"The Parable of the Ring around the Collar"

For this assignment I chose to do three advertisements about frozen entrees, because they were the ones that really stuck out to me and actually related to Neil Postman's beginning, middle and end parables. The first ad I found was about Ore-Ida Steam n' Mash potatoes. The parable's beginning was basically a picture of a potato peeler with a phrase next to it saying, "give your potato peeler a time out." Then the middle would be on the bottom left where it says "a new way to make real mashed potatoes, and it introduces the item. The end parable is just the picture of the actual bag and the potatoes in a bowl showing the items used to make them. I thought this one was the best at showing Postman's idea, because it did have a beginning middle and end even though it was just showing frozen food. This one ad really showed people who have busy lives, that they can create a nice meal once in a while without the hassle, that's how it worked its magic on consumers. But, this definitely shows that our society is getting a bit lazy or maybe just the fact that moms are just to busy to make long homemade meals anymore.

The second ad that popped out at me was a bagel bites one. It has a girl sitting at a table with two plates in front of her, one with the bagel bites and one with pizza rolls. So, that is obviously the beginning, basically saying which one will she choose or would you choose? Then under the bagel bites it says "zero trans fat," while under the pizza rolls it says "more than you want," which states that the bagel bites are better for you and less in everything. Then at the bottom of the page it shows the brand name and what they have in them and how your snack choice just got easier; clearly showing the parable's end. The entire ad just catches your eye, especially if you're a mom looking out for a child and the food looks good, so you want to know why it's on the page. Although, in terms of society I think this shows that we are not that concerned about the food that go in our bodies, because after really taking a good look at this ad it was talking about giving bagel bites to your children as snacks rather than something healthier.

Then the third ad I did was about skillet meals from TGI Friday's. It is actually a very simple advertisement when looking at it; the only way they catch your eye is with the bold red and white stripes across the page and the bag of food smack dab in the middle. So, our beginning is the in all capital letters phrase at the top of the page saying,"turn on taste buds you never knew you had." With that phrase you think, okay with what? Then you look down, showing the parable's middle is the skillet bag with a picture of a meal on front of it. Then at the bottom, being the parable's end is a phrase saying, "eat bold, not bland." This all captures the audience's eyes by showing that nothing is bland with this meal according to the colors and big letters you see, everything is out there and tastes good and different. As for society I would say it is just like the first ad most people don't have time to make homemade meals, so when they see this meal in a bag, they think why not? Society has definitely changed over the years and advertisements had to change with it, and that's just the way it goes. Nobody is perfect; not everyone can sit at the table every night eating a home cooked meal or grab a snack that is better for them, it's just the way society is.

Ad Gallery

I chose to write about the car advertisements in the gallery, because they were the ones that really caught my eye. Each one showed what the car could do for the person. One being that you will be able to do all the major sports you set out to do, and the other being that moms don't have to stay at home now that they have this great car. I noticed that in both ads the phrase had everything to do with the action in the picture. In the truck ad there was a mountain climber in focus with the phrase "no boundaries all new ford explorer sport trac," meaning that not only does the climber have no boundaries but the truck has none either, which would make some athlete very happy. Then the other one has a mom and kids slightly out of focus and the van in the background, with the phrase "what idiot coined the phrase stay at home mom?" This shows that any mom can take their kids out if they have the right car. I just think they made these ads perfect, fitting them to the specific audience they wanted and making them inviting and likable.

"Sex as a Symbol in Fashion Avertising"

I found an advertisement in Woman's Day magazine for a yogurt shot that helps remove cholesterol, it is called SuperShots. The entire advertisement creates a very happy and bright mood, leaving you wanting to buy the product in the end. Most of the information on the ad is scientific or more facts than anything, letting us know that this is a sure thing. At the top of the page in capital green letters are the words "removes cholesterol,"catching your attention right away. There is a lot of white space surrounding a stethoscope with the supershot bottle in front of it and two strawberries. The stethoscope makes it seem like doctors approve it or it really is good for your health, and the fact that there is strawberries made me want it even more. Right underneath the graphic is the scientific fact that out of 310 cardiologists, 4 out of 5 endorsed the product for cholesterol from the nutritional information. At the bottom of the page is a portion of green with a picture of the package the bottles come in and some more information. To me the green actually makes me feel like this product is really good, because green is such a bright and warm color. I think there are some cultural attitudes that are indirectly reflected here, because practically everyone now wants to make the effort to become healthy, and the ad reaches out to all those people.

Cell Phones

For my topic, I chose to do text messaging. It is a very broad topic right now, but I haven't yet decided what I am going to narrow it down to. The four sources I chose were the essays given to us, and I am also planning on looking for additional ones. Some things I learned about my topic, from reading the essays were that cell phones have definitely taken over our lives and texting has become the new rage with kids and adults. We cannot take cell phones lightly, because they are apart of our lives and we have become attached to them.

The first essay I chose to read was "The Affliction," because it discussed the fact that cell phones have made people rude, and have seriously taken over society. When we don't have our phones on us, we feel "naked" and that is hard to think about. The fact that we rely on our cell phones everyday of our lives is just crazy. The second one I read was "Our Cell Phones, Ourselves," which talked about how we always reach for our phones when put in uncomfortable situations. I liked it because it said that our cell phones are used for security, making us feel safe in times of need. In the third essay I read, "Text Messaging as a Toy or Tool," it discussed the topic of kids using texting as a reason to get away, it is private. Parents can't read the texts as they walk by, so kids are able to talk to friends right out in the open. Lastly, the fourth essay, "U R 2 Old" says that texting gives the child a separate life away from the parents. But, more parents are learning to text so they can be more close with their child and stay in touch with them. For me, all these essays really helped in seeing the different view about cell phones and texting, and how this specific technology has taken over adults and children everywhere.

"The First Technological Revolution and Its Lessons"

After reading "The First Technological Revolution and Its Lessons," by Peter Drucker I was very confused at the beginning because it kept talking about irrigation cities and I didn't quite understand what Drucker was trying to say about them. But, then I realized that irrigation cities are what started the "technological revolution." Drucker discussed the fact that technology just keeps expanding and there is always going to be social and political issues when it comes to new advances in technology. If technology continues to advance, I'm sure it will cause more social and political issues, just by the fact that it already causes people to not talk to others and be completely unsocial. Text messaging has become the new rage and talking has gone out the window.

Technology is definitely moving up and it is a little scary to think what the world will be like in the future after seeing all the technology they have come up with so far. New devices keep coming into our stores everyday, like the iPhone, a touch screen computer, newer ipods, and it gets harder and harder to keep up. One has to wonder, what will they come up with next, what will the future hold?

Great American Vacation Destinations

The three videos I chose from "America at Leisure," were Claremont Theatre, The Roller Skate Craze, and Basketball, Missouri Valley College. When I watched the Claremont Theatre video, it was interesting to me that the people dressed up for the movie, so in that sense it was more like a play. Similarly, the movie is played throughout the day and people are always together and talking when they come out of the theatre. I think one of the emotions that is brought up when going to the theaters is excitement, because you want to see the movie and you are glad to be with friends and family. The next video, Roller Skate Craze, showed clips of people skating around town, falling, being with friends. Things have definitely changed since back then, because we now have roller blades, but they aren't even the rage anymore. Roller skates brought up excitement, nervousness, and more. The last video, Basketball, amazed me because the girls were actually wearing dresses while playing. I know when I play basketball, I am happy, but also frustrated when something doesn't go right. The way things were back then are in some ways different than today, but I think most of the similarities come from the emotions we get when doing them.

So, I was very excited to watch the Disneyland video, because Disneyland is a huge part of my life. I have never been to Disney World, but most of the things there look very similar to Disneyland. When tourists visit this magical place, I think they have the best time, because they get all they expected and more. They have a ride that takes you around a tour of the entire park, stores galore and rides for both children and adults. Every time I go to Disneyland, it seems like there is always something new and I always have the greatest time. I think it has only changed a little bit since back then, because they have tried to keep that magical feeling. Some things that have changed is the rides, some have become more like movies to keep people interested, and prices have certainly gone up. Other than those things, I think the park has stayed exactly the same. I used to go to the park every summer of my life, it stopped at the beginning of high school, but I have gone a few times since then, and it never gets old to me. Whether your a teenager or an adult, once you step into Disneyland, you become a child all over again.

"Why We Travel..."

While reading this article I was having a hard time understanding the last half of it because it began turning into metaphors about travelling and the different meanings and I just wasn't getting what Pico Iyer was saying. But, I did understand the beginning and his thoughts about travel. When we travel, we like to forget our troubles and just "lose ourselves to find ourselves." We like to see a new setting from what we are always seeing on a day to day basis, allowing us to feel alive and free to do what we please. Then Iyer started talking about tourists and how they can destroy cultures, but also revive them. I totally agree with this, because they take away from the culture's uniqueness, but they also allow them to show their skills when making things for tourists to buy. Travelling does many things for people, including changing our moods and states of mind.

I can say that travelling is a big part of my life, not that I go outside of the United States, but I do love to travel. When I travel it takes away so much stress in my life, allowing me to be in a happy mood the entire trip. I think I also love to travel because it gets me away from home life, and puts me into a completely different environment where there are new sights to see. I think everyone should travel every once in while; it not only gives you a different outlook on the world, but also relieves you of normal life situations.

"The Loss of the Creature"

In the essay,"The Loss of the Creature," Walker Percy talked about the loss of sovereignty that occurs when visiting a a vacation place. Most often, when one goes to visit some place, they already have a picture in their head about what it should look like, the smells, the sounds, and when they get there it turns out to be either completely different or exactly what one pictured. Percy discussed the Grand Canyon and how most tourists now are not really interested in it unless they go off the beaten track or have something exciting happen to them while there. I thought that was right on point, because I went to the Grand Canyon a few years ago with my family, already knew pretty much what it was going to look like from online and history class, and when we got there it just wasn't as exciting as I thought. I mean don't get me wrong, it is beautiful, but since I already had the picture in my head it wasn't spectacular. It wasn't until my dad and I found a path to walk on and climbed on the side of the canyon, that I actually found it more beautiful than ever.

Then when Percy talked about the couple who went to Mexico and finally found a part of the vacation that seemed interesting, it caught my attention too. It was funny that they felt they had to have the ethnologist approve their festivities, to make sure they were good. I think sometimes we do that, because we may not be having that great of time so we try to bring others into the situation for entertainment or comfort, but also because we lose our sovereignty. Sometimes when going on vacations, we put pictures in our heads of what they are going to be like and hope they turn out that way, but it can't always happen like you want them to. I think you have to take them one step at a time, and be happy that you are with your family or friends and having fun.

Track 1: "Fantasies of Home"

After reading the three texts in track 1, I realized that home today means a safe place for the family, a place for comfort and a place that can bring people together. In "Town-Building is no Mickey-Mouse Operation," the so-called town brought people together with porches and a huge downtown area for everyone to gather. In "A Home Sweet Home Nestled Amid Junkyards," it showed us that even though a place could look bad on the outside, it could have the greatest sense of community and safety on the inside. Homes today are definitely not perfect, but as long as we have our comfort and safety, we will be alright.

The American dream is one that most everyone wants, but from reading these texts I don't think it is happening any time soon. In the first text when it described Celebration, the people living there said it was nice, but it was nothing like a town. Also, the author described it as being so perfect that it probably could not change, it was always going to look brand new. In the last text, "Pottery Barn Gazing," Hank Steuever described the pictures in the catalogue as having no imperfections, and usually the objects in the photograph are ones that most people dream of having. So, I don't think the American dream has occurred yet for our society, we have too many things we want and it's not ever going to be picture perfect.

Our homes definitely represent our class and sometimes even our culture. The homes in Celebration are all pretty big and the main race that lives there is Caucasians. So, the people are most likely middle to high class, and not really a social culture. In the starlite trailer park the people have different races and live in trailers, so they are a lower class and more social. We certainly stereotype when it comes to seeing a persons home, because it could be the smallest home ever but the person may be of a higher class than you. I also think that the media and consumer culture are affecting the way we want our home to look like. When Pottery Barn shows the perfect house with no wrinkles on the bed, and not a spec of cat hair, we definitely have that picture in our minds when we go to pick out our houses. But, if they showed the normal house, most people would not even take a second look at it.

People have many difficulties in creating a home in today's society, because everyone has a different picture in there minds of what their home should look like. The creator needs to think of the area it is in, how comfortable the home will be, and the houses around the home, because these are all the things the buyer will be looking for. When our parents and grandparents had to buy houses, they didn't have as much to worry about. Crime was not as excessive as it is now, so the homes were always in safer places and it was easier to go outside and get to know your neighbors. But, times have changed and creators have a lot more to think about. I mean, even though the American dream is not here, at least most of us have roofs over our heads and warm beds to sleep in.

"House Hunting"

In comparing Todd Hido to Bill Owens and Patricia Lahrmer, I would have to say that they all capture the life of the suburbs in one a way or another. Owens and Lahrmer however, capture the comforting, loving, neighborhood feel of the suburbs in the day, while Hido shows what occurs in the night. During the night, people are not outside walking dogs, and kids are not riding bicycles, it is just houses lightened by what is inside. There was one moment where Hido was blocking a mans driveway, and the man came out angrily and told him to move the car immediately. Hido tried to explain, but the man kept pushing so he had to move. In the end, I think this shows that the suburbs are definitely not what they seem. People living there may not be very welcoming as it has always been portrayed, and they may be hiding what is really going on inside the house when the curtains are closed.

"Slowly Calling the Burbs Home"

In the article "Slowly Calling the Burbs Home," Patricia Lahrmer discusses the simple life of living in the suburbs. She moved from Europe, to the city and then to the suburbs, because it felt like her small town in Ohio. She described the suburbs as a place where nothing happened, but everything about it comforted her. In one paragraph she talks about dog that she sees collapse and everyone swarm to help it. She then tells her friends the story, but all they did was chuckle and she was then annoyed with herself for telling it in the first place. Lahrmer also describes a time when she saw a building being demolished and she imagined the family coming back and seeing it gone, because it was their home for so many years. She begins to enjoy the suburbs and its uneventful ways; realizing that houses take shape there and human beings live their lives. From reading this article I am now thinking differently about the suburbs and its perfection, because it can be a very comforting place.

Bill Owens definitely captures life in the suburbs. He shows you how perfect it can be on the inside and out. I think Lahrmer and Owens definitely have similar views about the suburbs, because Lahrmer is happy with the comforting yet uneventful ways of them and Owens portrays that through his photographs. The houses are all aligned, there are a lot of family vacations, and sometimes they do neighborhood events. I kind of feel like I live in suburbia, because I live in a neighborhood just like the one Lahrmer described and Owen showed, although big events do happen, it is comforting and where I have lived my entire life. Suburbs, although boring, are nice in the fact that they are comforting and everyone can feel safe.

"Criteria for a Healthy Landscape"

After reading "Criteria for a Healthy Landscape," I had no clue what Paul Groth was talking about. Right when I read the first criteria, "A healthy landscape connects its participants to themselves as individuals," it made no sense to me whatsoever. After reading it a couple times, I think what I understand from it is that Groth is making a criteria for us humans, our "landscape." So, the first one shows us as individuals making a living, which will lead to the many obstacles that come with life. The second criteria shows that we should always have some type of contact with other people, making us social beings. The third criteria showing that we all need to have a sense of stability and control, without it there may be chaos. The fourth one states that one should be flexible, and be able to do different things and be ready for change. Fifth says that we should be open to everything and everyone. Sixth is the fact that everyone needs to connect with nature, and not just wilderness but the human part too. Lastly is seven, the one I like the most, is that everybody is doing their own thing in the world and that is what shows we are thriving. Anyway, that is what I understood from the reading, a criteria for a healthy landscape is something all us humans should follow. I think I will be using the seven criterion for my life, from now on.

"24 Hours at the Golden Apple"

Once I listened to "24 Hours at the Golden Apple," I was impressed by the way everyone knew each other, and how there was such a friendly atmosphere. Most places I have been to around here have good waiters and waitresses, but no one really knows each other, the town is just too big. It was very surprising to hear that some of the customers came there 2-3 times a day, because that is not something one would normally see here. Coming that many times to a restaurant in a big city would be too expensive, but I guess if it was in a small town it would not be so bad. It was just nice to hear that the Golden Apple was a place that people could still feel at home and be with people they like.
In the early morning there was one lady named Kay, who has lived there since she was little. Kay likes to come to the Golden Apple because of the service, but what she talked about in her interview were gays and racism. She said that gays should be treated equally, and that there is still some aspects of racism in the town. She stood out to me the most because she has lived there so long, knows how the town works, and I think the restaurant gives her a sense of equality and happiness. Two other customers that stood out to me were Allison and Danielle, who came to the Golden Apple to wait for friends. They got there at 11:30pm and did not leave until 3:30am. They liked to come to the restaurant because it is a great hang out for all teenagers, but it is also a great way to meet guys. They were very interesting because they did not really order anything, they just wanted their friends to come and hang out. So the Golden Apple not only brings everyone together, but also lets people have a place to get together and just have a good time.
I think we should have more restaurants like the Golden Apple, in this area, because people need to have a chance to mingle and get to know other people. I mean there are clubs and parties, but during the day there is no place where one can just sit, relax, eat and know everyone around you.

"K'Mart Has a Loveable Disorder"

After I read "K'Mart Has a Loveable Disorder" by Hank Stuever, I was very surprised by Hank's opinion about Kmart. Hank says that Kmart has flaws, those flaws make it what it is and that is why people like it. From what I understand, Stuever thinks of Kmart as the store that is in between Wal mart and Target. Its products have the artsy style of Target, but also the long lasting ability of Wal mart. For example, Wal mart's chairs would last longer, becoming apart of the family, Targets' are more for show, but Kmart has both of those qualities. Kmart will never have the quality of Wal mart or Target, it is one of those stores that people will just keep coming back to because of how imperfect it is, "...it will go on gloriously sucking."
In some ways I agree with Stuever. Kmart definitely has flaws, but I think its flaws are the reason that people will not be coming back. I have been to Kmart many times before, and after a while I stopped going because of how messy it was, the rude employees, product that didn't last, and the clothes that I never liked. In fact that is when I started going to Wal mart for better quality. I know that no body is perfect, and Kmart makes one feel the sense that everyone is the same, but I would rather have products that last long and clothes that fit right. I guess it is just like the rain man said, "Kmart sucks," you might as well go to Wal mart.

"The Monument and the Bungalow" Response

After I read "The Monument and the Bungalow" by Pierce Lewis, I realized how much I really do dismiss my surroundings. I never take a minute to look at the architecture of buildings, or just ask why objects were placed where they were placed. I mean I have seen historical monuments and museums many times before and I do love to look, explore and learn about each place, but I never pay attention to the commonplaces. It is so interesting how most of us do not pay attention to our surroundings, because we are so caught up in our busy lives.

Pierce Lewis has two precepts in learning how to read landscape: learning to open your eyes and ask questions about your surroundings, and developing a vocabulary to describe places in better detail. The first precept actually teaches you to see commonplaces in a new light. Like Lewis described, it probably would be a little awkward to have to feel the texture of certain objects while out in public, just because it is not something one sees everyday. But, if going out and observing parking lots or feeling the side of Safeway will help me see the world in a different way, I just might do it. With the second precept, one has to develop a good vocabulary to describe specific places. For example, Lewis saying that in plant ecology one has to learn the different species of plant. If one has a better vocabulary, they will be able to know what things are and be able to explain things a lot better. I know that when I was in anthropology last semester, it was all about having a good vocabulary. I had to know the different types of ceramics they made, where they came from and what time period. So, a good vocabulary will not only help you with reading landscape, but with many other things as well.

"The Monument and the Bungalow" has given me something to look forward to. I am now going to look at all my commonplaces in a completely different way. Hopefully the next time I go to store, I will remember to feel the texture of the metal cart inside my gripped hands, and ask the question, "why does it look that way?"

"Me, Myself, and I"

Hi, my name is Amanda Zabaljauregui. Everyone usually remembers me by my last name, because as you can see it is very long. I am 18 years old and this is my second semester here at the JC. I am a pretty shy person until I get to know you, and I love to laugh and hang out with my friends. Right now I am taking animal health classes to get my vet tech certificate and become a Vet Tech, but I am also getting my AA. I want to have my AA so I can go to a 4 yr. university later on and become a Veterinarian. Aside from school, my parents have been divorced since I was very young, but my brother and I have had a good life otherwise. I have a loving stepmom, two stepsisters and one stepbrother, and I love them all. Anyway, I am glad to be in this english class and I can't wait to get to know all of you.