So propaganda......that is deceptive or distorted information that is systematically spread. Okay so basically it's when you know something is bad or misleading, but you market it in such a positive way that people fail to see the harm in the product.
I think a great example of this in 2011 would be cigarettes. The funny thing about cigarettes is, not only do the marketers know that they are bad for your health, but everyone in society knows. Yet, even though the health hazards are known, smokers continue to buy them.
Before the risks were well-known, many people bought cigarettes. By the time the knowledge of the hazards spread around, many people could not quit. They were addicted and once they got sucked into the world of cigarettes, the propaganda for other cigarette brands was everywhere.
Commercials are propaganda. The average person watches television so many hours a day, seeing hundreds of commercials a week. The strategy of a company is to show the positive perks of a product and either exclude the negative altogether, or put it in size two font on the bottom of the screen where nobody can read it. They emphasize the products good qualities and effects, why you should buy it, and how much better it is than other leading brands, not to mention the cheap price.
We live in a world of propaganda and I believe that we can deal with it. We can just slow down, and not be so quick to assume we're being told the entire story. We should not rely on commercials for our information. And before we actually buy something, we should know *what* we're buying.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Black Boy
Unlike The Scarlet Letter and The Great Gatsby, I actually enjoy reading Black Boy. Maybe it is just hearing it like it is straight from a little kid, or even just that the plot moves faster than the other books we have read, but I do not dread having to read every night. Well, not THAT much.
Richard grows up a lot throughout the book. I mean that both literally and mentality wise. As a six year old kid, though, you probably do not want to experience some of the things that Richard has. Growing up around the time that he did also influenced a lot of what he had witnessed and how his mentality had developed.
He witnessed a lot of events that could be described as having to do with racial tensions, or even straight out racism. At a younger age he was still blind to how society was, but as he grew up he learned.
I also dislike most of his family members. They treat him like crap and insist that they know better than he does. His Grandmother practicaly tells him that he is dead to her because he does not want to take up her religion. His Uncle wakes him up one night and then goes crazy on him and wants to beat him. Aunt Addie beats him at school AND at home. Aunt Jody gets on his case and is just nosy.
No wonder Richard doesn't grow up correctly, his family is screwed up. This is one of the major reasons that Rich has a different life than most kids.
Richard grows up a lot throughout the book. I mean that both literally and mentality wise. As a six year old kid, though, you probably do not want to experience some of the things that Richard has. Growing up around the time that he did also influenced a lot of what he had witnessed and how his mentality had developed.
He witnessed a lot of events that could be described as having to do with racial tensions, or even straight out racism. At a younger age he was still blind to how society was, but as he grew up he learned.
I also dislike most of his family members. They treat him like crap and insist that they know better than he does. His Grandmother practicaly tells him that he is dead to her because he does not want to take up her religion. His Uncle wakes him up one night and then goes crazy on him and wants to beat him. Aunt Addie beats him at school AND at home. Aunt Jody gets on his case and is just nosy.
No wonder Richard doesn't grow up correctly, his family is screwed up. This is one of the major reasons that Rich has a different life than most kids.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Hungry for Attention
Is he alone? This is not very specific, but my answer is: no, he is not alone in his cravings for attention. Many people crave it, and throughout the chapter I see that his brother quite enjoys it too. He may not be a prominent figure like Richard, and we can see that his acts are not nearly as extreme, but they are there. When Richard lit the house on fire, what was his brother's response? He went and tattled to their mother. He starves for attention as did Richard only he wanted to be looked at positively whereas Richard didn't care how foolish he looked in attempt to get attention.
He also tells on Richard many other times. When Richard kills the kitten, his brother is there and waiting. He runs off to their parents and tells on him. While Richard is sitting there being scolded, the book eludes to tell us that his brother is sitting off to the side inwardly content with the output of the situation.
It just goes to show that many of the characters have the same insatiable hunger for attention. Others, however, are more subtle and do not make it as obvious. Richard, being a young boy, clearly displays his crave for attention. His brother, although young, shows it in a less obvious way. What else can Richard do? Most kids, even from birth can never get enough attention.They show it first when they cry as newborns and the act continues and can even end up as stupid stunts, as it has for Richard.
He also tells on Richard many other times. When Richard kills the kitten, his brother is there and waiting. He runs off to their parents and tells on him. While Richard is sitting there being scolded, the book eludes to tell us that his brother is sitting off to the side inwardly content with the output of the situation.
It just goes to show that many of the characters have the same insatiable hunger for attention. Others, however, are more subtle and do not make it as obvious. Richard, being a young boy, clearly displays his crave for attention. His brother, although young, shows it in a less obvious way. What else can Richard do? Most kids, even from birth can never get enough attention.They show it first when they cry as newborns and the act continues and can even end up as stupid stunts, as it has for Richard.
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