blog post #5

Cross Country Running: Extreme

“Cross Country Running: Extreme” shows us the contrast between the bores of running track and the excitement of running cross country. The two sports are often grouped together, even seen as the same thing by those unfamiliar with them, but are really quite different. The fact that both sports involve running might just be the only similarity.

From the runner’s facial expressions, form, and lack of enthusiasm at the beginning of the video, we can easily gather that he is quite bored with the monotonous routine of running in circles on the track. The background music parallels this idea: slow and mellow, without much excitement. From the title of the video, we can already predict that the scene will not stay this way; there will likely be a shift in atmosphere and style.

Sure enough, there is a sudden and blunt change in the presentation of the video. We see the obvious flash across the screen: “this sucks!” As the music changes to a much more upbeat tune, the runner’s face lights up with the idea of going far beyond the constrictions of the track. We can infer that we will now see a more lively scene, and are proved correct when the runner begins jumping barriers and running enthusiastically through the woods.

The artist uses the drastic change in background to show the contrast between track and cross country. He uses elements such as lighting, music and setting differences to emphasis the point. The way the runner is presented is also vital to the success of this video: his body movements, facial expressions and motivation. Had the music stayed the same and the character not shown such change in enthusiasm, the clip would be ineffective. With the artist’s use of these elements, by the end of the video we can see the contrast between these two sports.

blog post #4

Barack Obama's "Plan for Change" Ad

Barack Obama’s “Plan for Change” advertisement gives us just a glimpse into Obama’s plans for change, yet we can see an eagerness for change that goes much further than the ideas actually mentioned. The brief ad may very well be seen as boring by some: it is a one-shot video, the scene never changes, there is only one character, no background music plays. All true statements, but for the purpose of the ad these additions are unneeded, and most likely would just be distractions.

The scene focuses directly on Obama, and nothing else throughout the entire video. He is subtly introduced in the beginning seconds with a simple subtitle across the bottom of the screen. The background of the scene is relaxed and simple as well, which puts all attention on Obama. There is no clutter going on around him, no music played in the background that might cause a distraction. This is because the ad wants our full attention on Obama and his words, and the way to accomplish that is to get rid of the fancy technical ideas that accompany many ads. We have no choice but to listen.

Obama discusses issues that are on almost all Americans’ minds. He begins with the economy, which many people place as their number one concern right now. This pulls us in from the beginning, makes us eager to hear what he has to say about this and other hot topics. He puts the focus on us as Americans rather than himself, which makes us want to keep listening. The advertisers are aware of these tactics to pull the audience in and hold our attention. Obama finished the ad with possibly the top concern of Americans: the war with Iraq. He probably concludes with this to keep us thinking, to leave us optimistic with hope for change. Just a few issues are mentioned, but after this brief introduction the advertisers are hopeful we will look deeper; in this case Obama’s Plan for Change. We are left with Obama’s enthusiasm for change in not just these spoken ways, but in many other aspects as well.

blog post #3

2008 Presidential Election: Youth Must Vote

The subject of this YouTube video can be gathered the second the title is seen: Youth Must Vote. As good writing should, the title and preview picture caught my attention and made me anxious to see more. The video carried the message that we might have expected: the importance of the younger generation's vote. The clip begins with a young woman, which appeals to the target audience (the youth). We see her opinion that if change does not take place now, the consequences will have to be dealt with for years to come. As the clip moves along, the young woman changes into an elderly woman, and we see her regret of not taking a stand, not exercising her right to vote. "Silence is where America fell", she quotes. She is encouraging today's youth to make a difference and not be faced with the regret which she must deal with.Dark, dreary, and alone describes the place where the woman speaks. She is along and unhappy in both her youth and old age. The setting parallels the message of the video: unhappiness and dissatisfaction are the results of not standing up and fighting for what you believe in, of not making your voice heard. The artist uses the dark atmosphere to portray this message.Towards the end of the clip, the old woman is attempting to walk out of the dungeon-like setting and into the light. She knows there is a better world out there, and the artist uses light and children's voices to symbolize this better world. The woman walks toward it, but it may be too late for her. Our generation, though, does not have to be stuck in the dark. We are persuaded, and possibly scared into, making our voices heard now and getting out of the dark before it's too late.

post #2

The food pyramid is a clear example of a diagram that aids in understanding something: in this case, understanding our nutritional needs. The definition I’ve given a diagram is a visual aid to help understand a topic – what it is, how it works, etc. We usually think of drawings or models when thinking of diagrams. These aids certainly enhance writing and create a better learning experience. Strictly written word can be monotonous and boring, likely to be forgotten. For example, in a science experiment, just written and spoken explanations would probably not be sufficient. A diagram, however, would be a great aid in presenting the experiment.

In the case of the food pyramid, the diagram visually tells what is important in our diets: The foods that we need the most of are at the bottom, making up the biggest portion of the pyramid (and thus our diets). Next is fruits and vegetables, which we need the second largest amounts of. The third groups, getting smaller but still showing importance, are the dairy and meat groups. At the top of the pyramid, the smallest section, is the fats and sugars: needed, but in small portions. Just by looking at the diagram, we can easily understand these needs in our diets. Simple labels help define each group of the pyramid, but most of the information can be gathered from the diagram itself. If this information were to be read without a visual aid, it would be much harder to follow and remember.

When removing a diagram such as this from a website, it is imperative that writers cite sources and give credit where credit is due. Variations of food diagrams can be found nearly anywhere; this particular diagram was found at http://web.mit.edu/.

Diagrams are important to reading and writing because, as mentioned, they enhance the material. Many people learn better visually, and a diagram is just that: a visual. These may not be traditional written word, but they are certainly an important part of writing.

blog post 1

"For me, the ideal essay is not an assignment, to be dispatched efficiently and intelligently, but an exploration, a questioning, an introspection. I want to see a piece of the essayist. I want to see a mind at work, imagining, spinning, struggling to understand." (Atwan 22)

- Alan Lightman

I chose this quote from Lightman in part because it is along the same lines as the ideas that we’ve seen throughout these readings on what an essay is. Furthermore, I like the approach Lightman gives of an ideal essay. An exploration, I think, is a great way to describe the essay because it encourages depth and not simply facts and figures. The essay shouldn’t be a flat discussion where you, and the readers, know exactly where you are going from the very beginning. Instead, we should be exploring the topic throughout the discussion. We need to question our own and others content, thoughts and opinions that we are dealing with in the essay. This gives much more depth to writing than the monotonous telling of facts about an issue.

Voice is another aspect of the writing that I’ve always thought, and been taught, is just as important to writing as the content. To “see a piece of the essayist” is to know that it is their words being read and not just anyone else’s. As we’ve discussed, the essay should be personal and unique in the writer’s own way: personal thoughts and style should be evident in the writing. I think Lightman puts these ideas together when he says he wants to see a mind at work. The imagination and struggling to understand gives way to the exploration in the essay and demands personal style. Without the essayist’s own imagination, the essay would have neither depth nor voice. Today more than ever, with the ever-changing classifications of writings and new technology that gives such advancements, it is so important to keep personality to our writings.

Lightman’s quote sums up how I feel an essay should be: a discovery. That’s what writing should be about – understanding through exploration of the topic at hand, and coming out with a discovery or explanation at the conclusion instead of knowing from the beginning exactly where the essay is going.