Norms and Otherness

. Find three advertisements that establish both norms and "otherness" in images and/or text.

2. Embed the actual ad (or a link to the ad) in your blog.

3. (a) Explain the primary binary oppositions at work here -- e.g., the norms and otherness. Speculate on how the advertisements are perpetuating discourse and power.

I came across these 3 advertisements that are completely different from one another in what they are selling, promoting, and their target audience, but even within each advertisement, there is a binary opposition. 2 very different takes on 1 print ad. The power of these ads lies in the eyes and heart of the person viewing them, and how they allow their imagery to relate to their situation and walk of life.

The first ad was taken out of an African Magazine. The visual impression I got from this ad was one that is somewhat flaunting or promoting sexuality, which is the norm in everyday society to see a women in a bathing suit on the cover of a magazine, but the text reveals a completely different story.  A story of torture, sexual assault and ultimately death. It is beyond heart-wrenching, the situation that persists in Africa. People dying daily. Babies being orphaned because their mothers died from AIDS. Babies, women, and children being raped repeatedly, the torture they endure in Kenya is beyond belief, and yet while the story is telling us, as readers, that. The visual story is a completely different story. We as spectators need to become educated in what we read and see, and how to interpret it.

The second ad I came across was quite cute and comical.

This is an ad for eyewear.  The  main idea behind this clever ad is that you can re-invent your look with a new pair of glasses. This company is using the power of persuasion to allude that without their eyewear, you are living on the left-hand side of things: a butcher, a hells angel, and a truck driver; most of which may not be perceived as glamourous lifestyles, but with their eyewear, you are now an artist, a fashion designer, and/or dr. professor. These glasses change your whole per sauna. The norm is that is truthfully the underlying message of becoming a better you, that is the driving force behind American Modern Society, and the other would be the clever way it was presented, with the imagery so dead on to the perceptions of our society.

The third ad I came across was one for suicide awareness. Visually, this ad is very cute and clever. There are little cutout people dangling from a page, but the reality of what this ad stands for is anything but cute. It is a battle cry to the lonely and depressed. The norm in this ad is the very clever imagery and photographic appeal, but the otherness is the ideology behind the advertisement.  The imagery itself is a bit opposing. The cut outs are not only dangling their lives by just a few fibers of paper, but it is also themselves that are the only ones who can save themselves. (I know the wording is confusing, but visually, you see it is the shadow of themselves that is holding them, keeping them from their plummet to death. The visual interpretation is powerful.

WE ARE ALL MEAT!

I came across this controversial advertisement or protest of sorts that PETA had staged on a busy block in Manhattan to promote vegetarianism, but did it work? I don't know...

The nearly nude PETA activists laid inside large foam trays wrapped with cellophane and covered in fake blood.  The "stunt" was a visual representation that we as humans are living breathing beings, such as the animals that humans eat everyday. Would we ever think about eating another human? Heavens no, or if so, you should be committed. But this was the the intent of this protest: to see animals as living creatures not a steak or chop.

I am vegetarian myself and the image of this was a little disheartening for me to look at, but if I weren't vegetarian, I truthfully don't know if this act would have persuaded me to re-think my eating habits. Many people were disgusted, as would I be too, because I am unable to handle the site of blood at all, but did their disgust eternalize into questioning their eating behaviors, or anger? For many, it was anger.

I am not anti PETA, but I am also not a PETA activist. When it comes to my eating choices, I feel they are my own personal opinion and if people ask me why I am vegetarian, I will share it with them, but I am not one to shove my opinion down someone else's throat. I feel it is each person's personal choice to be whatever type of eater they want to be. It is none of my business.  That being said, I feel that PETA is a little over the top when it comes to their publicity and advertisement charades. For example, they have this entire advertisement line of "I'd rather be naked than wear fur." It is really provocative pictures of celebrity women naked. The irony between these two advertisements that stemmed from the same company is that in the "Meat is Murder" protest, they are saying animals, along with humans, are not pieces of meat, but yet in their "I'd Rather be Naked" campaign, they are subjectifying these women's bodies like they ARE pieces of meat, figuratively speaking. And truthfully, the nearly nude women in the cellophane-wrapped trays are still showing off their bodies for onlookers to ogle at.

Was that PETA's intent? They say no, but as photo shoot after photo shoot, & advertisement after advertisement show, there is a very strong sexual undertone in almost all of PETA's ads. I guess it goes back to the expression, "The meanings in the viewer." You be the judge!

WE ARE ALL MEAT!

I came across this controversial advertisement or protest of sorts that PETA ad on a busy block in Manhattan to promote vegetarianism, but did it work? I don't know...

The nearly nude PETA activists laid inside large foam trays wrapped with cellophane and cover in fake blood.  The "stunt" of sorts was a visual representation that we as humans are living breathing beings, such as the animals that humans eat everyday. Would we ever think about eating another human? Heavens no, or if so, you should be committed. But this was the the intent of this protest: to see animals as living creatures not a steak or chop.

I am vegetarian myself and the image of this was a little disheartening for me to look at, but if I weren't vegetarian, I truthfully don't know if this act would have persuaded me to re-think my eating habits. Many people were disgusted, as would I be too, because I am unable to handle the site of blood at all, but did their disgust eternalize into questioning their eating behaviors, or anger? For many, it was anger.

I am not anti PETA, but I am also not a PETA activist. When it comes to my eating choices, I feel they are my own personal opinion and if people ask me why I am vegetarian, I will share it with them, but I am not one to shoved my opinion down someone else's throat. I feel it is each person's personal choice to be whatever type of eater they want to be. It is none of my business.  That being said, I feel that PETA is a little over the top when it comes to their publicity and advertisement charades. For example, they have this entire advertisement line of "I'd rather be naked than wear fur." It is really provocative pictures of celebrity women naked. The irony between these two advertisements that stemmed from the same company is that in the "Meat is Murder" protest, they are saying animals, along with humans, are not pieces of meat, but yet in their "I'd Rather be Naked" campaign, they are subjectifying these women's bodies like they are pieces of meat, figuratively speaking. And truthfully, the nearly nude women in the cellophane-wrapped trays are still showing off their bodies for onlookers to ogle at.

Was that PETA's intent? They say no, but as photo shoot after photo shoot, & advertisement after advertisement show, there is a very strong sexual undertone in almost all of PETA's ads. I guess it goes back to the expression, "The meanings in the viewer." You be the judge!

The New American Ideology

America was founded on the virtues of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, capitalism; the American dream. A true rags to riches Cinderella-esque fairytale. But that was 20 years ago. Over the last decade or so, the American dream has become more of the evil step-mother's fairytale. One where we either inherit a fortune or marry into money. A life where we can sit around and do nothing but blow those fortunes with designer handbags, and the desire to be like all the celebrities that we idealize.

The virtues of Achievement & Success are still intact, but they are now measured by the size of your wallet, the price of your car, the labels on your clothes, not the sweat and tears that once reaped the comfort of a well-off lifestyle. Many of these multi-millionaires, who are younger than I, might I add, have never worked a day in their lives.

America's number one virtue is material comfort. Obviously, this may not represent every individual in America, not the people scrapping by, but the ideology of Americans, as a whole has become this cushy materialistic lifestyle. People are foreclosing on their homes, but yet are still getting their nails done, having their Starbucks everyday, and continually racking up their credit cards to buy more crap they don't need. I can't say I am not completely different from the whole. I have a ridiculous amount of credit card debit that I am trying to pay down, and I do get Starbucks when I really should be using that $5 for something I really need, like groceries. My husband and I moved away, and got in way over our heads financially, and are still trying to get out from under it. But I can gladly say that I am not in jeopardy of losing our home or being without food, thank you Lord. It has become the new American Standard: Buy Now pay for Eternity!:)

Americans more than ever have a since of Superiority. Superiority of nationality, but also when it comes to status and money. The ridiculously wealthy and famous have become the elite of our nation. Everyone idolizes them, even though most of them are coked-out half the time and sleep their way around their circle of friends. Only  in American can teenage and young adults become instant celebs for doing nothing but going to night clubs, getting trashed, sleeping around, and having millions of people looking on. Our younger generations covet these socialites. It seems so glamorous viewers. Everyone wants to be a reality TV star. What has this country become? seriously  

Weak Vs. Strong

Lindsay Lohan's fingernail: Contempt of court?

The disgraced actress faced a judge for sentencing with a vulgar message painted on her fingernail. Will her misguided manicure land her back in court?

POSTED ON JULY 8, 2010, AT 12:07 PM

Some say a message inscribed on Lohan's fingernail could land her even more time behind bars. Photo: Getty

Best Opinion:  FOX News, Reuters, FindLaw...

Troubled former child star Lindsay Lohan will soon be behind bars for violating her probation. But the starlet's 90-day sentence may be extended based on photographs that suggest she appeared in court with "f--k u" painted on her middle fingernail. If the obscene message is interpreted as being directed at the court, she could be cited for contempt, says New York City attorney Stacy Schneider, quoted by FOX News— adding up to 5 days to her sentence. Lohan later tweeted that the nail was a "joke." Was Lohan's fingernail tag contemptuous? (Watch an AP report about Lohan's fingernail art)

It's hard to know Lohan's intentions: Perhaps the vulgar manicure "was just a general statement of youthful anger from the 24-year-old," says Bob Tourtelotte in Reuters. "Whatever the reason, it has hardly helped Lohan’s case in the eyes of much of the media, and has cast doubt on the sincerity of her tearful plea for mercy."
"Update: Lindsay Lohan. Did judge see that finger?"

If the judge couldn't see her nail, it might not be contempt: "Luckily for Lohan," says Tanya Roth at FindLaw, the judge's eyesight could not possibly have been good enough to see what was written on her fingernail from across the courtroom. It's unlikely the judge would "recall [Lohan] for contempt that she did not actually observe during the hearing," even if the attending paparazzi did.
"Lindsay Lohan fingernail message: contempt?"

This latest act of self-destruction is offensive to Lohan's supporters: Fans like me who "felt some pity for the poor thing" will find this "not so secret message for [the judge], the court and the rules" disappointing, says Dawn Olsen at Technorati. As an act of self-destruction, this is "beyond the pale," even for a "self-absorbed, pampered little brat" like Lohan. It may not have been contempt of court, but it certainly showed contempt for her supporters.
"Lindsay Lohan shows her 'respect' for the court"

Above is a link to an article about Lindsay Lohan and the infamous "f-u" fingernail scandal. In my opinion it is just absurd how obsessed American society has become with celebrities. Don't get me wrong, Lindsay Lohan is a very troubled young woman and needs a lot of help, and some of that help being that she actually has to pay the consequences of her actions, but why is it that while there are people getting raped, murdered, attacked, the government is killing off most of our God-given rights, all we see on every station is all this celebrity-gossip. Who cares if Lohan was being disrespectful to the Judge or just had it on her nails because she thought it would be cool if her finger she used to "show" people, "f-u" actually said it? Maybe the Judge over-hearing her case should if she really felt it was directed towards her, and maybe her parents should, but as for the rest of the millions of people who saw it on TV everyday for a week, it really has no bearing on our lives.


This article is not news, it's propaganda. It is just another chance for Lindsay to get publicty. As they say in the business, "Any publicity is good publicity." The problem with that is that Miss Lohan has a pattern of self-destruction and she may really need to hit rock bottom in order to change her ways, but hitting rock bottom may be that she has to actually serve jail time, not in a secluded cell for 14 out of the 90 days sentenced, and not while the media is feeding off of it. If all these celebrity news, Lindsay bloggers were really concerned for Lindsay, then they should ignore her more or less. By always giving her the attention while she is going wrong, they are feeding her celeb-hunger and enabling her. Basically what I am saying is, "ENOUGH ABOUT LINDSAY ALREADY FOLKS!"haha


Back to this article...again it is not news, it is an opinion piece strewn with assumptions and implications. "Did Lindsay do it intentionally?" "Was it directed at the Judge?" "If so, what will be the consequences?" etc. It is just another tragic celebrity gossip piece that makes front page news while you don't hear about the hundreds of martyrs killed that day, or the dozens of people who were saved by an everyday hero.
















And Now for a story that should have received more mainstream media attention:

By MARK STEVENSON and E. EDUARDO CASTILLO, Associated Press Writer –Wed Aug 25, 7:37 pm ET
MEXICO CITY – A wounded migrant stumbled into a military checkpoint and led marines to a gruesome scene, what may be the biggest massacre so far in Mexico's bloody drug war: a room strewn with the bodies of 72 fellow travelers, some piled on top of each other, just 100 miles from their goal, the U.S. border.

The 58 men and 14 women were killed, the migrant told investigators Wednesday, by the Zetas cartel, a group of former Mexican army special forces known to extort migrants who pass through its territory.

If authorities corroborate his story, it would be the most horrifying example yet of the plight of migrants trying to cross a country wheredrug cartels are increasingly scouting shelters and highways, hoping to extort or even recruit vulnerable immigrants.

"It's absolutely terrible and it demands the condemnation of all of our society," said government security spokesman Alejandro Poire.

The Ecuadorean migrant stumbled to the checkpoint on Tuesday, telling the marines he had just escaped from gunmen at a ranch in San Fernando, a town in the northern state of Tamaulipas about 100 miles from Brownsville, Texas.

The Zetas so brutally control some parts of Tamaulipas that even many Mexicans do not dare to travel on the highways in the states.

Many residents in the state tell of loved ones or friends who have disappeared traveling from one town to the next. Many of these kidnappings are never reported for fear that police are in league with the criminals.

The marines scrambled helicopters to raid the ranch, drawing gunfire from cartel gunmen. One marine and three gunmen died in a gunbattle. Then the marines discovered the bodies, some slumped in the chairs where they had been shot, one federal official said.

The migrant told authorities his captors identified themselves as Zetas, and that the migrants were from Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador and Honduras.

Poire said the government was in contact with those countries to corroborate the identities of the migrants. Consular officials from Brazil, Ecuador and El Salvador said they had no immediate information on whether any of their citizens were among the dead.

The marines seized 21 assault rifles, shotguns and rifles, and detained a minor, apparently part of the gang.

Authorities said they were trying to determine whether the victims had been killed at the same time — and why. Poire noted that migrants are frequently kidnapped by cartel gunmen demanding money, sometimes contacting relatives in the U.S. to demand ransoms.

Poire also said the government believes cartels are increasingly trying to recruit migrants as foot soldiers — a concern that has also been expressed by U.S. politicians demanding more security at the border.

The government has confirmed at least seven cases of cartels kidnapping groups of migrants so far this year, said Antonio Diaz, an official with the National Migration Institute, a think tank that studies immigration.

But other groups say migrant kidnappings are much more rampant. In its most recent study, the National Human Rights Commission said some 1,600 migrants are kidnapped in Mexico each month. It based its figures on the number of reports it received between September 2008 and February 2009.

Violence along the northeastern border with the U.S. has soared this year since the Zetas broke with their former employer, the Gulf cartel. Authorities say the Gulf cartel has joined forces with its once-bitter enemies, the Sinaloa and La Familia gangs, to destroy the Zetas, who have grown so powerful they now have reach into Central America.

Teresa Delagadillo, who works at the Casa San Juan Diego shelter in Matamoros just across from Brownsville, said she often hears stories about criminal gangs kidnapping and beating migrants to demand money — but never a horror story on the scale of this week's massacre.

"There hadn't been reports that they had killed them," she said.

It was the third time this year that Mexican authorities have discovered large masses of corpses. In the other two cases, investigators believe the bodies were dumped at the sites over a long time.

In May, authorities discovered 55 bodies in an abandoned mine near Taxco, a colonial-era city south of Mexico City that is popular with tourists.

In July, investigators found 51 corpses in two days of digging in a field near a trash dump outside the northern metropolis of Monterrey. Many of those found were believed to have been rival traffickers. But cartels often dispose of the bodies of kidnap victims in such dumping grounds.

The Rev. Alejandro Solalinde, who runs a shelter in the southern state of Oaxaca, where many migrants pass on their way to Tamaulipas, said the Zetas have put informants inside shelters to find out which migrants have relatives in the U.S. — the most lucrative targets for kidnap-extortion schemes.

He said he constantly hears horror stories, including people who "say their companions have been killed with baseball bats in front of the others."

Solalinde said he has been threatened by Zetas demanding access to his shelters.

He said the gangsters told him: "If we kill you, they'll close the shelter and we'll have to look all over for the migrants."

___

Associated Press writer Alicia A. Caldwell in El Paso, Texas contributed to this report.

This story is horrific and is happening hours from where we live. This story targets a reader's fear and empathic nature to re-live the events that unfolded. These techniques are very effective in my personal experience, because I found myself a bit uneasy and somewhat scared at the horrific nature of these crimes. I live in the US, thank you Jesus, and I probably have a 90% chance that I would not be murdered in cold blood, but still after reading this, I find myself fearing my own mortality. I am an empathic person, some people aren't, but I totally am, and all I can think about as I am reading this, is "Oh, this poor innocent people, brutally murdered, their families left to grieve. How can this happen?" I am almost brought to tears when thinking of the horror these harmless people endured before they finally stopped breathing. How as human beings, can we kill one another in cold blood? 

This is where the media has failed us I feel. With the birth of violent video games and all the CSI crap out there, people now see murder and really don't internalize it's truth. It is not like in the movies and shows, where you know it fake and that person who is lying dead on the ground is actually the lady on the "Mr Clean" commercial. We as humans have become immune to the real implications of death, unless we have otherwise had a direct encounter of seeing someone murdered in front of our faces. And on the flip side of the coin, when there are these horrific massacres, bombings, shootings, and killings that do take place, they aren't really talked about in the news. They are more a one-line sentence to fill time between what Obama's doing to destroy this country and what/who Lindsay Lohan is doing at the time.

This story, unlike the Lohan fiasco is news. It is fact, not opinion. 72 people were just massacred by the hands of this Mexican drug cartel and over the last 6 months over 180 were killed in cold blood by this same drug cartel.