Subliminal Advertisement

 

 

 The picture above is an advertisement for the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean. On the right is a subliminal message of the movie. The skull icon has the shape of Mickey Mouse. This reminds people of Disney. The movie was also made by the company Disney. This wasn't really a bad overt message. This message maybe wasn't intentionally trying to promote their company, Disney. The real message of this advertisement, like every movie advertisement, was to promote the movie. Such like trailers. But because of the shape, many people have the perspective of it as Mickey Mouse, a key symbol of Disney. But there are other advertisements like this that sometimes take shape or there are words hidden in the advertisement. One popular company logo is Tostitos, where there are two people sharing a bowl of salsa. Another would be Toblerone.

 

You can also check other subliminal cooperate logos:

Here

Hidden Meanings

     I believe that most advertisements have a hidden message that supposedly justifies why consumers should buy their products. In many ads we see today, we see advertisements that are sexual. It's become normal to see inappropriate ads everyday, and this may be because celebrities are empowering women. Celebrities don't realize that their actions impact the society's perceptions of what is "cool". Humans have evolved to think that it's okay to show off skin.
     In this particular Guess ad, the obvious message to get people to buy the clothing is that wearing Guess clothes makes one look attractive. However, I think the ad is also selling the hidden idea that thin, seducing women are the only values women should have to be successful. This is not ethical at all because people who are smart are just as successful, if not more than enticing models. People can't help the way they are born. We are all different, and we shouldn't scorn each other for our differences. The absolute flawlessness of models portrayed in ads is impossible to achieve, and trying to accomplish it leaves people disappointed in themselves or others who can't achieve the look.
http://www.businessinsider.com/womens-fashion-magazines-are-selling-more-ads-2013-9

Week 7 Prompt

Hi Guys!

For this week, I want you to find an advertisement (any advertisement) that you think has an overt or hidden message? What is the ad actually trying to sell? What values is it trying to sell you too? Is that ethical?

Also, for next week's debate it may be helpful to do a little reading on the 3rd Wave of Feminism to help inform you how women may think that being sexual is empowering rather than degrading.

Can't wait to see you all next week. Good luck and don't forget to post a picture of your advertisement as part of your post!

Good luck!

Ms. Krissy

Advertising

     Watching the film in class last Friday really changed my thoughts. I have never thought that advertising could manipulate minds so much until recently. Kids younger than 8 years old really don't understand the complexity of society. They cannot self-monitor themselves, and the 1980 FTC ban on regulation of advertisements really is a downfall for everyone. It is understandable that marketers have to be convincing to make money, which will help the economy improve, but there needs to be some limitations to freedom of speech. 1 in 4 children between 8-12 years of age have cell phones, making it easy to be exposed to commercials. Some schools are placing ads in return for funding by companies, and many people don't even find this to be a problem. We must find a way to deal with responsibility.

     The link below is an advertisement for Apple's IPhone 5s. There are positive parts about the commercial, including musicians using tuners on the 5s, exercisers measuring heartbeats, and people powering rockets. However, my interpretation of the ad is negative. The job of a marketer is to convince consumers to buy the product. Ads are used to sway a person to see how great the product is. Young kids watching the ad don't realize what being persuasive is. They see an ad, and if they like it, they will want to buy the product. An IPhone is useful, but it is detrimental. Kids ask and beg their parents for merchandise, and parents often consent. Once kids have an IPhone, which is rather costly, they'll spend more time on it instead of going outside. Technology is a great thing to have, but it has given many a sedentary lifestyle that hurts our health. Obesity problems have gotten worse and worse from lack of exercise, and many diseases have occurred.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODmfmUWqlSA

Week 6 Prompt

Hi guys!

Sorry for late post. As I indicated in class, for this week's blog I want you to respond to the film and consider advertising. Find an advertisement and link it here. You should make an argument about your interpretation of the ad and the positive/negative implications of the ad.

We're going to continue this discussion so please come to class prepared. 

Ms. Krissy

Issues in Israel and Gaza

     The issues in Israel and Gaza have always occurred; this is not an issue that just suddenly happened. After World War 2, Jewish people were given parts of Palestine, but the Arabs who already lived there denied them. Gaza went to war in 1948, and the Palestinians who lived there fled to Israel, the new Jewish home. Hamas, a terrorist organization, soon rose to power after 2005. They refuse to recognize Israel and are using violence to gain back Palestinian territory. This is why rocket fires are constantly mentioned recently in the news. The Palestinians have no army, but they fire rockets on Israel, endangering the citizens.
     The Israeli army is fighting back through airstrikes, the recent one killing more than 200 Palestinians. Many countries are working to solve the fighting between Israel and Gaza, but nothing has worked so far. I believe the best solution is for Hamas to claim Gaza and the West Bank and create the new country Palestine. In return, Hamas should promise not to take over Israel or harm any of its people, while allowing the Israelis already living on the West Bank to live in peace.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/20436092
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/israel-gaza-conflict-what-you-need-to-know-1.1919373

Prompt Week 5

Hey guys!
You should have blogged/be blogging now about what is going on in Israel and Gaza. Discuss what the issues are and what you think some solutions may be.

Good luck!
Ms. Krissy

Uprising Issues in Iraq

  An al Qaeda breakaway group, that is apparently supported with other Sunni groups and fighters, have captured large portion of northern Iraq. Recently taking northeastern Syria, to create an Islamic state or caliphate. The Iraq's minority Sunnis accuse the Prime Minister Nouri al- Maliki of discrimination. Many blame the Prime Minister for refusing to form a more inclusive government. Because of this, many militant fighters take advantage of the breakdown and cross the border. The Iraqi territory recently seized by militants is populated mostly by Sunnis, many that see the Prime Minster more of a threat than the Islamic state. The Prime Minister is unwilling to share powers with the Sunni Arabs. The Sunni Arabs, of course protested. Thousands were arrested or detained and hundreds were killed by the government. Obama promised to send military aid to help Iraq fend off insurgency.
  Recent development have renewed the possibility that Iraq will be divided into 3 separate regions or nations. A Shiite section, a Sunni area, and a Kurdish zone. 
  ISIS, an acronym that is named the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, refers to the group's stated goal of restoring an Islamic state or caliphate. ISIS is a brutal group that is currently in conflict with al Qaeda. This is a political civil war about one group ignoring the needs of the other portion of their country. This fight is more of a power struggle than a religious war.

Religious War or not? 
What is going on with Iraq?
What is going on in Iraq (CNN)

MIddle Eastern Conflict

   Israel and Palestine are still at it in the Gaza strip. Hamas and other allied militants are firing rockets, mortars, and missiles into Israeli cities and towns, as time ticks on the rockets are finding their ways deeper and deeper into the country. At the same time, Israel is conducting airstrikes and air raids into the Gaza Strip. Israeli airstrikes are hitting civilians, Ceasefire Broker and Video on Israeli Airstrikes, enraging many. Israel says it's investigating into the matter, but I doubt anything will actually happen. Israel says that dozens of "terrorists" have been neutralized, but the Palestine health ministry says that many of those who have perished to the airstrikes were women and children. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon both pleaded to Israel and Palestine to exercise restraint, to prevent another full-blown war in the Middle East. Israel's Iron Dome system has intercepted many rockets shot by Palestinian militants. And Israel also has drones to in its arsenal for reconnaisance. Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip does not have any type of defense to Israeli airstrikes other than directing its  citizens to nearby cover, but there's not always a warning. 

Articles Used, you should look at these - 
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28245343

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28258448

Caliphates

Recently, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared an establishment of a caliphate on the first day of Ramadan, stretching from Aleppo in Syria to Diyala in Iraq. This is some background information about caliphates that was started by Prophet Muhammad.
http://www.vox.com/2014/7/10/5884593/9-questions-about-the-caliphate-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask

Issues in Iraq

     Al-Qaeda forces have been taking control of major cities in Western Iraq, creating a religious civil war. ISIS, or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is backed by Al-Qaeda forces, and is currently one of the wealthiest terrorist groups around. It all started with continuous tensions between the two groups of Iraq, the Shiites and the Sunni. Current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is a Shiite Muslim, along with many of the government officials. ISIS consists of Sunni militants, and they feel that they are left out from politics. This minority group has continued to gain extreme members due to the civil war going on in Syria, offering refuge to those who need it in return for trust.
     Most people view issues in Iraq as a bad thing. ISIS's attacks have continuously resulted in poor security for the citizens. Iraq's army itself is doubtful of its ability to continue to provide protection. To make matters worse, tens of thousands of refuges are escaping to Iraq from Syria. The Iraqi army needs to maintain the security of the border, and this is tiring out the security forces.
     These issues in Iraq are mostly bad, but there is some good. Today, citizens are able to protest about the poor government in Iraq. Provincial councils are becoming more influential to the government, and politics has become local to develop a civil society. The citizens of Iraq are not joining in on the violence, and society is working with the councils to provide better basic needs. Under Saddam Hussein 10 years ago, this was not occurring at all.
     Different countries have different views on this because no one knows what to do to solve Iraq's issue. In the United States, troops being in Iraq was negatively viewed, which is why President Obama withdrew all US forces in 2012. Now, there are "military advisors" there to assist Iraq, and the US cannot possibly withdraw completely from Iraq's issues. For sure, it is in everyone's interest to solve this long war. Continuous violence is not going to do any good for anyone.

http://inthecapital.streetwise.co/all-series/bullet-points-your-guide-to-understand-everything-thats-going-on-in-iraq-right-now/
http://www.usip.org/olivebranch/iraq-today-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly

The violence and conflicts happening in iraq

The Violence and Conflicts Happening in Iraq

     There are many conflicts and riots going on in Iraq today. There are two major terrorist groups in Iraq now. Al- Qaeda formerly led by Osama bin ladan and  ISIS is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.  Isis is currently the strongest terrorist group and is stopping Al-Qaeda from taking over Baghdad. ISIS is killing people on the streets of Iraq who disagree with what ISIS is doing and Shiite Islamic people in Iraq. ISIS also kills Al- qaeda members, and soldiers from other countries who do not help ISIS. ISIS is now damaging many places in Iraq. Many people fear that if ISIS takes over Iraq then Iraq will be badly damaged and easy to take over by another country. Many other countries are now sending military support to Iraq so ISIS can be stopped.Iran is currently one of the countries that are sending military support to stop ISIS.  Even though Iran is helping Iran cannot stop ISIS. This is very important because if ISIS takes over many people that dislike ISIS can be killed and Iraq will lose a lot of people. It is important that more countries send support to Iraq so ISIS will be stopped.

The Conflict in Iraq

      Al-Qaeda forces have recently taken control over some major cities in Iraq and are being backed by ISIS, in the hopes of redrawing the borders of the Middle East in order to create a new state that is ruled strictly by the Islamic Law.
      ISIS is an aggressive Sunni military group who have continued to terrorize the country and have already taken over the cities of Falluja, Mosul and Ramadi while on their way to Baghdad. Many people have agreed that Iraq is collapsing, and that they are about to take over the capital. However, on a deeper level, the fight is about politics, not religion. Their government in power is ignoring the needs and requests of the larger part of their country. Since the minister was deemed to be unwilling and reluctant in sharing his power with the Sunni Arabs, the Sunnis took matters onto their own hands. They rioted and protested across the streets of Baghdad, attracting the attention of the government. Hundreds were arrested and killed. Like ISIS, the Sunnis armed themselves, and the tragedies and protests only escalated until they got out of control. ISIS has launched a violent civil war on the country. 
         The Iraqi government is unable to stop the protests, since much of the negative attention is focused around their president, Nouri al-Maliki. Furthermore, their military lacks the weapons and training to effectively bring down the chaos. 
          Because of the civil war in Syria, ISIS has managed to gain support from other countries. The war has caused many extremists and refugees to seek out any protection they can, and ISIS has offered it. The group created a strong and almost trustworthy presence in underdeveloped cities, thus raising trust and loyalty and giving a rise to new terrorists. Obama recently announced that he would send a number of military advisers over to Iraq to grasp more knowledge of the needs of the government. 
         The events that are happening in Iraq are violent and upsetting because many civilians are getting killed along the way, and it needs to be sorted out as quickly as possible before more people get hurt. Violence will not cure anything and will only give a rise to more violence.

Week 3/4 Prompt

Hi guys!
I apologize for the delay. This week I want you to blog about what is going on in Iraq. Do some research. Is this a good thing? A bad thing? Why do different countries/groups have different views on this? What are their interests?
Don't forget there is no class this Friday. Thus, this week's topic on internet democracy will be moved to the following Friday!
Have a good holiday!
Ms. Krissy