RCL 9

Emma Barber

10/26/17

RCL 137

 

 

Ted Talk Outline

 

Topic: Women are not settling down like they used to.

 

Purpose:

There is constant judgment of women and their lifestyle choices; there is a growing number of women in today’s society that are choosing to settle down which is a historical change.

 

Thesis Statement:

Women’s societal role has changed throughout history leading to women having and making the choice to not settle down and participate in the traditional historical ideal.

 

 

Introduction:

Attention Strategy/Orienting Material: Present a retro photo of women and a family (stereotypical) then show women today

 

 

Body

  1. Women are focusing on their education and careers.
    1. They are investing in their education
    2. They compose a vital part of the workforce
  2. A man is no longer a necessity in today’s society.
    1. Women’s rights have changed
    2. Marriage is no longer the ultimate goal
  3. Kids are not for everyone.
    1. It is a commitment for life and doesn’t suit everyone

 

Conclusion

Women shouldn’t have to justify why they aren’t settling down. There are pros and cons to any choice we make in life. No one person has the same goal and will be fulfilled by the same thing.

The choices that women make about their lives should not be up for judgement and scrutiny by others. Rules that history sets on society are rules that are eventually broken. And we should respect those who know enough about who they are and what they want – that they are willing to break them.

 

 

 

 

 

Slide 1: Retro women w family (women as housewives)

Slide 2: Women with various occupations

Slide 3: Women’s rights photo

Slide 4: Marriage photo (man and wife)

Slide 5: Kids

Slide 6: Famous women of various circumstances

 

 

RCL 8 Paradigm Shift

Paradigm Shift:

 

The Traditional Nuclear Family – Modern Family;

 

  • Divorced couples
  • Single Parent Households
  • Stay at home dads
  • Working mothers
  • Adoption
  • Gender Fluid/Transgender/Gay children
  • Lesbian or Gay Parents
  • Biracial Families
  • Families via IVF, surrogacy, sperm donor

 

The Traditional Nuclear Family

 

  • Explain the TNF and thesis statement
  • Describe it at its height

 

  • Describe the modern family (what makes it) and how today no TNF (it has dissolved)

 

Divorced Couples/ Single Parent Households

 

  • Two home families
  • Divorce/Custody
  • Single parents
  • Marriage before kids
  • Absent Parents

 

Working Parents

 

  • Stay at home mom and dads
  • Both parents working
  • Working moms

 

 

Gender and Sexuality

 

  • Gay and Lesbian couples
  • Child sexuality/gender fluidity/ transgender
  • Stereotypical activities, sports, toys,

 

Race and Non-Related Family Members

 

  • Biracial families
  • Aunts/uncles
  • Non-related family members

 

Sources of children

 

  • Adoption
  • IVF / Surrogacy/Sperm donation

RCL 7

My top two photos in this section would be the one of the Iraqi man walking along the rows of bodies and the photo of the dead soldiers in eastern Congo. Now that doesn’t make me morbid because I will explain why I appreciate these photos.

 

Often war photographers try to photograph the subjects that their audience can connect and relate to. The picture of the little boy with scrapes and bruises or the women with five children starving in the desert – these are photos that make us want to feel for them. But to take a photo of something so horrific yet so real is what I find powerful. There is no glorifying death in these images. She isn’t trying to portray a certain message. This is war and this is the cost. These are real people lying dead on the ground that she stood in front of. We talk about war and death like one thing but we are so far removed from the reality of it.

 

My passion blog is about physical fitness and health. I use images to show pictures of me working out, different foods I eat, and activities I do. Seeing someone else do something makes it significantly easier for a person to imagine themselves doing it. I haven’t yet but I could include instructional video of doing different lifts. That is a resource I use off of different websites to correct my form. I could also post before and after photos to document progress and proof that what I am doing has done something for me.

RCL #6

Addario talks about her time in Darfur and how she simply should’ve carried more water. As she walks through the desert there are instances where she regrets her decision to carry only a few things of water and expresses how she thought she was going to die of dehydration. This is such a simple regret that we all face frequently in our lives. “I should’ve done this” or “I wish I had done this” is a thought everyone has. But I think her point was to express the gravity of simple decisions and actions like that. How something so thoughtless and little could lead to such a grave consequence.

 

I am often conflicted with these kinds of “regrets” now more than ever. Reflection gives you the power to recognize and acknowledge these when they happen but they also lead to dwelling on them. What we can learn from Addario is how she made it through despite not having a lot of water. Her regret was very much a physical consequence that threatened her life and health. The ones I am thinking of in my personal life are not quite that dangerous to my health but more my mentality. We make quick decisions, sometimes without thinking, and the consequences are very painful but with the will to carry on it is amazing on how little we can actually survive, just like Addario.

 

In my passion blog, I talk a lot about “pushing yourself”. For example, I will do sets where I am lifting my max reps or max weight and I carry out the exercise through the pain because that’s the whole point of exercise (to work your body so it gets stronger) and there is a feel good release that is actually quite chemical and neurological. It sounds a little messed up to do something painful because then it feels good but mentally knowing that you are stronger because of it or “survived it” is what motivates me and gives my body the strength it needs to increase the intensity to get even stronger.

RCL 5

Emma Barber
Rhetorical Analysis Essay
RCL 137
September 25th, 2017

It is said that the beauty of the world lies in the diversity of its people. Unfortunately, acceptance of diversity and difference is not as widespread as a perfect world would hope. Today many of the challenges society faces revolve around those differences like race, religion, culture, etc. Acceptance is not a guarantee but rather something that has to be taught and embraced. Now more than ever do we see political expression being carried out through different types of media and art. People are speaking up and speaking out for what they believe in. Airbnb, a hospitality service company released a commercial titled “We Accept”. Their message is “no matter who you are, where you’re from, who you love, or who you worship, you belong.” This commercial was released in response to President Trump’s travel (Muslim) ban. Prior to this executive order, right before the inauguration, Shepard Fairey published a piece of art work titled “We the People”. Depicted is a Muslim woman with an American flag hijab with the words “We the People Are Greater Than Fear” written below. The woman who modeled for this piece is named Munria Ahmed. She is a Bangladeshi American whose face has been plastered on signs that protesters have carried through marches and demonstrations. She has become the face of the Trump resistance. Both pieces of media are in response to the hateful, fear instilling, rhetoric President Trump fuels his supporters with. And both of these pieces use similar rhetorical appeals to contrast hate and fear by fostering a sense of unity and inclusion and pushing the civic responsibility of acceptance onto its viewers.
To catch a person’s attention, you initially need to capture their eye. In Fairey’s piece the Muslim woman is red white and blue. These bright and patriotic colors immediately scream “America”.  Her hijab is an American flag and she catches your attention. The viewer knows that it is political because of the patriotism that is displayed as well as the words. Today there is so much prejudice towards women of color especially Muslim women and to have her represent America sets up this paradox that makes this piece so powerful. This image allows the viewer to address common stereotypes and politics. But most importantly it makes those who come in its path think. They have to think about what acceptance and fear mean for them in their own life. As an American citizen, you don’t have to be discriminated against for this to mean something and matter to you. These are values that people share and connect over and one of the easiest ways to do that is through art and media. To Ahmed this portrait says, “I am American just as you are,” and it is this portrait that gives American’s a visual of that.
It is almost ironic in the piece of art that the phrase “We the People” is used. The artist in a sense uses America’s own words against herself. There is emphasis on “we” because the woman pictured is a part of that “we” although those who feed into islamophobia and unacceptance would disagree. “Are greater than fear” is a direct hit against the Trump administration. “It’s really about making sure that people remember that ‘we the people’ means everyone, it means all the people,” Fairey said. “I think the campaigns were very divisive, more from one side than the other. But [it’s] just reminding people to find their common humanity, and look beyond maybe one narrow definition of what it means to be American,” Fairey said. These chosen words are so specific as they contradict and address the statements and rhetoric composed by him. Trump gained support throughout his campaign for making false claims and statements that ignited fear and discrimination. “We the People” is powerful because it shows the clarity and confidence in which these statements about America and the values it’s founded on are being made. Fairey is using his medium and words to relay a message to the American people as well as the president.
The response from people has exceeded expectations. “We the People” has now become a nonpartisan campaign dedicated to igniting a national dialogue about American identity and values through public art. This is in effort to combat the rising power of nationalism, bigotry, and intolerance in America. Their mission is to continue to present images that challenge mainstream world views and to “instigate dialogue that refills our country’s reserve of ideas and inspiration.” Shepard Fairey hopes that his audiences see themselves in his art. He says, “these are all people that could be someone we know, a friend, a child of a friend, a neighbor. That’s America. That’s us.”
In a time where hate and fear is distributed through careless violent and detrimental rhetoric, unity and acceptance is necessary to combat it. Rhetoric has power, especially attached to politics. To reach the American people and spread a message through different forms of media like art and television is to connect with them on a personal level and initiate dialogue and change. Both “We Accept” and “We the People” draw on rhetorical appeals that speak through imagery and diction providing a call to action as well as a medium to speak about the pressing issues that plague our country today. America is a country where people have the choice to be bystanders. It is possible that when there is outrage, oppression, wrong doing, and discrimination that people can luxuriously sit back and wait for someone else to deal with it. But what “We the People” asks Americans to do is to be involved. To create the conversation and open up their minds to understanding those that are different from them. This causes a chain reaction that makes the foundation of this country stronger. The reaction to both “We Accept” and “We the People” shows how much power individuals have when they choose to exercise their civic voice. Real change is made and it spreads like wildfire. Whomever these pieces reach will understand and agree that the beauty of the world really does lie in the diversity of its people and although it may not be a perfect world, acceptance of diversity and difference can make it better.

 

 

 

 

 

RCL 4

Emma Barber

Civic Artifact Outline

RCL 137

9/18/17

 

 

Intro

 

Within the last year there has been a trend of companies releasing ads and statements that are politically motivated. Now the purpose of the Super Bowl is the commericals… companies pay millions of dollars for seconds of air time. I am not a fan of pro football or tv but I distinctly recall looking up from what I was doing  and watching all 30 seconds of this ad wondering what it was for. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Airbnb’s services, Airbnb is an online marketplace and hospitality service, enabling people to lease or rent short-term lodging including vacation rentals, apartment rentals, homestays, hostel beds, or hotel rooms.

 

*Play ad

 

 

Now they say there are two things to never discuss at the dinner table; Politics and religion. But it is important to recognize the trend of political statements being made by companies and corporations– This has powerful consequences of imposing rhetoric onto just about any viewer. This is unprecedented because companies that sell a product or service try hard to stay neutral and unbiased so that they don’t lose a portion of their consumer base. Now more than ever do we seem them speaking out publically and politically.

 

Ceos of

etsy

Facebook

Google

Linked In

Lyft

Netflix

Nike

Starbucks

  • Have all made statements that rebuke president’s actions

 

 

What is the ad?

 

This ad is in response to his Muslim Ban

During Super Bowl

Largest audience possible

 

Titled We Accept – there is no product or service theyre selling. It is simply an ad designed to call attention to the common value of acceptance and make the viewer think about what was just displayed on TV. No specific audience it is open to anyone and everyone who will let this touch them or make them think.

 

Dissect the commercial itself

 

Crisp images

  • Splits faces down the middle of very different people
  • connects them and make them one
  • displays acceptance/ unity
  • highlights different sexualities, races, ethnicities, religions etc. and brings them together.

 

The text

 

“We believe in the simple idea that no matter who you are, where you’re from, who you love, or who you worship, you deserve to belong.”

 

It uses words like WE and Belong RACE RELIGION ETC to be all inclusive

 

Calling on people to open their homes and their minds

Response was incredible

provide free housing to refugees and those recently barred from entering the US

goal-provide short-term housing over the next five years for 100,000 people

(refugees, disaster survivors, and relief workers

contribute $4 million over four years to the International Rescue Committee

 

So What?

This ad created a dialogue as well as a call to action that was well received by many

calls on people of all ethnicities in all different communities

reaches many commonplaces and people all over the world.

It connects to our own personal values and beliefs and draws on emotion to connect people all across the world

 

Civic world values to reject this ban and the ideas/fears thrown around by the trump admin – essentially civic duty to have open ears/mind/heart

 

 

Conclusion

Airbnb has made a commitment as well as a pretty big statement. They seized an opportunity to tell everyone that they are not in support of discrimination and want to foster a community of acceptance through their service. This is a powerful artifact because it starts a dialogue for individuals and can be a catalase for being more accepting of others. It spreads the notion that the fear and discrimination the admin is leading by is not shared by everyone and that it is possible for us as individuals to positively embrace beliefs that are shared by many and to resist the negative rhetoric that is thrown out there. As a company, they are doing more than just selling their service and gaining customers. They hold a strong policy of respect and inclusion and are using their advertisement to engage with the public.