My speech was quite difficult to make as I’ve never made that type of speech before, nor have I spent that much time writing one out. I had a lot of trouble with delivery overall due to personal reasons, which really affected my overall performance. However I’m proud of myself because I spent a super long time working on this speech and the research behind it, and even worked with my mom and Grammy to curate some old family photos in order to show working class fashions.

Two ideas for the “History of a Public Controversy” project would be assisted suicide or autism. Examining assisted suicide would require a large amount of research on the history of this topic and the different techniques. It’s also important to highlight the detractors of assisted suicide and the ethics that influence both sides of the argument. For autism, we would examine it’s development and classification history as well as different movements, including autism speaks which wants to cure autism. It’s important to also get different views on the disease itself and how these views generate controversy.

Here are my slides! I’ve included many old family photos to better build up my credibility as a speaker as well as build my argument!

I have decided to focus my Unit 2 project on the evolution of American women’s clothing from 1900 to 2021, and how social changes influenced fashion in this period. I will also discuss the increasing accessibility and flexibility of fashion as industrialization spread and gender norms began to blur. Finally, the role of celebrity culture and social media will be examined, and how the prevalence of both increased throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

Slaves to Fashion: A Brief History and Analysis of Women’s Fashion in America:

This is an incredibly concise article which will help me space out my arguments and add more background. It also examines how societal change directly impacts fashion, which is the main point of my essay.

Fashion History Timeline:

It provides much more details and examples of different kinds of dress for women, and includes examples of fashion idols from each decade. However, it mainly focuses on wealthier women, though it that will help me expand on the class divide regarding fashion. However, it does help me relate to how growing industrialization allowed for greater experimentation in fashion, as well as a large consumer base.

I know this talk technically isn’t on the TED website, but it’s my favorite, thus I’m gonna write about it. Invisible Diversity: A Story of Undiagnosed Autism was given by Carrie Beckwith-Fellows, and truly hits very close to home to me as I’m currently in the process of seeking a professional diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder. So far, it’s been incredibly difficult for me because I’m both an adult and a woman, the latter of which is why I wasn’t diagnosed earlier in my life. Autistic men are usually diagnosed as toddlers, yet autistic women often have to wait until early adulthood or even until their middle ages to receive a diagnosis. I’m exceptionally lucky to have realized that I’m on the spectrum at such an early age, and that I have the resources to seek out professionals, however, I still struggle with misogyny in the medical field. Most studies and knowledge on Autism Spectrum Disorder comes from male patients and male psychologists, and because female autistic traits are so unknown and so different than males, women are much more profusely misdiagnosed or undiagnosed than men. Beckwith-Fellows’ speech helped me rationalize my own symptoms, and worry less about how this diagnosis would affect my own life. I was also able to relate my own struggles with autism to hers, but also realize my differences don’t mean that I’m “wrong.” Being able to see other autistic women take center stage and be able to speak about their own experiences is honestly incredibly inspiring to me, and reminds me that there is truly no limitations with autism. My favorite part of the speech is when Beckwith-Fellows discussed the exhaustion she experiences when masking her autism, which I truly related to, as I’ve been masking my whole life due to the societal expectations put on women, as well as the classic middle school bullying. I can mask really well, but I’m becoming less afraid to let that mask slip, because I am autistic and nothing can change that, so why hide it when it’s not necessary.

Unit 2 Project Ideas:

Portrayal of LGBTQ+ Women in media: It could definitely work as we’ve seen post-Hayes code an extreme sexualization of LGBTQ women to a more progressive image, and how these two concepts intersect.

Portrayal of Autistic people in media: This would more focus on how these characters are portrayed and who created these characters, as well as the common tropes and stereotypes affecting these portrayals. (Best autistic portrayal is hands-down Abed Nadir from Community, who was created by Dan Harmon, who is autistic!)

How autistic women are seen in the psychologic world: Basically just how medical misogyny affects female autism diagnoses and how this misogyny has either bettered or worsened over time. I think this one would be the hardest because it’s such an unpopular subject, mainly because there’s a very small population of autistic women, and an even smaller one of autistic women who are vocal about their experiences with the medical field.

Considering I honestly just threw together my speech, I didn’t perform terribly in retrospect. One of the main issues I had with the speech was my consistent rambling, for it was a topic I was already knowledgeable about and I know many people who survived or worked on the front lines of the peak of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. I was also emotionally involved in the overall topic which did help me rhetorically analyze the themes of the commercial, however it also added to my rambling. Another possible weakness is my tone throughout, as I imitated the tone of the narrator of the advertisement in some parts of the speech, but wasn’t consistent, thus there’s many discrepancies in my tone especially when compared to the subject matter. I think one of the strongest parts of my speech performance was how I connected my extensive previous knowledge of the HIV/AIDS crisis to the commercial analysis. When I watched my fellow group members’ speeches, I realized that focusing on the rhetorical situation would better help me condense my thoughts and analyze my artifact, thus helping me produce a more organized speech.

Essay Draft:

The 1980s may be best remembered for bad hair, synthesizers, and groundbreaking international politics, but it was a decade of despair for many affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which still ravages even the most developed countries today. Though we still deal with the deadly virus in 2021, there’s an overarching sense of hope in the battle against HIV and AIDS, which is best exemplified by Gilead’s 2020 commercial, Descovy for PrEP. The advertisement flaunts the title prescription’s ability to prevent the spread of HIV through sex, a scientific breakthrough even the leading HIV/AIDS researchers could only dream of at the peak of the epidemic. In contrast, the 1987 Australian Grim Reaper ad by the National Advisory Committee on AIDS focuses on the hopelessness that HIV/AIDS victims are presented with, and the need for urgent action to prevent the spread of HIV. By examining the ways both commercials establish trust, their individual rhetorical situations and devices, and the commonplaces that affect both advertisements, one is able to see the change in how HIV/AIDS is viewed by society.  

“Step up, PrEP up,” are the first lines of Gilead’s 2020 advertisement for the HIV prevention drug Descovy. The simple statement is uttered by a drag queen, a transgender woman, and gay/bisexual men throughout the advertisement, which establishes the target audience of the campaign as demonstrated by the diverse cast, and also repeats the significance of HIV prevention by using the almost catch-all phrase. As the segment is a medication advertisement, logos is established almost immediately through the discussion of Descovy’s functions and side effects, and connects to the overarching theme of hope in the fight against HIV/AIDS which is also presented in the rhetorical choices of the advertisement. The use of upbeat drumbeats and natural lighting signifies a sunnier future for assigned-male-at-birth (AMAB) LGBTQ+ people who take Descovy to prevent HIV/AIDS. By portraying Descovy customers as jovial, successful, and many in satisfactory relationships; Gilead employs the commonplace of their medication as an overall cure. Of course, Descovy, like all medications, can’t fully prevent or cure the disease it was created to, but that doesn’t stop Gilead from portraying Descovy patients as perfect and successful people. Overall, Gilead’s Descovy for PrEP commercial signifies a new hope in the fight against HIV/AIDS, which is best exemplified in the advertisement’s stylistic choices and employment of commonplaces.  

The National Advisory Committee on AIDS (NACAIDS)’s 1987 Grim Reaper commercial reflects the urgency of tackling the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the prevailing attitudes towards gay men at the height of the outbreak. The advertisement begins with a depressing gong, and a model group of Australians of all ages are lowered down to face the wrath of a bowling Grim Reaper. As the contemporary statistics of the HIV/AIDS pandemic are read by a foreboding narrator, the grim reaper figure mows down person after person with a giant black bowling ball, creating a visual interpretation of the cost of HIV. The grim reaper figure can arguably be representative of “gays and IV drug users,” which “at first…were being killed by AIDS,” as this beginning statement seemingly blames both groups, especially gay men, for being the reason for the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS to the general population (NACAIDS). The end scene showing multiple grim reapers at a bowling alley solidifies this interpretation, for if the grim reaper was just representative of AIDS itself, then there would be no need for more than one. Though AMAB LGBTQ+ people and intravenous drug users were more often afflicted with HIV/AIDS, the spread of the virus isn’t the fault of one particular group, thus NACAIDS leans into the contemporary commonplace that gay men and drug users were the only groups responsible for the viral spread. However, NACAIDS importantly notes that all people can catch HIV, correcting the common misconception that only gay men and drug addicts could get AIDS. However, the grim reaper, no matter what it represents, is always a foreboding figure, and when paired with dark and cloudy visuals, promotes urgency in tackling the AIDS crisis and the seriousness of the disease itself. The Grim Reaper commercial utilizes dramatic statistics about the HIV/AIDS crisis in Australia to direct its national audience to see further past the elaborate visuals, which serves as an overall hook. NACAID’s Grim Reaper advertisement utilizes a unique, electrifying style to compliment the establishment of trust in order to urge understanding and urgency of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.  

There’s a very obvious thematic and stylistic difference between Gilead’s and NACAIDS’ commercials, which can be attributed to the overall progression of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, as well as society’s movement towards acceptance in general. While Descovy for PrEP is a hopeful commercial, presenting a possible cure to the spread of HIV; Grim Reaper exemplifies the popular belief in 1987 that HIV is virtually a death sentence, because there was no cure and no medicinal way to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. In a lot of ways, Grim Reaper is definitely flawed especially in its portrayal of AMAB LGBTQ+ people, but its emphasis on how HIV/AIDS is indiscriminate was incredibly progressive for its time. Descovy for PrEP provides a much more positive viewpoint of AMAB LGBTQ+ people, showing those at risk or afflicted with HIV as happy and successful, which reflects the overall hopeful theme of the commercial. Both advertisements utilize scientific fact and statistics to gain the trust of their audience, as well as discuss safe sex practices in order to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. The stylistic choices of the two commercials differ drastically, with Gilead’s providing sunny scenes and NACAIDS’ presenting a visual representation of the deadliness of AIDS. The comparison of both campaigns can signify both the scientific breakthroughs in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and the growing movement of acceptance in society. Today, there’s effective prevention against HIV/AIDS, and even treatment for people afflicted with HIV, something that scientists in 1987 could barely even imagine. LGBTQ+ people are now easily accepted in most societies, as shown by the difference in portrayals in the Grim Reaper and Descovy for PrEP.  

Though millions of people across the world were lost to HIV/AIDS, the human race has gained an advantage in the fight through scientific advancement. LGBTQ+ people, though we still struggle with discrimination, are readily accepted in many societies. Both of these developments are greatly exemplified through the rhetorical strategies, style, and establishment of trust in Gilead’s 2020 Descovy for PrEP commercial, and NACAIDS’ 1987 Grim Reaper campaign.  

Speech Outline:

Introduction/Thesis: The 80s are best known for ridiculous hair styles, synth-pop music, and major shake-ups in international politics. But what’s most overlooked is the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has killed 36.3 million people since the first outbreak in 1981. Even back in the 1980s it was overlooked, especially since it was falsely believed that it only affected gay men and IV drug users. However, NACAIDS’ 1987 Grim Reaper ad helps inform the Australian people about the risk of HIV/AIDS for the general population using heavy rhetoric, dark visuals, and dramatic establishments of trust.

The dramatic visuals help represent the grave danger that HIV/AIDS presents to the general population.

• Grim reaper interpretation as gay men/IV drug users
• Bowling scenes help reinforce the statistics that the narrator talks about

The heavy words by the narrator and the use of statistics help add to the rhetorical situation and establish trust to show the gravity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Restate thesis

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline:

The 1980s may be best remembered for bad hair, synthesizers, and groundbreaking international politics, but it was a decade of despair for many affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which still ravages even the most developed countries today. Though we still deal with the deadly virus in 2021, there’s an overarching sense of hope in the battle against HIV and AIDS, which is best exemplified by Gilead’s 2020 commercial, Descovy for PrEP. The advertisement flaunts the title prescription’s ability to prevent the spread of HIV through sex, a scientific breakthrough even the leading HIV/AIDS researchers could only dream of at the peak of the epidemic. In contrast, the 1987 Australian Grim Reaper ad by the National Advisory Committee on AIDS focuses on the hopelessness that HIV/AIDS victims are presented with, and the need for urgent action to prevent the spread of HIV. By examining the ways both commercials establish trust, their individual rhetorical situations and devices, and the commonplaces that affect both advertisements, one is able to see the change in how HIV/AIDS is viewed by society.  

I really thought Chris’ speech was interesting, as it coincides with mine as well, for both focus on the topic of communism, the Cold War, and American values. The artifact itself, Reagan’s speech at the Brandenburg Gate, is an incredibly pivotal moment in American international relations, and is still a model for how we interact with other countries today. It signifies the hardline stance the U.S. has on instilling our values and ideas on other countries. Chris also did a great job expanding on the context of the artifact, and as a history nerd, I truly appreciate the effort put into contextualizing his artifact. I would like Chris to expand on how America defines communism, however, as I believe that introducing the ideas of commonplaces in American society could really reinforce his essay. Overall, an amazingly detailed speech and will hopefully be followed up by an even better essay!

The 1950s were a time of old-fashioned apple pie American values. Women were back in the home, while the men who didn’t perish in World War 2 were out and about donning slick suits and even slicker hairstyles. However, there was still a war about, one fought purely to define these “American values.” Joseph McCarthy’s Red Scare had Americans on edge about the rise of communism in Europe and Asia, especially in the growing power of the Soviet Union. But really, the Second Red Scare was a push back at anti-capitalist progressivism and a power grab by the U.S. government, who seized at the chance to instill a traditionalist patriotism in their citizens after the war. My artifact, a 1947 comic book cover of Is This Tomorrow?, depicts Soviet men attacking 3 Americans: one white woman, one black man, and one white man. In the background is a large burning American flag, representing the perceived threat of communist ideologies in the U.S. To further examine this piece, I’ll dive deeper into commonplace American ideals in the 1950s, as well as the rhetorical situation, and how the visuals connect with what the piece is attempting to convey. Overall, I aim to identify how this piece as well as the events and ideas its connected to has developed over time and overall how timely this work still is. This overall fear of communism and anti-capitalist ideologies is still an American commonplace, and it’s rooted in Red Scare propaganda and McCarthyism, which is best illustrated by this comic cover. American economic beliefs are an overall shut door, but exploring why that is can help one branch off from mainstream beliefs, and think outside government and popular ideologies. It’s more important to look at a concept in its development and understand how it became a commonplace than to just view a piece independent from a modern viewpoint. That is why I chose to focus on the Red Scare and the propaganda arising from it. Thank you.

In May 2016, Coca-Cola revealed a new patriotic themed can, just in time for July 4, 2016, as well as The United Service Organizations’ 75th anniversary, (Heilpern). As the summer of 2016 started to heat up temperature-wise, tensions in politics reached new heights due to the approaching November election season. Coca-Cola seemed to take note of this, incorporating their prior Share a Coke and a Song campaign into this redesigned can, reflecting this theme of “togetherness” in the wake of political tension.

The lyrics, “I’m proud to be an American,” themselves reflect a commonplace facet of American society itself, which is the expectation to be celebratory of America as an American, which was slowly becoming undone due to the 2016 political climate. However, a very large majority of people throughout the country were still clinging onto this patriotism, passed down through national holidays and traditions, songs like God Bless the U.S.A., biased American history books, and barely-disguised propaganda films like Red Dawn, Blackhawk Down, and Top Gun. The last three films, and overall the portrayal of war and the U.S. military in American media have produced an almost unreachable pedestal for the pseudo-imperialistic American military complex. “Respecting our troops,” is inarguable for both Democrats and Republicans, and is often the only thing they can agree on; so Coke’s choice of smothering a large USO label on the can is seen as a positive, patriotic choice by consumers.

Obviously, the flag design on the can represents the American flag, but it stands for so much more. The American flag itself has come to symbolize abstract ideas such as liberty, freedom, and the “American dream.” The Coca-Cola company brands itself as a shallow, corporate product of this “American dream,” attempting to ingratiate itself with its consumers. The patriotic can design is one of their most blatant attempts at blending consumerism into the very ideals of which American society is made. But, with their skilled advertising and slick business practices, Coca-Cola has become synonymous with America, so much so that one could even say the American flag represents Coke.

Coke has always profited off this overwhelming sense of American patriotism, and does it so effectively that essentially, Coca-Cola is America’s drink even when it seems America is falling apart.

Heilpern, Will. “Coca-Cola Is Branding Its Cans in the US Flag to Salute the Army.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 31 May 2016, www.businessinsider.com/coca-cola-turned-its-can-into-an-us-flag-2016-5.