Sunday, May 3, 2009
Big City Flop
Every where we go, we are bombarded with all types of advertisement, whether it originates from television, radio, the internet, billboards, magazines; the possibilities are endless for the advertisement industry. The most effective advertisement comes from television because it introduces the consumer to a product and also has the opportunity for the viewer to see it in action. Television advertisement encompasses the aspects of SMELL, in order to further convince a viewer that the Big City Slider Station is the ultimate product when it comes to hamburgers.
The sender or this advertisement is two-fold. The ultimate sender of the message is the producer of the product. Their main concern is making money and advertisement is just a means to an end to make a profit. But the man who is selling the product to the viewer is none other than Billy Mays, television pitchman. The reason that Billy Mays was chosen to be the man selling this product to you is that there is instant recognition with Billy Bays with some of his other successful products including; Oxiclean, Hercules hooks, Mighty Putty, etc. With this recognition the viewers will subconsciously think that the product must be as useful as his other products if he is endorsing it.
The message of the commercial is ultimately to buy the product that is being shown. But there are many levels at which the people of Big City Sliders wish to achieve this, the first being practicality. In the commercial they remind the viewer of how delicious restaurant sliders are and the foreseen “difficulties” of conventional methods of cooking burgers. This is done to pull the viewer in and spark their interest. When doing this they show the slider station in full vibrant colors and the older cooking on a stove in grey tones. This is done to appeal to the viewers visual senses with bright colors and inciting more appeal. The message of this commercial is that it is so easy that anyone can cook delicious burgers. But that is not all according to the infomercial; the slider station has multiple uses. This aspect of the commercial is used to separate the slider station from its competitors, by revealing its versatility.
This commercial appeals to the emotions of the viewer with its sense of practicality and usefulness. Everyone wants to be able to have the option of every choice imaginable, even if they will most like not taking that choice. It plays to the feeling that the viewer will take control of their burger situation and that they will no longer have to go to diners to get that delectable slider they are craving. Not only is it easy to use, it is also easy to clean. This appeals the lazier side of Americans these days; they have no desire to spend extra time cleaning when they could be eating.
The language employed by this commercial is a big factor to the viewer. The first point is made with the choice of Billy Mays as the pitchman. He is known for his overwhelming enthusiasm with his yelling every single word that comes out of his mouth. This ensures that every word he speaks will be driven into the mind of the viewer. It has a nice little slogan to go along with it as well, scoop, press, and cook. This allows the viewer to associate just how easy the slider station must be if it only has three simple steps. The commercial also employs the use of rhyming lines including “ you can double or triple stack ’em. Watch you family attack ‘em”, “Top them with pickles, onions, ketchup, or cheese, Big City Sliders are sure to please”, and the slider is so slick, not even burnt on cheese will stick”. These lines will make the claims of the product stay in the mind of the viewer even more and gives the lines a type of lyrical sense.
The logic of the commercial is relatively simple, buy the Big City Slider and you will be able to make delicious burgers quite easily. It is made of “high quality” aluminum. The burgers that are made look delicious when compared to the “flopping” burgers off the stove. There is even a healthy alternative to the beef where it works with turkey as well. Not only will the slider station be included with the purchase, but also a recipe guide. This tells the viewer that obviously this product is versatile as a multitude of recipes go by the cookbook. There is another free gift; the quick prep slicer comes along with it. The viewer not only gets a good product, but a free gift as well with it. Logically to the viewer, what is there to lose?
In conclusion, TV ads are carefully constructed masterpieces that have one intention, to sell the product at hand. There is no tactics that they will not try to employ to convince the viewer that their product is a necessity rather than a luxury. The last words are “order right now’, leaving the viewer with a sense of urgency that they need to complete the purchase. The viewers need to realize that these commercials are not made to truly inform the viewer of a product that is revolutionary and necessary, but rather they just want the money in their checkbooks, and nothing is a greater example of a waste of money trying to convince you other wise than the Big City Slider Station.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Break the Silence
As I live and breathe
I'm watching, watching the world die
We greet this with apathy no longer
Consumed by self
We walk through each day
With no mind to deprivation and moral decay
We must destroy and rebuild
We must destroy and rebuild
For the sake of all, it starts with one
With one
As I live and breathe
I'm watching, watching the world die
We greet this with apathy no longer
If we cant break the silence (how can we survive?)
Search inside yourself (and know that you're alive)
We must break the silence
Now we are alive
Silent no longer
Make this world, take notice
The change is in our hands
The battle has just begun
We are not defeated
If we cant break the silence (how can we survive?)
Search inside yourself (and know that you're alive)
We must break the silence
Now we are alive
Silent no longer
With all that I am
I will lift my voice
To start this revolution
It starts today
And it starts with me
Time is no longer
With all I am
I will lift my voice
With all I am
It starts with me
Break the silence [3X]
We are alive
Break the silence [3X]
We are alive
When people think of metal music, they immediately associate it with senseless screaming and suicidal tendencies. Many people lack to see the passion and the messages that many of the artists who fall into this genre of music are pushing for. All the mainstream listeners think of are death and despair when they hear the throaty roar that is metal. Killswitch Engage is a band that many would take five seconds to listen to and then immediately classify it as unnecessary damage to the vocal chords. But Killswitch Engage does not focus on the preconceived notions that metal music holds. In their song “Break the Silence”, Killswitch Engage uses the strength of their music and vocals, engaging diction, and imagery to call out for social reform.
The opening stanza of “Break the Silence”, lays out the whole problem that Killswitch has a problem with. They feel that a feeling of “apathy”, has taken over the mind of humans as “we watch the world die”. Before these lines are even spoken, an upbeat rhythm is played, giving the listener the feeling of anticipation, as if some kind of message approached the ears. For these first three lines, the words are screamed at the ears of the listeners. These words are almost unrecognizable to the untrained listener, much like the problems of the worlds pass by all those who are apathetic to the problems of the world.
In an idea that bears similar connotations as apathy, the people of the world go on living “consumed by the self”. This ties into the idea of apathy as the people of Earth has no feelings for the others around because they cannot look beyond their own problems. Killswitch also refers to how we “walk through each day with no mind to the deprecation and moray decay”. There are many messages within these lines. The first is obvious, that we do not heed the problems of the world and nor do we face it. The other is far subtler, with the choice of the word walk. No one who is living life with the intentions of helping others walks through life. Life is a struggle, no matter how small the struggle may seem. To walk brings images of a leisurely stroll from start to finish. If we were dealing with these problems we would not be walking through life, but there would be no need to call out for social action, as action would already be taking place.
In the next few lines, images of destruction are brought to mind. Much as an old building must be destroyed to make room for the new one. The old establishment of apathy and selfishness must be torn down for new roots in justice and equality. This line “We must destroy and rebuild”, is repeated twice in a row; therefore, signifying its importance as a message to the listener. The next line has one of the most important of all that Killswitch is trying to say and that it only takes “one”. This is the first line in the song that is sung with complete clarity relative to the other lines. The absence of the harsh voice does not take away from its meaning, but rather enhances it as all listeners have full capabilities to understand what is said. This idea of “one starting a “revolution” becomes a recurring idea from this point on.
The refrain of “Break the Silence”, Killswitch asks us how we can be alive knowing that there are such great problems in this world, yet still acting apathetic. The refrain is a call to action as it tries to have the listener reaffirm their own humanity and for the good of all humanity, rise up to the occasion. At this point, the title of the song comes into play, asking us to “Break the Silence”.
It is at this point that the connection between the title of the song and message of the song becomes clear. We, the listener, are to become the ones who are no longer apathetic and to “lift our voices. We must “take into our own hands” the ability to be the change within this world.
In conclusion, Killswitch Engage reveals itself not as the metal band it appearance at first glance. With Christian allusions in many of their other songs, “Break the Silence” becomes another addition the endless list of those who call for social reform. While it is true that no specific problems are mentioned such a starvation, social justice, etc, it is true that Killswitch has pointed out the root contributor for the continuation of all the world’s problems. We must not longer side on the sidelines and watch as our fellow man suffers, but rather we must throw aside our selfishness and aid our brothers and sister even as other do not, and hopefully we shall set the blaze the trail for more to follow.
I'm watching, watching the world die
We greet this with apathy no longer
Consumed by self
We walk through each day
With no mind to deprivation and moral decay
We must destroy and rebuild
We must destroy and rebuild
For the sake of all, it starts with one
With one
As I live and breathe
I'm watching, watching the world die
We greet this with apathy no longer
If we cant break the silence (how can we survive?)
Search inside yourself (and know that you're alive)
We must break the silence
Now we are alive
Silent no longer
Make this world, take notice
The change is in our hands
The battle has just begun
We are not defeated
If we cant break the silence (how can we survive?)
Search inside yourself (and know that you're alive)
We must break the silence
Now we are alive
Silent no longer
With all that I am
I will lift my voice
To start this revolution
It starts today
And it starts with me
Time is no longer
With all I am
I will lift my voice
With all I am
It starts with me
Break the silence [3X]
We are alive
Break the silence [3X]
We are alive
When people think of metal music, they immediately associate it with senseless screaming and suicidal tendencies. Many people lack to see the passion and the messages that many of the artists who fall into this genre of music are pushing for. All the mainstream listeners think of are death and despair when they hear the throaty roar that is metal. Killswitch Engage is a band that many would take five seconds to listen to and then immediately classify it as unnecessary damage to the vocal chords. But Killswitch Engage does not focus on the preconceived notions that metal music holds. In their song “Break the Silence”, Killswitch Engage uses the strength of their music and vocals, engaging diction, and imagery to call out for social reform.
The opening stanza of “Break the Silence”, lays out the whole problem that Killswitch has a problem with. They feel that a feeling of “apathy”, has taken over the mind of humans as “we watch the world die”. Before these lines are even spoken, an upbeat rhythm is played, giving the listener the feeling of anticipation, as if some kind of message approached the ears. For these first three lines, the words are screamed at the ears of the listeners. These words are almost unrecognizable to the untrained listener, much like the problems of the worlds pass by all those who are apathetic to the problems of the world.
In an idea that bears similar connotations as apathy, the people of the world go on living “consumed by the self”. This ties into the idea of apathy as the people of Earth has no feelings for the others around because they cannot look beyond their own problems. Killswitch also refers to how we “walk through each day with no mind to the deprecation and moray decay”. There are many messages within these lines. The first is obvious, that we do not heed the problems of the world and nor do we face it. The other is far subtler, with the choice of the word walk. No one who is living life with the intentions of helping others walks through life. Life is a struggle, no matter how small the struggle may seem. To walk brings images of a leisurely stroll from start to finish. If we were dealing with these problems we would not be walking through life, but there would be no need to call out for social action, as action would already be taking place.
In the next few lines, images of destruction are brought to mind. Much as an old building must be destroyed to make room for the new one. The old establishment of apathy and selfishness must be torn down for new roots in justice and equality. This line “We must destroy and rebuild”, is repeated twice in a row; therefore, signifying its importance as a message to the listener. The next line has one of the most important of all that Killswitch is trying to say and that it only takes “one”. This is the first line in the song that is sung with complete clarity relative to the other lines. The absence of the harsh voice does not take away from its meaning, but rather enhances it as all listeners have full capabilities to understand what is said. This idea of “one starting a “revolution” becomes a recurring idea from this point on.
The refrain of “Break the Silence”, Killswitch asks us how we can be alive knowing that there are such great problems in this world, yet still acting apathetic. The refrain is a call to action as it tries to have the listener reaffirm their own humanity and for the good of all humanity, rise up to the occasion. At this point, the title of the song comes into play, asking us to “Break the Silence”.
It is at this point that the connection between the title of the song and message of the song becomes clear. We, the listener, are to become the ones who are no longer apathetic and to “lift our voices. We must “take into our own hands” the ability to be the change within this world.
In conclusion, Killswitch Engage reveals itself not as the metal band it appearance at first glance. With Christian allusions in many of their other songs, “Break the Silence” becomes another addition the endless list of those who call for social reform. While it is true that no specific problems are mentioned such a starvation, social justice, etc, it is true that Killswitch has pointed out the root contributor for the continuation of all the world’s problems. We must not longer side on the sidelines and watch as our fellow man suffers, but rather we must throw aside our selfishness and aid our brothers and sister even as other do not, and hopefully we shall set the blaze the trail for more to follow.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
SESTINA
One day I wake up and it's time.
I've got to catch them all, Pokemon!
I've got a choice; Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander
But I've woken up late so it's Pikachu!
Off I set on my journey
Oh wait I need my trusty pokedex.
Oh wait there's a Rattata, time for the pokedex,
send out Pikachu, it's go time!
After the end of Rattata, resume the journey.
After the taste of battle, I want more Pokemon,
Let's go catch them all Pikachu!
You're so much better than a Charmander.
Pikachu evolves into Raichu, which is greater than Charmander too!
Let's check out Pikachu's stat's on the pokedex,
It says what is the best pokemon?...PIKACHU!
Ok enough dilly-dallying, it's time
i want to catch all 150 pokemon
I need all the help I can get on this journey.
To become the best trainer, the path is long, on this journey
now I've got Pikachu, Pidgeotto, and a Charmander!
I've got three now only 147 more pokemon!
Professor Oak will be so happy with my full pokedex
The gym is in sight, it's time.
I need my first gym badge let's go Pikachu!
My oppnent is Brock, uh oh, ground type, return PikachuI
I need to beat his onix to continue this journey
Ugh I should've found squirtle, then it would've been Onix's time
to fall. but instead I got distracted and caught that Charmnader.
Let's see if Charmander knows good moves, Pkedex!
Fire Blast!?! Ok let's take down his pokemon.
The throw down begun, all his pokemon
were fighting mine. Let's go Charmander, Pidgeotto, and Pikachu!
Oh No, it's Onix! Let's scan it pokedex.
Whatever I need to win, I need to continue my journey.
Let's go, Use Fireblast Charmander!
I've won my badge and now is the time!
My Pokedex is filling with Pokemon,
It's time to go Pikachu.
He'll help me along my journey and so will my Charmander!
I've got to catch them all, Pokemon!
I've got a choice; Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander
But I've woken up late so it's Pikachu!
Off I set on my journey
Oh wait I need my trusty pokedex.
Oh wait there's a Rattata, time for the pokedex,
send out Pikachu, it's go time!
After the end of Rattata, resume the journey.
After the taste of battle, I want more Pokemon,
Let's go catch them all Pikachu!
You're so much better than a Charmander.
Pikachu evolves into Raichu, which is greater than Charmander too!
Let's check out Pikachu's stat's on the pokedex,
It says what is the best pokemon?...PIKACHU!
Ok enough dilly-dallying, it's time
i want to catch all 150 pokemon
I need all the help I can get on this journey.
To become the best trainer, the path is long, on this journey
now I've got Pikachu, Pidgeotto, and a Charmander!
I've got three now only 147 more pokemon!
Professor Oak will be so happy with my full pokedex
The gym is in sight, it's time.
I need my first gym badge let's go Pikachu!
My oppnent is Brock, uh oh, ground type, return PikachuI
I need to beat his onix to continue this journey
Ugh I should've found squirtle, then it would've been Onix's time
to fall. but instead I got distracted and caught that Charmnader.
Let's see if Charmander knows good moves, Pkedex!
Fire Blast!?! Ok let's take down his pokemon.
The throw down begun, all his pokemon
were fighting mine. Let's go Charmander, Pidgeotto, and Pikachu!
Oh No, it's Onix! Let's scan it pokedex.
Whatever I need to win, I need to continue my journey.
Let's go, Use Fireblast Charmander!
I've won my badge and now is the time!
My Pokedex is filling with Pokemon,
It's time to go Pikachu.
He'll help me along my journey and so will my Charmander!
Friday, February 13, 2009
found poem
They think I’m only a waitress,
Little do they know in contradiction I’m like
Hugo boss. I run a chapel of love
Where I only let those sterling silver roses
Close to me. I make heartbeat’s race,
Like truck’s filled with diesel fuel.
Im like a flash of fuchsia on the face
Of a grinning young lass.
I’m like a one man show,
You can’t ever forget me
Like the pink diamond from pink panther.
Voodoo is my essence,
I confuse and confound all.
The luminous moon hangs above,
Lighting the way for a taxi
To reach me. There is no recovery
If I deem you unworthy. You’ll be
Sent to paradiso inferno, destined
To watch the wild thing just out of your reach.
Do you know what I am?
‘Cause I sure as royal Copenhagen don’t
Little do they know in contradiction I’m like
Hugo boss. I run a chapel of love
Where I only let those sterling silver roses
Close to me. I make heartbeat’s race,
Like truck’s filled with diesel fuel.
Im like a flash of fuchsia on the face
Of a grinning young lass.
I’m like a one man show,
You can’t ever forget me
Like the pink diamond from pink panther.
Voodoo is my essence,
I confuse and confound all.
The luminous moon hangs above,
Lighting the way for a taxi
To reach me. There is no recovery
If I deem you unworthy. You’ll be
Sent to paradiso inferno, destined
To watch the wild thing just out of your reach.
Do you know what I am?
‘Cause I sure as royal Copenhagen don’t
Friday, December 5, 2008
C'mon children, don't mosey along now
No kvetching please, mommy isn't here to cosset you.
Its time to wash those squalid hands, its time to bake a cake!
Cake, cake, cake, cake, luscious cake!
Now it might seem retrograde
to teach a 5-year-old how to bake,
but I've been called a capricious person.
Impatience is my vice.
Now children don't hold me in a gaze of animosity,
it mars your exquisite face.
Now let's get started with,
a pinch of sugar, a dust of flour, an egg here and there.
Now for the final touch, some tincture
for a bit of color. Yes a bit of color.
Delectable, sterling, and just excellent.
Yes children you are wonderful.
animosity- feeling of strong dislike
capricious- impulsive
luscious-delicious
sterling- excellent, mint
retrograde-backward
squalid- dirty or rough
tincture- a substance that dries into color
cosset- to coddle like a pet or small child
kvetch- to complain
mosey- meander
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
System of a Down "Chop Suey"
In my opinion the band “System of a Down”, has longed deserved the recognition they are about to receive for its politically active song lyrics. These lyrics include the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, the War on Drugs, Religion and Censorship. The band’s front man Serj Tankian co-founded with Tom Morello the Axis of Justice, an organization for musicians who have banded together with their fight for social justice.
System of a Down was formed in 1994 in Glendale, CA. The band consists of four members; Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian, and John Dolmayan. SOAD has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, and has won one. System has diverse roots, with all of the band members having previous bands in which they played for prior to forming, Tankian and Malakian coming from a band called Soil, and the others from other places. All the members have a common love for classic heavy metal such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, KISS, Slayer, and Metallica. Malakian, System’s songwriter, attributes his biggest influence of his lyrics to that of The Beatles and Peter, Paul, and Mary. I can honestly say that I do not believe I have ever heard a band with the likes of System of Down since its creation; With their unique guitar tunings and radical song lyrics, System of a Down has created a class of its own.
Perhaps one of its more controversial songs of all time, Chop Suey, tells the horrors of drug abuse through that of a fictional account of a woman stuck in the cyclic horror of drug abuse. The first two words of the song are “Wake Up”, both a literal wake up for the druggie who needs to wake up from her fix and also it is an initial call for the listeners to wake up and start the fight on Drug Abuse. Daron Malakian said in an interview that the song is truly about how one dies affects the way someone thinks of that person. For instance if someone were to die of drug abuse, like in the song, someone might perchance think they deserved it. This comes into play at the line “I cry when angels deserve to die, the angels being the corrupted humans who will die if they continue along their path. Chop Suey also makes religious references with the lines “Why have you forsaken me?”, and “ Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”. Both are obviously references to Jesus Christ as he hung from his cross. I believe this was put in as a cry from those who are stuck in the cycle of drugs. At some point many of them do not want to continue, but like Jesus they find themselves having to suffer even though it is what they desire least. But unlike Jesus who we left upon the cross, we need to help these drug abusers so they do not have to commend their spirit to the father.
All in all, System of a Down is a radically aware group of men who want to use their talents and widespread publicity to do good. In a world of corruption, System stands out like a beacon of hope for all those who are represented in the words of their lyrics. While System of a Down is currently on hiatus while the members pursue side careers, even there the messages are the same. But one day System shall reform to lead to charge on social tyranny once again, and battle it out for social change.
System of a Down was formed in 1994 in Glendale, CA. The band consists of four members; Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian, and John Dolmayan. SOAD has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, and has won one. System has diverse roots, with all of the band members having previous bands in which they played for prior to forming, Tankian and Malakian coming from a band called Soil, and the others from other places. All the members have a common love for classic heavy metal such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, KISS, Slayer, and Metallica. Malakian, System’s songwriter, attributes his biggest influence of his lyrics to that of The Beatles and Peter, Paul, and Mary. I can honestly say that I do not believe I have ever heard a band with the likes of System of Down since its creation; With their unique guitar tunings and radical song lyrics, System of a Down has created a class of its own.
Perhaps one of its more controversial songs of all time, Chop Suey, tells the horrors of drug abuse through that of a fictional account of a woman stuck in the cyclic horror of drug abuse. The first two words of the song are “Wake Up”, both a literal wake up for the druggie who needs to wake up from her fix and also it is an initial call for the listeners to wake up and start the fight on Drug Abuse. Daron Malakian said in an interview that the song is truly about how one dies affects the way someone thinks of that person. For instance if someone were to die of drug abuse, like in the song, someone might perchance think they deserved it. This comes into play at the line “I cry when angels deserve to die, the angels being the corrupted humans who will die if they continue along their path. Chop Suey also makes religious references with the lines “Why have you forsaken me?”, and “ Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”. Both are obviously references to Jesus Christ as he hung from his cross. I believe this was put in as a cry from those who are stuck in the cycle of drugs. At some point many of them do not want to continue, but like Jesus they find themselves having to suffer even though it is what they desire least. But unlike Jesus who we left upon the cross, we need to help these drug abusers so they do not have to commend their spirit to the father.
All in all, System of a Down is a radically aware group of men who want to use their talents and widespread publicity to do good. In a world of corruption, System stands out like a beacon of hope for all those who are represented in the words of their lyrics. While System of a Down is currently on hiatus while the members pursue side careers, even there the messages are the same. But one day System shall reform to lead to charge on social tyranny once again, and battle it out for social change.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
PIZZA PIE
This video suggests that consumption of a product is one of the most important things one can do and to do otherwise can end horribly. While death is not truly the end result of disobeying, it suggests heavily that your social life will die if you do not "eat your pizza pie". This does not just pertain to just the pizza pie in of itself, but of all consumer goods like iphones, McDonald's, etc; everything that reminds the viewer of Corporate America. Throughout all commercials of Papa Johns and Pizza Hut, it makes it seem like you are making a mistake if you do not eat the pizza they are advertising. This mistake can lead to becoming ostracized, not in the idea of pizza per-say, but if on does not keep up with the current trends they can become put off to the sides. Unfortunately many Americans judge by what they see and not what they now and they could assume the worst if you are not "eating the pizza pie". This also suggests conformity to a certain extent because while not required to "eat the pizza", it is strongly suggested by the second line "or you will die". No one ever truly has to do anything ever, but the consequences of not doing anything could end poorly. So in the end, the message is, just sit down, shut up, eat your piece of "pizza pie", and conform to the standards.
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