Hello composition students!
It is time for our first classroom assignment: the Critical Eye assignment due this Thursday, August the 29th.
This assignment will have you flexing your critical thinking muscles by analyzing an image, video, or article for the argument being made, how it is presented, and what the implications of the argument are. Political articles and cartoons, as well as advertisements, are always good places to look for arguments. Use the CLUES handout to: consider the source, lay out the argument, uncover the evidence, evaluate the conclusion, and sort out the implications.
You may analyze anything you wish as long as you can show how it is being used to argue a point. You need not show your whole video or read your whole article in class, but an overview would be nice, as well a link for those who wish to read or view the material at a later date.
You will be asked to present your findings in class, but you may also post here for extra points. I will post an example, which we will go over in class, so that you can see how this assignment works. The assignment should take you around five minutes to present and is worth 25 points towards your final grade. If you post something to this blog as part of the assignment you will receive an extra five points.
Here is an example Critical Eye project that we will go over in class:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EKLR894oMs
This is a commercial for Axe, which are hygienic products for men. As a commercial, this video is made by the company that wishes to sell people these products. The company paid for the time used to air the commercial. The commercial is directed towards younger men who wish to attract a mate. They seem to be using the allure of young, beautiful women who are, in fact, divine, to attract their target audience.
The underlying argument is that Axe body products will make one more attractive to the opposite sex. The commercial is using humor to assert that an angelic being would give up her divinity to be with a man doused in Axe body spray. The underlying assumptions to this argument are that men want women to be attracted to them, and for that attraction to be the most important thing in the young woman's life.
There is no real evidence presented for this argument, other than the humorous act the of angles literally falling for the man who has used the product. No studies are cited for how often a woman will prefer a man that uses Axe.
The argument is successful in that it gets the viewers attention, makes them laugh, and suggests that Axe makes one more attractive.
The implications of this argument are pretty harmless as the purchase of a body product is not a huge issue. At the same time, commercials like these are the very reason that television exists. Commercials pay the bills that keep TV on the air. If we can learn anything from commercials like these, it's that there is a ton of money to be made selling people's desires back to them.
I am thinking about doing my project on the snickers commercials, I know there is many to see i will find a good one and go with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
Raul
This commercial is about snickers, a every day chocolate snack. This commercial is advertised to any mix of group from a 2 year old child to the hunger stricken office worker.
DeleteThe underlying argument is that snickers can over come any hunger urge that overwhelms at any time of the day, using famous actors from all diffrent types of eras to catch any bodies and every bodies attention.
I believe that these commercials do the job as I am now a snickers fanatic. I do get the occasional itch for a snack and it is filling as it is satisfying.
The argument I could see where some people might say it is not as enjoyable as it seems, but it can also give people that extra kick they need to make it to there next meal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XklRuSF4718
ReplyDeleteThis is a commercial for Febreze, which is a house hold spray. This is a commercial put onto televison by the Frebreze company that wants to sell there products. This commercial and others made by them is directed to many. I think mostly to moms or the person who cleans their household or car.
The underlying argument is that Febreze products can overcome the terrible smell of used sports clothes, old molding food just left lying around and anything else that will make you turn up your nose. This commercial is using non-actors and setting them into a vehicle that has the random bad smelling items with a febreze product to cover up or eliminate the smell.
I would say that the commercials are telling the truth because I use febreze at my house and it gets rid of my pet smell and stays fresh longer than any other house hold spray that I have used.
This argument has no real bad effects. The good effects are for the company and it gets people to buy their product. Another good effect of this commercial is being able to get into a friends car or walk into their house and have it smelling fresh.
http://youtu.be/WUtS5QKfpRk
ReplyDeleteThis is a commercial for Herbal Essence, which is a shampoo, or haircare product. The commercial is advertised on television, paid for by the company that wishes to sell consumers their product. The commercial is directed towards women mostly, but can be used by anyone.
The underlying argument is that Herbal Essence shampoo will give you an orgasmic experience, and make you fall in love with your hair all over again. The commercial is using a beautiful woman, with long gorgeous hair to portray this message.
The commercial is successful in getting the viewers attention, however, there is no factual evidence that you will have an orgasmic experience yourself when using the product. One thing is for sure though, your definitely not going to forget the commercial.
http://youtu.be/sTvAUXI7QoE
ReplyDeleteThis is a Mercedes Benz commercial that is advertised by the Mercedes Benz company. They are directing this commercial towards men in their mid twenties to late thirties.
The underlying argument is that if you buy a Mercedes car then you will be cool, attract women, and even hit celebrity status. It also hints at the idea that this car is so amazing, you would have to sell your soul to own it. Then at the end, convinces the viewers that they can get it for "only" $30,000.
There is no real evidence that if you buy a Mercedes, you will become cool, well known, or even attract beautiful women.
However, this commercial is successful in getting the viewers attention in that you can buy this car at an obtainable price, and in suggesting that if you do will make you cool and attractive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a6tGipcVZ8
ReplyDeleteThis is a commercial for Crest 3D toothpaste. Proctor and Gamble, the manufacture of Crest, is the source that created the commercial. The audience would be single people that want whiter teeth and a mate.
The underlying argument is whiter teeth will help you get a date. This will add value to your life in that you will find a mate, have a family, and live a happy fulfilled life. They assume you are single looking for a mate and want whiter teeth.
There is no evidence that whiter teeth will help you attract a date that otherwise you would not have been able to obtain. All though knowing you have whiter teeth will increase your confidence.
An implication might be that it could cause damage to the enamel on your teeth. A true political implication is that buying a Procter and Gamble product help support their political views.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTgeUVOxl8E
ReplyDeleteThis is a commercial for a make up company, Maybelline. This is a commercial put on television to try and sell their product to women.
The underlying argument is that if you use their product, you will have skin like that of a model. They even go as far as covering the "pores" on a golf ball to show that no matter how bad your skin is now, their product will fix it.
The implications for products of this kind are limited, the only real draw back will be disappointment after most women find out that they look like nothing like the models portrayed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJOn3jG5tUk
ReplyDeleteThis is an Audi car commercial that is advertised by the Audi company. I think this commercial is intended for anyone who needs a boost of courage to do something they've always been too shy to do. Aka basically everyone. The publisher created this commercial with a storyline that almost everyone can relate to and/or be entertained by.
The basic argument that author wants to make, is that if you drive an Audi, you will instantly get a huge boost of self-confidence and will gain the courage to be able to do things you've always wanted to(but never dared to). The author of this commercial is making the assumption that everyone has something they're too scared to do.
The author didn't show any research that proves that if you drive an Audi, you will instantly become more brave and do things you've always wanted to.
I believe this commercial was successful in that it definitely catches people's attention and is even hard to forget. But let's be honest, whether or not someone buys an Audi, it won't affect the world or how everyone else lives.
...I can't believe I wrote so much about a car commercial..
Deletehttp://youtu.be/sQsiyWOW2Gw
ReplyDeleteThis is a commercial for Oxi-Clean Stain Fighter. Oxygen based stain fighter that’s chlorine free and color safe. This commercial is selling to all families that do laundry. Especially families that have children that plays outside.
The underlying argument is that Oxi-Clean will make it very easy to get stains out of clothes, no matter what it is. The commercial shows if you pour the product in the washing machine with the stained clothing, PRESTO! The shirt or pants whatever the clothing item is will be clean, stain will be gone, and the shirt will be brighter in color than before. The underlying assumption to this argument is that no matter what the stain is or how set in the stain is using Oxi-Clean will make the stain disappear easily.
There is no real evidence presented for this argument other than the mother shaking her head when she sees the stain on the shirt and the comparisons of the two pieces of clothing being shown before with a stain on the clothing and after with the stains being gone.
The argument is successful in that it gets the viewers to become relieved that the product can get the clothing clean and looking bright after using the product.
The commercial is successful in getting a person to purchase the product. The implications of the argument are harmless as showing the stain will come out of the shirt by just throwing in the washing machine. There are a lot of laundry products being sold promising to get that hard stain out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDDwRI4LYFY
ReplyDeleteThis is a commercial for oreos, which is a delectable cookie. the commercial is advertised on tv by the company Nabisco. It is directed towards kids(or anybody really).
The underlying argument is that if you give somebody an oreo they will become more friendly. The commercial uses fictional examples such as the wolf, a vampire, a shark, and a giant squid.
The commercial is successful in getting the viewer's attention, however there is no actual evidence that giving somebody an oreo makes them friendly towards you.
http://www.currentvictoriasecret'sangels'measurements.com
ReplyDeleteToday we are going to talk about Angels.But not just any angel these angels are the top models for Victoria Secret. Roy Raymond founded this lingerie company in 1997 in California. When the commercial shows the models we see how this woman look like. As a woman i would say this will not fit me. A man would say when can my partner surprise me with something like this. The commercial is more for woman but I do see a problem this lingerie company does not have plus sizes. In reality the models measurements are numbers such as 32-24-34 or 32-25-33 and so on. Since the beginning the models have been selected to have measurements. Does this mean that if you want to look or feel sexy you have to be fit and have this measurements. Can any ordinary american woman wear this and feel comfortable with this lingerie and not have the measurements to wear it. By not purchasing this product will not make you feel or look any different. You will still be the same but knowing that you are still yourself and are looking and feeling sexy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0klExG8s0c
ReplyDeleteThis is a commercial for Hamlet Cigars. The company payed for the time used on the air to advertise their product. The advertisement is directed at people who are 18 years of age or older and are able to smoke.
The underlying argument is that if you smoke a Hamlet Cigar you will instantly feel better/happier. The commercial uses humor by saying even after a man takes a soccer ball to the groin, he will still be more than happy to smoke a Hamlet Cigar.
There is no real evidence provided in the commercial, other than one will be happy after smoking a hamlet cigar.
The commercial is successful because it gets the viewers attention, makes them laugh, and shows that they might be happy after smoking a hamlet cigar.
This commercial, however, does not tell the list of side effects or dangers of smoking tobacco. It could cause people not old enough to smoke to try and buy the product.
Today I will be discussing a recently aired JC Penny commercial for back to school. The commercial is clearly aimed towards children in their pre teens, convincing them that they need new clothes for back to school, which will ultimately result in kids trying to convince their parents to buy them back to school clothes. So even though the ad is aimed at kids, the end result is targeting parents as well.
ReplyDeleteThe underlying argument presented by the commercial is that the way you look on the first day will be the most important thing about the entire school year. This is presented fairly obviously when stated by the girl in the commercial. The underlying assumptions that could go along with this is that by getting new clothes, and shopping at JC Penny, your first day look will be “totally awesome” and not just your first day look, but how you look every day. This clearly is playing on insecurities kids may already have by starting a new year or possibly even a new school, and wanting to fit in or be accepted. This commercial implicates that the way you look is the most important thing about school.
There really is no evidence presented in this commercial that show that by shopping at JC Penny’s you will automatically be a “cool kid” or proving that the most important thing about school is the way you look.
The argument is successful because as I stated before it is going to pressure kids and pre teens to want to look a certain way, to fit in, and be accepted, and it does so by giving them the solution of where to go to achieve that first day look that will set the precedence of the school year.
In my opinion the implications in this commercial are very negative, and are not only present in this ad, but in most that are aired before school starts; aimed towards children and their parents, laying the pressure on thick for parents to buy their children all the latest things, and sending a message to children that the way you look is what is most important. It is the little things like this that make a huge impact on children. Not every child can afford brand new clothes for the school year, and are forced into hand-me-downs. And it is because of ads like these that those children are labeled losers, uncool, and end up getting bullied. It is so sad to me that we are living in a society where now we are not only putting pressure on woman to look a certain way, or men, but on children! And it is working!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofA2sm5zbCk
ReplyDeleteThis Hydroxycut commercial involves a very controversial topic- losing weight. Its a problem that many are tring to overcome and turn to answers in products like these , problem is they dont always work. I remeber the first time i came across this commercial. I was sitting in front of my television set . I became a victim of there good looks and true stories. Never truely gave it any thought to the side effects or any back up evidence that it would work, simple mistakes we all make. I kept thinking, "If i drink this i will lose weight fast and soon look like them!" . The next day i woke up to rashes all over my body . They dont always work and lead you to false expections with there good looks, making them a controversial topic. Just remeber , never fall for what looks or sounds to good to be true, because then it might just be.