The Say (revised)

The first thing I noticed about the writing is that once again assumptions are made. The writer just tends to believe that we, the reader, agree with what he is saying. When Rush off says "we understand that we will be subjected to certain forms of influence" he is making an assumption that we will all agree that in some way we will be influenced. Whether or not this is true is irrelevant, he is still using it as a tool to persuade people. The argument pertaining to shopping for shoes is completely invalid for me. This could be because of a disciplined budget or because of lack of funds but still it’s not true. The next couple of paragraphs all I could say was no. No I haven’t. No I don’t. The salesman didn't get me to pay more than what I had planned. Once reading it all the way through I can understand that this was meant to be persuasive, however because I couldn't relate to the character it was lost on me. The techniques he described and use do work. Writing and media can all be persuasive. It gives proof to the idea that we (humans) don't think enough on our own. I can agree, but also disagree. When he spoke of responsive reading in churches, I actually believe it depends on your mind state. I participate in responsive reading, but I don't necessarily feel I am participating in the service. It’s more so the structure. I guess you can say it’s going with the flow. I can choose not to participate and I don't believe I am doomed for it. I am very spiritual in my own way, and who is to say that my way is incorrect? I choose to focus on how I can positively impact my society, and better myself as an individual. I may watch TV and see a commercial for longhorn steak house and thin hmmm, I’m hungry. Was I just brainwashed or persuaded? To me it depends on how you look at it. I may not have money for longhorns, but I may have a rib eye in the freezer. I'm sure I brought that steak long before I saw this commercial, so I cooked the steak, satisfy my hungry and go on about my business. If the idea of the commercial was to get me to go get 50 dollar loan to go to longhorns, it didn't work. If the idea was to remind me that I had a steak in the freezer that if I don’t eat soon it my get freezer burnt then hey that works for me. 

Assignment 1 (revised) For Beginners

Taking into consideration that the author of this reading may be a firm believer in the evolutionary theory of creation as opposed the religious theory, I kept an open mind about the reading. However convincing his science may be to him, it seems there is a lot of assumption in this work. To me science shares a lot with the idea of faith, the substance of things hopeful, and evidence of things unseen. Air, something we know is there, but until magnified we can't see it. And even then we can't be completely sure of what we are looking at. In the case of words, his argument was correct in saying that words invoke responses automatically. However I feel that he was playing on a much simpler mind. The world is filled with stuff to purposely distract us from what is going on or what’s really true. When I think of terrorism, I don’t think of Islamic or Muslim people. I think of the act of imposing terror on anyone. Maybe that’s because of the military training I received in the navy, or maybe it's because I am an African American. I've seen and am well aware of the injustices suffer by my ancestors at the hands of America. Why couldn't that happen anywhere at any time? If you believe that everything can be explained of has an answer, then you’re not very bright in my opinion. However if you believe that all things don’t have an answer, then you share something in common with religious people. I agree with his brainwashed theory. Whether we want to believe it or not we are all brain washed. The challenge lies in undo what we are lead to believe is true from a young age. Challenge ideas and formulate your own opinion. This reading seemed as if it were trying to persuade me. I’ve always been one to challenge authority of the validity of what someone is telling me. My father always allowed me to challenge him as long as I had my “stuff together”. This is an idea I have taken forward and incorporated in my daily life.

Film Lady Vengeance

My focus point for Lady Vengeance is the idea of justified vengeance. I once heard a saying that went; if you shoot my dog I’m going to kill your cat. My father used to tell me you don't start fights, you finish them. He also so said you protect yourself and yours. Keeping that in mind, I have also adopted a moral responsibility to other. I FEEL morally obligated to help others, even if a see a two on one fighting situation. I may not know the reason behind the brawl, but I feel compelled to make it fair. This however conflicts with my religious views, and so does this idea of vengeance. The Bible says, and I’m paraphrasing, "revenge is mine....The lord will repay". I truly believe in my faith with all my heart. I believed I should try to live righteous, and Christ like. However, I am fully aware that I fall short of the lord’s glory and lifestyle. So upon putting myself into the situation of the parents I can say I would have wanted to kill the one responsible for these horrific murders. I can also say I would have fallen to my knees, and prayed to God that I could find the strength to face the person responsible for killing my loved one, find the strength to forgive them, and still have a WILL to live. I would be perplexed because killing the person would jeopardize my spot in the afterlife, but allowing the bastard to live wouldn't allow me to live with myself. In this situation one would pray, but in the situation in the movie the parents had little time to reflect on the repercussion their actions would have had. I may also add that I would have been "satisfied" knowing that he died even if it wasn't at my own hand. Still, this does conflict with religious views. I know that wishing death on him would not have been Christ like. Vengeance is widely accepted on all levels. For example if you beat me up, I’m going to come back to fight you again; if you then beat me up a second time I’m just going to chalk that up as a loss. But still the idea is vengeful. Think of crimes like rape or torture or pedophilia. All of these acts instantly enact thoughts of vengeance. You hurt me, I’ll hurt you is as simple as the idea of turning the other cheek. In some cases even more simple, but the idea of vengeance is so deeply embedded in our mind that it simply becomes a reaction that doesn’t take a lot of effort to be provoked. It would take more effort to stop, pray, and forgive. That is why forgiveness isn’t given enough. We shouldn’t seek revenge because it’s easy; we should seek forgiveness because it’s right. 

Film Pans Labyrinth

Choosing to focus on the aesthetics of Pan's Labyrinth was difficult because the movie itself was enjoyable. But I was able to focus on the child like atmospherics the movie had, although it was clearly for adults. I was able to understand Ofelia animosity towards her father in law. First off when a child loses a father and a new person comes into the picture, the new person can’t force his way into the child's life. It was evident that the Captain had no interest in Ofelia, only her mother and his unborn son. Really the Captain only cared about his son. Nevertheless I can understand her want to get away from that atmosphere, which is why she wondered into the labyrinth anyway. Upon meeting what she believed to be a fairy she was instantly trusting, and not at all apprehensive, thus proving that we are watching a child in a film for adults. As adults our first thought is to kill the bug, whatever type it may be, and we wouldn't have been in the labyrinth anyway. That being said, because none of the adults saw the magical things happening around them, we may conclude that everything that is happening could all be in Ofelia's head. She could be using this imaginary world to deal with what is really going on in her life. A new father, house, and brother although it did seem that she was excited about her brother. What would really make me feel that this was imaginary was the ending. If, to me, she was indeed a princess of an unseen world, than she shouldn't have died. Her dying and Mercedes crying over her dead body is what brings us back to reality. That is when we say "wait did she die or did she make it to her kingdom?" When she did make it back home we say the king, her father, and what looked to be like her mother and her brother waiting for her. This is where we question if that is real or is that just her version of heaven.

Eng281 Intro to Films- Top Ten Movie List

Number 1- Training Day

Number 2- New Jack City

Number 3-King

Number 4- Passion of the Christ

Number 5- The Pursuit of Happiness

Number 6- Gone With The Wind

Number 7- Ali

Number 8- Ray

Number 9- Man on Fire

Number 10-Men of Honor

Bonus- Cinderella and Dream Girls

Eng 281 Intro to Film- Fight Club

What’s your identity? Do you have one? This film to me was about finding out if you even have an identity. It touched bases on a world that is defined on what you wear, and materialistic values and views. Are we really happy, or are we happy because THEY told us were happy. Do we feel validated by name brand clothes? Do we like what we like because we were told we like it? There is a conflict in us today about our individuality. We live in a world where being a true individual is suppressed and looked down upon. The film shows that but there is a deeper underlying level of this. In the film people who are stuck in their lives searching for an identity. They find Tyler and follow him into project mayhem. Tyler to me effectively became like a Shepherd. The people searching for an identity became like lost sheep being herded by Tyler. They thought they found something concrete and real but in the end they were easily lead showing no sense of self awareness and or individualism. That is something we face today still. We are looking and trying to define ourselves in material possession. Tyler says in the film "it’s only when we've lost everything, are we free to do anything." That could hold true, except no one wants to lose everything. I believe people would rather, knowingly, live with conflicting identity issue rather than take a chance and truly find themselves. We are comfortable being similar to everyone, and why wouldn’t we be. You are criticized and outcast for going against the grain. We are taught to stay inside the lines and allow someone much smarter than us to do our thinking for us. There are images and advertisements all around us to tell us how we feel and what we should look like. The ethic behind this film is that of self identity and awareness. Whether or not we have it.

Assignment#5 You Framed Me

The information I read about the spread, deception, and manipulation of information was utterly unnerving. While reading about the type of work the Rendon Group performs, I became frighten. To know that the information you hear and rely on can be fabricated at the will and command at the government, of anyone for that matter is simply scary. However after analyzing and meditating on the information I realized that it was framed to do exactly that. While reading I became lost in the text. I began to share the information I read putting my twist on what I felt it to mean. I completely gave into the text. While I thought about what I learned about framing and what I leaned in reading this information I began to feel more comfortable. This article claims to give reason behind the War on Iraq and how the American people were manipulated by information that was itself, manipulated. The Rendon Group supposedly alters information to frame a certain event or person. It framed our view of the war, of Saddam Hussein and effectively gave our government the support of the people to do what they felt was necessary. Framing our perception, they claimed not in those exact words, is crucial to completing an objective. In other words, doing our thinking for us and leading us to believe that we came to the conclusion on our own. Literally using false information and resources to achieve a result. The methods are used in the article as well. Questions I had to ask myself were; how does the author feel about what the Rendon Group does? Is there a reason there are quotes in the article like “It was not just bad intelligence -- it was an orchestrated effort,” (Sam Gardner). Was this article trying to frame my opinion of the Rendon Group? How do I personally feel about the type of work the Group does? Framing is literally everywhere. Forming your own opinions based on education, research, and knowledge is the only way to ensure that your opinion is truly yours.

Work Cited

BAMFORD, JAMES. "The Man Who Sold the War (John Rendon) by James Bamford." Phil Taylor's Web Site. N.p., 17 Nov. 2005. Web. 3 Sept. 2012. <http://ics-www.leeds.ac.uk/papers/vp01.cfm?outfit=pmt&folder=2053&paper=2539>.