read "on fire" and also glance to the icon, which was that of a common radio station before making the connection.
This advertisement is one of my favorites. It is funny, shocking, a clever, which is a real change from many other ads I see on a daily basis. The use of colors is fantastic, as it provides stark contrast between the big, clear image of the girl, the content of the ad and the radio station that is actually trying to make the point. It also creates a logical transition between each step in grasping the point of the ad before appreciating its humor. Red, as we read in the “Visual Arguments” chapter of Everything’s an Argument, is a powerful color that naturally sparks a lot of emotion and is eye-catching.
A lot of social ideas are captured in this advertisement and the campaign surrounding it. Those who made it knew that the ads would be seen and talked about because the idea of someone being addicted to sex would be shocking and attention-grabbing, so much so that viewers would want to hear more about this cheeky girl shown across buses and billboards. The fact that it is a girl is also interesting because in general, our society associates that problem with men and considers it unladylike for a female to acknowledge something of that nature. However, the realization that Fiona is only addicted to the song is meant to be something of a comfort and makes everything okay, and even funny. Though the idea that an ad of this nature to be shown across the city, where even kids can see it, could be a bit unnerving, the ad is careful to make a point that Fiona is 30 in big print. This is saying that these addictions should be mostly relevant to that age group, but also limits the audience that the radio pulls in for itself. Overall this ad is truly eye grabbing and definitely meets its goal of pulling people in, only to use humor to attract its intended audience and making them think even before checking out the station.
This advertisement is one of my favorites. It is funny, shocking, a clever, which is a real change from many other ads I see on a daily basis. The use of colors is fantastic, as it provides stark contrast between the big, clear image of the girl, the content of the ad and the radio station that is actually trying to make the point. It also creates a logical transition between each step in grasping the point of the ad before appreciating its humor. Red, as we read in the “Visual Arguments” chapter of Everything’s an Argument, is a powerful color that naturally sparks a lot of emotion and is eye-catching.
A lot of social ideas are captured in this advertisement and the campaign surrounding it. Those who made it knew that the ads would be seen and talked about because the idea of someone being addicted to sex would be shocking and attention-grabbing, so much so that viewers would want to hear more about this cheeky girl shown across buses and billboards. The fact that it is a girl is also interesting because in general, our society associates that problem with men and considers it unladylike for a female to acknowledge something of that nature. However, the realization that Fiona is only addicted to the song is meant to be something of a comfort and makes everything okay, and even funny. Though the idea that an ad of this nature to be shown across the city, where even kids can see it, could be a bit unnerving, the ad is careful to make a point that Fiona is 30 in big print. This is saying that these addictions should be mostly relevant to that age group, but also limits the audience that the radio pulls in for itself. Overall this ad is truly eye grabbing and definitely meets its goal of pulling people in, only to use humor to attract its intended audience and making them think even before checking out the station.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Conclusion
I found this to be one of the most interesting projects I have done in high school so far. It was an enlightening experience to look at Fairfield County and the world around me from a new perspective. My eyes were opened to see what kind of expectations and stereotypes preside around us and how they are fed by the media and peers. I hadn’t been so aware of how much I and others I know are shaped and influenced by these pressures. It is clear to me that though people don’t seek to fit into little categories, they often do. Many of my friends play sports and so do I and essentially we form the group of jocks. On the other hand, there are groups of hipsters who wear big sweaters, have tumblrs, and drink Starbucks and goths who wear dark clothing and makeup and listen to heavy music. These social groups often overlap greatly in Fairfield County and our school, but they are still present.
Children are taught to respect other cultures and become open-minded, particularly because we live up north in a fairly liberal area, yet many shows and media that they have access to have underlying stereotypes that are subconsciously engrained into the minds of these children. I myself witnessed it with the incident in church that involved the girl becoming distressed because she couldn’t get ahold of money. These values are present at a young age and though we believe that we are trying to educate new generations to be as unbiased as possible, that can seemingly never be achieved.
These observations have obviously come to light especially in the past days and weeks that I have been instructed to keep a careful eye and ear out for them. Though I have noticed more and more of these “normalities” it was particularly interesting when I came across an instance that proved this incorrect. When the US women’s team was so successful in the FIFA Ballon D’Or, I was both impressed and proud that they were able to dispel the common thought that women’s sports are a “joke” or unimportant. My hope is that this team will pave the way for other women’s leagues and teams around the world. As important as it is to recognize stereotypes and typical views within in a society, it is as equally crucial to be aware when these standards are defied and the effect it will have on the progression of that society.
Children are taught to respect other cultures and become open-minded, particularly because we live up north in a fairly liberal area, yet many shows and media that they have access to have underlying stereotypes that are subconsciously engrained into the minds of these children. I myself witnessed it with the incident in church that involved the girl becoming distressed because she couldn’t get ahold of money. These values are present at a young age and though we believe that we are trying to educate new generations to be as unbiased as possible, that can seemingly never be achieved.
These observations have obviously come to light especially in the past days and weeks that I have been instructed to keep a careful eye and ear out for them. Though I have noticed more and more of these “normalities” it was particularly interesting when I came across an instance that proved this incorrect. When the US women’s team was so successful in the FIFA Ballon D’Or, I was both impressed and proud that they were able to dispel the common thought that women’s sports are a “joke” or unimportant. My hope is that this team will pave the way for other women’s leagues and teams around the world. As important as it is to recognize stereotypes and typical views within in a society, it is as equally crucial to be aware when these standards are defied and the effect it will have on the progression of that society.
Sexism in Sports
It is no secret that I’m a huge fan of soccer; whether I’m playing, watching, or discussing it. I follow the updates of both the women and men’s US national teams and watch games whenever they are on TV. Because of my fondness for the sport I am constantly hearing about what is happening with each team and through the international soccer field. Just a few days ago were the FIFA Ballon D’Or awards in Zurich. Two US women players (Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach) were nominated for female Player of the Year, and Wambach won. Pia Sundhage, the US women’s head coach who just recently stepped down from her position received Coach of the Year (for female teams). The US men’s national team received no nominations at this ceremony. I found this to be very interesting due to the fact that many Americans believe that men excel in sports over women and that they are more successful in athletics. Though it is true that there is no professional women’s football league or baseball team to my knowledge, it was refreshing to see the sport of soccer, one of the most popular sports in the world to one that women dominated over men in the United States. Sports are a huge part of American society. Millions of children play sports, many from a young age and while talking to them over break, I found my younger cousins to be balancing two or even three sports at a time. The USMNT (US men’s national team) has won 1 World Cup and placed 3rd in another. They are ranked #28 in the world. The USWNT (US women’s national team) has placed in every World Cup they have played in (total of 6, since its start in 1991) and won 2 of them. The team is ranked #1 in the world.
It is interesting to see that within a country that has a great deal of sexism in the sports world, in soccer, which is arguably the most global sport in the world, women dominate. These expectations are slowly changing however. It is no longer unusual for girls to be athletic and able to compete with their male counterparts, though I have even seen this change as I have grown up. Why do we expect men to fall under the category of what society considers “manly” so perfectly? Shouldn’t it be okay that women play sports, wear shorts and a t-shirt instead of a dress and get muddy at practice, yet still be more successful at it? I think that we are finally starting to accept that and even admire it which is one thing that definitely changing for the better.
It is interesting to see that within a country that has a great deal of sexism in the sports world, in soccer, which is arguably the most global sport in the world, women dominate. These expectations are slowly changing however. It is no longer unusual for girls to be athletic and able to compete with their male counterparts, though I have even seen this change as I have grown up. Why do we expect men to fall under the category of what society considers “manly” so perfectly? Shouldn’t it be okay that women play sports, wear shorts and a t-shirt instead of a dress and get muddy at practice, yet still be more successful at it? I think that we are finally starting to accept that and even admire it which is one thing that definitely changing for the better.
Mistletoe and More
Everywhere you look you are bound to see an airbrushed model or a perfectly shaped, skinny actress gracing the covers of gossip magazines. They set impossibly high standards for girls today, expected to have tan skin, white teeth, manicured nails, a perfect body, pretty face, and hair set just right. However, what these magazines, laid out in dentist offices, supermarkets, and even the library don’t reveal, is how overdone and photo shopped these so called “role models” are. My little sister came up to me one day asking to borrow my concealer because she was embarrassed about her first zit. This really made me concerned because I hadn’t realized how much of an effect these images had on kids so young; my sister is only nine, although as she likes to remind me so often, she will be ten in the end of January. All I could do was try to convince her that nobody expected her to have perfect skin her whole life and that it would clear up in a few days.
These standards also had an impact on girls my age too. As Mistletoe grew closer and closer I found that everyone was editing themselves in small ways to look their absolute best that night. I too fell into the pressures of trying to look as perfect as possible. I thought I would never get a spray tan, yet I found myself at a salon anyway, though I tried to convince myself that it was just to cover up my brutal soccer tan lines. Everyone around me was getting spray tans and manicures and it was clear to see that many girls had a shared visual of what they should expect of themselves to look like on the night of Mistletoe, even if it meant changing to fit the stereotypes. It’s hard not to do so, with all the dieting ads on TV and shows such as the Big Loser, pushing people to be as skinny as possible. Young girls are given images of Kate Moss, Heidi Klum, and other models instead of real women like their mothers, aunts, and teachers. This social issue of having an expectation of perfection is truly getting out of hand and girls younger and younger are feeling the pressure to conform to one image.
These standards also had an impact on girls my age too. As Mistletoe grew closer and closer I found that everyone was editing themselves in small ways to look their absolute best that night. I too fell into the pressures of trying to look as perfect as possible. I thought I would never get a spray tan, yet I found myself at a salon anyway, though I tried to convince myself that it was just to cover up my brutal soccer tan lines. Everyone around me was getting spray tans and manicures and it was clear to see that many girls had a shared visual of what they should expect of themselves to look like on the night of Mistletoe, even if it meant changing to fit the stereotypes. It’s hard not to do so, with all the dieting ads on TV and shows such as the Big Loser, pushing people to be as skinny as possible. Young girls are given images of Kate Moss, Heidi Klum, and other models instead of real women like their mothers, aunts, and teachers. This social issue of having an expectation of perfection is truly getting out of hand and girls younger and younger are feeling the pressure to conform to one image.
Cartoons- Maya and Miguel
While watching the 90 minutes of cartoons, I watched an episode of Maya and Miguel called “Suerte” which means luck in Spanish. Throughout the episode viewers are shown incidents that happen to the characters that are considered to be bad luck in the US. Breakfast burns, the power goes out, Maya and Miguel get covered in food, and Mama drops her bug bag of groceries. We are shown that problems like these, though they aren’t a huge issue, are considered bad luck and looked upon unfavorably in society.
Cultural awareness is also very prevalent in this show. Maya and Miguel have a very diverse group of friends. Maggie is Chinese-American, Theo is African-American, Chrissie is Dominican-American, Andy is English-American and only has one arm, and the twins themselves are Mexican and Puerto Rican-American. Several global concepts are mentioned, such as Fung Shui by Maggie and though it wasn’t expected that everyone would recognize the idea, Maggie explained it so that both the “characters” and viewers would be enlightened on the topic. Many characters also speak both in Spanish and English, particularly Abuela, who teaches Maya and Miguel lessons about their culture. It is clear that the producers of the show believe that the importance of being bilingual should be instilled in viewers.
However, despite the many positive aspects to the show and the lessons it teaches about other cultures, there are still some prominent stereotypes. Mama is expected to make breakfast for her family and the family has a pet parrot known as Paco (Taco). Maggie (Chinese-American) is the shortest of her friends and has a very soft-spoken mother, who lives with her and the rest of her family in a typically East-Asian decorated home. There is also the stereotype of Maya and Miguel’s father playing a mariachi band like guitar and them both playing soccer, when soccer is such a prominent sport in Hispanic culture. While preparing for Fung Shui, the girls made Miguel and their cousin Tito, both boys, do all the moving of the furniture while they were directing. This could imply that though the girls had the ideas, they weren’t able to follow through on the physical aspect.
Overall I observed that this show does a lot to encompass many different cultures and backgrounds. It also strives to teach viewers the importance of knowing a second language and provide information on many different topics and aspects of cultures around the world. Though the majority of the show works in not becoming biased or insensitive, some typical underlying expectations remain, which from my other viewings is prominent in almost any show on TV.
Cultural awareness is also very prevalent in this show. Maya and Miguel have a very diverse group of friends. Maggie is Chinese-American, Theo is African-American, Chrissie is Dominican-American, Andy is English-American and only has one arm, and the twins themselves are Mexican and Puerto Rican-American. Several global concepts are mentioned, such as Fung Shui by Maggie and though it wasn’t expected that everyone would recognize the idea, Maggie explained it so that both the “characters” and viewers would be enlightened on the topic. Many characters also speak both in Spanish and English, particularly Abuela, who teaches Maya and Miguel lessons about their culture. It is clear that the producers of the show believe that the importance of being bilingual should be instilled in viewers.
However, despite the many positive aspects to the show and the lessons it teaches about other cultures, there are still some prominent stereotypes. Mama is expected to make breakfast for her family and the family has a pet parrot known as Paco (Taco). Maggie (Chinese-American) is the shortest of her friends and has a very soft-spoken mother, who lives with her and the rest of her family in a typically East-Asian decorated home. There is also the stereotype of Maya and Miguel’s father playing a mariachi band like guitar and them both playing soccer, when soccer is such a prominent sport in Hispanic culture. While preparing for Fung Shui, the girls made Miguel and their cousin Tito, both boys, do all the moving of the furniture while they were directing. This could imply that though the girls had the ideas, they weren’t able to follow through on the physical aspect.
Overall I observed that this show does a lot to encompass many different cultures and backgrounds. It also strives to teach viewers the importance of knowing a second language and provide information on many different topics and aspects of cultures around the world. Though the majority of the show works in not becoming biased or insensitive, some typical underlying expectations remain, which from my other viewings is prominent in almost any show on TV.
Materialism
It is no secret that in a growing world based on capitalism, that the desire for material goods and financial success and stability is one that drives people to great lengths in order to achieve. This value is instilled at a young age, an age that in my opinion is too young to be worrying about. One Sunday, while in Church, I observed a little girl about 3 years old frantically try to reach out and obtain a dollar bill from a boy about her same age who was playing with it. The boy, obviously wishing to keep the money he had received from his mother refused to hand it over. The little girl proceeded to cry and remained upset until her father gave her a dollar of her own to keep her quiet. I was surprised at how much these children wanted money and how upset they were when they didn’t receive it or it was almost taken away. Kids as young as 3 or 4 had already learned throughout their life to recognize the influence and desire for money present around them. I think that as time goes on our society is becoming more and more materialistic in the sense that children are taught from a very young age to want money and strive to get ahold of it.
Even during the holiday season, which should be a time of family and celebration I saw frantic shoppers in the mall and stressed out salesmen, more concerned with finding the perfect gift or making the sales goal than looking forward to spending time with their families. I even saw this with my own family as we ran around putting up the tree and taking frequent trips to shopping centers to check each name of our cousins, friends, and secret Santas as we rushed to finish before Christmas Eve. I suggested we make a massive batch of cookies, divide them up and just go visit everyone but that didn’t fly. Though I have seen a lot of materialistic desires and concerns with financial ends of situations, I became especially adept to it throughout this season, when shopping is at an all-time high and everyone wants that perfect gift under the tree.
Even during the holiday season, which should be a time of family and celebration I saw frantic shoppers in the mall and stressed out salesmen, more concerned with finding the perfect gift or making the sales goal than looking forward to spending time with their families. I even saw this with my own family as we ran around putting up the tree and taking frequent trips to shopping centers to check each name of our cousins, friends, and secret Santas as we rushed to finish before Christmas Eve. I suggested we make a massive batch of cookies, divide them up and just go visit everyone but that didn’t fly. Though I have seen a lot of materialistic desires and concerns with financial ends of situations, I became especially adept to it throughout this season, when shopping is at an all-time high and everyone wants that perfect gift under the tree.
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