"The Culture of American Advertising"

Summary:

In the article “The Culture of American Advertising” by Jack Solomon, he talks about how the American dream is simply a paradox. “The American dream, in other words, has two faces: the one communally egalitarian and the other competitively elitist.” Everyone wants to be equal (communally egalitarian), but everyone also wants to be at the very top (competitively elitist).  In his article, Solomon uses ads as examples for communally egalitarian and competitively elitist. One pretty good example he used was whiskey. He named two different whiskeys, Johnnie Walker and Jack Daniel's. In the article, he says, “a Johnnie Walker ad appeals to the buyer who wants a mark of aristocratic distinction in is liquor, a Jack Daniel’s ad emphasizes the down-home, egalitarian folksiness of its product.” Although one whiskey is meant to make you feel like you live a fancy life and the other one is just plain ol’ whiskey, whiskey is still whiskey.

Response:

I really enjoyed reading this article. It made me realize that a lot of Americans do want to live equally but also want to be above everyone. I have a pretty good example of it and that would have to be my very own parents. Both my mom and dad don't mind living equally with others but they both also have that competitive side where they want to be at the top. I mean, owning a Cadillac can be very luxurious, but it's still a car. I personally don't really care about being above everyone else. As long as I enjoy living the life I'm living, then I'm completely content.

Stephen King's "Why We Crave Horror Movies"

Summary:
In Stephen King's article, "Why We Crave Horror Movies," he claims that we are all "mentally ill." He also states three reasons as to why people crave horror films so much. One reason that people watch horror movies is to prove that they can actually sit through it and not be afraid of watching it. Another reason that people watch horror movies is to remind themselves that they are normal beings. The last reason is that people enjoy seeing others in danger. He compares horror movies to roller coasters. People ride roller coasters to prove that they're not afraid of riding it, just like how they watch scary films to prove that  they're not afraid of sitting through it. He compares horror movies to roller coasters. People ride roller coasters to prove that they're not afraid of riding it, just like how they watch scary films to prove that  they're not afraid of sitting through it. At the end of the article, King comes to the conclusion that horror movies bring out the "worst in us." According to him, everyone can relate to horror movies.

Response:
The reasons he gave about why people watch scary movies were easy to understand. Personally, I don't like horror films; I was never very fond of them. I liked the comparison he made, how horror movies are like roller coasters. I do agree with him when he says that people watch scary movies to prove that they have the guts to sit through them, just like how some people ride roller coasters to prove that they're not afraid of riding them.

"2b or not 2b?"

Summary:

            In “2b or Not 2b?” by David Crystal, Crystal talks about why he believes that texting will not destroy language. He also believes that texting may add new lengths to communication. In the article, he mentions that John Humphrys is against texting and states that texters are “vandals who are doing our language what Genghis Khan did to his neighbors 800 years ago.” Crystal also adds in John Sutherland, another man who dislikes texting. Sutherland says that texting is “bleak, bald, sad shorthand. Drab shrinktalk… it makes dyslexia, poor spelling, and mental laziness. Texting in penmanship for illiterates.” Crystal talks about how texting came about in the early 1990’s and it has been growing since then. He also discusses about how abbreviation has been used for many, many years now, and people tend to use it when messages are longer. Overall, Crystal explains that texting is just the new way of people to communicate and it won’t do any harm to our language. He claims that if a person is texting with abbreviations then they probably already understand the way the words sound. Some people don’t like texting but it’s not going to leave anytime soon.

Response:

            I would have to say that I agree with Crystal. Texting is a way for people to communicate, and of course, people are going to use abbreviations more often. Personally, I rarely use abbreviations when I am texting, but when the person I’m texting does, I still understand what he/she is saying. Yes, it’ll make some people become lazier when it comes to typing things out, but I don’t believe it’ll make more people illiterate.

"Blue-Collar Brilliance"

Summary:
In Mike Rose’s essay “Blue-Collar Brilliance,” he claims that people think that intelligence is measured by how much education a person has undergone. He suggests that blue-collar jobs require more education than what most people see. He talks about his experience when he was younger, when he would watch his mother work as a waitress. He describes his mother as an active woman who loved her job. She was very hardworking and memorized who ordered what. She even remembered how long it takes for a dish to be ready. Rose also mentions his uncles’ work at the General Motors factory and talks about he came to work there too. He went from being in the production live to supervising paint jobs. He describes how he studied different types of blue-collar jobs in action and in the end, claims that each one of them have skills that takes a lot to dominate.

Response:
I agree with Rose that a person’s intelligence is not measured by how much schooling he/she has finished. Especially in today’s economy, not everyone can afford to pursue a higher education or an education at all. I do believe that a getting a good education is worth it, but I also believe that school isn’t for everyone. Going to college isn’t the only way for a person to achieve a happy life.

Children without fathers

Summary:

                In Crystal Palomino’s essay, she believes that the fathers who fail to take responsibility for their children are either  not ready to raise a child, refuse to pay child support, and that they are “too much of a man.” She strongly feels that if a man is not ready to raise a child, then he shouldn’t have sex. When some couples are “in the mood,” they often don’t think about the consequences that will come afterwards. Once a woman becomes pregnant, some men who aren’t ready for a child will get up and leave. There are places where single mothers can get financial help, so majority of men think that the mother will be fine raising the child on her own.

Response:

                I grew up in a two-parent household, however I do have cousins, nieces, and nephews who were raised by a single parent. I can only imagine what it feels like to be raised by a single parent. I also notice that most single parents are usually mothers, but there are some circumstances where the mother leaves the child to the father’s care. There are mothers out there who aren’t ready to raise a child either, so they get up and leave also. I feel like a father gives his child a sense of protection, whereas a mother gives a sense of unconditional love. Although there are children out there who are completely fine with a single parent, I do believe that it isn’t fair for a child to be raised by one parent.

Hugs

Summary:

                I read quite a few interesting essays from the “This I Believe” website this past week. Majority of them were under the themes music and friendship. However, the one that really caught my attention was an essay titled “The Power of Holding On” by Cameron of Litchfield, Connecticut. In the essay, the author refers “holding on” to hugging. She states how a hug can change relationships, how a hug is a way for hearts to connect. For example, it can turn an acquaintance into a friend. Cameron talks about how her grandmother would hug her so tightly even when her health was deteriorating. It was a way to reassure her that things will be okay. She believes that holding on has become more than a physical interaction. She feels that it has become a way of thinking. In the essay, the author compares holding on, or hugging, to a battery charger. She says, “A hug is like a battery charger, a good one can keep me going for a long time.”

Response:

                As I was reading this essay, I was thinking about a different definition of “holding on.” It wasn't about physically holding on, but more of emotionally holding on. But I do have to agree with the author when she said holding on, or hugging, is a way for people to connect. I do have my days where I’m feeling down and all I really need is a hug to make me feel better. I’m also the type of person who gives hugs to cheer people up, which is really the least I could do. Everybody needs a good, long hug every once in a while. It’s a good way of reassuring.