TOW #23: American Hustle

            After incredible positive reviews from viewers, many were shocked to when American Hustle failed to win a single Oscar despite their ten nominations. The article, “So, Why Didn’t ‘American Hustle’ Win a Single Academy Award?” by Sophia Miskiw uses specific examples of people/movies who beat out American Hustle in order to make reason of their unsuccessful night.

            The explanation for the movies lack of winning was determined to be strictly due to the fierce competition they faced in each category, specifying only a select few. One of the most prestigious nominations it received was for

Best Picture, which was awarded to 12 Years A Slave. Miskiw points out the reasonable defeat due to the fact that 12 Years A Slave had been described as, “one of the most powerful movie of all time” and was being added to school curriculums as well. As a truly incredible film that will soon serve as an educational tool, American Hustle did not have a great chance of winning against it.

            Miskiw goes on to describe the specific losses in the categories of Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress. The presumed favorite for the Best Actor Oscar was Leonardo DiCaprio, however even he was shockingly defeated by Matthew McConaughey. With these two highly regarded and respected Actors in the category, Christian Bale had a slim chance of winning that award. Recently booming actress, Jennifer Lawrence also faced an upset in the running for Best Supporting Actress, which was won by Lupita Nyong’o, the favorite in this category from the premier of 12 Years A Slave.

            While the cast and crew of American Hustle may not have received any Oscar’s this year that will not hinder their growing careers in the film industry. They walked away empty handed but, as presented by Miskiw, the winners of all of the Oscars were worthy of the honor just as much, if not more than the American Hustle nominees. By using specific example of their defeat rather than large scale, Miskim was able to effectively establish the reasonable losses at the Academy Awards.

URL: http://www.contactmusic.com/article/american-hustle-academy-awards-jennifer-lawrence_4094591

URL:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800241/

TOW #22: Pepsi

Coca-Cola and Pepsi are both internationally recognized soft-drink companies that are constantly debated over and use advertisements to rise above the other. In this particular ad, a Pepsi can is directly next to a soda can that is designed identically to that of a Coca-Cola can (without specifically providing the brand name) to juxtapose the quality of these two renowned brands. The Pepsi can contains a straw and condensation on the can to make the soda look cold, appetizing, and ready to be consumed. Meanwhile, the straw near the other can has been animated to be refusing to enter the can therefore suggesting that the other soda is in no way desirable. It is through this juxtaposition that Pepsi is able to visually represent that their product is better than Coca-Cola in order to accomplish their goal of appealing to consumers and selling more of their product.

This advertisement is an example of a euphemism; because the major premise is not clearly stated but it s understood that people prefer to drink the best soda. The minor premise, which was also not direct due to the incomplete Coca-Cola label, but was that Pepsi, is the better soda when compared to Coke. Therefore, consumers should purchase Pepsi rather than Coca-Cola (or any other soda). The juxtaposition represented by the straws illustrated the minor premise effectively. By giving the other soda can the same exterior design as that of Coke made their point obvious but not too direct.  

Overall, the means of comparing Pepsi to Coca-Cola was effective through the graphic designs. Pepsi was able to make the argument without overstating or being able to be seen as liable for directly insulting their competitor’s products. It is through the usage of a euphemism and visual juxtaposition that Pepsi is able to effectively advertise their product. 

URL: http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2008/07/11/20-brilliant-advertising-ideas/

 

 

TOW #21: W.E.B Dubois

In W.E.B. Dubois’s book, The Souls of Black Folk he describes his differing views from those of Booker T. Washington on the issue of how to properly and effectively integrate the black population into American society. This week I read a small exert from the book that covered the basis of Dubois’s argument. He uses reoccurring parallel structure in order to juxtapose his ideas with those of Washington’s and illustrate that his idea will have a greater and better impact on the lives of freedmen.

            Dubois was a Harvard graduate, the first African American to receive a doctorate degree from Harvard making him extremely well educated, but his lack of experience as a struggling freedman made his argument less accepted by those who were struggling at the time since Washington could actually connect to their situation as a fellow newly freed slave.  To represent the necessities which Washington’s plan neglects is listed as, “First, political power, Second, insistence on civil right, Third higher education of Negro youth” to illustrate that Washington’s plans do not incorporate these vital components of social equality but they are the most important parts of Dubois’s plan. He also describes the ideas of that Washington presents as well as the negative side effects that he overlooks.

            Washington advocated for industrial equality and planned for the blacks to receive an education based off of agriculture and other industrial fields in order to be able to achieve economical equality that will later develop into social equality. Dubois however, wants to formally educate ten percent of the black population so they gain political equality to then transfer to socially. He also uses the words of the constitution, “all men are created equally” to empower his point to any white readers as well as bring in an example of the political aspect his plan incorporates.

            As an advocate of a well-educated, politically influential black population Dubois presents his ideas and rejects those of Washington’s opposing plan through parallel structures, which provides juxtaposition. In a society developed from the premise that all men are created equal Dubois developed a radical plan in achieving true equality for all. 

W.E.B. Dubois: http://www.nps.gov/hafe/historyculture/w-e-b-dubois.htm

TOW#20: A Story Lately Told (Ireland)

Nearly half of A Story Lately Told, by Anjelica Huston is used to describe her childhood during her time in Ireland. Her family moved to Ireland when she was only one year old, so that is the setting of all of her early childhood memories. Huston incorporates relevant photographs and detailed character development to illustrate the complexity of her childhood caused by her father’s absence.

            At the beginning of every chapter she uses a back-and-white photograph from around approximately the same time period as the events in the chapter to visually illustrate her life as she recalls it in her writing. The pictures often include Huston, her brother Tony, and her mother in a variety of places suggesting that while her family moved often she still had a strong relationship with her mother as well as many playful memories with her brother. The absence of her father in majority of these images demonstrates that he was not that great of a figure in her life and while her brought many incredible people around and provided immense opportunities for her, their relationship was lacking and unable to flourish under his busy schedule and intense approach to directing. These unbalanced family ties influenced her childhood into being complex and seemingly incomplete.

            It is through her character development and descriptions that she alluded to the poor relationship with her father by emphasizing people who would generally be less influential has her father had a more active role in her childhood. Throughout the first section of the book she described smaller character, guests and household workers, in great detail through imagery, similes, and other rhetorical devices. In describing short-term maids at one of her many estates she said, “Josie, with fair hair and cheeks like roses, and Mary Margaret, timid as a field mouse” (59).  By using such poetic detail for these two characters who are virtually insignificant in the overall plot of her life Huston makes it evident that that due to her father’s absence she developed a need to make smaller characters in her life has a greater meaning to her in order to fill the void that was caused by the incomplete father figure she had.

            It is through her inclusion of images and development of characters that she illustrated the lasting affects of her complex childhood. Although seeming perfect, beneath the surface even the privileged, talented Anjelica Huston worked avidly in fulfilling the voids in her life that developed at an early age.

URL:http://www.amazon.com/Story-Lately-Told-Coming-Ireland/dp/1451656297