"There's no way like the American Way", says a large circa-1950's billboard. In this billboard, there's a "perfect" white family, complete with dog, driving through nice scenery. The 50's were the beginning of the baby-boomer generation, the beginning of white suburban America. This is only a billboard, though. Is the "American Way" actually in existence in other parts? Curtis Mayfield, funk artist famous in the 1970's, uses this image in his album cover to show that the "American Way" is merely a billboard; a pipe dream impossible to achieve for many.
In this album cover, viewers should be drawn to an assortment of objects. A Depression-era image of people lined up is superimposed on a modified "American Way" billboard, saying instead, "There's no place like America Today", perhaps implying an assertion of the conditions of America. The billboard is saturated and brightly lit, contrasted with the line of people, unsaturated and dark. The white family's smiles contrast with the faces of the people, all unhappy. Behind all of this is an image of buildings and skyscrapers, an industrial America. What do all of this mean?
The illustrator uses many techniques to convey a message of what "America Today" is. Most obvious in this picture is their use of color, juxtaposition and contrast. The smiles and frowns of the people in the picure are juxtaposed. The brilliant colors of the billboard are contrasted with the unsaturated black-and-whites of the Depression-era photo. The Depression-era photo represents the reality of "America Today", people in poverty. The absence of people of color in the billboard says that white people are the only ones to truly achieve the "American Dream". The American Dream had failed the people in the line.
How does this image, though, make the viewer think? This image contains strong elements of pathos. The emphasis on juxtaposition and contrast is supposed to evoke feelings of anger and deep questioning, especially to why the American Dream is this way. The faces of the people in line are supposed to create feelings of sympathy for them. Curtis Mayfield's choice for this image, considering his status as a famous funk musician, provides a platform for many viewers to see this image and to reflect on the problems of "America Today".
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Friday, September 15, 2017
Assertion Analysis #3: Roses Grown From Concrete
Raised out of poverty and crime-riddled East Harlem, New York, Tupac Shakur overcame many hardships to become perhaps the, some would argue, most influential rapper in history. His poetry often reflects those themes. Shakur, in this poem, "Rose from Concrete", suggests that even though a person could become successful and influential, people are still going to judge them based on their background.
In this poem, Shakur mainly describes a rose that has grown out of concrete. He says here, "When . . . some ghetto kid grow(s) out of the dirtiest circumstance, all you can talk about is my dirty rose . . . ". Even though the rose has grown out of the hardships, people will still be turned off from it, due to its tattered appearance or the way it is. Earlier in the poem though, he states, ". . . even if it had messed up petals . . . you would marvel at just seeing a rose grow through concrete". Shakur says that people will accept the dirty rose, but not a person raised from the streets, even though they are analogous to each other. Someone will marvel at a rose for just growing through concrete, but for a person who grew out of a rough neighborhood it is much different. The last sentence says it all, "You can't even see that I've come up from out of that", Shakur concludes. People can't even look through the prejudgment they placed upon him.
Shakur's rose provides all the symbolism for his statement. The rose here is symbolism, metaphor, and analogies in one, all to destroy the vision of the American Dream. The rose symbolizes the the justice that he should have had. When he states that even though the rose has tattered petals and such, people would marvel at it. But then he contrasts it with a description of a "ghetto" kid, and as such says that people wouldn't marvel at them. The rose is the metaphorical "ghetto" person, but with justice served due to people marveling at them. It is also analogous; the crooked lean is to the rose as the rough neighborhood is to the "ghetto" child. All these devices are used in a way to say that the American Dream is not truly present for people raised in rough circumstances. People can be wealthy and earn "success", like the rose that grew out of concrete, but unlike the rose, though, people won't put their focus on the success; they will put it on the background. The last two sentences establish the tone; his frustration and anger is evident in his word choice, using words like "ghetto", "dirty", and "crooked". Beginning the sentence with, "So why is it . . . " means that it is a rhetorical question, he is in deep questioning of this topic. All these techniques are used to push his argument further.
To convey this message, Shakur uses mainly emotions and descriptions. His poetry in this, the devices, are all meant to evoke a feeling of anger in the reader, a feeling of frustration. The connotation is mainly what carries this feeling. Due to Tupac's influence, there are also some elements of ethos; he is using his status to convey his argument to a larger audience, and more people will listen to him.
Going to school in a lower-income neighborhood has exposed what Tupac is saying to me. The scale of this is not on a local level, though; its expanse is throughout the country. People from these neighborhoods will be successful, but for some, seeing them earning that success isn't enough to change their minds about the individual.
In this poem, Shakur mainly describes a rose that has grown out of concrete. He says here, "When . . . some ghetto kid grow(s) out of the dirtiest circumstance, all you can talk about is my dirty rose . . . ". Even though the rose has grown out of the hardships, people will still be turned off from it, due to its tattered appearance or the way it is. Earlier in the poem though, he states, ". . . even if it had messed up petals . . . you would marvel at just seeing a rose grow through concrete". Shakur says that people will accept the dirty rose, but not a person raised from the streets, even though they are analogous to each other. Someone will marvel at a rose for just growing through concrete, but for a person who grew out of a rough neighborhood it is much different. The last sentence says it all, "You can't even see that I've come up from out of that", Shakur concludes. People can't even look through the prejudgment they placed upon him.
Shakur's rose provides all the symbolism for his statement. The rose here is symbolism, metaphor, and analogies in one, all to destroy the vision of the American Dream. The rose symbolizes the the justice that he should have had. When he states that even though the rose has tattered petals and such, people would marvel at it. But then he contrasts it with a description of a "ghetto" kid, and as such says that people wouldn't marvel at them. The rose is the metaphorical "ghetto" person, but with justice served due to people marveling at them. It is also analogous; the crooked lean is to the rose as the rough neighborhood is to the "ghetto" child. All these devices are used in a way to say that the American Dream is not truly present for people raised in rough circumstances. People can be wealthy and earn "success", like the rose that grew out of concrete, but unlike the rose, though, people won't put their focus on the success; they will put it on the background. The last two sentences establish the tone; his frustration and anger is evident in his word choice, using words like "ghetto", "dirty", and "crooked". Beginning the sentence with, "So why is it . . . " means that it is a rhetorical question, he is in deep questioning of this topic. All these techniques are used to push his argument further.
To convey this message, Shakur uses mainly emotions and descriptions. His poetry in this, the devices, are all meant to evoke a feeling of anger in the reader, a feeling of frustration. The connotation is mainly what carries this feeling. Due to Tupac's influence, there are also some elements of ethos; he is using his status to convey his argument to a larger audience, and more people will listen to him.
Going to school in a lower-income neighborhood has exposed what Tupac is saying to me. The scale of this is not on a local level, though; its expanse is throughout the country. People from these neighborhoods will be successful, but for some, seeing them earning that success isn't enough to change their minds about the individual.
Friday, September 8, 2017
Assertion Analysis #2: American Fast Food and American Individuality
The American Bill of Rights lists the "unalienable rights" on which the country is founded on. It is the foundation of the American Dream, the ideal that people have the rights and responsibilities to build their individual success. Some believe that the Bill and the American Dream do not apply to them; it is dead. However, some believe it is still alive. Though not directly addressed in this statement, the "Burger King Bill of Rights", is the American Dream alive and well? Blum asserts that it is alive, but it boils down to what the individual makes of it.
In this statement, the CEO makes a "Bill of Rights", only for his restaurants. "You have the right to have things your way", Blum asserts, "You have the right to a Whopper sandwich with extra tomato, extra onion, and extra cheese". Blum continues throughout the entire statement listing the different choices a customer has in a Burger King restaurant. Here, he is asserting that customers have the right to so many different choices in his restaurants. Whatever result, good or bad, that may come from these choices is not stated. A Burger King Bill of Rights connects to the idea of America in a more complex way.
Though a hamburger-themed Bill of Rights seems like a satirical, not-serious take on rights in America, Blum is serious about the topic of the American Dream. Blum uses hamburgers and choices at his restaurants as a metaphorical way of explaining that American people have the right to choose whatever actions they may do. In addition, the entire document is an allusion to the American Bill of Rights. All the choices listed are analogous to those in the Bill of Rights, though a strong burger theme is present. He uses this allusion to convey that in his restaurants, people have the right to choose, so if people can choose in his restaurants, the country gives people the rights as well. He asserts that people's rights are protected. Burger King's slogan, "Have it your way", suggests that people anyone can find success in their own ways. It is evident that Blum believes that the American Dream is alive.
From a fast food chain owner, tackling the idea of the American Dream seems ridiculous but it conveys the idea well. The pathos element is strong in this statement. Readers are now in the mindset of burgers, and people can relate to choosing if they want onions or extra cheese. If they can relate to choices in a restaurant, they can now tie that into the American rights. The allusion to the Bill of Rights provides an ethical approach; readers can connect Burger King rights to American Rights. Being a wealthy CEO suggests that Blum has "succeeded" in the American Dream, that he believes it exists; anyone can achieve it. However, that may not be true in the real world.
In this statement, the CEO makes a "Bill of Rights", only for his restaurants. "You have the right to have things your way", Blum asserts, "You have the right to a Whopper sandwich with extra tomato, extra onion, and extra cheese". Blum continues throughout the entire statement listing the different choices a customer has in a Burger King restaurant. Here, he is asserting that customers have the right to so many different choices in his restaurants. Whatever result, good or bad, that may come from these choices is not stated. A Burger King Bill of Rights connects to the idea of America in a more complex way.
Though a hamburger-themed Bill of Rights seems like a satirical, not-serious take on rights in America, Blum is serious about the topic of the American Dream. Blum uses hamburgers and choices at his restaurants as a metaphorical way of explaining that American people have the right to choose whatever actions they may do. In addition, the entire document is an allusion to the American Bill of Rights. All the choices listed are analogous to those in the Bill of Rights, though a strong burger theme is present. He uses this allusion to convey that in his restaurants, people have the right to choose, so if people can choose in his restaurants, the country gives people the rights as well. He asserts that people's rights are protected. Burger King's slogan, "Have it your way", suggests that people anyone can find success in their own ways. It is evident that Blum believes that the American Dream is alive.
From a fast food chain owner, tackling the idea of the American Dream seems ridiculous but it conveys the idea well. The pathos element is strong in this statement. Readers are now in the mindset of burgers, and people can relate to choosing if they want onions or extra cheese. If they can relate to choices in a restaurant, they can now tie that into the American rights. The allusion to the Bill of Rights provides an ethical approach; readers can connect Burger King rights to American Rights. Being a wealthy CEO suggests that Blum has "succeeded" in the American Dream, that he believes it exists; anyone can achieve it. However, that may not be true in the real world.
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