Project Web Blog Post #2

                                                   Advertising, It’s Not That Easy

Throughout the process of my Project Web assignment I’ve come to understand how much effort and hard work is put into an advertisement. I’ve never noticed this, for I’ve always been the person watching them; not creating them. It is easy judge/criticize an advertisement, but it is very hard to make one. No matter how big or small the ad could be, organization and planning has to occur. Not only that, but also the use of critical and creative thinking. This is the lesson that I got out of this assignment.

            As appose to other assignments, this has been the most conflicting one. Why? Because it requires one to think critically of what exactly to put; so thereby it has a meaningful message. But what exactly do I mean by critical thinking? Critical thinking is when one follows a certain style in order to get through the objective of an assignment or dilemma; and in doing so; they generate ideas, imagine possibilities, and try relationships between different concepts. Well, that’s exactly what my group and I tried to do in our advertisement. We tried to focus on one topic first (the Fast Food topic) and then transition into the next one (the home cooking subject). In the process, we tried to create relationships between the different subjects within the topics themselves. For example, when we mentioned the reasons why people prefer fast food over hom-cooked meals, we immediately posted several examples that gives an understanding why many people are affected with the media’s advertisements. These are two famous Carl’s Jr. commercials that consist of scenes of women exposing a lot of sexual emotions while eating the meals. This is how many people, especially men, are attracted; by looking at the female’s anatomy.

            But in order for the project to go as planned, we needed to involve a lot of creative thinking. In other words, we needed to do use a lot of imagery. Not only are the pictures, videos, links, and text important in advertising, but also the visual display. Everything has to have a purpose whether it’s the color, font sizes, background, etc. We as a group decided that bright colors are adequate for our blog advertisement. Since the message of our ad is to make people believe that home-cooked meals are a better decision, we decided on a background that contains pure fruits. The purpose behind the colors and fruits is to portray happy emotions; thereby our message is more direct.

            Yes, creating an advertisement might sound easy at first; however, when it comes down to creating one, perspectives change. It definitely changed mines. It made me stop my judgment/critic over ads/commercials that normally I would consider boring.

Here is the link to my blog:

http://fastfoodvs-homecookedfood.tumblr.com/

Project Web Blog Post #1

Advertising Depends on its Content

            Advertisements rule our world. We see them everywhere we go; whether it’s on a newspaper, television, computer, billboards, etc.  We sometimes don’t notice it, but many people are lured to the foods, products, or events; due to the content that the directors use. It might sound silly, but the truth is that content plays the major role. It all depends on the ad’s content to whether or not it could be successful. In my English class, we were asked to create a website/blog for the purpose of doing an advertisement. At first this assignment sounded quite simple; however, when it came down to narrow everything including the style of the web’s display, my perspectives immediately changed.

            Advertising seems to be easy; however, the truth is that it’s the complete opposite. In the process of creating our website, in other words blog, I was shocked with the enormous amount of brainstorming and commitment that was needed. Our topic was over the issue of fast food over home-cooked meals; that it is taking control of home cooking. Therefore, I believed that this was going to be done with so much ease. Boy was I wrong! Not only was organization of the content important, but also organization of style. It was important for all the content to be clear; therefore, we had to put our videos, images, and text in chronological order; but in order for the audience to take our content serious, creative style needed to be deployed.

It's the content that makes advertising successful; in this case sexuality.

Here is another example.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdGsKzmCgB0

My Ethnography

La Placita Olvera

            Culture, has a different meaning among different people. To the Mexican population, it means tradition. They see, do, hear, eat, etc. many of the same things that one would see or hear about in a vacation down at Mexico. The day I went to La Placita Olvera, I felt like I was in a different world. The look, smell, and atmosphere were different than the one I constantly see in my neighborhood. Unlike my area, this place has a very unique look to it. The buildings have an antique look to them. The walls have that Mission look to them; just like those that one would see in Mexico. The floors seemed to be in bad conditions, mostly because they are made out of brick and cement. 

            As I walked by the vending aisles, the first thing I noticed was the different yet same‑looking booths that the vendors had. All of what was for sale looked Mexican related. Everywhere and everything I saw were Mexican related portraits (of historic presentations such as the classic Aztec man holding the woman in his arms), samples of Aztec calendars, flags, wrestling masks (like those worn in the famous Lucha Libre), candies, food, etc. What surprised me the most was the obsession that the people there have towards Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a famous traditional event that occurs around the same time that Halloween does. Rather than being scared of it, scared of death, they celebrate it by face-painting themselves death-related features.

            From an outsider’s perspective, I am quite shocked with what I witnessed that day. Not ever in my entire life, had I seen and smelled different Mexican food all at once. The variety of food descended from good-smelling to nasty-smelling. I was hungry at first, but disgusted later. My family is Mexican; however, some of the foods that I saw were new to me. The smell was not the same smell from my mother’s cooking. I guess that’s because I am not adapted to other Mexican cooking. The environment was surely a space full of grease. Many of the foods were overwhelmed with fattening ingredients. Take the tacos and burritos for example. Normally people talk about how good yet how unhealthy a taco or burrito is at Taco Bell or Del Taco. None of those compare to the once served at the placita. There, you get the real stuff. Not a fake American-traditional taco (with hard corn shells), but an actual one wrapped with a heated tortilla with an enormous amount of grease pouring down whenever someone takes a bite. Don’t let the food make your perspective change, though. This place despite of its small size has so much to discover.

            Yes, the environment has its ruins, but then again, each city does. Though it has a unique look to it, to some people (tourist for example) the environment still looks just like any other place in Los Angeles. The walls are fulfilled by graffiti. The floors are overwhelmed by severe cracks and bumps. A lot of the old buildings lack beauty; however, that isn’t an excuse for the people there. They see the beauty with or without fancy looking pavements or buildings. They see beauty through tradition such as mariachi or ranchera singing, Aztec dancing, and Mexican female dancing (where women wear those long fruity dresses).  This place is such a sacred place to these people. It is considered another Mexico; a mini Mexico if I should say. Here people can unite and sense what they consider home.

Videos of The Placita Olvera

Dia de los Muertos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMcdlT2R5Yw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv0ysXDglOs

Aztec Dancing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJjVy9DCMzk

Mariachi Performers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We9As3B_WMY

Pictures of the Booths

Photos of the Buildings

Mini Essay 2

The City of Hope

            Many people think of Los Angeles as a bad environment to live, while others think the complete opposite. The media is such a very confusing appeal for many people. It has its own face towards society. It portrays negative thoughts towards this city to the rich, and it portrays the complete opposite to the poor. The media has a hypocritical mindset. It never sticks with one point of view. It is only people like me that have fully experienced this city that could make a final statement.

            The fact that the city looks like a mess, doesn't mean that all of L.A. is the same. There are some locations within this city that are nice-looking. I believe that every city not only in this nation, but in others also, have their different sides. They all have the new side and they all have their old side; just like we have our old side that most people consider the ghetto such as McArthur Park and South Central for example, New York deals with the same thing. It has its new side such as Manhattan the place where many movies take place whenever it deals with a chick flick love stories, and it also has the old side which most commonly is referred to as the Bronx; which is where violent movies with the theme of gangs would take place in. Despite of what the media has to say; despite of what others may think about my city, nothing changes my thoughts towards it. It might be a city with a lack of fashion; however, it is a city with hope. It has the power to change a person's mentality once you fully experience it.

            In the story Only Heaven by Marjorie Gelhorn Sa'adah, there is a portion that mentions luck within this city. She says that "sometimes you would just consider yourself lucky." This grabbed my attention and from then on began reflecting on it. I never took the values that this city has into consideration. This city unlike others has an enormous amount of resources to offer. It's given me the opportunity to complete my studies up till High School and also the opportunity of currently experiencing the "college life." It's given my family the opportunity to become not only residents of the United States, but also citizens.

            Most of my childhood was spent complaining about my environment. I used to spent time thinking why I was the one with bad luck; why was it me the one who had to live in an ugly location. I was very dubious. It is until now that I comprehend that luck is not defined by what the area looks like, but for what it has to offer. This city has done so much for me. Right now I am in other words, going to school with a free admition. My fee is already taken care of by others thanks to the financial resources that this city has. Now that I think about it, I am the one that should consider myself lucky. I’ve seen the world in a different perspective.

            Let this city be a part of your life. You can’t go wrong with L.A. It has so much for you to explore. It has so many paths to discover. This is a city with hope. This is a city of miracles; this is perhaps the reason why this is called “the city of angels.”

Enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgHx_PEtGD8&feature=related

Project Text Mini Essay 1

Los Angeles

            Los Angeles, the topic that's being discussed throughout the process of this assignment, Project Text, has been by far great. There's been interesting topics discussed such as what people think of Los Angeles and the media being a big part of it. There are pros and cons in this city; however, everyone sees this city through a different perspective. We could see this in some of the stories we’ve gone over. Being born and raised here in Los Angeles, I could reflect upon a time in my life and agree or disagree with some peoples thoughts.

            Cons, is what's most emphasized throughout the lectures and discussions in class. If we take a look at some of the stories such as Los Angeles and Interesting Times, the main focus that's portrayed are the Cons of Los Angeles; Cons such as the ugly and ghetto fashion that the city portrays; on how bad the lifestyle is here in this city. When reading and hearing this, I come to think of an environment where complete disorder is portrayed. A place so dam nasty that not even homeless people would want to live. But as I come back to the real world and analyze my surroundings, I could honestly say that it's actually not that bad. I've lived here in the San Fernando Valley, the outskirts of Los Angeles, my entire life and I could frankly say that not all of L.A. is ugly.

            There are definitely some Pros here in this city such as everything that it provides. It is a big city and there is always something new to discover. Yes indeed, there are some unattractive environments, but nothing that much of a deal. I guess the media has to do a lot with this. Sometimes the media portrays the nice-looking sides of Los Angeles and sometimes they show the complete opposite; it all depends to which audience they are aiming it to. This city has shaped me as an individual. It's made me the person I am today. Some of these discussions we've had in class have disturbed me a little, but it’s only due to the fact that to most people, this city is known for its Cons such as the ones mentioned. Other than that, I believe that all these discussions have been interesting.

            It's interesting to know what other people think about my city. It's interesting to see how much the media can affect the mentality of those who've never been to this city. We could see this in the story Interesting Times and Magic Hour. Both characters in these stories come to L.A. with the hope of being successful; however, they end up living in what they didn't imagine. It was till later that they were able to appreciate everything that the city has done for them. After reading these stories, I began reflecting to the time that my father told me his life story; about the experiences that he went through when he first came to America.

            My father just like the characters from the passages came to this country; to this city, with the hope of a better life. He hoped of being successful. My dad was not in the best situation money-wise. He heard from the media and/or friends or family members that life over here is easy; that everything is given to you. So on my dad goes believing everything he heard and leaving everything behind; his family and friends back in Leon Guanajuato, Mexico. My father came here as an illegal, and as one he worked hard so he could to stay financially up to date with the low income that he got. That myth that my father once heard; the one they said that life was easy here, became a lie to him. Just like the character from Interesting Times, he had trouble adapting to the lifestyle here in Los Angeles. It was till later that he was able to analyze all the good things that this city has done for him. He met the woman that is now known as his wife. Here is where they established a family. Here is where he experienced life in Interesting Times.

Progressions 2/Assignment 1

                                                    The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.	20

            The poem above is an excerpt written by the poet Robert Frost in the year 1920. The moral meaning behind this poem is to follow your own path because sometimes certain decisions can be life-changing. In the poem, Frost comes to a fork in which two paths appear in front of him. Frost wishes that he could take both of them; however, he could only take one. The roads in the poem symbolize life and the decision-making symbolizes destiny. Frost chooses to take the road that is less traveled. He chooses to leave the other one for another time. Frost choosing his own destiny is what caused his life to change. Frost then says that he doubts  he will ever get a chance to take the other road. The reason why Robert Frost shares this poem is to explain to us that in the real life, there are always going to be decisions that can't be changed. You will always wonder what the other choice may have brought you.

            After reading this passage, I began to realize that there is a connection between the message of the poem and myself. Throughout my life I've deled with many decision-making; however, there is only a specific one that has changed my way of thinking and living. This decision was chosen after I graduated from high school. In my case, the end of my high school years represents the fork in which Frost found himself before choosing his own path. In this situation, the two paths that laid in front of me were, (a) to get a job or (b) to further my education.

            I saw the large crowd of people that followed path A; therefore, I chose to take the road less traveled. I wanted to be different from the others, and just like Frost, I chose my own destiny. If it wasn't for this decision, I would have never experienced the challenges of a University. I would've probably stayed in that comfort zone and never make a difference in my life.The outcome of my decision is yet to come. Unlike Robert Frost, I do not doubt that I will ever get the chance to take the other road because once I complete path B and get my recognition, I will connect with a less traveled path A.

Here is my visual interpretation of the poem:

Follow your own path.

Exercise 3: Letter/Summary

Dear Jessica,

     In my English 113A class, I read a poem that reminded me about you in several aspects. This poem is called "It's a Woman's World" by Eavan Boland. At first, I had difficulty trying to understand this poem. But as I kept reading and annotating, everything was clear to me.
     In this passage, the whole purpose is to grab the male attention and giving them an understanding of what many women go through in a daily life. This passage includes several stereotypes such as, being housewives and being in the lower positions in the work force.
     Well, I can in a way disagree with this passage. The reason being is because you are perhaps one of the strongest and bravest women that I've known. This poem mentions "Like most historic peoples we are defined by what we forget, by what we never will be: star-gazers, fire-eaters." Well sister, you've never failed to accomplish any of your goals. You graduated this school within 3 years and accomplished to finish your credentials the following year. After that, you began working as a Spanish teacher with a good salary. Now, you are half way done with your Masters degree. Now, are you still asking me if this phrase corresponds to you? Well, my answer is "hell NO!!!" You are a star-gazer and a fire-eater.
     For many years, women have struggled into getting to the highest positions in the work force. The reason for this tragedy is because many men can't handle the fact of having a female leader. Men in all occasions want to be superior to women. In one of the epigraphs of this poem, the author mentions "by night our windows moth our children to the flame of hearth not history." What is meant by this phrase is that women are the household that keeps the house and family in shape, while the men on the other hand are out there making history. Once again sister, you've proven that this phrase does not apply to you. You and I know that your are out there making history.
     This poem also mentions "...of loaf left by the cashier, the washing powder paid for and wrapped..." What the author is trying to say is that, women still live with a domestic fear. As mentioned before, you are one of the strongest and bravest women that I've know. You have overcome that fear. You've never given me or the family the sense of giving up. You always push yourself into getting the best that there is to offer. This is why you are my inspiration. You are what give me the motive to achieve the high levels of success. THANK YOU!!! Thank you for not letting yourself down by the attitudes of our modern day society. You really are a Champion.

Sincerely,
Jose Segura