Practice IOC for "The Handmaid's Tale"

Political Cartoon Analysis

By Peter Kuper
The New Yorker
November 14, 2018
https://www.newyorker.com/cartoons/daily-cartoon/wednesday-november-14th-climate-change-denial

Upon first glance the viewer of this political cartoon sees images depicting the earth in different colors and styles. Reading from top to bottom and left to right the captions correspond to the increasing chaos and destruction made clear in the cartoon through the use of dramatic colors and lines. The artists different depictions of the earth represent the fast changing state of our planet due to the existence and popular denial of climate change. In addition to the artist’s use of bold colors and texture, the cartoon overall consists of simplistic images sketched with a gradual increase in line harshness and overall exaggeration. In doing so, the author instills a sense of calm in the reader only to later destroy this premature relaxation with the harsh realities of climate change. The captions and headlines are crucial elements to the effect that this cartoon has on its viewers. By stating that the contents of the sketches reflect the “Four Stages of Climate Change Denial” the images’ gradual increase in intensity create the perfect environment for the political satire so clearly expressed. By creating this satire surrounding those who deny the existence of climate change the artist communicates (assumingely) his own negative opinions concerning such people and, in doing so, inherently effects the reader’s opinion. By mocking common counter arguments associated with the issue of climate change and its existence, the reader is inclined to either question their own beliefs or alter them all together.  While prior knowledge concerning the hot button issue of climate change and the stigma surrounding both it and its opposers is required to understand the message of the cartoon, the clear satirical overtones will most likely inspire the viewer to inquire about the issue as a whole. Upon further research and realization of the controversial nature of the topic discussed, the position of the artist and, in turn, the message of the cartoon is revealed to such a viewer. This message, consequently, is one of concern regarding the dangers of denial present when discussing environmental issues that ultimately affect an entire population.  

Reflection: Mock Paper 1

In class last week I participated in a practice IB writing session. My task was to analyze and compare two different text types that both commented on gender stereotyping in society and how it is implemented on people at a very young age. After today's peer review, I am much more clear on how to improve my written tasks in the future.

Criterion A: Understanding and comparison of the texts 

Score received: 4/5

While my comparison demonstrated a general understanding of the texts, I believe that I could have explained some of my contrasting ideas in more detail. I was repetitive when discussing the themes and moods of the text, making it seem as though I did not have a full grasp of the text's bigger pictures. In the future I would like to develop my ideas further before attempting to write them down coherently. This could most effectively be done through the process of visual brainstorming and/or the creation of a more detailed outline than the one I produced.

Criterion B: Understanding of the use and effects of stylistic features
Score received: 4/5 

I believe the I had a relatively firm grasp on the different manners in which the texts demonstrated their ideas. I used the Big 5 to analyze each text's use of stylistic features while considering the ways in which the author may have used such features to inspire specific reactions in the reader. In the future I would like to explain my ideas in a more clear and concise manner as I feel I was, at times, repetitive and unclear.

Criterion C: Organization and development 
Score received: 3/5

Organization was one of my biggest weaknesses throughout this process. When I initially looked at the texts there were no prominent ideas or features that stood out to me and thusly, led me to begin my writing process with no clear line of inquiry. While I did create a rough outline of my ideas, I did not spend enough time brainstorming a clear flow for my paper to follow. In the future I would like to spend more time creating a thorough and organized outline as I believe that it will, ultimately, improve the quality of my writing.

Criterion D: Language 
Score received: 2/5

While my language remained consistent throughout my paper, it lacked a certain assertiveness that is essential to appear professional and intellectual. This is demonstrated in my continual use of phrases such as "I believe" and "In my opinion". I also contribute this flaw to my lack of initial brainstorming. If I had created a thoughtful and detailed outline before beginning to write my paper, I would have been more confident that my ideas were valid and, in turn, my language would have come off as confident and concise rather than weak and scattered. 

Bias In The News - ARTICLE ANALYSIS

breitbart.com

https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2018/11/17/university-of-houston-clear-lake-toxic-masculinity-is-ruining-society/

University of Houston-Clear Lake: ‘Toxic Masculinity’ Is Ruining Society

Tom Ciccotta

17 Nov 2018

Keystone/Getty Images

The University of Houston-Clear Lake is blaming “toxic masculinity” for a variety of social issues.

According to a report from Campus Reform, the University of Houston-Clear Lake is playing a documentary called The Mask You Live In about the effect of “toxic masculinity” on society. For the uninitiated, “toxic masculinity” refers to the belief that Western men have been conditioned into a set of beliefs about acceptable expressions of masculinity. Proponents argue that failure to “be a man” causes men to crumble and lash out at others, particularly women.

The film argues that “toxic masculinity” is the reason why boys are more likely than girls to commit suicide, crime, and fail out of school. It’s an irresponsible reduction of the complex issues that young men face. Of course it is an issue that some men are conditioned to feel that they can’t be sensitive. Or that they can’t engage in more feminine activities and expressions. However, it is a wild assumption to connect this to all of this issues that men face.

In a statement, the university’s diversity administrators said that the diversity will help students think critically about gender.  “UHCL’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion hosts numerous programs and activities on challenging topics including the evolving perceptions of masculinity,” the school official said. “By considering different points of view, students gain the skills necessary to become better leaders and critical thinkers.”

Students at the university said that they weren’t surprised that the university decided to screen such a partisan film in an environment where no expert would offer a counter perspective to its outlandish claims.

“I’m not surprised at all that the university sponsored this event,” one student said. “A majority of the student programming at UHCL is based around social justice and equality. The discussion moderators did make an effort to promote positive, healthy masculinity, but I’m not sure if our short 20-minute discussion did much to neutralize over an hour’s worth of propaganda.”

PURPOSE: To criticize the decision of a University to screen a film depicting ideas concerning “toxic-masculinity” and in doing so, make the entire concept as a whole appear outlandish.

DEVICES:

Pronouns - Us vs. Them - The author makes a clear distinction between the “outlandish” administration team and the, sane in comparison, student body. By alienating the administration staff that made the decision to incorporate such ideas into the lesson plan, the author is instilling a sense of mob mentality into the reader by urging them to side with the thoughtful criticism of the much larger group: the student body.

Ethos- The author provides quotes from students who were subject to the ideas produced by the film on “toxic-masculinity” in order to make the reader feel as though all perspectives have been considered and, in turn, that the news source can be trusted. In addition, by providing the reader with a quote that still manages to subscribe to the ideas of the author, the opinions expressed in the article now appear to be held by many, not just by the author.

Logos- The author provides a wide variety of statistics associated with men in order to demonstrate the wide range of problems that men are often said to face. “The film argues that “toxic masculinity” is the reason why boys are more likely than girls to commit suicide, crime, and fail out of school”. In doing so, the author deems the film’s entire argument as unreasonable and illogical as it is seemingly impossible for one problem to be the cause of such a wide variety of issues.

Bias through Photos- The photo displayed at the beginning of the article demonstrates an extreme example of the ideas expressed in the author’s definition of toxic-masculinity. “‘Toxic masculinity’ refers to the belief that Western men have been conditioned into a set of beliefs about acceptable expressions of masculinity”. By depicting the western cowboy (an archetype associated with the past), the author mocks the idea of “toxic-masculinity” by taking it out of context and placing it in the framework of a joke.

Bias through Word Choice- The author uses words such as “outlandish” and “assumption” sporadically throughout the article. In doing so, the reader who may be inclined to sympathize with the opposing perspective is made to feel as though he himself is “outlandish” and prone to make “assumption”s.

Bias of the Source - The author is himself a man and therefore is more likely to perceive the concept of “toxic masculinity” in a negative manner and, in turn, may feel the need to defend himself and his manhood.

Gender In Advertising

1. What are your initial impressions about the advertisement?

• Directed towards parents + male focused 

2. List the key words that are used in the ad?

•  Scholar, Future, Genius, His 

3. What are the connotations and implied meaning of each key word used? 

• Scholar + Genius- That GAP clothes will make you smart
• Future- That your child's future is determined by the clothes they wear now 
• His- This ad is directed towards males and their futures 

4.  Positive, Negative, or Neutral connotations 

• Scholar +
• Future + 
• Genius - 
• His 

5.  How does this affect you and your perception of the clothes being sold? 

• It makes the viewer feel a sense of necessity to buy these clothes for their child 
• If you do not buy them these clothes you are not advocating for them to have a bright future 

6. What specific images are there of the child in the ad? 

• Male 
• Smiling 
• Einstein graphic T-shirt 
• Maturely dressed 

7. How do those images affect your perception of the clothes being sold? 

• The clothes give your children confidence 
• The clothes demonstrate and consequently determine the intellectual abilities of your child

1. What are your initial impressions about the advertisement?

• Directed towards parents of young girls 

2. List the key words that are used in the ad? 

• Social, Playground, Her 

3. What are the connotations and implied meaning of each key word used?

• Social- The GAP clothes will make you popular and likable 
• Playground- The ad has a focus on children and their well-being 
• Her- This ad is directed towards girls and their school status 

4. Positive, Negative, or Neutral connotations 

• Social +
• Playground
• Her 

5. How does this affect you and your perception of the clothes being sold?

• It makes the viewer feel a sense of necessity to buy these clothes for their child 
• If you do not buy them these clothes you are not advocating for them to have a good school life 

6. What specific images are there of the child in the ad?

• Young Girl 
• Looking stylish and cool 
• Posed 

7. How do those images affect your perception of the clothes being sold? 

• The clothes give your children confidence 
• The clothes demonstrate and therefore determine the popularity of your child 

Part I: 

1. What are the major differences between the advertisements? 

The major difference between these two advertisements for the GAP is the gender associated with different characteristics of young children. While young boys are depicted as being scholarly and destined for a bright future, young girls are associated with what most would agree to be a less intellectual quality: popularity. 

2.  Did your perception of the GAP change after looking at and analyzing the second advertisement? Why or why not? 

After viewing the second ad, the viewer is naturally inclined to believe that the GAP uses sexist stereotypes to sell their products. Using a male child in addition to specific "his" pronouns to promote an intellectual future brought on by their clothes, does not seem inherently problematic on its own. The sexist overtones of the advertising is made clear by the second ad. While the male was advertised to have intellectual potential and a bright future, the female child was promoted as being a "social butterfly". As they assign one gender to each advertisement, the GAP is inherently assigning one gender each characteristic demonstrated in either ad. In doing so, the GAP determines the interests and fate of a child based solely on their gender. 

3. How do you think and feel about the ways boys and girls are depicted in these advertisements for clothes? 

While clothing in and of itself should not be a determining factor of one's intellect or social skills, the ad uses it as a means of defining a person's traits. In addition, the ad demonstrates that these traits are more likely or rather, only to be apparent in one gender versus the other. Personally, I think it is a little ridiculous to appeal to a certain gender using qualities that should not be assigned one gender, especially in an advertisement for clothing.

4. Should anything be done with these advertisements? In other words, are you okay with them? Do you find them sexist or offensive? Or should people just lighten up? Why or why not? 

I think that advertisements such as these have no room in our progressive modern society. While the ads themselves do not appear to be sexist in nature, when placed in sequence, the sexist implications of the advertisement shine through. This could easily be fixed by simply including a diverse group of children and replacing "his" and "hers" with "their". While the GAP probably meant well in their promotion of healthy personality traits, or at the very least, thought it to be good marketing, assigning anything to one gender often demonstrates ignorance and a lack of cultural understanding.

5. What, if anything, can be done about gender stereotyping in advertising, especially at such a young age? Or is it just something we have to accept? 

Inclusivity can and should be incorporated not only in advertisements but into daily life. Marketing, consequently, has quite an impact on our daily lives and therefore in many ways shapes the opinions of viewers of all ages. By incorporating sexist overtones into ads marketed towards young children and their parents we implant stereotypes into the average human at a very young age. This spirals and causes self consciousness, unequal opportunity, and sexism to flourish. To accept this form of advertisement would promote the continuation and development of an intolerant society of unequals. 

Part II: 

In conclusion, when it comes to advertising the GAP appears to be, at its best, ignorant. While it may have had good intentions, the pairing of stereotypes with gender promoted sexist ideologies and, in turn, directly contradicted its own goals of appealing to the parents of a self-inspired future generation. While the GAP aimed to create a sense of self-worth in the youth of tomorrow, through the use of deterministic ideology and stereotypes it may have fueled a continuation and, therefore, a future of self deprecation and inequality.

Advertising, Happiness and The End of The World

Part I:

Happiness is a difficult thing to define as it can mean different things to different people. For me genuine happiness comes from surrounding myself with the people that I adore most in this world. I am happiest when I have an authentic connection with another living creature, or when I have the opportunity to make someone else happy. In other words, I am happiest when I am surrounded by love.

Although most people can relate to that sentiment, happiness can still vary from person to person. For this reason, I think that although a national happiness index is an interesting concept, it does not seem very reasonable. Happiness is not constant. As much as we all want to believe in happily ever after, there will always be lows in addition to the highs. In fact, happiness wouldn't be nearly as wonderful if it weren't for these lows that teach and humble us every day. Therefore, an entire nation's happiness can not possibly be determined through a series of questions and statistics as emotions will always be far more complex than that.

Part II:

In Kurt Vonnegut's short story I've Been Called a Luddite, a man goes down to his local post office to deliver some of his writings to his typist friend. Being somewhat old-fashioned, the man prefers this traditional method of getting ever day tasks as opposed to using the shortcuts that technology often provides. In this sense the theme is rather simple and apparent in the part of the story in which the man describes his phone conversation with his typist Carol. He simply states "I love to talk to people".

While technology may be far more convenient then traditional methods of getting things done, Vonnegut emphasizes the small, everyday joys that come with doing things by hand. I would agree with this sentiment. I believe that one's ability to use or have access to technology does not necessarily coincide with their happiness. Although it is increasingly difficult in today's society to get by without understanding how to use computer, there is something beautiful about the intimate human interactions that one tends to enjoy far more when not burdened with the fast paced, hyper-organized nature of modern technology. This idea of intimate spotaniety is perfectly summed up in the slogan of the piece: "We are here on earth to fart around. Don't let anybody tell you different". Sometimes the most joyous moments in life come from not knowing what comes next.

Part III:

The New York Times article "But Will It Make You Happy?" suggests that consumer goods and happiness do not go hand and hand, and that they can even be polar opposites. The article emphasizes the emotional dangers that can coincide with a material focused lifestyle, especially in today's fast paced society. While people are constantly trying to "keep up with the joneses" by following the latest trends and buying the newest gadgets, they tend to become accustomed to this constant change and in turn, lose the feeling of excitement that comes with it. "Over time, that means the buzz from a new purchase is pushed toward the emotional norm". 

While a minimalist lifestyle does sound quite appealing, I found myself relating to the Fashion blogger referenced at the end of the article. "'No way,' says Hayley Corwick, who writes the popular fashion blog Madison Avenue Spy. 'I could pull out things from my closet that I bought when I was 17 that I still love.'" Fashion is a form of expression. In my mind, pairing pieces together that ultimately creates something that is uniquely me, is an extremely fascinating and exciting process. However, this does not mean that I don't think that pairing down on material items is a good idea, in fact, I full heartedly support it. The reason I will always love shopping for clothes is because I am passionate about what I am buying. This being said, indulging yourself for the sake of your hobbies can be a joyous experience, the danger comes when you stop spending thoughtfully and start spending constantly. 

Part IV: 

Here is a song that represents happiness to me. <3

Song: First Day of My Life
Artist: Bright Eyes 

Independent Ad Analysis

Gatorade "Forget Me"
Mercedes Benz "Chicken"

Ad Analysis: Gatorade

Gatorade's "Forget Me" ad begins by showing a woman in athletic wear sitting in a locker room. It can be assumed that the woman is a famous soccer player through the many newspaper clippings and jerseys that are prominently displayed throughout the ad.

Strictly through the construction of the ad, a sense of emotion is instilled in the reader. Beginning with an ominous chord, the ad slowly builds, directly correlating with the highs and lows of the woman's speech. Her voice, soft yet determined, sets the whole tone of the ad. She begins with the title, saying "forget me" and goes on to state all of her achievements that should be forgotten and instead used to inspire future generations. She then ends with the phrase "because the day I am forgotten is the day we will succeed" right as the Gatorade logo appears across a black screen.

The woman appears to be in deep thought throughout the ad, almost as if she has to make a difficult decision. This causes the viewer to really want to consider what she is saying as it appears to be relatively serious. As she slowly looks back on memories and tokens of her career, the woman appears to become verklempt and proceeds to remove her name plate from her locker only to immediately throw it in the garbage. The ad uses this sudden change of pace to instill a sense of inspiration in the viewer, a sense of progression. Using this momentum, the ad then displays young people running and playing various sports emphasizing the point that the children truly are the future. The ad is clever in this way as it uses a popular theme of progression and movement to relate to Gatorade's youthful audience, all the while communicating with the parents of these young athletes that Gatorade makes the well-being and success of their children first priority.

Ad Analysis: Mercedes Benz

Mercedes takes a different approach to youthful advertising then that of Gatorade. In their "Chicken" ad, the sleekness and agility of their cars is demonstrated through the balanced movement of a chicken's head.

The music, being upbeat and fun, contributes to the overall silliness of the ad, all the while maintaining the sleek aesthetic that is often associated with the brand, Mercedes, by using neutral tones and limited visuals. Gloved hands move the chickens around as if they were dancing along to the music that perfectly coincides with the movement of their bodies. While the ad uses comedic effect to appeal to their more youthful audience, the background remains very minimalist. This modern aspect of the ad creates a visually satisfying demeanor while demonstrating the high quality of the brand and therefore, the product.

While "Forget Me" uses emotional tactics to tug at the heartstrings of its viewer, the "Chicken" ad uses comedy to relate to its audience making them seem approachable and hip. These different tactics are used (as they are in all forms of advertising) to maintain a certain facade that inevitably controls the thoughts and feelings of those who are subject to it.