The Axe Effect

The Axe Effect 

The Axe effect is highly effective in American pop culture, and it's not because of the product itself. Axe does a tremendous job at selling their products by advertising in a way so desirable to their audience, whether they consciously know it or not. Everyone knows that sex sells, but where is the line in marketing? In signs of life, the authors explain these clever marketing tactics, saying “Advertisers may shape consumer fantasies, but they need raw material to work with, the subconscious dreams and desires of the marketplace. As long as these desires remain unconscious, advertisers will be able to exploit them. But by bringing the fantasies to the surface, you can free yourself from advertisements often hypnotic grasp.” The commonly recognized idiom chosen by Axe for this ad play on exactly that. It is a derogatory saying in reference to women and the women rights movements. Usually, this is expressed by a man and not females. Although, this advertisement looks like the sororities sisters are having 'girl talk,' I can assure no girl talks about her body this way. Don't be tricked into consumerism!

Maasik, Sonia, and Jack Solomon. Signs of Life in the U.S.A.: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers. Bedford/St. Martins, 2015.
Singer, Natasha. “Making Ads That Whisper to the Brain.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Nov. 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/business/14stream.html.
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News Negativity

Watching news on TV has become depressing for a lot of people, the reports that are shared are mostly somber. News organization have become more focus on reporting the discouraging things that happen around the world than the noble things. The need to be informed about news around the world is understandable, however, there is too much negativity and focus on simpler topics that have become over dramatized by the news media. “News is about things that happen, not things that don’t happen. We never see a journalist saying to the camera, “I’m reporting live from a country where a war has not broken out”— or a city that has not been bombed, or a school that has not been shot up.” The way news organizations use pathos is a way of gaining more viewers because we tend to give more interest to dreadful news. According to The Guardian article “People rank tornadoes (which kill about 50 Americans a year) as a more common cause of death than asthma (which kills more than 4,000 Americans a year), presumably because tornadoes make for better television.”

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/17/steven-pinker-media-negative-news

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Facebook Taking Steps

In April of 2019, Facebook announced its new method for filtering out fake news from its platform. The software, Click-Gap, indexes all of the internet in search for sites that primarily get visited through Facebook. The social media platform then hinders the amount of attention these sites get by decreasing its popularity. Facebook defends this method by arguing that websites like those that mainly use Facebook to get exposure highlights that these sites do not have a good enough reputation to earn these views on their own. Specifically, Facebook states that, “This can be a sign that the domain is succeeding on News Feed in a way that doesn’t reflect the authority they’ve built outside it and is producing low-quality content.” The social media platform hopes to help news sources head in the right direction in stopping the production and spread of inaccurate information. 

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/10/facebook-click-gap-google-like-approach-to-stop-fake-news-going-viral.html

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Spotlight (2015)

The Film Spotlight, released in 2015, tells the story "of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese" and is a very powerful example of whistleblowing. After watching, I can't help but commend these heroic journalists at the Boston Globe for risking their careers and wellbeing to expose such an atrocity. This film won best picture at the Academy Awards the year it was released and I truly cannot recommend it enough. This true story is a great example of why journalists are so important in our society, acting as a gatekeeper of information to the general public.

IMDB film link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1895587/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

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Is Google Making Us Stupid?

Is Google Making Us Stupid?

In the article “Is Google Making Us Stupid,” the author suggests that Google could be diminishing our brain power. He describes the internet as a “universal medium,” delivering answers without requiring any self-contemplation. Our capability to concentrate is stolen, inhibiting us to think on deeper levels.   The internet is very influential and can take away from the learning experience, however, it is a critical tool for global growth that should be used meticulously. The author is right when he describes the internet as an influential power over us that we often don't think twice about. Information floods into our minds at such an alarming rate we hardly have a second to think “What are we taking away from this?” He says  “Our minds are expected to take in information the way the Net distributes it; swiftly moving the stream of particles,” and I agree with Nicholas. These “streaming particulars” carve out our active channels of thought, shifting the way we think. Trying to form our own personal opinion when we digest so much news becomes overwhelming and our personal judgment gets cloudy. Often we see people get held back from their full thinking potential simply because it certainly takes much less time and brain power to say “Hey Google.”Google makes it so we think smarter, not harder. I say this because of my own personal experiences growing up with the computer. I am currently taking an online math class. For me, the information I get from Google doesn't just help me solve problems but helps me to learn the process better. In traditional classes, how the teacher teaches doesn't always connect to me, especially in math. I have a really hard time with math and google is a tool for me. When I get confused I go on Youtube and look up the process of how to solve the equation I’m working on. Very often I learn more in 3 minutes than I did in a classroom for 2 hours and I actually understand it so I can do it on my own. I don’t just use Google for answers. I also use it for a better understanding. Google makes it easier for me to learn. Ultimately, Google doesn't make us stupid if we are careful about what we believe.

Carr, Nicholas. “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 13 June 2018, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/.

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What is "Fake News" Exactly?

There is always a slogan that goes around of the saying "fake news", normally it tends to be something said not in one's liking. But how exactly do we know what fake news is? Well, according to Pace University, fake news is simple to point out. The university broke down fake news into four different categories to give us more of an understanding on what is fact based and what is not. Category one of fake is the "fake, false, or regularly misleading websites that are shared on Facebook and social media." Category two the websites that might articulate false news, their category are the websites that use clickbait advertisements, and last but not least, category four which are the comedy and satire sites. 

Source: https://libguides.pace.edu/fakenews

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It Is Up to Us

The term of “fake news” has made a grand entrance into our recent lives. The idea of posting information that it is not accurate or credible has caused quite the commotion in our society. Some say it is up to the news sources to fact check in order to prevent this. However, these are the very sources that are supposedly creating this disinformation. Therefore, a more probable solution might be to put the responsibility in the hands of the readers. We can try to simply inform people of how to recognize the potential of bias or inaccurate information. By illustrating the danger that disinformation has on the mind in its ability to infiltrate memory and distort it, we have more of a chance of prevention. In a study performed, “researchers found even one presentation of a headline (that was false) was enough to increase belief in its content.” Whether people realize it or not, every headline we read has an effect on our opinions and views. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to warn people and stop fake news from twisting our minds.

Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/how-fake-news-can-infiltrate-your-mind-and-how-to-stop-it
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What Americans Keep Ignoring

What American Keep Ignoring

In the article “Finland’s Success: What Americans Keep Ignoring”, Anu Partanen advocates the Finnish educational system by contrasting with the United States by comparing scores from a worldwide survey from the economic cooperation and development called the PISA. It covers math, reading and science skills, which Finnish students have ranked at the very top percent since the 2000s alongside South Korea, China, and Singapore. Unlike the strict demands of Asia’s educational tactics, Finland assigns much less homework and encourages more creative play for a healthier state of being. In addition, Finland has found a way to eliminate economic inequality from educational institutions, ensuring every Finnish student has the same and equal opportunity for a sound education. Anu Partanen uses supported logic in telling of her extensive research to improve educational standards in the United States with reference to Pasi Sahlberg, director of Finnish ministry of the education center for international mobility, adding credibility and a mastery level of understanding in her tone. She thoroughly analyzes Sahlberg’s approach to administration, advocating that as a country we need to adhere to Finnish customs on how education should be delivered. She does this by demonstrating how economic inequality is accountable for the educational demise for all students in the united states and the elimination of is the reason for success in Finland. Finland has no private schools, only public institutions. This makes it a fair game for students, as well as the teachers and academic institutions. Administrators are honored and the field of education is highly respected, a masters degree is required and they have compensated accordingly. She also acknowledges the strangeness and complexity of Finnlands strategies. She stated, “Indeed, Finland's population of 5.4 million can be compared to many of American states.” This conveys authenticity and honesty which strengthens the connection with her readers, letting them know that she understands how hard this is for Americans to grasp.

Partanen, Anu. “What Americans Keep Ignoring About Finland's School Success.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 17 Feb. 2017, www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/12/what-americans-keep-ignoring-about-finlands-school-success/250564/.
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Stopping Disinformation?

Fortunately for everyone, democracies across the world realize the incredible issue of disinformation roaming around our everyday lives, specifically in social media. While the United States recognizes this problem, we have not yet taken the steps that Europe has to end it. The European Union enacted an Action Plan Against Disinformation, which created funding for preventing disinformation. “Google, Facebook, Twitter and Mozilla have signed onto an E.U. voluntary Code of Practice.” This step has clearly not stopped the problem, but it is working towards reducing it. However, in the United States, we do not even know who to pin this problem on. It is essential that we take steps in the right direction like Europe in order to further limit the production of disinformation. 

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/06/17/europe-is-starting-tackle-disinformation-us-is-lagging/?utm_term=.0343220e2788  

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A Know-It-All Man

A literal, know-it-all man named Ben Shapiro is a well popularized political figure. I came across some of his videos scrolling through twitter the other day and that soon led me to looking up his youtube channel. Scrolling through his channel, I soon stumbled upon a specific video that was tagged with Fox News on gun control after the Parkland tragedy. Later, there was a walkout during school hours to protest gun reform. Some students didn't want to participate because they didn't believe in gun reform, but didn't want to look bad for not participating for those who were lost. Shapiro helped those students be able to participate and not feel bad for not by giving them the idea of making posters that said something just about the young lives that were lost. Overall, Shapiro is a man of knowledge of knowing the right thing to do.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-A0NqcBc60

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Republicans vs Democratic

I’m a Republican and don’t understand the ways of Democratic. Their opinions and ways of thinking I just don’t understand. Their ideas confuse me and I believe they are not for the people. Again it’s my opinion but please tell me if you are a Dem, why?

To bomb or not to bomb

My opinion on bombing Iran is it needs to be done and my total belief is to block all airspace in Middle East. If we don’t strike now Iran will think we are weak and attempt more. Now President Trump has called off  air strikes to Iran. I’m not sure why he is calling it off for now what happens next. But I think it’s time to get it done. What do you think, to bomb or not to bomb?

Facebook Political Fights

What is happening nowadays on our social media? Where it use to be a place to reconnect with friends and families, but it has become a war and hatred. Maybe because we have our own opinions and think we know best. Or is it we believe what someone else is saying and stating on Facebook. Years ago it was a fun place but now it seems the millennials want to argue with the elders and it becomes so ugly and hurtful. I don’t unfriend for political reason but if it becomes ugly I do. We live in a sad place now.

Legend Says...

Ranging from Bloody Mary to Creepy-pasta threads, everyone knows urban legends. The stories we heard as children and thought to be true are spread to scare children around the world. The more they scare, the more they're spread, and the more widespread the belief. Urban legends become popular because of its elements of mystery, horror, and humor. "Often they serve as cautionary tales. Some urban legends are morality tales that depict someone, usually a child, acting in a disagreeable manner, only to wind up in trouble, hurt, or dead."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_legend

Fox News vs NPR

In todays’ society, news is a major influencer on human thoughts. The way certain topics are conveyed on different news outlets may change the perspective of the reader. We will analyze a certain topic from two different news sources, NPR and Fox News. The topic of discussion is on the Trump Iran strike. The articles from both the news sources are fairly objective. They state facts. An example from the NPR article is “Upon hearing the projected toll, Trump said, he decided that the strike was not "proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone." The only difference between the style of the two articles is in the Fox news article they use a lot more adjectives in their article which is not found in the NPR articles. The following excerpt demonstrates this. “In a stunning tweet thread, the president said the U.S. was "cocked & loaded to retaliate"

Source 1: https://www.npr.org/2019/06/21/734683701/trump-reportedly-orders-strike-on-iran-then-calls-off-attack-plan

Source 2:

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-called-off-retaliatory-strike-against-iran-in-last-minute-wsj

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All The President's Men

In June of 1972, the Watergate scandal took place. The movie was based on Bob Woodward's and Carl Bernstein's non-fiction novel "All The President's Men." The book and movie detail the investigation into the Watergate Scandal, which showed most of the sources that worked with the men. The movie displays more on the importance of the reportage of the Scandal itself rather than simply recounting the events and details that had actually happened in real life. In the beginning scenes, the 29 year old Bob Woodard, a junior reporter for the Washington Post and is asked by his editor to cover the Watergate burglary that had taken place. Woodward is initially dissatisfied with the topic of coverage because he felt as if there were nothing to cover, however, looking back into our past, Woodward was going to be in for one of the best stories out there in the 70s.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAGNFnI7mZ4
                                                   
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Clicks or the truth?

In 2019 we have more people than ever on social media which means we also have a great number of creators on websites such as Youtube. This means all these creators compete for our time and clicks. This has led to a great amount of fake news being spread, by using clickbait titles which exist to simply get views while not always being truthful. According to The Guardian, "If you want to make money from YouTube, then – to reduce its constantly changing monetisation rules into their simplest terms – you need a shedload of views. In order to get those views, and compete with the billions of other videos on the site, some content creators are resorting to highly unethical behavior " This unethical behaviors include some straight up lies and on a website where children frequent, it is a huge problem. The words these creators use tend to be very tacky and misleading which are definitely not good rhetorical devices to be using.

Source: 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/24/happy-birthday-youtube-terrifying-cesspit-clickbait-13

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Putin vs Fake news

It is very common to see fake news nowadays, and it seems the Russian Government is taking steps to stop this. Vladmir Putin has signed a new law to ban the spread of news they deem to be "fake". What is especially interesting about this is that they considered information that disrespects the state to be grouped under the news that can be penalized as well. According to The Moscow Times, "Insulting state symbols and the authorities, including Putin, will carry a fine of up to 300,000 rubles and 15 days in jail for repeat offenses." What someone may consider to be insulting is very subjective so this is concerning that simply criticizing your government could land you in jail. 

Source: https://www.npr.org/2019/03/18/704600310/russia-criminalizes-the-spread-of-online-news-which-disrespects-the-government


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Twitter Bots for the Misinformation

Twitter is a blessing and a curse. The app gets people informed and connected. Good thing right? Yes, but it can be used for the wrong thing. Twitter is able to spread misinformation like a wildfire due to how easy it is to share tweets. Bots from Twitter will send out completely fake news and make "the content appear popular enough that human users would trust it and share it more widely ."  These tweets typically "link to articles on sites known to regularly publish false or misleading information." Humans believe that it's trustworthy because other people wouldn't share fake news. This spreading of information is ethos because people trust other people. [1 link, 1 image, 2 quotes,112 words.]

Flat Tummy Tea: Real or Scam?

Flat Tummy Tea is one of the newest celebrity endorsed teas to hit the market. The tea itself is supposed to help "reduce bloating, support your metabolism, maintain a healthy immune system, boost energy, detoxify your system, and decrease water retention." However, n anonymous source states "I saw zero results with this product. It doesn’t work." The company asks celebrities to endorse their products as a way to further expand their reach. By having celebrities, who all are physically fit without needing the tea, pose with these flat tummy pouches, they're playing on the insecurities of the endorser's followers.

https://www.verywellfit.com/flat-tummy-tea-reviews-4586408