"Mr. Obama, I like you because you're black." - Documentary student

The documentary we chose to watch as a supplement to our BLA book (Outliers) was The Lottery. While the case studies presented in the movie and the book were not entirely the same, their argument was essentially the same. In both, they argued that it is not only our innate knowledge that decides our future, but our circumstances. In Outliers, there were numerous examples as to why successful people achieve their place in history. For example, the Beatles had 10,000 hours to practice, unusual in itself, and this is how they achieved their fame. Bill Gates grew up in an area that allowed him time with a computer that few in the world had. Outliers also discussed how legacy, or background (not to be confused with heredity) is a contributing factor to success.

The Lottery was centered on the fight between charter schools and zoned schools in New York City. This was also mentioned in Outliers. In essence, the film argues that getting into the charter schools allows for a future, because there are people surrounding the students that are invested in this future. Based in Harlem, the film documents families with less than glamorous situations, but the hope of a charter school for their children would allow them to leave these situations behind.

Both pieces of literature are saying the same thing, which we Americans who believe in the "American Dream" incredulously evaluate. They claim that positive results are as much chance as ability. For example, The Lottery gets its namesake from the process of charter school enrollment. Students are randomly selected from a list to get in. It is just a chance that they will have the opportunity to succeed, an opportunity that does not exist in the zoned, city run schools. At one point in the movie, a man says (paraphrase) "it doesn't matter how good your momma is, but if you grow up in Yonkers you are in an environment that will make you end up in jail." Basically, where you are born affects your future, because it decides your environment (education, street crime as in Yonkers, etc) and therefore your results as a person.

I, like many Americans infatuated with the idea that hard work equates results, find this doctrine hard to believe. But it makes sense. Sometimes it is a little opportunity that allows for a lot of success. By backing up these claims with evidence, the authors strengthen their arguments and show the viewer that there is merit to their claim. Getting into a charter school, even if by chance, garners higher graduation rates, higher reading levels, and higher achievement. Seeing these arguments, I was able to understand that there is such a thing as luck when it comes to success.

Kristen Wiig, My Hero

Saturday Night Live - Penelope - Therapy - Video - NBC.com

Christmas, The Commercial

We’ve all noticed the barrage of rhetoric coming from the mouths of analysts, decrying what Christmas has morphed into. Look at your personal experience, and it doesn’t have to be related to Christianity. Do you actually think about the true meaning of Christmas? I can bet you that Steve Jobs and Michael Dell pay a lot more attention to their sales than the true meaning of the holidays.

I started out by portraying a mall bedecked with the trappings of the holidays. Anyone who has shopped in a mall knows this scene is all too familiar. It is meant to represent the clash of Christmas and corporations. The religious holiday meant to honor a God and bring people together has morphed into an opportunity to get profits in the black. This was the main argument that I focused on in my visual essay. My specific arrangement of the visual stimuli, the music selection, and the choice of pictures all address the aspects of argument in order to ensure that my argument and appeals met my occasion.

I chose the title Christmas, the Commercial was chosen in order to compare the holiday to the sales pitches used by companies worldwide. The words evoke feelings of disgust, as our minds don’t associate these two words as partners. The accompanying pictures also aid in carrying this message. My first three pictures show little girls surrounded by what I believed to be the fuel for this pecuniary passion; presents. Not only did this match with the song, but they appealed to the audiences pathos, as they represent classic portrayals of Christmas that they can recognize and relate to. They show happy images that are subtly supplemented by gifts.

The next set of images show the commercial aspect of Christmas. Starting with the ridiculous “holiday” of Black Friday, these images portray the consumerism that permeates the season. The images of hungry consumers and vast crowds appeals to our logos as it shows actual events, un-staged, that confirm this notion of hungry and numerous customers. The transition of a page turn allows the viewers to understand that on the flipside of these purchases is an intent to fuel business coffers. The picture of the NY Times article is meant to directly establish ethos and logos. It shows a credible source that explains the focus of holiday sales and it quickly gives fact to support this claim. Next I solidified this connection between consumerism and corporations by showing a Wall Street celebration of Christmas and the banner of Corporate America, signs of the possible malicious intent to benefit from our giving mood.

Lastly, I ended the argument by solidifying the ideal meaning of Christmas; togetherness and tradition. The last two pictures present idealistic images of what the holiday should be like, with happy families sharing memories. This also establishes pathos as it triggers feelings of warmth and comfort in the audience. It makes them treasure the actual family time versus the harsh images of running customers and big business.

I chose Shake Up Christmas by Train as the background music as it was cheesy, made for Coca-Cola, and talked about happiness. It represents another attempt by a company to shove their products down our throats, in this case soda. It also aids my argument by connecting to happiness. The song argues that happiness can come from a tangible item, Coke. At the end of the “ad” you can see that happiness actually should come from an intrinsic feeling around Christmas.

Throughout this argument, I made sure to choose pictures that my small audience would understand and follow so they could glean the purpose of my essay.  They depict images that we are familiar with but they cast some of them in a negative light in order to further my purpose, which is explaining the hidden intents behind Christmas. So, in crafting my argument I establish the fact that there is a consumerism present behind the holiday and portray this issue in a negative light. In the end I propose that the viewer reevaluate their actions and try to ignore this growing horror.

Spice

Auf Wiedersehen 2010. It's been just as eventful and normal as expected. That is what life is, don't you think? Wisps of excitement intermixed with the day to day drudge of our overflowing schedules. But it is this excitement that gives life zest. It's like spicing up a bland dish or mocha (Caribou reference, couldn't resist). Just a little "zing" goes a long way in making something run-of-the-mill into something amazing.

In a year packed with spice, it’s hard to find a place to start. With a heart wrenching earthquake in Haiti to an oil spill intertwined with a bad economy, this has been a rough year for many. While there are exceptions, even some celebrities have had better years. Woods will never be the same and Favre effectively ended his career, yet everyone is going gaga for GaGa and Betty White’s star can’t shine any brighter. We were able to enjoy outdoor baseball and bask in the addictive glory of social networks. Plus Republicans won seats in Congress, which never hurts. As the year turns over, there comes a time to reevaluate and in retrospect it seems as if none of these occurrences matter to me.

What truly matters is the tangible events in my life, the spices I can readily taste. I’m talking about the events that matter; time with friends, weddings, vacations. No matter who you are, these events mean a lot more than a celebrity who can’t keep the belt buckled. Since January 1^st does in fact bring a change in the year, it offers one a good time to reminisce. How nostalgic, to picture myself walking down the streets of New York with a bunch of lower income children, or eating a burger at a drive in after a romp on Calhoun in the warm August sun. These little memories, fond reminders of a year gone by, are what make up life. They are close to home, and therefore close to heart (awwww).

So at the turn of the year, I ask you to reevaluate what parts of your life you want to replicate. Then go out and do it. It’s easy! Don’t sweat the five pounds you resolve to drop or the addiction (be it Sims or cigarettes) that you hope to lose. While it’s important to have goals such as these, they pale in comparison to the goal of an exuberant existence.