For this blog I chose to compare the election results by watching the election results presented on CNN and NBC. Although both television stations were presenting the same information, each presented the information differently.
In my opinion, CNN did a better job of presenting the 2008 election results because the results were easily found on TV graphics at any time and above these graphics, CNN kept switching between reporters and live footage of people’s reactions around the country. The positioning of the graphics on CNN made finding the graphics easy and the way they were made has made it easy for the CNN audience to understand what information the graphics were conveying: the senate’s choice, the number of votes for both the Democratic and Republican candidates and the states that needed to still get their votes counted. Above the graphics is a split screen between various CNN reporters and live footage of the presidential race. I prefer the actual content that the CNN reporters are covering rather than the reporters of NBC because the CNN reporters are reporting the election results but are also talking about American history while waiting for new results.
NBC took a more graphical approach to presenting the election results information. Rather than show live footage and graphics on the same screen, NBC chose to have a full graphic screen of information or a full live footage screen. Hearing the reporters talk when there was only a graphic screen made it hard to understand both the information the reporters were reporting and the information on the graphics. I also think the graphics on NBC, when NBC does use a split screen of live footage and graphics, the graphics take away from the footage because they are too flashy and hard to read and they are spaced weirdly. I prefer the content of the CNN reporters over NBC because NBC is using local reporters and CNN is using national; the local reporters are talking about topics that would more likely affect the local county rather than the country.
Overall, I think CNN did a much better job of presenting the information to the public. I think their graphics were more easily read and positioned better. I also think that the live footage was more national rather than local. The actual content that the CNN reporters reported was also more appealing to me because it was on a national level rather than local.
5.11.08
25.10.08
Blog 6
The article I chose to analyze based on Lasch’s argument in his essay, "The lost art of argument" that we have lost the art of argument in our current society was published October 25th, 2008 on the front page of the New York Times. The article is called, “A puzzle over prisoners as Iraqis take control” and was written by Alissa J. Rubin. The topic of the article is the U.S. and Iraqi agreement to start releasing Iraqi prisoners from American detainment camps back into Iraq. The problem with this agreement is that some of these prisoners are very bad people, the Iraqis do not have enough prison space to hold them, the guilty prisoners will need hard evidence to prove they are guilty and releasing up to 17,000 detainees back into Iraq is going to make their already high unemployment rate skyrocket. Although Rubin states her argument as being in the form of a research question, she does not prove anything or, like Lasch believes with modern journalism, is not debating anything or giving out new ideas for the public to agree or disagree with. Her research question is easily found in the first paragraph as: what to do with the 5,000 Iraqi prisoners whom the United States military considers a threat to the hard-fought and still fragile calm in Iraq? Although she states this question, she never fully answers it nor gives her opinion on the subject. Rubin simply and objectively states the facts. She gives details about the American prisons in Iraq, numerous quotes from both Iraqis and Americans and facts about the Iraqi court system.
Although Lasch calls this type of journalism “modern journalism,” I believe this type of journalism actually is better suited to the title of “traditional journalism.” Traditional journalism is when a reporter simply writes about the who, what, why, where, and when, which is exactly what Rubin and many others journalists do today. When I think of modern journalism, no, I do not think about debates, but I do consider some parts of it being opinionated which leads to an argument and other times even investigative which could change our society.
As for the research part of Rubin’s article on the release of American-held Iraqi prisoners back into Iraq, I think she effectively answered the question she posed in the first paragraph at the best to her available sources. She answered what the Americans and Iraqi’s are planning to do with all of these detainee releases and the effects that American generals and some Iraqi locals believe will happen and are already occurring. If she wanted to get even better results, she could have added more sources to her research. For example, she could have interviewed imprisoned Iraqi detainees, newly released detainees or the views of the Iraqi police that are going to be in charge of some of the detainees and trying to keep the influx of the released detainees under control.
In conclusion, Rubin did not have much of an argument rather than a research question which she objectively answered with straight facts and quotes, but her research was effective and well gathered.
You can find this article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/25/world/middleeast/25detain.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=todayspaper
Although Lasch calls this type of journalism “modern journalism,” I believe this type of journalism actually is better suited to the title of “traditional journalism.” Traditional journalism is when a reporter simply writes about the who, what, why, where, and when, which is exactly what Rubin and many others journalists do today. When I think of modern journalism, no, I do not think about debates, but I do consider some parts of it being opinionated which leads to an argument and other times even investigative which could change our society.
As for the research part of Rubin’s article on the release of American-held Iraqi prisoners back into Iraq, I think she effectively answered the question she posed in the first paragraph at the best to her available sources. She answered what the Americans and Iraqi’s are planning to do with all of these detainee releases and the effects that American generals and some Iraqi locals believe will happen and are already occurring. If she wanted to get even better results, she could have added more sources to her research. For example, she could have interviewed imprisoned Iraqi detainees, newly released detainees or the views of the Iraqi police that are going to be in charge of some of the detainees and trying to keep the influx of the released detainees under control.
In conclusion, Rubin did not have much of an argument rather than a research question which she objectively answered with straight facts and quotes, but her research was effective and well gathered.
You can find this article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/25/world/middleeast/25detain.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=todayspaper
15.10.08
Blog 5
This rhetorical analysis is based on the performance by Senator Barack Obama during his appearance on the “Tonight Show” with Jay Leno. During this period of time, Obama was still running against Clinton for the Democratic candidate position. It was obvious from his entrance that his appearance on the “Tonight Show” was an informal and laid-back interview. He entered the stage smiling and waving while wearing a plain white dress shirt, unbuttoned black suit and no tie. Sitting on the couch, he was resting his back against the cushions and had his legs crossed. Obama immediately starting smiling and joking around with host, Jay Leno. All of these factors clue his audience in that this is a very informal appearance.
Although Obama was very loud and light-hearted during the show, as soon as a question that dealt with his campaign and his policies was asked he turned the interview into a very formal one. He immediately sat up in his chair, stopped smiling and changed his tone of voice. I thought he really answered the questions and was even glad they were asked so that he could talk about how he “wants to change Washington.” Although he went back to joking around after answering serious questions, all of his jokes in some way were relevant to his policies or the presidential race. He also stayed on focus by bringing the conversation back to his beliefs and his want to reform Washington.
Obama used very educated language but also put in everyday sayings and jokes once in a while to make his language a little less formal. This technique was done very well because he related to his audience through language but still seemed very educated and intelligent. I felt that Obama was very sincere on the “Tonight Show” and that he did not avoid any questions that Jay Leno asked, but relished in the opportunity to share his views. I also think he did a great job in the way he easily changed the interview from informal to formal when the questions that Jay Leno asked were serious. It was greatly apparent just from his body language when he was being serious and when he was being informal that his joking around with Leno did not take away from his credibility and the seriousness that usually comes with candidates running to be president. Through oral language and body language, I think Obama was very successful in relating to his audience.
Although Obama was very loud and light-hearted during the show, as soon as a question that dealt with his campaign and his policies was asked he turned the interview into a very formal one. He immediately sat up in his chair, stopped smiling and changed his tone of voice. I thought he really answered the questions and was even glad they were asked so that he could talk about how he “wants to change Washington.” Although he went back to joking around after answering serious questions, all of his jokes in some way were relevant to his policies or the presidential race. He also stayed on focus by bringing the conversation back to his beliefs and his want to reform Washington.
Obama used very educated language but also put in everyday sayings and jokes once in a while to make his language a little less formal. This technique was done very well because he related to his audience through language but still seemed very educated and intelligent. I felt that Obama was very sincere on the “Tonight Show” and that he did not avoid any questions that Jay Leno asked, but relished in the opportunity to share his views. I also think he did a great job in the way he easily changed the interview from informal to formal when the questions that Jay Leno asked were serious. It was greatly apparent just from his body language when he was being serious and when he was being informal that his joking around with Leno did not take away from his credibility and the seriousness that usually comes with candidates running to be president. Through oral language and body language, I think Obama was very successful in relating to his audience.
6.10.08
Blog 4
Until recently, I have not paid much attention to the use of rhetoric and how I react to other people’s rhetorical strategies. After attending a lecture made by Gideon Yago, a former MTV news journalist brought to the Ohio University campus to talk about the upcoming election and the importance of young people voting, I left the auditorium unsatisfied because of a number of his rhetorical strategies used while presenting. During his lecture there were many moments when I felt offended by his language, unimpressed by his speaking skills and also stereotyped as a “typical” college student. I also felt that the actual content of his lecture was nothing ground-breaking and did not flow together in any way.
His use of offensive language during his lecture, in my opinion, greatly conflicted with what he was saying. For example, he was talking about some of the time he spent in the middle-east and how great of an impact it had on his life but he was also dropping F-bombs left and right. His use of offensive language took away his credibility on the subject and also made him seem unintelligible. His language also made him seem extremely unapproachable and as though he did not take the lecture seriously himself.
Another rhetorical strategy that offended me was his blatant stereotyping of the typical Ohio University student. He made more than enough knocks at the typical O.U. student who, in his opinion, drinks excessively, does drugs and sleeps around a lot while partying. It seems like his rhetorical strategy was to try to “relate” to the O.U. student by telling stories about drinking and sleeping around as well as how he knows that we do it too, but relating himself to such a negative image and relating his whole audience to being apart of that image was a very bad move on his part. While a few audience members reacted the way he wanted, many were offended by his stereotyping.
Overall, the image I received from Gideon Yago after listening to him speak and later talking with him after the lecture was that he is a very sarcastic guy that needs to mature himself before he starts lecturing students on college campuses. I understand that he was just trying to relate to his audience but he also needs to look professional and back-up what he is talking about with credibility and educated language.
His use of offensive language during his lecture, in my opinion, greatly conflicted with what he was saying. For example, he was talking about some of the time he spent in the middle-east and how great of an impact it had on his life but he was also dropping F-bombs left and right. His use of offensive language took away his credibility on the subject and also made him seem unintelligible. His language also made him seem extremely unapproachable and as though he did not take the lecture seriously himself.
Another rhetorical strategy that offended me was his blatant stereotyping of the typical Ohio University student. He made more than enough knocks at the typical O.U. student who, in his opinion, drinks excessively, does drugs and sleeps around a lot while partying. It seems like his rhetorical strategy was to try to “relate” to the O.U. student by telling stories about drinking and sleeping around as well as how he knows that we do it too, but relating himself to such a negative image and relating his whole audience to being apart of that image was a very bad move on his part. While a few audience members reacted the way he wanted, many were offended by his stereotyping.
Overall, the image I received from Gideon Yago after listening to him speak and later talking with him after the lecture was that he is a very sarcastic guy that needs to mature himself before he starts lecturing students on college campuses. I understand that he was just trying to relate to his audience but he also needs to look professional and back-up what he is talking about with credibility and educated language.
29.9.08
Blog 3
The ad I have chosen to review based on the guidelines created by Anne Wysoki in her essay “The Sticky Embrace of Beauty,” was created in 2008 by Cotton Incorporated. Cotton Incorporated is an organization that markets cotton to consumers in apparel and home products for environmentally-friendly reasons. The ad depicts an enlarged recycled-paper clothing tag over a simple white background with a caption that says, “If it’s cotton, you’ll know it’s green (even if it’s pink),” and a group of four women smiling and relaxing on a lawn within the clothing tag.
The ad evokes feelings of happiness, cleanliness, simplicity and nostalgia. I feel happiness when I look at this ad because of the bright green and pink in it and the women’s faces what are all lit up and smiling big, toothy grins. I get a sense of cleanliness and simplicity because the background of the whole advertisement is white; there are only three signature colors in the advertisement: white, lime and pink, and the photo takes place during the middle of a sunny day. The entire group looks fresh, healthy and relaxed. The advertisement evokes a sense of nostalgia in me because the scene in the photo with a bunch of 20-something women relaxing together on the green grass is something I have done with my girlfriends since childhood. In some ways the ad both makes me think of childhood and maternity because I feel nostaglia for my childhood but because I am looking at older women it makes me think of their children. Overall, the advertisement gives out an extremely happy and healthy vibe.
I think the artist of this advertisement has used many strategies to make his audience feel the way they do when looking at the ad. He puts the photo of the smiling women on the grass in the center of the advertisement because they are what draw the reader into the ad. He also uses the contrast between the white background and the bright lime and pink colors in the photo to draw the eye to the center at first glance. The only text on the page besides the Cotton Incorporated logo and website address is a caption centered right above the photo in bold, sans serif text stating, “If it’s cotton, you’ll know it’s green (even if it’s pink).” This text adds even more meaning to the clothing advertisement because it shares the goal of Cotton Incorporated company which is to sell 100% cotton products in home and clothing apparel to keep the plant green. The photo plays off of this text because it is predominantly green in the background and the women are only wearing white and pink clothing. It also makes me feel like going green will make me healthy and happy by feeling that sense of warmth coming from the women and their healthy, glowing bodies and smiles.
http://resource.cottoninc.com/_images/primages/Print-Ad-Lawn.jpg
The ad evokes feelings of happiness, cleanliness, simplicity and nostalgia. I feel happiness when I look at this ad because of the bright green and pink in it and the women’s faces what are all lit up and smiling big, toothy grins. I get a sense of cleanliness and simplicity because the background of the whole advertisement is white; there are only three signature colors in the advertisement: white, lime and pink, and the photo takes place during the middle of a sunny day. The entire group looks fresh, healthy and relaxed. The advertisement evokes a sense of nostalgia in me because the scene in the photo with a bunch of 20-something women relaxing together on the green grass is something I have done with my girlfriends since childhood. In some ways the ad both makes me think of childhood and maternity because I feel nostaglia for my childhood but because I am looking at older women it makes me think of their children. Overall, the advertisement gives out an extremely happy and healthy vibe.
I think the artist of this advertisement has used many strategies to make his audience feel the way they do when looking at the ad. He puts the photo of the smiling women on the grass in the center of the advertisement because they are what draw the reader into the ad. He also uses the contrast between the white background and the bright lime and pink colors in the photo to draw the eye to the center at first glance. The only text on the page besides the Cotton Incorporated logo and website address is a caption centered right above the photo in bold, sans serif text stating, “If it’s cotton, you’ll know it’s green (even if it’s pink).” This text adds even more meaning to the clothing advertisement because it shares the goal of Cotton Incorporated company which is to sell 100% cotton products in home and clothing apparel to keep the plant green. The photo plays off of this text because it is predominantly green in the background and the women are only wearing white and pink clothing. It also makes me feel like going green will make me healthy and happy by feeling that sense of warmth coming from the women and their healthy, glowing bodies and smiles.
http://resource.cottoninc.com/_images/primages/Print-Ad-Lawn.jpg
14.9.08
"Seeing"
Annie Dillard’s non-fiction essay, “Seeing,” is an introduction to a unique philosophical theory that describes the ways in which humans go about seeing their daily interactions in life. It touches upon the many ways humans can see life, how to properly see and the elusive beauty within nature. Dillard changes her audience’s ideas and perspectives about seeing. She also gives her audience an incentive to see in a new way as they go about their daily tasks through her mostly-ordinary anecdotes about her experiences in Tinker Creek. In her writings about Tinker Creek, she emphasizes the importance of taking in your surroundings and really looking at them to be able to find the hidden beauty. She touches upon the fact that most humans do not properly see because they are not really looking.
Although Dillard has written “Seeing” in the form of a non-fiction essay, it seems as if “Seeing” is a fictional piece of work, because of her extensive and bold use of style, language and anecdotes about her childhood and the year she spent at Tinker Creek in Roanoke, Virginia. Rather than using ethos to argue her case with her impressive background in the field of writing, she effectively uses pathos to argue her case by playing upon the emotions of her readers with anecdotes to which most readers can relate. She brings out feelings of like nostalgia, happiness and peacefulness in "Seeing".
Ultimately, Dillard’s case is effective because she affects the reader. She uses her words to make the reader see in new ways and to learn to observe things carefully in order to catch different elements and new perspectives. Through the use of her style and pathos she is able to relate to the reader, change the reader and share her experiences at Tinker Creek in an informative but still interesting and enjoyable way.
Although Dillard has written “Seeing” in the form of a non-fiction essay, it seems as if “Seeing” is a fictional piece of work, because of her extensive and bold use of style, language and anecdotes about her childhood and the year she spent at Tinker Creek in Roanoke, Virginia. Rather than using ethos to argue her case with her impressive background in the field of writing, she effectively uses pathos to argue her case by playing upon the emotions of her readers with anecdotes to which most readers can relate. She brings out feelings of like nostalgia, happiness and peacefulness in "Seeing".
Ultimately, Dillard’s case is effective because she affects the reader. She uses her words to make the reader see in new ways and to learn to observe things carefully in order to catch different elements and new perspectives. Through the use of her style and pathos she is able to relate to the reader, change the reader and share her experiences at Tinker Creek in an informative but still interesting and enjoyable way.
9.9.08
"Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name" - Rolling Stones
Hello! My name is Tina Castillo and I am currently an undergraduate student enrolled in the Scripp's School of Communication at Ohio University. My specialty in the Scripp's School of Communication is a part of its Visual Communications School; I specialize in Interactive Multimedia. When people ask me, "WHAT is THAT?!" as they often do, I find myself grasping for keywords such as: graphic design, web design and audio/visual story-telling. Whether the person then unconsciously files me into a never-going-to-find-a-job mental storage unit with all the other designers they have ever met, does not worry me, because finding my dream job the moment after I graduate has never been my top priority. This is because I fully understand that I am going to have to work hard, gain experience and probably fail many times before I succeed.
Unlike most visual communication specialties (ex. photography, graphic design, or photojournalism,) interactive multimedia covers a broad area of expertise by teaching its undergrads basic information from each type of digital media. Digital media can be seen as information graphics, digital photography, video-recording, web design and many more things! As multimedia students begin to further their advancement toward earning a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication, they learn in-depth about graphic/web design and audio/visual storytelling. It is also strongly encouraged to begin gaining experience and/or credentials early in the field by interning, entering contests or doing freelance work because having visuals to display your experience and talents will get you far in this field!
To see through the eyes of an interactive multimediast is to constantly be aware of the visual elements in his surroundings. When looking at any particular scene, he might unconsciously take into consideration the framing, colors, juxtaposition or lighting. The multimediast then uses these visual elements as a foundation and basis to create his own personal style, as well as for inspiration to create different forms of media for his clients.
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