Independent Viewing Part II

OPTION #1
Claim: Due to the rising hippie movement of the 60's and 70's, Charles Manson was able to effectively sway the minds of young people to agree with his beliefs, and may not have had the same success in another time period as shown in this documentary.
Evidence:

• Drug use and sexual liberation were allowed to all members of Manson's "family".  Nomads who had left their conservative homes and moved to liberal California.  At first, this family of women was protected by Manson and lived in a bus.  Later, they moved onto a ranch and formed their own "society" where everything was free and they were secluded from the rest of the world.  This was liberating to the young girls and later men who joined this family.  The "utopia" always had music, stories, and drugs available.
• With increased trust and ties in this "family", it was easy to be convinced to commit crimes.  Many of the members, including Lynette Fromme, decided to kill others in order to benefit the family.  Most of these crimes were supported by Manson, who was much like a father or protector to the girls of the family.  The hippie movement was a time of opposition to the government by young people.  The Manson family took protest to the next level by attempting to kill many government officials, including Fromme who attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford.  
• The Beatles, a popular band of Manson's time, used the term "Helter Skelter" to describe an apocalyptic war that would arise from racial tension that the civil rights movement brought attention too. With violence that was appearing within racial gangs such as the Blank Panthers, it seemed as though this war was coming soon.  The Manson family played off of these fear in order to recruit more members into their utopian society.  This also seemed to be justification for the murders that were committed by the members.

Refutation/Rebuttal: Some may say that with the technology and communication that exist today someone like Manson could have spread their ideas just as effectively.  However, the justice system of today is also better at catching those who commit commit crime and have technology to use evidence to charge these criminals more easily.  Therefor, it would be likely that Manson and his family would be arrested before they had the chance to influence others and commit as many murders as they did.

Independent Viewing Part I

Bibliography: Charles Manson Then and Now. Dir. Nick Bougas. Perf. Charles Manson. Wavelength Prod., 1992. Film.
Rhetorical Devices: By using a narrator to explain the story of Charles Manson, his story is much easier to understand for viewers who know little (or not the whole story) about Charles Manson.  The narrator often gives background info of the time period, a time of a rising counter-culture.  The 60's was a time of sexual liberation, drug experimentation, and rebellion against the government and formality. This background info gives insight of a cause and effect, as this period was perfect for the influence of young people by Manson.  In addition, the references to the civil-rights movements and famous musicians at the time  allows viewers to make connections to the topic, creating credibility and draw parallels between their personal experience and the film.  
The film also includes testimonies from Manson and those connected to the murders which were committed.  This provides alternative points of view to the situation, and thus eliminates bias and makes the film more credible and logical to viewers.  The director also displays credibility by showing pictures from the time period and the setting, in order to take a viewer from any time period (1992 through today) into the setting and make the documentary as close to the actual events as possible.  This gives a viewer who has little communal memory a good understanding of the story which is being told. 

AOW #28: Advertisement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtP-S9OS0o0


Summary: This commercial for Allstate is supposed to portray the dangers of the road and why one should have insurance.  In a comedic way, Allstate portrays mayhem or danger as a man named Mayhem.  In this particular commercial, Mayhem is a young teenaged-girl driver who is "emotionally compromised".  Because her friend kissed a boy she likes, she loses control of a car and runs into another car.  The other car is meant to represent the viewer, and that mayhem like the girl could occur in their own life.  "Mayhem is everywhere" is used in the commercial to make a viewer realize that they need insurance, because accident are unescapable in our world.
Context:  This commercial applies mostly to current American society and generalizations that have been made about teenaged girls.  Because accidents (especially on the road) occur for many different reasons, this advertisement focuses on a single, humorous reason for an accident.  It also represents how an accident can happen at any time, for any reason.  Because of this it is a good idea to get car insurance.
Source: This is an advertisement for the insurance company Allstate.  Because most advertisements are biased, you obviously cannot assume that the advertisement is presenting correct information.  The commercial was also supposed to be humorous, and focuses little on establishing creditability.
Purpose: The purpose of this advertisement was to convince people to buy Allstate car insurance.  However I think that the commercial was more in making people laugh than making them immediately purchase Allstate's product.
Rhetorical Devices: This advertisement would not be funny to most people if they didn't have communal memory.  The references of a teenaged girl would only make sense to someone that is aware of the generalizations made in the United States about teenagers.  The commercial is also very logical, though.  Because it points out that accidents happen all the time for ridiculous reasons (maybe not this one) it would only make sense to protect yourself and have insurance.

AOW #27: Editorial

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/19/opinion/pennsylvania-and-the-death-penalty.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Summary: This editorial brings up the topic of the death penalty in our state of Pennsylvania.  When I first saw the title for this editorial, I figured it would be about an increased crime rate in Philadelphia, however the author seems to blame the increased use of the death penalty on bad lawyers.  The author sites other articles and appealed cases to show that more criminals are being convicted and receiving this sentence because their lawyers are "insufficient" to meet a defendant's needs.
Context: The death penalty has become a topic debated throughout the country.  Some states have even decided not to use the death penalty at all, and people continue to argue because of issues with morality and religion.  Most of the time people try to avoid using the death sentence as punishment, so an increase in the opposite direction tends to catch the attention of the country.  In Philadelphia, because violence and poverty have become extremely common, it is easy to understand why this person believes that bad lawyers are to blame, as many times lawyers who work with little pay end up defending these criminals.
Source/Author: This editorial comes from The New York Times, a newspaper that is recognized all over the world, and published for almost two centuries.  However this is an editorial, meaning the person is not necessarily an experienced or knowledgeable writer.  The author does include citations to other more credible articles, which make the argument more ensuring.
Purpose: The purpose of this article was not just to talk about a controversial topic, but also for the author to share their opinion of why they believed that the death penalty is more prevalent in a specific area.  I believe the author accomplished this purpose.
Rhetorical Devices: The author attempts to back up their augment using logic in order to be the most convincing.  Because the author is most likely not a professional writer, he/she also mentions other sources to back up their claims, in order for their argument to be more credible.  By referring to specific facts and other articles, the author makes it more difficult for a reader to find refutations in the argument and less likely to disagree with their opinion.

AOW #26: Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

Summary: This week millions have viewed the video on youtube.  It is about an issue that few know about, the invisible children in Africa and the organization of rebels who continue to take advantage of these children.  Joseph Kony, the man who leads the LSA, has been unknown to many for years, and know the created of the video and the Invisible Children's Organization in order to expose how he has kidnapped children in African and turned them into slaves to fight for him and continue violence in Africa.  The video proposes that we should spread awareness about Kony and the LSR so he can finally be arrested.
Context: The video was created for the Invisible Children's Incorporation, a group that supports children struggling in Africa.  The invisible children are natives under 20 living in Africa (specifically Uganda).  They have been born into a war between rebel groups and the government.  The rebel group led by Joseph Kony is the LSA.  The kidnapping of children for war is not a new issue, as many rebel groups have been doing this for years, capturing children from taken villages and turning the boys into soldiers and girls into sex slaves.  Violence between these groups has destroyed many villages and families since the late 1980's, and little has been done about it because few nations want to get involved in the violence.
Source: This video was posted onto Youtube, a website where anyone can post a personal video, making this video less reliable.  However the video was created by Invisible Children Inc., a group which has been trying to protect children in Africa since 2004.  It has many supporters and claims to donate most money to helping these children.  Lately, though, there have been accusations that the Kony 2012 campaign is a fraud that is to bring in more money for the company than to help the children in Africa.
Purpose: The purpose of this video is to spread awareness about an issue that has not been popular over the last couple of years.  It also proposes a solution to problem; to stop Joseph Kony and therefore end the enslavement of children in Africa.  I believe the creator of this video achieved this purpose, because the topic has become unavoidable whenever one gets onto the internet.
Rhetorical Devices: This video obviously appeals to emotion and logic, as this is a sad story about African children who are oppressed, and this issue should be stopped.  The video seems to be made for people who know little about the issue, which is why the narrator brings in his young son to explain the issue as simply as possible.  This compares the audience to a young child who knows little about this complex issue.  The video also answered a major "so what?" question of what the audience can do to stop this problem in Africa.  The video gives specific steps you can take in order for the issue to become more popular, and for leaders to act due to the public's demand.  This video is unlike others which point out oppressive situations, because it proposes a solution; to arrest Joseph Kony.

AOW #25: Visual

Summary: This picture shows women's rights activist Emmeline Pankhurst, who lived from 1858 to 1928.  She is well known for influencing the women's suffrage during her lifetime.  She was repeatedly put in jail for speaking out about political reform, but was the reason for the Representation of the People Act in 1918 which allowed women over the age of 30 to vote in England.  Her slogan, "deeds, not words" defined her life.  

Context:  This picture was taken from Time magazine's 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century.  Today many agree that Panhurst was an important influence for women's rights worldwide by making her presence known by everyone around her.  Although we do not know the exact time when this picture was taken or the reason for it, you can tell the Pankhurst (center) was a woman who demanded the attention of the crowd. In this photograph she is the center point in a large mass of people, and looks as though she is sending an important, emotion message.

Source: This picture is from Time magazine.  The article does not include the photographer, location, or date, which makes it less reliable.  However Time magazine is a globally published and popular magazine.  Because it has so many readers and sources to find information, it would be unlikely that this photograph is not Pankhurst.  

Purpose: The purpose of the photograph is to show the power of Pankhurst and draw attention to her commanding personality, which is depicted in this picture, where she stands out in a large crowd.  Because the article was to show influential people, this picture sends a powerful message to a reader of how much of a leader she was.  The photographer accomplished this.

Rhetorical Devices:  The photographer draws the attention to Pankhurst by making her the very center of this photo.  She is also above most other people, which also makes her stand out and seem as though she is unique and more powerful than the other people in the picture.  There is also obvious contrast in this photo, as the rest of the people in the photo seem to blend together with similar shades of black and white and little expression on their faces.  Pankhurst is a dark, large figure, with facial expression that looks as if she is yelling and pointing at something important.  It goes along with her slogan, that "deeds, not words" are more powerful.  People in the crowd could be talking words, while Pankhurst is standing and acting, and has a more obvious presence in the picture. 

AOW #24: Advertisement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idIU8Htava0

Summary: This commercial was for Dorito's chips.  The commercial presents a man acting like an annoying bird; taking food from other people, attempting to fly, and squawking.  The normal acting people around him are annoyed, obviously, and an  onlooker asks men who the bird-man must work with what is wrong with him.  They say that he acts that way when he wants Doritos, and they play tricks on him as if it happens all the time.
Source: This commercial is shown across the U.S on public television for the Doritos company.  Doritos has made many funny advertisements like this.  The commercial is not reliable at all, as no one would act the way the bird-man did.  Also, the advertisement is very biased, as the company only wants people to buy their product, not present actual facts.
Context: The commercial was made for the Doritos brand, who wanted to show how much people love Doritos in a comical way.  The exigence would be to sell their product, much like any other advertisement.
Purpose: The purpose of the advertisement is to show how good Doritos are that people go crazy when they do not have them, and then make people buy their product.  The company also made the commercial funny, in order to catch the attention of an audience and make the advertisement memorable.  The commercial accomplishes this purpose.
Rhetorical Devices: The commercial is very humorous, in order to make it memorable and make people want to buy the product.  It also appeals to communal memory, because shows the actions of a pigeon or other pesky bird, and if someone did not know what these birds were like they would not understand the humor of the advertisement.