Philadelphia Freedom

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: once the capitol of the United States of America, the founder of the cheese steak, and the home of our country’s independence.  Some call it The City of Brotherly Love, but I like to call it home.  The natives of Philly see the close up of the city (bums on the street corners, trash thrown everywhere, and too many tourists).  The tourists see the city in a much different way.  They see the history and vast land of street lights and skyscrapers.  Through all native eyes there is beauty and filth.

One mention of the city and people envision the scene from Rocky Balboa  as he runs up the Art Museum steps in victory.  They too dream of this victory that Philly brings.  They see Love Park, the worldwide icon of brotherly love.  In a place where crime is seen daily and violence is nothing new, there stands a statue of love.  It is not “Always Sunny in Philadelphia” in the literal sense, but the city shines with the street lights of South Street.   When little children around the world fall sleep, South Street comes to life.  With stores like Condom Kingdom and magnificent restaurants, no one can resist the sinful temptation of Philly’s most notable street. 

Philadelphia is known for its overzealous sports fans and their big egos.  One can only learn to appreciate their “phaith” and “phight” after they walk in their shoes through Citizens Bank Park.  One can always expect a game to be playing in this city.  Even if you are not a phan, the pride these people have in their city causes one to feel the phever.  The streets of Cottman and Frankford Avenues look like the average Philadelphia intersection with bustling cars and road raged honking drivers on your average day.  But if there is a win (no matter what Philly sports team), you can expect the streets of Frankford and Cottman to be packed with screaming supporters.  Usually at this time the night sky is dark and the only source of light comes from the street lights.  Everyone in the whole city (even a few South Jersey folks who wish they lived on the other side of the Delaware River) comes together in sheer bliss for their home team.  For one night, everyone loves everyone else in Philadelphia and there is no news of harm or violence.  For one night, the city is at peace.  Nowhere else can you find this freedom, this “Philadelphia Freedom” that takes over you from the inside. 

Speaking of the inside, Philly sure knows how to satisfy your stomach.  The hardest question is not what to eat, but where? Geno’s or Pat’s?  It doesn’t matter if you’re a local or a visitor.  It doesn’t matter if it’s a hot summer’s day or a cold winter’s night, for there will always be a line for a real Philly cheese steak and you will never be disappointed.  If you’re not in the mood for a cheese steak, you can have your pick of crab from Chickie’s and Pete’s on Robbins Avenue or a Philly soft pretzel.  Only a true Philadelphian knows that here, we have “wooder” not water and it is called a hoagie, not a sub.  The smell of the divine food always travels through the air and into the streets.  In Philadelphia, you put two condiments on every meal, cheese and grease.

As you step foot onto Arch and Chestnut Streets you feel the patriotism of Philadelphia.  The home of the American Flag and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  The American figures involved in these monumental events are long gone, but on these streets they live on forever.  Betsy Ross sits on her rocking chair outside of her house and sews the flag every day.  John Hancock stands in Independence Hall ready to write his signature into history.  Benjamin Franklin still greats every visitor from the top of the capital building.  He is no longer the highest point of the city thanks to the Comcast Building and many others, but all eyes still fall upon him.  People travel far and wide to set their sights on a bell with a crack on the side of it that misspells Pennsylvania.  Years ago, the Liberty Bell hung from the tower of Independence Hall and rang to declare our country’s independence from England.  It no longer hangs is the tower or rings to let the nation know of our independence.  It may no longer ring, but just the sight of it sitting in The Liberty Bell Center makes one proud to be from Philadelphia, an original.  

11 of 12 Are visual arguments writing?

Yes. They are writing without words.  Writing is expression.  Pictures are expression.  Writing is thought.  Visual arguments are thought.  Writing is love.  Pictures are love.  WSC 001 is love.  R.I.P.

Say what you need to say before it's too late.  Pictures, words, acting.  They are all ways of expressing ourselves.  They are writing with photography, words, and movement.  They all come together as one.

Philadelphia Freedom: my feelings as I edit this paper...goes into 12 of 12

I read my first draft to my best friend who attends East Carolina University.  She started to cry.  She has not been back home since August and the images that this paper gave her brought her to tears.  Now, here I sit editing it...crying.  I feel like a New Yorker trying to ruin what my hometown has brought me.  Whenever I read this paper in my head, I read it with a South Philly accent.  I am not crying that I miss home so much, but that I am ruining what home means to me and every other Philadelphian.  The changes may be phonetically and grammatically correct, but that ain't want Philly is about.  As Freddy Jones once said in The School of Rock, "Rock isn't about getting an A. Sex Pistols never won anything.Don't let The Man get you down".  Philly is all about imperfection.  Why else do you think we have a cracked bell and a statue of a fake boxing hero?  We just do what we want to do and what we were taught to do.

That is my advice to future students who take this class.  F up.  Do it.  Stick it to the man.  You are your own person and no one can take that away from you.  Yes, I am going to edit this paper, but I am going to keep the original close to my heart.  Future class, don't think too much and never stress.  There are no rules to writing no matter what Bolter and Trimble try to tell you.  Lay tells you to do what you know.  If you feel overwhelmed, blog about it.   If you feel like s#!t, say it.  There is no rule book or manuel for you.  Be who you are and write the same way.  Do not try to be perfect.  Being yourself is the closest thing to perfect we have in this world.  Hey, if you want, be someone else, as long as it's who you want to be.  Stay classy and blog for life!

Rage Analysis

“The world told is a different world to the world shown” (Kress 1).  My four-letter word project was on the word rage, and it consisted of pictures of shadowed figures over children being yelled at, children being slapped or hit, children crying, bruised faces and bodies, small caskets, and grave stones of children.  The final picture is a concrete angel which symbolizes the purity of these children and how they will be hurt no longer.  The song I chose to play while displaying this visual presentation was “Concrete Angel” by Martina McBride.  This song really sums up my visual argument.  It backs up the meaning of the pictures.  The presentation argued that rage can lead to abuse, more specifically child abuse.  Thus, the argument is explicitly: we need to stop this abuse and save the lives of these innocent children. 

Part 2

J. Anthony Blair considers something to have truth value if it can be accepted or rejected.  Rage can lead to parents abusing their children.  The pictures of the shadow yelling at a crying or scared child prove that these parents are angry.  The pictures of the parent about to hit their child show that this rage has lead to abuse.  This expression has truth value.  It affirms visually that rage can lead to the abusive of a child and that this needs to be stopped.  The pictures of wounded children and grave stones further affirm that this rage and abuse need to end.  We need to save a child.  My visual argument can be accepted.  The rage leads to abuse that can lead to death.  The presentation has truth value. 

Part 3

            The reason for my presentation is to show people how rage can turn into abuse.  The claim is that rage can be destructive.  It can lead to the harm and even death of an innocent child.  We need to stop the rage in order to save these children’s lives.  These claims are shown all throughout the project.  The order of the pictures shows how anger can lead to abuse.  The abuse then can lead to bruises and injuries which can unfortunately lead to the death of a child.  All of the pictures show this progression.  These claims are expressed very successfully.  Some pictures are a bit graphic, but they really get the point across.  The viewer gets to feel the pain of the children through these graphic pictures.  The claims in my opinion were expressed in the best way possible.  The pictures showed you how bad rage and abuse can get.  The pictures of the tomb stones at the end of the presentation made the rage real.  The viewer can clearly see that these children died too young and it needs to end.

Part 4

            The visual presentation was predictable in that children would show up in every picture and that they would be feeling pain in some way.  It was predictable right off the bat that the song playing was not a very joyous one and all of the pictures that followed were not either.  The images support the expressiveness of this project by making you feel for these children.  They are touching images that have obvious meaning when put together.  They tell a horrific story of the abusive and sometimes short life that some children go through. 

Part 5

            The order of a visual production is the key to the whole presentation and argument.  It tells a story.  The story of my presentation was rage which lead to abuse which lead to pain and eventually death to those who were not saved.  Visual productions are ordered in a way that presents meaning to the viewer.  It makes your argument known.  The organization of the video can make or break it.  It is the difference between the viewer understanding the video and being in utter confusion.  The order of images sets the tone and makes your argument stronger if done correctly. 

Part 6

            Visual arguments can be successful if done correctly.  Of the presentations I viewed in class many made meaning and were successful, but some of them left me confused and bewildered.  Some people like Anna and Mike back up their work with a lot of underline meaning.  Visual arguments need to be to the point to be understood completely.  Too much hidden meaning can cause confusion.  Images can do what writing does if done correctly.  If the presentation is done to get a simple but powerful point across, images can do what writing does.  There are limits both writing and visual.  I believe that minimal writing with images is the ultimate argument.  The images put you in the scene and make you feel while the words let you understand.  Images can definitely do things that writing cannot.  I would have not been able to write about the child’s bloody face or even the small casket and tomb stones.  The images of these things hit you so much harder than the words could ever do.  Blair says in “The Possibility and Actuality of Visual Arguments”, A single visual image can probably be more powerful than a single verbal assertion (23).  For some, they also capture your attention much more than words.  On the other hand, writing opens up your imagination to endless possibilities outside of this world.  It can explain a situation more in depth.  Images and words together are like peanut butter and jelly.  They are both good separately, but put them together and your sandwich is complete.  

10 of 12

Never waste your alcohol.  Never waste your words.  Once we put it out there, we can never get it back.

You don't want to regret what you say or do.  You cannot take back spoken word and when we delete something we write, someone may have already read it.  If they read it, it once existed and you cannot take that out of their head.  Think before you act and keep the thoughts coming.  In Rodney Jones' case it's drink before you act and keep the alcohol rumming.

9 of 12

When I put on text, I expect people to read it most of the time.  Sometimes I don't even realize that I'm wearing text.  We wear these texts because we find them appealing.  We buy them to capture our own attention and we wear them to capture other people's attention.  This question is actually really fitting at the moment.  I enjoy writing on blogs to write for myself.  I don't need anyone else to read my writing and accept or reject it.  It makes me feel awkward and vulnerable.  I am writing for myself, my health, and my sanity.

I don't think I have any readers on Twitter considering I don't have a Twitter.

The texts we wear and tweet succeed at making meaning.  They are what we feel or what we do.

Corrections Corrections Corrections!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pantene

Pantene over exaggerates their point just to sell their product.  It captivates their audience with a story about a deaf girl who learns how to play the violin. This girl falls in love with the instrument.  Playing the violin takes her to a place where she feels like she can hear the music and is free from harm. Pantene tries to tell us that its shampoo is the reason behind her success.  They want us to think that she receives a standing ovation because Pantene gave her the confidence to shine.  The message of this commercial is that if we buy this product, we can achieve extraordinary things and have great hair all at the same time.

The violinist finds her place with the help of her mentor, a lowly street performer.  This place is a figment of her imagination. It is a field with tall grass that blows in the wind.  This is the place that her mind travels to when she plays music.  In the commercial her mentor says, music is a visible thing.  When her hand touches the grass in this field, the motion represents the way she can feel the music.  The image of the grass and the sun in the field is symbolic of her being able to see the music. In this field she is free from everyone who has ever told her that she can’t play.  All of their voices are silenced and all she sees is beautiful music.  She sees this music in the grass blowing in the wind and the sun shinning.  The deaf violinist is free to be herself.  She is free and alive in this place.  Pantene tells us that by using their product, we will be able to find a place where nothing can ever go wrong.  This place allows us to shine.

AT&T

AT&T has a commercial with Hansel and Gretel.  They walk around the streets of a large city by themselves.  These two small children use AT&T’s service to find their way around. Hansel and Gretel start out on their journey at a walking pace. They only start to skip when they use the GPS on their AT&T phone.  Their skipping implies that they are extremely happy that they have AT&T to assist them.  AT&T wants us to think that these children feel safe and secure with the quality of their service. They want their audience to believe that AT&T will always be working for them when we are in a predicament.

The purpose of this commercial is to inform us that AT&T’s service is the best and that the customer will feel confident and safe as long as you have their product. Do people always feel this comfortable and secure while using technology? The answer is absolutely not.  AT&T is my cell phone provider and I still speed up my steps when I am walking alone. I have never once started to skip with a huge smile on my face because I felt safer having my phone with me. AT&T wanted to make a point that we will be happy with their service. They want parents to believe that their children will be safe walking random city streets alone once they purchase AT&T merchandise.

Heineken

  Heineken has a commercial with a German woman who shows her friends her new house. She opens up a door and all of her friends scream with glee at the sight of her walk-in closet filled with clothing.  In this same commercial, a man who lives in the same house shows his walk-in closet to his friends.  It’s a room full of beer, but not just any beer, it’s Heineken.  The man’s friends scream the exact same way that the woman’s friends scream. One bothersome  observation is that the man had beer and the woman had clothes. I can see that Heineken's audience is men. The commercial was played during the Super Bowl which backs up the fact that it was made for guys to watch. This commercial stereotypes males and females. It tells us that men should drink beer and be manly while women should care about clothing and the way that they look.  

                Why doesn’t the woman have a closet full of beer?  Why do the men get to drink alcohol while the women shop for clothes? Heineken’s commercial was made for the male audience, but they could have included females also.  They are going along with the stereotypes of society.  They want to show that a room full of their product is like a room full of nice clothes. Girls can get giddy over clothes while guys get excited about beer.  They are saying that if you have Heineken, you are living a life of luxury. Heineken focuses their commercial on what males like.  Heineken can still make a successful commercial without downgrading men and women by using stereotypes. 

Doritos

  The commercial that I chose was Allen's commercial about Doritos.  It involves a man who is going on a date.  He is quickly told the guidelines by his date’s young son.  The son smacks the man across the face and makes it clear that the man should not touch his Momma or his Doritos.  He is really protective of these two objects.  You can tell from the commercial that the boy does not trust this man, because he is trying to take the two things that the boy holds highest.  The woman's son sets these house rules right away so that the man knows that he meant business. 

The young boy does not want this man anywhere near his mother or his Doritos. Why does this commercial compare these two things?  Doritos wants to make it a point that its product is as important to you as your own mother.  This concept is ridiculous, but they want to get it stuck in your head that you need Doritos in your life just like you need your mother.  The Doritos Company is really stretching this motion.  They want you to question if these chips are so amazing that you cannot go another minute without them. Doritos tells its viewers that these chips are so amazing that they will not want to share them with anyone.  The commercial gets the point across that we should all protect our mommas. But more importantly, it tells us to protect our Doritos.