EXTRA CREDIT!!

When we had to post what our favorite blog was at the beginning of the semester, I had no idea where to even look. I used Google to find an interesting looking one, but that shows how much blogging experience I had before this course. Blogging has become another useful form of communication; therefore, it was a pretty positive learning experience for those who had never learned to blog in the past. Also, doing the blogs every week would help us to learn the material for the class. I did not really have any difficulty using the blogs. The more difficult blogs were the ones that were less interesting, but that obviously depends on the person. One that I found interesting and easy to do was the star system blog. I would recommend using a blog in future courses because I feel like it taught me a lot. Whether it was about the reading assignment or lectures that week, or about blogging in general, it had positive effects that should be performed in future courses. I don’t really have any suggestions to improve the blogging. It was annoying to have to come back to reality on the weekends every Sunday, but it was a learning experience, and that’s what college is about!

Globalization

Globalization is when nations, cultures, and people become increasingly interconnected.  Creating media has become easier over time, and also less pricy.  Because of this the production of media has leaked over into other countries, not just the United States.  Globalization is spread through forms of technology like the internet or cellular phones, and in a more modern language facebook and texting.  The uses of technology have beneficial perks like keeping society informed about the world. 

 Cultural imperialism is when the strongest culture blends with the less dominant ones and the effects are noticed.  This process reflects imbalance in global power structure. 

The US remains the dominant country when it comes to music, television, and films. An example of a film that represents cultural imperialism is Slumdog Millionaire.  The film was spoken in English, while the questions asked were Indian related.  Slumdog Millionaire is a global release, and global releases hold a large profit for production companies in the United States.  This could very well be why much of American films, music, and television can be found all over the world.

Gets me every time...

One of the common characteristics of advertising includes grabbing the viewer’s attention.  After reading the assignment and thinking about certain advertisements that made an impact on the way I feel, a particular commercial came to mind.  When the Sarah Mclachlan animal cruelty commercial comes on, it tugs at my heart and makes me want to call the number on the screen without a second thought.

The first thing you see when the advertisement begins is a pitiful looking dog, and then the text “every single hour in BC, an animal is violently abused.” The add then continues to show sad looking animals while playing a very depressing song by Sarah Mclachlan. Sarah gives the number to call for help. By the end of the commercial I’m asking my mom if we can have another pet.

The appeal used in this advertisement discussed by Professor Straubhaar would be the nurture, guidance appeal. The definitions of nurture include: to feed and protect; to support and encourage, as during the period of training or development;   to bring up; and to train.  When the music, pictures, texts, and speech given by Sarah all come together, the viewer is persuaded that the animals need someone to nurture them and guide them to a better life.  Another plus to the add is a celebrity is the one telling us we should make the call. Professor Straubhaar made clear nothing sells like a celebrity.

Not only does this add tug at my heart while it is playing, but it’s even been a topic discussed days later at school; therefore, it definitely grabbed the attention of its viewers.