Signifier/Signified

Gun Control

Video found on Youtube: Cory_Poiticalad_

We were asked to look at three (3) signifiers and what they signified. For my first ad, I looked at Cory's. His ad was witty, straight forward and his symbolism hit you in the face at times.

1. Signifier: Barack Obama standing in a picture with Fidel Castro (?) Hitler, and Mussolini (?). All of them raising their hands for support of gun control.
          1. Signifies that Obama is trying to place regimes in similar to the world's former tyrants, and that he may be a Communist or Nazi. The fact that they're all raising their hands signifies they all agree (allegedly) on the same thing.

2. Signifier: Knife in your face and the person wielding it being dressed in black wearing a ski mask to cover his face.
         2. Signifies that you should fear for your life if you don't have a gun in your home. People like this man will come to rob you of your home, children, and dignity.

3. Signifier: Barack Obama using his middle finger scratch his head while nonchalantly closing his eyes and turning his head in the opposite way.
          3. Signifies that Obama doesn't care and that he's going to do what he wants to do. He's basically giving everyone "the finger" to parlay that message.

tyler_moore_gun_control_candidate.mov

This campaign is for Ron Paul, and here are the three (3) signifiers I have chosen.

1. Music.
             1. Within the music there are highs and lows that make the scene feel like a battlefield. This battlefield is for our Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms, and Ron Paul is our "soldier" fighting to keep our Right to Bear Arms.

2. First thing you see in the ad is Ron Paul signing a document next to a sign that reads "Campaign for Liberty".
             2. He is signing a document that may possibly be giving us some our basic freedoms back. He is concentrating to make sure there are no loopholes (possibly) and clearly made a decision to sign it.

3. The sign that says "The Ron Paul R-evol-ution Continues".
            3. The music turns noble and the parting of the words in such a way signifies that not only is Ron Paul fighting and standing up for us, but that he loves the people. (Evol spelled backwards is Love). Not only has it started, but this sign says that he is continuing his fight for the people.

Unfortunately the ad I wanted to use for the last one was made to be private, and I cannot post it on my blog. However, if those in class are interested it is the Basil Marceaux ad.


                   Although you cannot see the ad, here is the basic description. Violins are playing in the background in a serious tone, drops of rain on dark glass are foregrounded by the words "Where are we headed?" which goes into looking off the side of a military plane that says "Our Soldiers are fighting..." "and we don't support them".  Following this is a parking meter with the word "Expired" inside. Words trailing over the picture state "The people in office" "have had their chance" "Their term has expired". Fade over to a picture of a podium where a man is standing off center near a microphone, the words here are "It's time for a Leader." "One who upholds the law." Then a sniper rifle is shown and yellow text appears to say "All firearms permits need to be revoked." "We need a leader who can do it". 
                 The serious music stops and some guitar music is playing as the American flag is revealed  and the words "America has such a leader...". Fade over to a photo of a man talking to a female. Words "Basil Marceaux is that man." "Firearms permits will be revoked if we elect Basil Marceaux." "That's a promise" as we zoom in on his face. As the transition begins "It's time for someone who can keep a promise. Vote Basil Marceaux for governor." The background relaying that same message. This was done by N. Guice.




Okay, signifiers and what they mean.


1. The meter with the "Expired" sign.
           1. This signifies that there are people that need to get out of office and let the 'new' blood in. We need a change and whoever this candidate is, is the new blood that we need.


2. The sniper rifle with yellow text in front of it.
          2. All gun permits will be revoked, therefore you can go out and get the sniper rifle of whatever gun back into your hands without having to fear having a permit.


3. The American Flag waving in the background as words scroll over it. 
           3. Apparently America has the man for a job. One such man who supports: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 


**Thank you to all of the creators for your videos, glad I could use them. Well done, at least from me on this because there was way more I could have written about.**

Ethos Pathos Logos

Ethos, Pathos and Logos:

Who is effective and who isn't? 

INTRODUCTION:

                   Looking at commercials from Song and from Dwight D. Eisenhower, I have come to a conclusion. Sometimes, it is a catchy jingle mixed in with some credibility and a dash of logic that makes all of the sense to a commercial.

SONG:

                First off, I would like to start with Song's advertisement. They are trying to get at the core of our Pathos (emotions) but there is no logic to selling an airline with people running at a gate while they're in the middle of a field. They aren't telling me at all what they offer or why they are offering it. They just expect the public to "get it" and quite frankly, I don't. If you were to give me an ad that had say "Come Fly With Me" by Sinatra and a waitress handing me a martini, while the seat looked like it was from first class and not coach, and your header is stating something like "High Class Luxury for the cost of Coach" then I will definitely get it. It's short, sweet and very much to the point. Not some logo that says "Song" and people running in a field from all directions to a gate. If I'm confused, I'm pretty sure more than enough people are.

Photo By: wbaiv

ROSSER REEVES and DWIGHT:


            I won't lie to you. I got caught up in a catchy jingle that was used during this man's campaign, and it's no wonder that he was elected. It gets stuck in your head and all you can think of is "I like Ike" and it was a brilliant move. All of his other ads were involved with issues surrounding the country at the time, including: corruption, cleaning 'house' at all government levels, the Korean 'Conflict' and the cost of living. He addressed different people and made logical points to all questions. This worked on both Pathos and Logos. The fact that he was a Five Star General in the Army probably didn't hurt his Ethos much either. He came to the public, said "here it is" and left it at that. Straightforward answers and well to the point when it came to what he wanted done. Rosser Reeves was ahead of his time when he thought to put Eisenhower in front of the camera like that. I just wish more politicians would go back to the old school and stop the mud-slinging.

Photo By: Cliff 1066

Is Cracked Losing Its Juice?

Cracked in and of Itself

            Cracked dot com is usually a happy, crazy, twisted world of ingenious ways to make people laugh and think all at the same time. Articles range from the likely straight into the world of the absurd. Articles such as 5 Deleted Bible Scenes in Which Jesus Kicked Some Ass and I Want to Put My Book Inside You: A Message to New Kindles to some "cutesy" ones like 5 Inspiring Act of Kindness by Terrifying Crime Syndicates and 5 Real Animal Friendships Right Out of a Disney Movie have shown that the site has some range, but not a ton of it. It may be obscure and inviting, but a fellow in a class that I attend found one that made the obscure have some sense. 

Photo By: Chesi - Fotos CC

The Bad Ideas Movies Give Us for Dealing With Bullies

Cracked's 5 Bad Ideas Media Gives Us for Dealing With Bullies

         I'll be honest, I was surprised by this article: Can We Change Bullies? When I looked at it, yes, it did take on a more serious approach than what Cracked is known for. Do I feel that was appropriate for a site that has been based on laughters? Sure, it's like a band that's all heavy metal suddenly hitting you in the side of the face with something surprisingly romantic and soft. (Example, Slipknot's "All Hope Is Gone" album with soft ballads like "Snuff" and "Vermillion Pt. 2".) 

          Another question asked is "Was this done appropriately or was there another approach that could be taken?" Sure, there are plenty of ways to take this, but I think that the Cracked Writer did it in a way that has some humor, but a very serious tone behind it. I don't think this turned people off of the site, but perhaps it has helped the general populous realize that dealing with a bully can be possible, but there are a lot of options that won't work. 

            The examples they use are pop culture references that most people know of, and there is some light warmheartedness, so the article keeps up to some standards, but puts forth more effort to convey a more meaningful message. 
            If people think that the writers of Cracked are getting too depressing over one article, then those few people that aren't deep fans of the site may be lost if they're in it for the laughs. Again, a comparison to music: it would be like fans leaving a musician, say Rhianna, because they decided to try a new direction. I feel that in this case, if they do lose fans, they will gain even more for doing something out of their shell. 

Conclusion

            Although a single Cracked Writer went outside of the box, I don't feel as though the repercussions will be too severe, if there will be any at all. There may be a few fans lost, but there are several to be gained through this serious article. The approach was a viable one, and rather smart option to be lighthearted but also serious. It's addressing an issue that a lot of people have, had, or are putting up with. To that, I say kudos Cracked for taking a shot in the dark and hopefully it turns out for the better.