Blog for William's AM1111 Group

Kieran Reynolds Xbox advert

2010-12-15T01:11:00.003Z

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpcA9q4TFE&feature=related

This is an advert for Xbox 360 Kinect a new motion sensing gadget for the Xbox 360 games console by American electronics giant Microsoft. The advert seems to focus on two main things. Innovation and family values. Family values are a big part of the 'American way' and appears to be a big part of Microsoft's marketing strategy for Kinect. The idea that a family will gather around the Xbox 360 and use Kinect together. There is also a focus on innovation which leads to another strong American value. Trying to better yourself and improve. In this advert Microsoft have made it clear that this is something new and different and is seen as a progression in video gaming.

Ragged Dick

2010-12-15T00:48:00.003Z

Horatio Alger was the writer of the rags to riches tale Ragged Dick. A story that is seen as a typical rags to riches tale and has supposedly influenced many such stories. Ragged Dick follows it's main characters rise from a poor and difficult life to one of success. Its influence is visible in contemporary media. His stories tell a strong message and give faith in the American dream. The Horatio Alger association was set up in 1947 to reestablish faith in the American dream when morale was low after the second world war. It is still going strong today.

www.horatioalger.com.

Consumer Item - Dolce and Gabbana - The One

2010-12-14T22:53:00.004Z

COMMERCIAL --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lssUXa9chgs

The Dolce and Gabbana commercial for the male fragrance "The One" tries to entice the male viewer into buying the product using a number of different techniques. By beginning the commercial with Matthew McConaughey getting out of a nice car, the man is meant to believe that "he has a nice car and he wears The One", secondly the photographers are following McConaughey around and constantly taking photographs of him, this is meant to lead the male viewer to think that "if I wear The One then everyone will always be watching me", lastly when McConaughey gets in to his bedroom, obvious sexual connotations are emphasized when he removes his jacket and undoes his shirt. At this point the sound of multiple camera flashes flare up accompanied by repetitive flashes of light and continue until the shot fades out. This final point is meant to lead the male to believe that if he wears The One then he will essentially "become" Matthew McConaughey and have everything that has just been shown. The sexual aspect and the handsome actor present in the commercial will mainly be aimed at any women watching the commercial making them also think that if their man wears The One then he will "become" Matthew McConaughey. Looking closely at commercials shows us just how outlandish the creators are when it comes to how the viewer is meant to think, however we must ask ourselves .. After watching the commercial of a product, why do we then go and buy it ??

Ragged Dick

2010-12-14T22:13:00.008Z

HORATIO ALGER

Horatio Alger was a Unitarian Minister between 1860 - 1866 after which he resigned and decided to move to New York City in order to study and later write about street children (such as those in his tale Ragged Dick). Alger is considered most "famous" in the 1900's and the 1920's. He was seen as very good at symbolizing the American Dream within his writings but he was virtually forgotten by the time that he died in 1899. Alger was trying to portray across two different messages, one for juveniles and another for adult readers. For the juveniles he was saying that they should grasp the opportunities capitalist society offers whilst telling adults that homeless children need the adults' help in order to get anywhere.

RAGGED DICK

After studying street children in New York City, Alger published a series of stories about a boy referred to as "Ragged Dick" which were published in a children's magazine "STUDENT AND SCHOOLMATE" in monthly installments. Many of the characters which were used in his series of tales were based upon real boys he had observed on the New York streets. Later Alger's Ragged Dick tales were published in to a singular book of Dick's story. This novel "reasserts moral ethical core self which is successful". This basically means that throughout the story Ragged Dick is seen to always remain true to his morals and because of this and trying hard he is able to grow up more "'spectible" than he would have if he didn't stick to them. By adding in other characters such as Frank, Mickey McGuire and Edward, Ragged Dick's good nature and "pure-ness" is emphasized even more.

JOHNNY NOLAN vs RAGGED DICK

When comparing Johnny Nolan to Ragged Dick, we notice quite a few significant differences. Ragged Dick is willing to work and try hard to get a better life by working on his education, setting up a bank account, saving his money, improving his reading and writing, not sending his hard-earned money on treats such as the theatre or gambling, and throughout the tale he always helps others that he sees to be even less fortunate than himself and sticks to his idea that he will never result to stealing as it is against his morals. Johnny on the other hand is lazy, unwilling to try to better himself, will steal and cheat people out of their money and yet still complains or seems envious when Ragged Dick has more money than him. Even though the boys both come from similar situations, the situation being that they have both lived on the streets and had to look after themselves from a young age (Ragged Dick being only 7 years-old when his father had gone to sea and his mother then die). Alger instals characters within the tale like Johnny Nolan to show us, the reader, how different Ragged Dick could be as well as re-enforcing the ideal of The American Dream.

Guns - Pro-Control and Anti-Control

2010-12-14T21:20:00.012Z

PRO-GUN CONTROL ARGUMENTS

"When we got organized as a country, [and] wrote a fairly radical Constitution, with a radical Bill of Rights, giving radical amounts of freedom to Americans, it was assumed that Americans who had that freedom would use it responsibly .... When personal freedom is being abused, you have to move to limit it."
[Bill Clinton]

PRO-GUN CONTROL WEBSITE --> http://www.buzzle.com/articles/arguments-for-gun-control.html

This site does not have a lot of text however it does talk about exactly what I was interested in hearing about, "Pro-Gun Control". It starts by actually talking of the laws relating to gun control and then goes on to Arguments For Gun Control. An important point that the site makes is:

"Even though there are several reasons for gun control implementation, almost all of them revolve around the single basic concept - safety of individuals. Those in favor of gun control are of the opinion that implementing it would reduce the number of firearms related accidents. A look at gun control facts reveals that approximately 10,000 people bear the brunt of firearm related accidents annually in United States alone".

This point basically sums up the entire Pro-Gun Control "fight". It is showing us the magnitude of gun-related accidents with figures (aprox 10,000 people) in the United States alone. This figure shows us that gun control is needed and, more importantly, needs to be better enforced. The number may not be as high as it could be but it definitely could be even lower.

ANTI-GUN CONTROL ARGUMENTS

" ... the right to defend one's home and one's person when attacked has been guaranteed through the ages by common law."
[Martin Luther King]

ANTI-GUN CONTROL WEBSITE --> http://www.edubook.com/common-arguments-against-gun-control/6831/

This website debates whether or not gun control is a positive or negative thing but mainly focuses on being against gun control. It is argued that everyone has the right to posses fire-arms as it was written in the Bill Of Rights as the "right to bear arms". This "right" has caused many arguments and much conflict in the world of guns and warfare. The above site is very interesting and useful in the discussion of anti-gun control as it is to-the-point by only saying what is needing to be said about the subject matter as well as posing rhetorical questions to the reader which causes the reader to even think about it in more detail and come up with their own ideas. A useful point that the site raises is the fact that:

"in the enforcement of gun control regulations, this right is infringed upon and that we the American people are entitled to it."

ANOTHER POINT RAISED BY THE SITE IS THAT:

"One common argument is that we should be able to protect ourselves with guns. True enough, handguns do offer a sense of security unlike any other. Handguns allow us to arm ourselves and make us less vulnerable to crime. This argument against gun control is often the double edged sword that is the revolving premise of this debate. One question often answers the other. However that answer is often posed as another question."

This website also asks the two main questions that the majority of anti-gun control believers ask:

"Should we be allowed to protect ourselves?"

AND:

"Should we be allowed to protect our families?"

These are the two most important questions and the main reason for people to even think of questioning gun control.

Apple - iPAD

2010-12-14T20:47:00.002Z

http://www.apple.com/ipad/

This ofcourse is the IPAD. Created by possibly the biggest technological company on the planet, some argue this franchise has even surpassed that of Microsoft. Apple is iconic for its innovate culture and some of the worlds hottest gadgets. The latest Apple sensation is the Ipad. The Ipad is described as being 'A Magical and Revolutionary product at an unbelievable price, starting at $400'. From this sentence alone Apple has described the product as no other by branding it revolutionary. To be revolutionary this product has to be like no other has to do what nothing else can, but it could be argued to be just a larger scale of their bigger hit the iphone. Apple also cliams that this product is cheap 'only $400', this in itself is insulting to the avarage consumer as im sure we all know the $400 is a very lot of money. What the sentence is saying is that for that price consumers get the newest product available that has revolutionized its market so for the fee its very worth it. However America is a very capitalist country and on the contrary Apple are carging nearly an extra $350 just for the name of the product at least. By claiming that this revolutionary product is also is the apsoloute best way to surf the web, its telling consumers that they will not experience this technology unless they are willing to pay for it.

Horatio Alger

2010-12-14T20:41:00.002Z

Horatio Alger, Jr. (1834-99) was a prolific writer of dime novel stories for boys. From the debut of his first novel, Ragged Dick, in 1867, Alger was instrumental in establishing a new genre of dime novels known as the 'city story.' The genre arose out of the wide-spread urbanization that followed the Civil War and paralleled the rise of industrialism. Alger's stories heroicized the young street urchins living in poverty among large, urban centers such as New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. With uncommon courage and moral fortitude, Alger's youths struggle against adversity to achieve great wealth and acclaim. These rags to riches stories were enormously popular with the public and flourished in the decades from 1870 to 1890.

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/dp/pennies/1860_alger.html

Slaves Classed As "other" - History of Slavery in American Colonies

2010-12-14T19:43:00.004Z

WEBSITE OF INTEREST --> http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/history/overview.htm

After looking across a range of different historic websites relating to slavery I chose this site to be one of the best. This is mainly due to its extensive collection of links to different sections. I chose to look closer at slaves being classed as "outside the ideological norm of the mainstream" because the reason that they were even slaves in the first place is because they were different to the "norm" of society due to race, skin colour and cultural beliefs.

The initial page that pops up when the above address is entered has a brilliant introductory paragraph which gives us our first insight in to slavery:

"From the beginnings of slavery in British North America around 1619, when a Dutch ship brought 20 enslaved Africans to the Virginia colony at Jamestown, nearly 240 years passed until the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution officially ended slavery in 1865. This section of the site is devoted to an in-depth investigation of those years from many angles; from looking at the lives and cultures of the oppressed before they were enslaved, to understanding the ways in which those enslaved survived and ultimately triumphed over the institution of slavery. The first of the original essays and lesson plans based on the latest scholarship on slavery in America is offered below."

We are then given multiple choices of different sub-headings which all focus on "Creating Slavery", beginning with Essays to go to in order to get a deeper understanding of slavery and it's history with pages to look at such as:
Historical Overview.
Overview of African Place Names in the United States.
Slavery and Sanctuary in Colonial Florida.
African-American Names.
Slavery in New Jersey.
Slavery and Native Americans in British North America and the United States : 1600 to 1865.
The site then has lists of Lesson Plans, which shows that it can be a site useful for both teachers and students alike, then moves on to Maps:
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
Slavery and Abolition States.
Slave Ports.
These are all very good for giving us a visual aid as to just how far the trade of slavery went across the United States.

The maps are followed by more visual aid in the form of Image Collections:
Political Cartoons of Slavery: The Defense of Slavery.
Sugar and Cotton: The Paintings of Steele Burden.
Johnnie Mae Maberry-Gilbert Collection.
These are all different collections of images which help show us slavery at an even greater depth.

Next we are shown multiple other links to pages which all go in to more depth about "Surviving Slavery" once again starting with Essays (such as Historical Overview, African Crops and Slave Cuisine, The Black Press in Antebellum America, The Press and the Hemings-Jefferson Story from 1802 to 2001), then moving on to Lesson Plans and proceeding to Maps:
Slave Populations in the Southern States c. 1860.
Slave Populations in Virginia c. 1860.
Slave Populations in Mississippi c. 1860.
Then progressing on to links to a mixture of Biographies and Narratives relating to Surviving Slavery by:
Solomon Northrup.
Lavina Bell.
Harriet Jacobs.
Ella Belle Ramsey.
Mary Kincheon Edwards.
Susan Merrick.
(The site even has an Interactive Exhibit "Melrose Interactive Slavery Environment").

We are then shown numerous links to pages about "Resisting Slavery" with a range of Essays (Historical Overview, Insurrection On Board Slave Ships, Slavery in New Jersey), Lesson Plans, Maps (Slavery and Abolition States c. 1860, Slave Insurrections), Biography (Lily Ann Granderson) and Image Collection (Political Cartoons of Slavery: Antislavery). These sub-headings continue through "Escaping Slavery", "Transcending Slavery" and "Transition to Jim Crow : Legacy of Slavery".

This site helps show us a multitude of different resources that are easily accessible and highly useful for gathering a better understanding and more personal relations of slavery when considered as a "other".

A Settler's Account -- Henry Spelman of Jamestown

2010-12-14T18:54:00.005Z

Henry Spelman lived approximately between 1595 and 1623, although the date of his death is just speculation. Spelman was an English adventurer, soldier and author who left for Virginia Colony on the ship "Unity" at the young age of 14 years-old. A mere 2 weeks after his arrival to Jamestown, he was invited to go with Captain John Smith on an expedition which would take them up the James River to the Native-Indian town of Powhatan. When they arrived in Powhatan Captain Smith traded Henry's bonded servitude in exchange for a village son. Due to this exchange, Henry Spelman became an interpreter and served as a messenger between the two different cultures. It is not fully clear what ended up happening to Henry Spelman. Some say that he died in an ambush on the Powhatan tribe whilst others speculate that he was kidnapped during the ambush and is classed as having gone missing. During the years Spelman spent living and growing-up amongst the Powhatan tribe, he wrote of his studies of the people. These studies help in giving us an insight in to the lives of the Powhatan villagers. I wish to focus upon a few of the more interesting things which Henry Spelman discovered of the people he was now growing up in the company of.

"How They Name Their Children - After the mother is delivered of hir child with in sum feaw dayes after the kinsfolke and neyburs beinge intreated ther unto, cums unto ye house: wher beinge assembled the father, takes the child in his armes: and declares that his name shall be, as he then calls him, so his name is, which dunn ye rest of ye day is spent in feastinge and dauncinge." --> Essentially this means that a few days after the child is born, the neighbors and family of the child assemble and the father of the child holds the new-born and names it. The rest of the day and evening then is filled with celebration and feasting.

"The Manor Of Execution - THos that be convicted of capitall offences are brought into a playne place before ye Kinges house when then he laye, which was at Pomunkeye the chefest house he hath wher one or tow apoynted by the Kinge did bind them hand and foote, which being dunn a great fier was made, Then cam the officer to thos that should dye, and with a shell cutt of[f] ther long locke, which they weare on the leaft side of ther heade, and hangeth that on a bowe before the Kings house Then thos for murther wear Beaten with staves till ther bonns weare broken and beinge alive weare flounge into the fier, the other for robbinge was knockt on ye heade and beinge deade his bodye was burnt." --> This means, in short, that the person who has committed an offense more serious than robbery would have their hair cut off, which would then be nailed to the front of the King of the tribe's house. The offender would then be beaten by staves until their bones broke. They would then be flung onto a fire, still alive. If they were being executed for robbery then they would be beaten over the head until they died and flung on to the fire dead.

"The Settinge At Meat - THey sett on matts round about ye howse ye men by them selves and ye weomen by ther selves ye weomen bringe to every one a dish of meat for the better sort never eates togither in one dish, when he hath eaten what he will, or that which was given him, for he looks for no [meat] second corse he setts doune his dish by him and mum[b]leth ceartayne words to himself in maner of [a saying grace] givinge thankes, if any leaft ye weomen gather it up & ether keeps it till ye next meall, or gives it to ye porer sort, if any be ther." --> This basically just says that the men-folk eat first with the women bringing the food. The men will either eat until they are full or until there is no more food. If any left-overs then the women remove them and keep them for another occasion. It also says of how they say grace before eating. Any left over food can also be given to people poorer than themselves if they wish it.

"The Differences Amounge Them - THe King is not know by any differenc[e] from other of ye [better] chefe sort in ye cuntry but only when he cums to any of ther howses they present him with copper Beads or Vitall, and shew much reverence to him. The preest[s] are shaven on ye right side of ther head close to the scull only a litle locke leaft at ye eare and sum of thes have beards But ye common people have no beards at all for they pull away ther hares as fast as it growes. And they also cutt ye heares on ye right side of ther heade that it might not hinder them by flappinge about ther bow stringe, when they draw it to shoott, But on ye other side they lett it grow & have a long locke hanginge doune ther shoulder." --> This is a very useful account as it tells us everything about the appearances of the Powhatan people as well as distinguishing between the different tribesmen and their statuses.

"The Pastimes - WHen they meet at feasts or otherwise they use sprorts much like to our heare in England as ther daunsinge, which is like our darbysher Hornepipe a man first and then a woman, and so through them all, hanging all in a round, ther is one which stand in the midest with a pipe and a rattell with which when he beginns to make a noyes all the rest Gigetts about wriinge ther neckes and stampinge on ye ground. They use beside football play, which wemen and young boyes doe much play at. The men never They make ther Gooles as ours only they never fight nor pull one another doune. The men play with a litel balle lettinge it fall out of ther hand and striketh it with the tope of his foot, and he that can strike the ball furthest winns that they play for." --> This extract really just explains the different traditions of the Powhatan tribe and just how fascinating they are.

These different extracts all assist one another in describing the Powhatan tribe and their cultural beliefs.

2010-12-08T18:28:00.000Z

Ragged Dick Presentation

Text of Ragged Dick

· “Ragged Dick” was contributed as a serial story to the pages of ‘Schoolmate’, a well-known juvenile magazine, during the year 1867.

· It was published as a text in 1868 and has been rewritten and enlarged and is now presented to the public as a first volume of a series.

· Intended to illustrate the life and experiences of the lonely and homeless children on the streets of New York and to be used as somewhat of a guide of how to survive.

· Information about the boys in the text was mainly gathered from personal observations and conversations with the boys themselves, by the author Horatio Alger, Jr.

· As well as information provided by the Newsboys’ Lodging which provided useful facts and information that were of use to the author.

Ragged Dick

· The audience is first introduce to Ragged Dick when he is awoken after spending a night on the streets.

· Straight away the reader gets a sense of the character Ragged Dick, he is a young boy living on the streets of New York, with little or no money to his name and no shelter to live under.

· His appearance is described in the text as “His pants were torn in several places, and had apparently belonged in the first instance to a boy two sizes larger than himself. He wore a vest, all the bottoms of which were gone except two, out of which peeped a shirt which looked as if it had been worn a month. To complete his costume he wore a coat too long for him, dating back, if one might judge from its general appearance, to a remote antiquity”.

· His character is portrayed to be cheeky and quick witted, but also very resourceful and kind hearted.

Frank

· The text first introduces Frank when Dick overhears his conversation with his uncle about wanting to look around New York and see the sights, but he does not have any knowledge of the area.

· Dick sees this as an opportunity and offers his services to Frank and his uncle, thus the two characters meet.

· Frank is said to be about thirteen-fourteen and quite a privileged young man, for it is Frank that gives Dick his first proper suit, as well as the rest of his old clothes he no longer needs.

· Although Frank is quite privileged, he is fascinated by Dick and how well he knows the streets of New York, so much so that he sometimes comes across jealous that he doesn’t get to live there himself.

· He is a kind young man who is worried for the well being of Dick, he wants to take care of him and ensure he is treated well.

Dick and Frank

· The two characters come from two different worlds, but both are intrigued by what the other has learnt along the way.

· The leading role between them varies through out their time together, starting off with Dick being all knowledgeable and offering to show Frank around the city he knows so well.

· Then it is Frank who seems the bigger person as he offers Dick his old clothes that he does not wish to take to boarding school with him.

· As Dick shows Frank around the streets of New York it is him that seems to know more and have all the answers.

· However, through out their initial time together, you do sense the seperation between them both as it is Frank who pays for their adventures around New York, yet it is Dick that keeps them out of harms way.

Comparisons

· Firstly, both characters are around the same age and seem to share the same sense of humor and adventure.

· Both have a drive to want to do well and succeed in building a good life for themselves, just that each has a different way of accomplishing this.

· Both boys have a kind heart, not wanting to cheat people or be cruel, although Dick does like to have a laugh and a joke.

· Both characters seem to lack somewhere that they can call home, although Frank has somewhere to live he is off to boarding school and will not have somewhere particular to feel at home.

Differences

· The most obvious difference is the appearance of the two boys when they first meet, Dick is wearing an old, worn suit that is too big for him and Frank is dressed smartly.

· Another clear difference between the two characters is that Dick has no money and Frank does not need to worry about money, for it is given to him.

· Dick lives on the streets with just an empty alley way for a bed, where as Frank has a roof to live under.

· Dick has no education, where as Frank grew up attending school and is due to attend a boarding school in Connecticut.

· Dick has street knowledge, while Frank has general knowledge of the world and the education he has earned through his young years.

Change

· As the two characters part Frank’s uncle says to Dick; “I hope, my lad, you will prosper and rise in the world.” He then hands Dick a five dollar bill, which at first Dick refuses to take but then Frank’s uncle says to him; “but I give it to you because I remember my own friendless youth. I hope it may be of service to you. Sometime when you are a prosperous man, you can repay it in the form of aid to some poor boy, who is struggling upward as you are now.”

· Dick and Frank cross paths again in the text in chapter twenty four, Dick receives a letter from Frank via an advertised letter in the Newspaper.

· The letter reads about Frank’s life since he left Dick and recalls on their adventures, however because Frank does not know of Dicks new lease of life he still thinks he is the same goofy, uneducated boy he once knew.

Change

· Dick is pleased with this letter as he has so few friends and certainly none that would go to the trouble of writing him a letter, or had the skills to write a letter.

· This gives Dick the opportunity to write his very first letter, to show his old friend that he is now very literate and tell him of his new life he has made for himself.

· At this point in the text the two boys are more similar then when they first met, Dick now has a room, he is well dressed, educated and still learning and has money to his name.

However, the two boys are still very much from two different worlds and their lives are heading in two separate directions. But, they are still friends and they will always have that one day together to remember forever.

Lizzie Buwu : Ragged Dick

2010-12-07T10:42:00.004Z

Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger Jnr

•As the reader is introduced to Richard Hunter, immediately he is referred to as Ragged Dick. This is quite significant as it gives us an idea of Dick’s appearance and the huge contrast between him and characters such as Frank.

•Although the two boys are worlds apart, as more is revealed about Frank and Dick’s characters, there are a lot of similarities between the two boys. Both boys are generous. In the beginning, even though Frank’s generosity is spurred on by the will to preserve his gentlemanly image, it still echoes the moral of kindness and and giving back to those less fortunate. Dick, although he isn’t in the best place in life, also manages to display acts of generosity. On more than one occasion he buys his fellow bootblacks food to eat.

•Both boys are honest which they learn is quite rewarding especially for Dick.

•Dick... “...always ready to joke.” takes his misfortunes in good stride and is always looking for opportunities, and if not chances, to create an opportunity for himself in comparison to Johnny Nolan, whom Dick thinks “...has no ambition.” Dick’s big dreams are shown through his constant association with important figures such as George Washington, The Mayor of New York, Horace Greeley, Peter Cooper etc.

• Dick’s attitude is surprisingly good for someone in his circumstances and doesn’t embody the mentality of the world owing him for a bad start in life. Frank describes him as always being “...in good spirits.” and Mr Whitney goes on to say “You know in this free country poverty in early life is no bar to a man’s advancement.” this line, I think echoes the idealism and the hope that the American Dream stands for and Alger includes encouragement such as this and uses Dick’s life as a microcosm of what society has to offer if you work hard.

•Although Dick has big ambitions it is Frank who ultimately equips Dick with the belief of the reward that comes if you struggle upward, no matter how short changed Dick is. “You may rise in some other way, a good many distinguished men have once been poor boys, there’s hope for you Dick if you’ll try.”

•“I needn’t have been Ragged Dick so long..” Dick’s realisation illustrates a universal message that many American’s believe. You don’t have to entertain a life that you’re not happy with or that’s not fulfilling.

Lizzie Buwu : Images Of America

2010-12-07T10:41:00.001Z

The picture I picked was a picture of a little American Muslim girl. I found it quite positive. Although the image doesn’t immediately shout America at readers or people looking at it, I feel it represents a New America. The presence of a little girl with an American flag and a head scarf suggests the new American generation’s face has no religion. The term muslim in America is normally met with negative connotation to a certain extent. But this picture represents an America that allows you to be muslim and American, and it doesn’t only stop at religious identity but the message I feel transcends through to race, gender, sexuality etc. It doesn’t matter what background you might have America is for all.

The other image I chose that signifies America to me negatively, is a picture of a man with a body placard that reads The American Dream is over. Which I thought was quite significant as it placed an expiry date on a timeless American ideal. The idea of an American Dream is that its never too late and anyone from anywhere can make a good life for themselves. The fact that there is no face in the picture appeared quite sinister to me, but it suggested the message is relatable to any American.

Lizzie Buwu : Interesting Map

2010-12-07T10:37:00.001Z

Geography is destiny”

I found this map quite interesting as it illustrated how the world would look if land distribution was arranged according to population. Although this isn’t a map of America,I felt it spoke volumes about the present attitude Americans have towards their nation. The fact that in this map America (along with 3 other countries) doesn’t move, echoes views dating back to Abraham Lincoln times. Views such as the United States is “God’s chosen nation...the last best hope on earth.” The map to an extent supports the image America has as a big power geographically suggesting it is a preordained nation almost, which fits in nicely with idealistic American views of their great country. While other countries are disorientated by the hypothetical geographical swaps, America’s role in the world seems steady, unmoved. Predestined.

Lizzie Buwu : Gin Salesman Of The Year

2010-12-07T10:32:00.002Z

Lizzie Buwu : Pro and Anti-Gun Control

2010-12-07T10:28:00.002Z

http://www.csgv.org/about-us

The coalition to stop gun violence is a Pro-gun control website that aims to maintain a slipping freedom, from gun violence. It outlines many problems in the system and highlights issues such as the Gun Show Loophole, which enables anyone to purchase guns from unlicensed dealers without background checks. This means just about anyone can get a hold of a firearm easily. CGSV want tougher gun laws and a stricter grip on gun owners in America and furthermore to give politicians confidence to speak up against anti-gun control organisations such as the NRA

http://gunowners.org/

Gun Owner’s of America is a anti gun control website which argues that along with the ownership of a gun comes freedom. Like many other anti- gun control groups I looked at on the internet, this website pointed out how their cause was to protect the interests of the 2nd Amendment and had a “ NO COMPROMISE!” policy. They like a lot of gun enthusiasts who follow them believe the American people’s rights are threatened if their right to ownership is taken from them. What’s evident from just looking at the website is republican presence and how highly involved they are in the government politics surrounding their cause. The GOA boasts a “...board of directors who bring over 100 years of combined knowledge and experience on guns, legislation and politics.” Unlike the pro-gun control
The GOA website’s approach to their campaign against gun control is quite politically tactical and calls on people to use their voting power to voice and undermine legislation that goes against their cause. For instance on the website they have drawn up action plans for members to take or send to their Senators. Unlike the pro gun control websites who appeal to people’s hearts with their shocking statistics, e.g “...a person dies from gun violence every 17 minutes in America...but without easy access to guns it would be a lot harder.”

I think the pro gun control website had a stronger argument, was better presented and well supported by statistical evidence which would make many think twice. The anti-gun control argument had a very limited argument I felt, and it had no concern of how some of the rights they are fighting for, at times fatally affect normal Americans.

Converse Advertisement

2010-12-06T15:46:00.000Z

I have chosen to look at an advert for Converse shoes, this is a photograph I found on the internet advertising the American shoe/trainer. I chose this product advertisement because I think converse as a product represents the change throughout the years of how the material culture of a product can change dramatically. Converse for example have gone from being seen as a rebellious youth accessory to a popular fashion statement, they are still heavily worn by youths but now, as time has past they are viewed as more fashionable not just a hard-wearing shoe. Today the average age of people wearing converse I would say is between 16-29, they represent freedom and are seen as cool to be wearing.

In this advertisement, it represents the cheeky side to converse, the playfulness they can provide to everyone, hence the messy table and the guy and girl playing with their food. Also by having a guy and a girl in the advert it shows that the product is for both men and women and is very diverse. Although the advert is in black and white and quite vintage with the old style diner booths and cutlery it is very modern, in that this type of fashion and style is now back in trend. This advert shows that Converse are very much in style at the moment and have in a way been re-invented from their original style. Although the basic shoe is the same, there are now various different styles, not just in the form of different colours but length and actual shoe type. This product is a good example of how a product has changed over time due to material culture.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

2010-12-02T13:50:00.000Z

I have chosen the TV programme ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ as a modern example of Horatio Alger, Jr’s text ‘Ragged Dick’. This is an American television sitcom that starred a young Will Smith as a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to live with his wealthy relatives in their Bel-Air mansion. The programme follows him as he has to adjust to a new lifestyle and starts to leave his old life behind.

In the TV programme, Will starts off as a fresh, young man who comes from the streets, he has a place to call home but the neighbourhood he lives in very dangerous. Very much like Dick, although he actually lives on the streets, they both have street knowledge and know how to take care of themselves. Another comparison between the two is that once both are introduced to a world of wealth and privilege they don’t want to go back to their old lifestyle. They feel ashamed to go back to their old life, what they used to wear and where they used to be seen. Both characters are heavily influenced by money, not to take it of others but to earn money and live well. However, Dick is more in favour of saving for his future and working hard to be able to have a roof over his head and food to eat. However, when Will moves in with his wealthy relatives he is given a place to live and does not have to worry about earning money to live off. However, money does still play a very large part in his life as he is always chasing it and looking for a way to make a quick buck.

Despite some differences between the two characters and their situations, I think this example of 'the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' is fairly accurate in relation to 'Ragged Dick' because they both show two guys starting off from the streets and when they come in to money their lives begin to change. Their outlook on life changes and in particular the way they treat money changes. Their characters change slightly in that they find it hard to imagine how they lived before but their personalities stay the same.

Kieran Reynolds, Gun Control

2010-11-24T00:15:00.002Z

http://home.nra.org/#/home

The NRA is one of the key groups campaigning against stricter gun control in the United States and is widely seen as one of the largest pressure groups in the United States. It claims that it aims to protect Americans constitutional right to bear arms. It has nearly four million members and is therefore very vocal. It also has a key political presence. It is believed that they possibly have influenced political appointments and decision making

http://www.csgv.org/

The Coalition to control gun violence is a pressure group seeking to reduce gun violence and increase control over firearm ownership. THey plan to do this "though research, strategic involvement and effective policy advocacy. THey claim that it is too easy to purshase firearms and there needs to be strong checks. They are however a far smaller group than the NRA and have less political influence. I however believe their arguement has some weight behind it and this is supported by gun violence statistics in America.

Kieran REynolds, Tea Party video. Glenn Beck

2010-11-23T23:53:00.003Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpZ0vaAwTtU

Glen Beck is a key tea party activist working for Fox News. He is idolised by many tea party members and is a key member of their movement. This video is typical of many such rallies he has been involved in throughout the country. He attacks the medias stance on the tea party and the perception that the tea party is an extremist movement. He also focuses on tax rises and what he believes is "out of control government spending. He also claims that it has nothing to do with parties and that both the Democrats and Republicans both "suck" and spending has been out of control and that politicians have been lying to the people it is meant to serve.

This video is typical tea party propaganda and while Beck's performance is strong it must be viewed as that. It is however important and gives an idea that the tea party movement is strong and growing. This video was from 2009 and the tea party has grown a lot since then.

Gun Control

2010-11-23T23:33:00.004Z

Gun Control

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~zj5j-gttl/guns.htm

this first link is what i would consider a pro gun control website, this web page essentially picks apart the constitution and its relevance to today and how despite the bill of rights and the constitution being final god given rights, they are infact not absolute rights, the article makes reference to several ways in which freedom of speech is given up when it comes to liability and that all of these right have in someway or another contradictions.

http://www.newsbatch.com/guncontrol.htm

this second article from a news site offers a balanced perspective for bot pro and anti gun control, the site is useful as it does not have a bias agenda it simply serves the perpose of informing people about current gun control measures, issues and particularly the two primary opposing party's positions on gun control at the present moment in time..

Gun Control

2010-11-23T19:04:00.003Z

http://www.policyalmanac.org/crime/guns.shtml

This website offers a balanced opinion of both Pro and Anti Gun control activists. At the beginning of the article it tells its audience that Pro gun control activists believe that it is essential as it curbs control on 'criminals, juveniles and "high risk"individuals'. These activists subsequantly realise that the only way that this can happen is by federal law. Within this group lie two different beliefs, the first is that law should be amended so that the prohibition of all firearms for all non police. However the other set of activists are less extreme and believe that their policies would not impede on the ownership of legitimate gun holders

Opposition to gun control argue that control burdens law abiding citizens and also denies them basic rights that are written in the constitution! This of course is the second amendment in which all Americans are guaranteed!

Also Anti gun control activist believe that with the wide spread sale of guns this therefore acts as a deter ant for crime and more importantly ternary, either by gangs of Government!!!!

Gun Control

2010-11-23T17:15:00.000Z

Pro-Gun Control

http://www.bradycampaign.org/

This is a link to a website called 'Brady Campaign Blog' which campaigns to prevent gun violence. Their mission statement is that they are devoted to creating an American free from gun violence, where all americans are safe at home, at school, at work and in our communities. The Brady Campaign works to pass and enforce sensible federal and state gun laws, regulations and public policies through grassroots activism, electing public officials who support common sense gun laws, and increasing public awareness of gun violence. The Brady centre works to reform the gun industry by enacting and enforcing sensible regulations to reduce gun violence, including regulations governing the gun industry. In addition they represent victims of gun violence in the courts, they educate the public about gun violence through litigation, grassroots mobalisation, and outreach to affected communities. They believe it should be made harder for convicted felons, the mentally ill, and others like them to get guns in the first place. They believe this can be done by passing laws such as requiring Brady criminal background checks on all gun sales; banning military-style assault weapons; and strengthening law enforcement efforts to stop the illegal gun market, like limiting the number of guns that can be bought at one time.

Anti-Gun Control

http://www.wagc.com/

This is a link to a website called 'Women Against Gun Control' which aims to gather women to join in the fight against gun control, It is a grassroots, volunteer organisation dedicated to preserving gun rights. It supports the statement "Guns SAVE lives. We do NOT support gun control. Gun control does NOT control crime!". The message the website gives is that guns give women a fighting chance and whether a woman is fit or not, a gun is the one thing that can equalise a man's strength. It encourages and helps promote firearms instruction and gun safety training, with some of its members actually serving as instructors. Members are active in tracking and reporting on legislation at all levels of government which impacts on the right of gun ownership. It stresses how increasingly, the freedom to own, carry or use a gun in self-defense is, itself, under attack. The organisation stresses that women must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and it refers specifically to the second amendment.

Both websites put across their points confidently and convincingly, however, in terms of websites I would say the pro-gun control website is more convincing and professional and puts across its points in a more formal manner and therefore seems more legitimate. Also, it shows how it is trying to make a difference and the actions they are taking seem to be more rewarding.

US Midterm Elections 2010 - Jack Conway, Kentucky Senate election

2010-11-16T18:53:00.004Z

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/richard-adams-blog/2010/nov/02/us-midterm-elections-2010-top-10-worst-political-ads

This campaign election message was made and authenticated by Jack Conway a democrat that was trying to win the seat in Kentucky. This seat was lost to Republican hands in the way of Rand Paul. Noticalbly in the campaign ad Conway never mentions any policies or promises to his constituants, the ad decideds to decend down the other route Slandering.

However Conway's ad is very unique as in the video it tells the audicance from the offset that Paul is a bad character, because of his counterparts actions at school. Amzingly the whole campaign video focuses souly on on epoint and does not differ from his point. The focus is on Paul's apparent worship in place of christianity in 'aqua budda'. These claims however cannot be backed up and are very irrelevant, this campaign was also one of he reasons Conway lost the election according to oppinion sources.

It is very important however to notice the significance of this campaign ad. Although unsucsesfull Conway drew on a very raw nerve sort of speak in regards to things all (most) Americans hold dear. Ofcourse this is religion, Conway tries to gain votes this way. So for example branding Paul as a minority and claiming that he replaces Christianity with a nonsense religion attempting to persuade traditional christian voters to vote for him. This is evidence as to how religion orriantated America is today.

Tea Party

2010-11-16T16:13:00.000Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X67qgNtZPdQ

This is a clip promoting the Tea Party and in particular Sarah Palin and her belief in the Tea Party. As the clip starts, the music comes in, it straight away gives the video that sense of happening and pride. The video consists of footage shot from various Tea Party rallys, along with a voice over of Sarah Palin describing the Tea Party and its beliefs. It shows images of people waving the american flag, standing together and against the two leading political partys and showing support for the Tea Party. Sarah Palin goes on to say that "the sole of this movement is the people, everyday americans who grow our food and run our small businesses, teach our kids and fight our wars ", showing her support and the Tea Party belief in the real people, true americans that work hard to earn a living. She explains how the Tea Party is all about fighting for those real people that live regular lives and have regular jobs which the nation rely on, like teaching and running a small business as well as fighting our wars.

She goes on to say that "it is so inspiring to see real people, not politicos", the way she comes across is as if she herself is not a woman of politics but just a regular american, that she is the same as those at the Tea Party rally that she is speaking at. As she continues to talk, various images continue to run of Tea Party followers, flying their flags and holding up their signs against the two leading partys( the Democrats and Republicans). These images, along with Sarah Palin's voice over and the inspirational background music, give you that sense of hope, pride and honour. She then starts to talk about the Tea Party's core values, "come out, and stand out for common sense, conservative principles.", she speaks as if there is nothign else worth believing in and that she is proud to see such a turn out and happy to see many others who believe strongly in what the Tea Party stands for.

Finally it talks about government and the people, "who can argue a movement that is about the people, government is supposed to be working for the people, that is what this movement is about". This again emphasises the fact that the Tea Party is all for the people, fighting for their rights and are against the government. Sarah Palin ends the video by saying. "this party that we call the Tea Party is the future of politics and I am proud to get to be here today". This completes the video with that lingering sense of hope and what lies ahead, that the Tea Party can make a difference and stands for the people. It is the future.

Republican Candidate Marco Rubio

2010-11-09T23:27:00.002Z

Marco Rubio is the winning Florida senate candidate for the republican party and a clear member of the tea party. in this video Rubio is addressing the camera directly, the constant eye contact in the video makes it more personal to the viewer and as such more engaging.

Rubio mentions his children to great effect in this video and is clearly trying to present himself as an all American Family man and dad with the perfect nuclear family, the wife and 2.5 children. the video even goes so far as to show Rubio with his children. Using the family and children is a theme which is often played upon in campaign videos as it makes the candidate more relateable to the viewer and makes him seem more normal.

Another significant point to this video is the clear opposition to Barrack Obama without coming across to aggressive Rubio says "we need politicians who will stand up to Obama, not join him" this does two things, firstly it makes it clear that Rubio is firmly opposed to Obama and is prepared to oppose him and secondly it makes Obama appear as a negative character, someone who is manipulating republican candidates into joining him.

Finally Rubio appeals to his tea party voters by making reference to Washington and how "they just don't get it" this is clearly telling his audience that Rubio has not gone Washington yet and still plans to fight for the people in his constituency without being corrupted by Washington.

Christine O'Donnell video

2010-11-09T22:43:00.002Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGGAgljengs

Christine O'Donnell was a highly controversial Republican candidate for Delaware. in the recent midterm elections. She was supported by the tea party, a far right group who support a small state and small public spending. She is appears very personal and that she will go to Washington and represent her people rather than just her own or her parties interests. In the video immediately makes reference to the Witchcraft. She was caught on camera in 1999 admitting that she had dabbled in witchcraft. I think she made a mistake making reference to the incident however as it draws attention to pass controversies rather than her campaign itself. She ultimately lost to the Democrat candidate Chris Coons.

LGBT rights in the USA

2010-11-09T22:28:00.004Z

While the USA is as a whole become far more Liberal to the idea of LGBT rights there is still plenty of opposition and homophobia. Therefore I have chosen the LGBT community as a group that could be described as "other". Some states have still not legalised gay marriage and there is still a strong lobby to increase the rights of Gay individuals and improve their lives. I looked at a website called the LGBT USA network. The website gives many news items displaying homophobia in the USA and offers support to those who need it. There is also plenty of positive news items about LGBT people. However sadly LGBT people are yet to be fully accepted into the mainstream in the USA.

http://lgbtusa.net/

Jim Rutledge Campaign 2010

2010-11-09T19:49:00.000Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifd-uK8eauA

I have chosen to look at Jim Rutledge, he was a candidate for the 2010 mid-term Senate elections, he ran as a Republican nomination to represent the state of Maryland. Although he did not win the election this November, I chose to look at his campaign video in particular because I thought his stance was the most interesting. His video starts off by saying that he grew up on a farm in Maryland, already representing that idea of the American Dream and making your own life for yourself. Then he goes on to say that he "persued his dream' of becoming an attorney and that he has his own law practice in a small 'cow town' which shows that he has made something of himself but he still lives in a small town in his home county. He also mentions that he has been married for twenty six years and has two children, this is the perfect image for a candidate, showing that he is dedicated to his family and family values, having been married for so long.

Already in the first forty seconds he has listed everything that he thinks makes him the perfect candidate, all the aspects of his life he feels the public can relate to. He then goes on to talk about why he is running, by briefly listing the issues he views most important at this time. For example, he lists about the expansion of federal government power, the nation's debt, unemployment and the threat to individual liberties. At this point the style of his campaign interview has remained the same, a simple outreach to the people, showing what he stands for and the issues he is most interested in looking at. However, the style of the interview changes when he suddenly talks about his competitor Barbara Mikulski, who has been senator of Maryland for thirty four years. He believes that is "too long for anyone" and goes on to say that he believes "the career politicians are ruining what has made American great and are going to destroy opportunities for regular folks all across the state of Maryland. That is why I'm running". By relating himself to what he calls 'the regular folks' he is perceiving himself as one of them, just a regular guy and not a politician. He believes that it is Barbara Mikulski that has created all the problems he lists over the last thirty four years and believes he can help fix the problem for the state of Maryland. He talks about how he has gone all over the state and spoken to the people asking about their concerns and listened to them, then he goes on to say how he proposes to fix these problems.

The campaign interview is very formal yet relaxed, the interviewer allows him to say why he is a suitable candidate and what he can do for the people of the state of Maryland. However, the interviewer does mention proposals made by another candidate and asks Jim Rutledge to show his views on the issue and what he proposes to do instead.

2010-11-08T12:16:00.001Z

Please note that because we have had to juggle the weeks in the module schedule, week 7's task is as follows:

Find, post and comment on any recent US campaign video made by a candidate in the 2008 or 2010 elections. Your first choice should not be Obama or McCain - try to find a campaign video in support of a Senator or a Congressman. They do not have to be the winner, but make sure you know what the result was. Also make sure you comment both on its content and on its style.

If you don't know how to embed Youtube videos, now is the time to learn. If you look under any video you will see a bar which includes the word "Embed". Click on it and it will highlight a code which you can then copy and paste into your blog post. The video should then appear directly in your post - no link required. Try it.

Whites As Other?

2010-11-03T10:54:00.003Z

The group i have chosen to research and blog about for people considered as 'other' in moder America is the idea that white people are now or soon to be a minority in America. With the ever increasing Hispanic population in America along with a steady increase of middle eastern immigration it is predicted that in the very near future white people will not be the majority in America.

The site i have chosen to analyse which discusses this issue is http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/01/the-end-of-white-america/7208/

This site for a magazine 'The Atlantic' goes into great detail about the rise of non white population in America and also makes reference to De Crevecoeur's 'What is an American' quoting "The Election of Barack Obama is just the most startling manifestation of a larger trend: the gradual erosion of “whiteness” as the touchstone of what it means to be American. If the end of white America is a cultural and demographic inevitability, what will the new mainstream look like—and how will white Americans fit into it? What will it mean to be white when whiteness is no longer the norm? And will a post-white America be less racially divided—or more so?"

This quotation fortunately placed at the head of the article sums up the ideas and beliefs the author and presumably this site has about the "End of White America." this site whilst expressing valid concerns and stating genuine statistics does have an element of racism incorporated into it, for example stating that the election of Obama marks the erosion of white dominance in America. the site also states that books such as 'The Rise of the Colored Empires' as essential reading and should be mandatory in schools, there are also quotations int he article such as “Colored migration is a universal peril, menacing every part of the white world.”

despite the racist overtones of the article genuine facts and statistics are stated and discussed for example the following is described as a genuine concern to white America, but the information discussed how in several years predominantly white cities and even states will be within 50 years majority Hispanic providing the Hispanic migration to the states continues. the source also states cities which already have no majority race. the article does try to balance the racist overtones with a positive view of immigration in the final sentence of the following quotation.

Today, largely because of immigration, there is no majority race in Hawaii or Houston or New York City. Within five years, there will be no majority race in our largest state, California. In a little more than 50 years, there will be no majority race in the United States. No other nation in history has gone through demographic change of this magnitude in so short a time ... [These immigrants] are energizing our culture and broadening our vision of the world. They are renewing our most basic values and reminding us all of what it truly means to be American.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/01/the-end-of-white-america/7208/

The Apprentice USA

2010-11-02T19:29:00.006Z

For this section I have decided to cover The Apprentice USA as a WEbsite/Television show that is 'typically' American. The basic point to the show if for Donald Trump the Entrapenuer and Billionaire to hire an apprentice that will recieve a lucrutive job with a six figure salary at one of Trumps many multibillion establishments. The Apprentice is picked for 20 usually yound hungry candidates that have already been sucsessful in business, running or working in them. Usually all the candidates are confident, aggressive and most importantly cut throat, in regards to having no feelings towards any of their counterparts.

For me this is typical America. This show really typifies the ideology of American 'Capitalism'. Also all candidates must almost battle easch other almost go to war with the other hopefulls. This could be almost a reference for De Crevcouers 2nd letter where he claims " Here individuals are a new race of men, whos labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world" This can link woth modern day America in many ways, for example this statement is very accurate in a sense that America as a race of men has changed the world as we know it. For example the biggest business' in the world are all American run, the Richest people are predominantly American. And with with regards to the television show, all candidates show thier labour and prosperity by completing tasks set by Trump on a weekly basis to show their worth.

American Idol!

2010-11-02T12:38:00.003Z

I have chosen the popular US television programme America Idol and its website as a contemporary example of something exceptional and typical within American culture. i have chosen American Idol as my example for 2 specific reason, the first being that the programme promotes the idea that anyone, from any background can become a pop star providing they have the talent and drive. i believe this to be significant as American Idol is a perfect example of what the modern American dream is and how reality TV shows are able to provide the American dream. The second reason i merely because of the shows title; American idol with particular reference to the idol part as through this TV show you can become an idol to Americans through spectacle.

i believe this show is directly to De Crevecoeur's letters as the show offers any man the opportunity to success in the same way De Crevecoeur felt simply being an American could. the quotation i have chosen which i feel is directly relevant to this example is "What a train of pleasing ideas this fair spectacle must suggest! it is a prospect which must inspire a good citizen with the most heartfelt pleasure. The difficulty consists in the manner of viewing so extensive a scene." i feel this quotation help express the relevance of American idol to De Crevecoeur's letter as a programme such as American idol does have the intention to inspire through the sheer spectacle of what the audience is seeing in the same way De Crevecoeur talks about seeing the new world.

http://www.americanidol.com/

The Amish

2010-11-01T20:48:00.000Z

http://www.religioustolerance.org/amish.htm

Amish, also known as Amish Mennonite, church fellowships are christian religious dominations that form a very traditional subgrouping of Mennonite churches. The Amish are well known for their simple, back to basics lifestyle and reluctance to adopt modern convience. Their lifestyle is governed by order, however you cannot give a simple outline of their lives as each group is different.

Current active Amish groups are the Beachy Amish Mennonite Churches, split off from the old Order Amish in Pennsylvania. They are the most liberal Amish group, they meet in churches, use automobiles, tractors and electricity. There was reported to be 8,399 adult memebers in one hundred and thirty eight congregations, in 1996. Next is the Conservative Mennonite Conference, they use meeting houses, Sunday schools and english language services, they are loacted mainly in the mid west. Also there is the Evangelical Mennonite Church, originally known as the Egly Amish, they stress "regeneration, seperation and nonconformity to the world". In 1997, they were reported to have 4,348 adult members in thirty churches. Finally there is the Old Order Amish Mennonite Church, their congregations are very conservative. Transportation is by horse and buggy, men are required to grow beards, but mustaches are not allowed. Marraige outside the faith is forbidden, they meet in each other's homes every other sunday for worship. In 1995, there were around 30,000 adult members in the U.S and 900 in Canada.

Approximatley, the current total of adult members of all Amish groups is about 180,000 across twenty two states. Their choice to be excluded from the rest of the society is that they are "god's own people", and not being "conformed to this world". As time has passed, pressure has been felt to conform to the ever growing society, however Amish are nonresistant and rarely defend themselves physically or in court. Some groups do get involved with society, for example by choosing to vote, however they are still outside the ideological 'norm' of mainstream America. They do not represent the modern, twenty first century view of America, they conform to a different, more old style set of values and beliefs. However, they do not harm anyone or American society, they simply choose to live their lives their own way and not conform to the "normal" view of America.

www.kkk.com

2010-10-26T22:53:00.003+01:00

I have chosen a group that needs np introduction, this group was notiorious throughout America. Even now in a multicultural America this group is still remembered. The group I have chosen is the KKK. This group is now concidered to be 'outside the norm' of the AMerican contemporary thought. With extreme views this Party was extremely right wing and even advocated violance and even openly admitted to fighting for 'white supremacy' The group was strongest in the late 1860's and was mainly situated in the South.

The KKK are instantly recognizable from their forms of attire, they were the long white robes, face masks and the iconic pointy white hat. Although the group essentially died 10 years later in the 1870's small minorities of people continue to promote thier views across America.

In 2010 America could be concidered to be on eof the most Diverse countries in America. This mean sthat the country has and this must be stressed OVER TIME come to accept diversity and multiculturalism. Therefore rendering the KKK and thier right wing views outside the 'ideological norm'

On the KKK website 'www.kkk.com' the websites main aim is for 'POLITICAL POWER'. The website states how they aim to do this:

Become the leader of the White racialist movement
Strive to become the representative and driving force behind the White Community
Organize and direct white people to a level of activism necessary to bring about a political victory

To conclude this is a very small group and does not by any stretch of the imagination represent more than a miorties view of how society and race should be. The group is still exremly right wing and thier view and proposed legislation is simply a utopia and could never be made into legislation. However the group still gains publicity which rightly or wrongly still makes people aware of the group itself

2010-10-26T17:42:00.000+01:00

http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition/

I have chosen to look at the website of the programme 'Extreme Makeover Home Edition' to represent the exceptional and typically American. It is a television series providing home renovations for less fortunate families, created by ABC. It has stormed onto UK television, providing us with ideals of American life. Going from having nothing to everything, it shows how families that have had heartache and a troubled life can be turned around and brought happiness.

I think this programme relates to De Crevecouer's idea of the new and exceptional as typically American. A quote from De Crevecouer's letters from and american farmer; "He is an American, who, leaving behind him all his antient prejudices and manners, recieves new ones from the mode of life he obeys, and the new rank he holds.". The programme relates to the quote because it represents the families leaving behind all their troubles and bad memorys to start a fresh. Being given that chance of a new life, different from any other you have had previously and unlike any other you are likely to get.

I think this programme carries on this vision of America as new and exceptional because each episode creates a new beginning. It shows the people of the World the idealised vision of America and it also proves that America today still consists of the same values of hard work and labour for reward as stated in De Crevecouer's letters from an American farmer.

Accounts of Jacques Cartier

2010-10-20T14:17:00.000+01:00

http://www.americanjourneys.org/

The account I found when researching is that of Jacques Cartier, a French explorer who claimed what is now Canada for France. In his account he writes that they departed from the port of S.Malo on 20th April 1534 with two ships and sixty one men in each one. He writes that on 21st May they hoisted sail North of Buona Vista to the 'Island of Birds'. He goes on to describe them in great detail and with such passion:"Some of the which are as big as jayes, blacke and white, with beaks like unto crowes". However, he then writes that in less than half an hour they loaded two boats full of them which they used for food, which seems strange because the way he writes about them is that they are fascinating creatures to be admired.

When travelling in the land of White Sand they came across inhabitants, of which he describes as: "there are men of an indifferent good stature and bignesse, but wildeand unruly:they weare their haire tied on the top like a wreath of hay; a put a wooden pinne within it, or any other such thing instead of a naile, a with them they binde certaine birdes feathers". He describes the natives in such detail and writes that they actually live on the mainland but they come out of the hotter country to catch the seals and other necessaties to live on. He describes the natives with such interest and fascination, obviously he would have never come across people like them before. Their traditions and how they look would have all been new to him and the way he writes about them is as if they are out of the ordinary and different, however he does not describe them as savages or animals but as inhabitants of the land.

Through his account, he writes about the land in great detail, describing everything about it so that we can understand what he has seen. From what I have read they searched through much of the land not leaving any part untouched and interacted with the native people, exchanging gifts and learning parts of their language(some of which is translated at the end of his account).

Contact with Native Americans: Schmid VS Indians

2010-10-20T10:56:00.004+01:00

The account of first contact with the Native American Indians during the exploration of the new world is from Frederick Schmid who was one of the first German Lutheran pastor and his letters describe contact with native Americans, the account goes on to describe how Frederick Schmid took a alternate approach to the native Americans compared to the generalised European view of them as nothing more than savage animals.

instead Frederick Schmid's letters go onto describe how he found their culture fascinating and rather than fearing the native Americans he admired them. Frederick Schmid eventually became a pastor and took it upon himself to teach his congregation to admire the Native American in the way that he did after coming into contact with an Ottawa Tribe in Detroit.

despite Frederick Schmid positive encounters with the native American most of the time contact between 'the white man' and the native American ended in conflict. another account i have found is from the perspective of a native American who's village was burned down in front of him/her. the account describes how the 'white man' went from tent to tent burning all their possessions as the Indians were forced to watch. the account ends with the quotation "The White Man proved himself to be the savage one."

From this account we are able to establish the barbarity of initial contact with the native americans particularly from the perspective of a native american, this is important as we have not until recent years (1970+) seen the attrocities committed by the native settlers as we are often only given the portrayal of native americans as savages who are then slain by heroic cowboys in typical western movies and this is the amount of exposure alot of people will have to the events that occured in the early settlement of north America. Although i believe this account to be after initial settlement had began, when europeans had a firm grasp on the land and were interested mainly in the conquest of the Frontier in order to gain new land, this account does give us an alternate view of what happened during the genocide of the Native American indians to what we see in movies and their interpretation of this era.

http://www.artsofcitizenship.umich.edu/sos/topics/german/schmidinteraction.html - Schmid account.
http://www.artsofcitizenship.umich.edu/sos/topics/native/early.html#burning - Native American Account.

2010-10-19T21:51:00.004+01:00

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,474636,00.html

This website tells us a lot about the German opinion of the American's, especially their view towards the American military and it's past choices as well as their opinion towards America's Presidents. It informs us that 48% of Germans think that the United States is more dangerous than Iran with only 31% believing the opposite. Young Germans in particular, with 57% of 18 to 29 year-olds, consider the US more dangerous than the religious regime in Iran.

With a reference to American President Bush in the photographic image on the page saying that "Bush Bashing" is something of a national sport in Germany helps us to see just how much the Germans dislike the United States or, more likely, President George W, Bush.

This site in question shows us that the German people genuinely see the US as a greater threat to world peace than Iran and references back to 19th Century authors in order to back this point up. They even refer to the Americans as "Inherently evil". The article that this website consists of hugely stereotypical views of Americans;

"For us Germans, the Americans are either too fat or too obsessed with exercise, too prudish or too pornographic, too religious or too nihilistic. In terms of history and foreign policy, the Americans have either been too isolationist or too imperialistic. They simply go ahead and invade foreign countries and then abandon them, the way they did in Vietnam and will soon do in Iraq."

This shows the Germans to have a very closed opinion of the Americans and shows they are not willing to alter these stereotypes they believe the Americans conform to at all.

However, when studying this site, we must look and consider that the article in question was published 29/03/2007. Therefore we must ask ourselves whether or not the opinions voiced will have differed in any way since this article was written 3 years ago, or whether 3 years is barely any time at all, and therefore can't have altered in the slightest.

Perspectives

2010-10-19T21:36:00.002+01:00

The website i have chosen to discuss is www.aljazeera.net, made famous for its coverage of kidnappings during the 2003 Iraq war, the news site is often the first to receive any communications from terrorist groups such as the Taliban and Al Queda. The site is obviously very anti-American in many of its articles even to the point of having a tab on the home page devoted to the Americas. one of the articles i chose to read in order to get an image of this sites view of the USA and the general view of the USA from a middle eastern perspective was "Injustice in the age of Obama"

The article was written by an Iraqi reporter who was arrested for protesting the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. the article is quick to pin the blame for this "Injustice" on Barrack Obama as he is supposed to be a symbol of hope for the USA after the "Tyrannical" reign of George Bush and the columnist discusses how Obama as a former Law Professor should have had a healthy respect for civil liberties but his actions speak otherwise.

This website is able to give us a brief glimpse of the middle-eastern view of the USA and it is apparent that the occurrences of the much considered 'illegal' Iraq war is still hot topic in the peoples opinion and the injustice is still fresh in their minds especially with the ongoing Afghanistan campaign.

Kieran Reynolds Blog 3 Perspectives

2010-10-13T00:01:00.002+01:00

The website I have chosen is that of the "Korean friendship association". www.korea-dpr.com. This is a joint website between the association and the North Korean government. North Korea is a highly secretive Communist state and was famously labeled as part of George Bush's "Axel of evil". It has been perceived as a possible threat due to its nuclear weapons programme. Relations between the two countries have been difficult and there is an intense hatred of the USA in North Korea. The North Korean government blame the USA for splitting up their country. There is also the obvious ideological differences. The website claims that USA dominates South Korea and keeps a large amount of solders there to avoid the union of the Korean people. They say that the South of Korea is still controlled by "imperialist interests". They say that no union is possible until the Americans leave Korea. They also claim that the Americans plan to invade the north and use this as the justification of their weapons programme. I personally cannot agree with these statements and believe that the North Korean stance on the USA is more ideological than anything else. North Korea is under a dictatorship and these claims have been made to create hatred of the USA and the capitalist way of life. The media in North Korea is state controlled and the penalties for those who defy the state are severe. Therefore this hatred of the USA is shared by the majority of its citizens.

Kieran Reynolds Blog 2 Map

2010-10-12T23:48:00.003+01:00

This map of the USA is highly interesting as it is a strong indicator of the America's economic power. Each state on the Map has been labeled with a country with comparable GDP. What is quite striking is the about of powerful developed countries on the map. France for example has a GDP comparable to California. While California is a big state it is only a small part of America and really shows how powerful the American economy is. It is worth noting though that the map has not weighted for the country and states respective populations.

If Americans Knew

2010-10-12T17:31:00.002+01:00

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/

The on going conflict between Israel and Palestinain has occoured for over 60 years. This continuing conflict also brings instability to the world. America has also been diectly involved with this conflict for almost as long, and has been directly blammed for most of the desruction caused. This might be because the US gives more Aid to Israel than it does to any of Afriacn countries put togehter, this is the scale which the US is back Israel be it with Finance and more importantly military Aid. Figures indicate that the US gives over $7 Million dollas to Israel on a DAILY basis.

The websites main aim is to inform America and American citizens about the major 'significance' that is never in the media, the website finds this diffficult becuase the amount that America contribues is costing citizens in America over $15 million dollas a day. The website continues to state that it is there 'goal' to give American citizens the 'right' to make a balanced decision, opposed to the completely biased decision almost made for them by the media due to the compete one sidedness in facts reported by the media. The website continues to state that Americas continuing support for the Israeli government is infact putting America iself at war with the people whos lives are being reuined by American Support.

The website also has a variety or statistics and graphs to strengthen their arguments.

This image indicates the death of children. The red lines indicate the Palistinian Children compared to that of the blue lines of the Israeli children to have been killed.

This image is equally as shocking in terms of statistics as it indicates the amaount of homes destroyed by the conflict. Alarmingly over 25,000 Palisinian homes have been destroyed, compare that to a grand total of O of Israeli homes destroyed.

Criticisms of America and American Policies

2010-10-11T16:40:00.000+01:00

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/anti-americanism-in-europe-is-fueled-by-ignorance/

This is a link to a website I found called Pajamas Media, the article is called: Anti-Americanism in Europe Fuelled by Ignorance and was written by Soeren Kern( a senior Analyst for Transatlantic Relations at the Madrid-based Strategic Studies Group) in 2008. As established from the title of the article, it presents european perspectives of America, showing their views and then providing statistics that prove otherwise. One criticism it makes is seventy percent of Britons think the U.S has done a worst job at reducing carbon emissions since 2000, which understandably you could agree with as we are continuously presented with images from America of unnecessarily big cars and vans riding around and never of someone using public transport. However, America's rate of growth of carbon emissions has decreased by ten percent since 2000, while that of the EU has increased by 2.3 percent.

Another criticism highlighted in the article is, the French are well known for scorn of American fast food, which I think many people would say is the least favourable contribution from America. Seeming to cause increasing levels of obesity from it's cheapness, convenience and speed. However, an unknown fact about France is that one out of every two French people visit McDonald's at least once a year. More over, McDonald's is so popular in France that the country is now McDonald's second-biggest money maker in the world after the United States. In addition to this Spain ridicule Americans as overwhelmingly overweight, a recent study shows that two thirds of American's are overweight. However, Spain has more overweight people than any other country in Europe(except for Italy and Greece), with almost forty percent of Spanish adults being overweight and the Spanish Health Ministry says Spain is on track to overtake the U.S in the obesity department in less than ten years.

Finally it points out one issue that Europeans as a whole are quite ignorant about, with regards to America, and that is the Death Penalty. European elites like to portray the EU as being morally superior to the U.S and regard America as bloodthirsty. Obviously you can relate to this view, killing is morally wrong under any circumstance and should not be used as a means of punishment to any criminal no matter how serious the crime. However, in a poll from the French Daily Le Monde , regarding the execution of Saddam Hussein, it found sixty nine percent of British, fifty eight percent of French, fifty three percent of German and fifty one percent of Spanish people were in favour of the execution.

This ignorant view of America could be because, it is suggested 'those who know the least about America seem to hate it the most', therefore if Europeans have not visited America or maybe are reluctant to do so because of the views they posses, they cannot speculate about America and it's policies. All they know is what they have seen on the television and have heard from other people, they cannot judge what they do not know.

White Christmas

2010-10-06T15:03:00.002+01:00

This image is an interesting one as it shows us the different probabilities for

the different states when considering whether or not they will get a white Christmas.

This map tells us that the north , north-east and north-western regions have

the higher probabilities of having a white Christmas. Therefore , Maine ,

North Minnesota and Wisconsin in the north-east as well as Colorado , Idaho ,

Washington and Montana in the north-west are between 61 and >90 percent

likely to get snow at Christmas. The southern States such as Texas ,

Florida , Georgia , South Carolina , California and southern Arizona

have a less than 5 percent chance of snow at Christmas.

The northern states are closer to the Arctic Circle whilst the southern are closer to

the Equator , due to this these percentages are highly likely to be valid.

Hispanic population in the US

2010-10-05T23:11:00.005+01:00

This map was used to show the percentage of Hispanic people that are situated in the US. America is now a culturaly diverse country, in a sense that the population is not souly dominated by the white men and women. The US has a variety of different cultural identities that range from the black communities to the spanish ones with equally vast amounts of people. Also America is no longer dominated by one religion there are a variety of practices that have become tollorated and even celebrated in the states. An example of this could be the vast amount of mosque that have been built in the US, this allows minority groups to practise their faith without discrimination. The president also claims that "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of it"

This is an interesting image for many reasons. The first being that it draws close attention to the fact that the US has an ever growing Hispanic population. On the map you can see that in the south and south western areas there on many occasions the population is atleast 50% hispanic. This population is this high for one reason and this reason is due the locality. Texas a state that is heavily populated by the Hispanic people shares borders with Mexico. Many of the population that now have taken refuge in the US have done so illegally. This means that they have crossed the borders from the US and Mexico illegally therefore making them illegal immegrants. Problems in states close to the border such as Arizona have caused many problems and one severe reaction taken by Arizona was to pass legislaion that means anyone in that state can be randomly stopped and asked to show or prove a form of ID. This evidence could also be confirmed as in the northern states there is a less that 6.O% of hispanic population.

2010-10-05T15:49:00.000+01:00

This map is taken from the National Geographic Magazine, February 2007 issue. It shows the USA, the colours indicate where there are more single men or women(men in blue and women in red). From the map you can see the largest male plurality is in Los Angeles where there is 40,000 more single men than women. In comparison, the largest women plurality is in New York where there is 165,000 more single women than men. This could be interpreted in various ways, for one, there could be more single women in New York because of the idea of a woman living the high life in the Big Apple, falling head over heels with the shopping, sight seeing, bars and restaurants. Women are plugged with dreams of having their dream job in one of the leading fashion capitols of the world, indulging in some retail therapy and the idealised view of finding a big shot banker and falling in love. But in reality, this idea is wishful thinking, a dream that is unlikely for most women, presented to us from films and books.

The idea of the most single men living in Los Angeles could be because it is the world centre of business and international trade, it is one of the most substantial economic engines within the United States. This can be seen as a leading attribute for any man when deciding where to live, it provides opportunity and potential. As well as this, Los Angeles is seen as the "entertainment capitol of the World", leading the world in the creation of motion pictures, television productions, video games and record music. Again, all these factors could interest say a movie mad guy or gaming obsessed guy. It could also be seen as the reason why there is such a substantial amount of single men in Los Angeles, they are all busy watching television, going to the cinema and playing video games to find love.

US Images Kieran Reynolds

2010-10-03T20:15:00.003+01:00

The Golden gate bridge in San Fransisco is one of America's most famous structures. I believe that it portrays America in a positive light. The bridge is one of the largest suspension bridges in the world and is symbolic of what America can achieve and the power and wealth the country possesses. It shows that the country is well connected and that even big gaps can be "bridged". You can tell how large the bridge is by the tiny size of the cars in comparison!

The image of an American holding a gun is highly controversial. Gun control being a very sensitive issue in the United States. However I personaly believe that is shows a negative issue of America. It shows both insecurity and intolerance. It could be said that the country is less safe due to the lack of gun control laws. Some may however see it as a positive as it could be seen as a sign of both personal safety and security. IF someone trespasses on your property. You have the free right to defend yourself!

Kieran

2010-09-30T10:30:00.000+01:00

I see this photograph as a positive image of America, for one it shows the close family circuit, Obama and his wife and children together, looking out on the people, smiling and happy. They come across as warm hearted and inviting, this family image is very important, it portrays them as people you can relate to instead of Obama just being seen as a politician. By having his whole family involved he is more appealing to all ages and people, it widens his demographic.

In addition, the way the Obama has his hand raised to the people, as if to thank them and show his appreciation. Also it could be seen as a link with the famous American landmark The Statue of Liberty, which is an iconic symbol of liberty and freedom, making him come across as a sign of hope for the people. The last point I would make about the photograph is the writing on the stand to the side of them, reading 'American Dream'. In a way this photograph symbolises everything about the American dream, Obama is living proof that anyone can make it and someone to look to as inspiration.

I see this photograph as a negative image of America, of course it is the famous Times Square in New York, known for its shops, restaurants and general atmosphere. However, I see it as a negative image of America because for one, it is completely packed, full of people that know where they want to go and not stopping for anyone or anything that is in their way. You can't simply stop and take in what is around you. Secondly, the amount of cars on the road, majority of which are yellow taxis, being not only bad for the environment but noise pollution as well. With so many cars on the road and people on the streets it creates an extremely fast pace, everyone is on the move, it can put you on edge and can create an uncomfortable atmosphere. Adding to this, you are surrounded by skyscrapers, obviously there is a space issue in New York as well as cost, therefore the only way is up. However, it can make the streets quite claustrophobic, as if you are packed in, there is no free space.

Adding to this, the whole place is covered in Billboards and signs to attract tourists and passing New Yorkers, there is not a free space anywhere. When looking at the photograph, the whole square just looks like one big advert which, I suppose, is much like the rest of New York.

2010-09-29T21:37:00.007+01:00

i have chosen this image of route 66 as a positive image representing the United States. This is a positive image in my opinion as it epitomises the freedom that simply being in the US allows you to have, route 66 is 'the open road' and this image sums up the idea that when you are in the US and you are a US citizen you can take any route you wish in order to obtain the American dream. All roads lead to success and happiness when living in America, at least that's the idea and this image is capable of conveying that in my opinion. Route 66 also bares significance as it spans across about 3/4 of the US and has been the inspiration for countless songs as it represented the freedom of America and the ability to travel almost anywhere you want simply by following this one road.

I have chosen this image of Tony Montana from the film Scarface to represent a negative portrayal of the US. Tony Montana achieved the American dream, he came to the US looking for a quick route to wealth and success, something that only America could offer a foreign immigrant, fleeing poverty and crime and Tony Montana found money and success through crime. i believe this to be a strong image to represent negative America as it can be easily argued that it suggests the only real way to find success in the America is to rob, murder and steal from your fellow Americans, through this image you can argue that America really is a dog eat dog world and the only way to truly obtain the American dream is to be ruthless and vicious in order to gain the benefits of American capitalism. This image is particularly effective in my opinion as Tony Montana's view and experience of America (apart from the violence and eventual downfall) is what many foreign immigrants thought America could offer them and to this day still can. This image infers that America is the land of opportunity but to obtain it you have to be a willing to endure corruption, violence and pretty much become a criminal other than that the poor foreigner will just become another American living in poverty with nothing more than a US passport.

2010-09-28T18:45:00.005+01:00

I have chosen this image to represent a negative approach to America. I believe that this image shows how little faith and respect the American's actually had for George Bush whilst he was in power. This is shown by the expression on the infant's face as being one of great upset. Alone this image speaks multitudes, shouting out that "this man cannot be trusted" due to the way that the small child he is holding is screaming a great deal. The added text "CHARACTER - Babies are an excellent judge of it." adds emphasis to this distrust of Bush.

I see this as a highly negative image due to the way in which this man who is able to upset the baby in the way he does was, in fact, the President of America. This means that this man was in control of one of the most powerful countries in the world which is a truly worrying fact to beaware of.

This photograph of the current President, Barack Obama, with his family helps to represent a positive aspect of America. I see this as a very positive image for a few reasons. The informality of the focal characters (Obama, his wife and their two little girls) emphasizes that they are a happy and secure family. This shows Barack Obama as a good family man with a happy life, happy family and happy heart, all good features for a Presidential leader of one of the world's biggest powers. It helps us to trust him a lot more and inserts faith in him. This image also can be seen to represent how important family is to the Americans as a unity. Family closeness in America is HUGELY important, and this photograph just about sums it up. :)

2010-09-28T14:50:00.004+01:00

This is a very negative image and one that is almost iconic to America now. It is an image taken from a very popular television show called "My Super Sweet 16"
In the image you can see a 16 year old girl that is very has almost shaped her life around the peope she sees on the television a celebrity lifestyle. She is holding two small dogs who she has 'dyed' pink? She is holding the dogs in a rather negative way, by this she is holding the dogs for an accsessory opposed to holding the dogs from a caring and affectionate point of view.
Obviously the connotations of this picture are that she belives that she's a 'princess' with the sterotypical colours? This picture is negaive also in a sense that the chidren are now growing up carefree in a society where children are spolit as parents would rather throw money at a problem opposed to solving it rationally. It could also be argued that growing up in this enviroment doesnt teach girls like this morals or feelings and that empathy towards other human beeings is never seen.

This is the 'ground zero' site in New York City. There has been a dramatic transformation from 9/11 in such a short period of time, from the scenes that once horrified and shocked the world and changed modern politics and philosophies as we knew it.
This picture was taken in October 2007, 6 years after the attacks. This is a very positive picture for many reasons. The first and most dominant connatations of this image is the sense of Unity. After the attacks took place America became unified, as every citizen shared a common ground in their beliefs such as Justice, Mourning and most importantly the future and rebuilding. In this image you can see construction is already underway and that there has been significant progress in such a small time. You can also see that there is alot of work being done, this also suggest that America has been unified and that everyone has come together to help rebuild the damage caused.

I believe that this picture was also taken to promote as sense of patriotism. This is because they are not concealing the obvious fact that America suffered one of the largest terror attakcs in history. But instead this image was taken to reassure and show the world that America is strong and united in the face of evil and that they are not affraid. The image also shows the American people that they will rebuild and that the country is united.

However after taking this into account it could also be argued that this image has a negative meaning. For example it could have been taken to remind the American people that their country will always face imminant danger in thier politics and philosophies do not change? For example the image reminds America that they will always be fighting a battle whether it be in Iraq or at home?

Welcome

2010-09-28T00:05:00.001+01:00

Welcome to AM1111