Warm Up

I do agree that a worthy cause will not be sunk by an inept poster. The truth commercials best stick out in my mind as doing the best job of getting their point across. I am not a smoker but if I was I would take a long hard look at those commercials. The body bags filling the streets is a good wake up call as to the damage that smoking can do the body.

The Politics of Design

There is more to graphic designers that meets the eye. These articles discuss the roles that designers play in advertising. The designers are used and taken advantage of for the sole purpose of creating these advertisements, instead of being recognized for their own artistic abilities. Every minute detail of a product is disected and analyzed before it goes on the market.
Choosing a topic will be the most difficult part of the assignment. However, I am looking forward to writing this paper more than the last one. These articles did give a solid guideline for our paper.

Car Culture

The articles in Car Culture were very interesting. In the Prius-Hummer War article I found it intriguing that many singers and actors/actresses who make millions of dollars flash their cheap Priuses around Hollywood. One would think that in today's ego driven culture that all celebrities would spend a lot of money on their cars, but it is apparent that many stars still dare to be different. This is somewhat hard to believe but by doing this is hopefully others will take notice. They are role models, meaning people admire and look up to them, so if they do not have the flashiest of cars and do not get caught up in all of the material possessions, then neither will the majority of the public. This is not saying that all celebs have these inexpensive cars, because they don't, but the general public takes heed in what they drive. Everyone wants to have what the rich and famous have however, I don't forsee there being an overhaul of prospective car owners trading in their Beamer or Lexus for a Prius.

Mac or PC

I would choose a Mac over a PC. There is no specific reason other than I have grown acustomed to using it. My parents had one and now so do I. In my opinion its design is nicer than that of the PC too.

Song Lyrics Quote

"It is something unpredictable but in the end that's right I hope you had the time of your life."
-Greenday
I was first introduced to this song when I was watching an episode of E.R. A young boy with leukemia was laying in his hospital bed being tended to by a doctor and then the song started playing. This song makes me thankful for good health and makes me take nothing for granted. Life is what you make of it so live life to the fullest.

Short Writing Assignment #1

1) "Swamp Dog" by Kwame Dawes



2) This poem is told through the eyes of african american females. The main point is that these girls are overlooked because they are very hard working and do not act like the typical 'white girls'. Guys do not give them any attention since they are not the prototypical, prim and proper girl. Despite this they keep their heads up knowing that their situation will only get better. By remaining true to themselves good things will happen to them.

3) Lines 5-8

4) The girls appear to be envious of the attention that the 'other girls' get from the boys in lines 1-4. They are frustrated that they are not treated fairly and that their hard work goes unnoticed in lines 5-10.

5) This poem does use rhyme and rhythm which is used to get the authors point across.

6) The features that I have identified in 4 and 5 contribute to the poems overall meaning and theme. Despite their obvious inferiority the white girls they know that the grass is greener on the other side. As long they continue to persevere things will turn out in their favor.

Thesis: This paper will argue that through hard work and perserverance all things all possible. These African American girls are under the radar and no one pays them any mind but one day they will rise up and overcome.

Inhabiting and Transforming a Poem

1)Character
by Taslima Nasrim

You’re a girl
and you’d better not forget
that when you step over the threshold of your house
men will look askance at you.
When you keep on walking down the lane
men will follow you and whistle.
When you cross the lane and step onto the main road
men will revile you and call you a loose woman.

If you’ve got no character
you’ll turn back,
and if not
you’ll keep going
as you’re going now.

2) This poem is about teaching a girl the proper mannerisms of how to act like a woman always. There is always a certain way that women should act and carry themselves. If a woman forgets these things she will be judged differently and men will take advantage. A woman who maintains her composure and character will succeed in life.

3) Men will disrespect women if allowed to do so. Women must not abstain themselves from these situations but if confronted with this problem women should handle it appropriately. This means women should be the bigger person.

4) The narrator of the poem is a woman. She is speaking to all females in general, but more specifically to the young girls out there entering adulthood. There doesn't appear to be a close relationship between the narrator and the speaker.

5) The overwhelming theme of the story is that a persons character defines who they are. How a person reacts to certain situations shows their character.

VideoTape

This is a very interesting story. The story takes a peculiar turn of events as what seemed to be an ordinary taping of a man in a car transforms into the videotaping of a homicide. It amazes me that a little girl so sweet and innocent could unknowingly tape something so vile and corrupt. The amount of violence that occurs in this country never ceases to amaze me but the fact that it was caught on tape surprises me. In this day in age the chances of catching a murder on tape and then living to tell about it are slim to none. This girl, the Video Kid, captured the infamous Texas Highway Killer in the act. These tragic events had a serious effect on her childhood. It is amazing how tragedy can bring us as people together. No matter if we knew the victim or not the community always comes together to show each other support in our times of need. This story exemplifies this. Heart ache and sadness must be faced together.