PETA Ads

Just recently I read an article about various videos that PETA has created. I knew that the organization had strong opinions when it comes to the treatment of animals but I did not know how ridiculous some of their messages were. The organization just posted a video about how factories go about slaughtering Turkeys. To put the process into perspective PETA decided to create a cartoon in which a boy was mistakenly placed on the slaughtering line. The video begins with a child following a truck into a meat factory. The boy is eventually placed on the assembly line that prepares the birds. First the becks of the turkeys are cut off, so in turn the boys nose is cut off. Then the birds get injected with growth hormones to fatten the birds. Lastly, they all get to the point where a saw slices the neck of the turkey. The saw gets closer and closer to the boys neck as he yells in fear but miraculously a turkey the boy meets in the beginning of the video saves his life. I don't know what went through their minds when creating this video. The video expresses the gruesome process of how turkeys are killed but at no point in time should using a human to portray the message be acceptable.  

Smirnoff knows media engagement

An article on Digiday was posted about how Smirnoff was driving engagement with fans over social media. It was an article in question and answer format asking how the brand felt about social media and how it went about engaging fans being such a controversial brand. All in all the brand knew exactly what it was doing. Even though an age limit would be a potential buzz killer for the brand it had no problem going about things legally. An easy way they controlled fan traffic was that on every social media site the potential fan had to submit their birth date before being able to join the engagement. They accounted for the fact that different places around the world have different drinking ages so that allowed for a variety of followers. The article broke down how the brand viewed social media and its so called limitations. Smirnoff has had a presence on social media dating back to 2006. They knew back then that posting just to post would not drive engagement, so they talked about real life events that could only be attended if fans were evolved on their social media sites.

Meeting with the owner of The Garage.

Today during class our group is finally meeting with the owner The Garage. We have been trying to set up a meeting with him for a long time now and we finally have the chance. I'm excited to start our group project because I feel as if we have good insight that could very well benefit his restaurant. the restaurant is a block away from the dorms on campus and you would miss it every time you pass it because of its location. There food is amazing and it is a shame that so many people have never been there to eat or have heard about it but haven't gone because they don't know where it is. This project gives us real life experience, doing the things we have been taught in class. This project relates so closely with the material that it makes me want to do a good job. It isn't an assignment just because we have to be assigned one.

Query Letter

November 1, 2013

Ralph Nichols

Journalism Instructor

San Jose State University
One Washington Square, San Jose, CA, 95112

Mr. Nichols,

Fitness now more than ever is becoming more of an importance in peoples lives. There is always a new workout program or dietary regimen that people try to follow. With all of this comes the protein shakers people are carrying around. Many college students are going through their day drinking protein shakes and consuming other muscle building supplements. The average person only needs 24 grams of protein a day, so consuming supplements is unnecessary. 

I am well versed in the topic of muscle development and nutrition. As a D1 athlete I have to be educated about both topics in order to get the most out of my body. I have many sources that I can speak with in order to gather information about the topics.

As a third year journalism major and student athlete at SJSU I find this subject area interesting. I want to educate college students by writing a lengthy article about muscle building supplements and the effects they have on their bodies. 

Sincerely,      

Marcus Rogers

Advocacy

Last weeks lecture on advocacy related to business was interesting. It made me think of all the times that I acted as an advocate for companies and their brands. Ever since I started doing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu I realized I would preach to everyone I spoke to the benefits of the martial art. Not only did I speak about the art form itself but the lifestyle that came with it. Whether it be from the mental stand point to the dietary habits the Gracie family implemented. I would try and get my friends to go into the academy every chance I could. I would tell them how fun it was and most of all how relaxed the environment was. I would tell people that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu changed my life, which it did. I gained confidence like no other because what I learned from the Gracie family. Being apart of the Gracie Academy I would always wear their t-shirts and other paraphernalia. I did all this because I truly appreciated what they did for me. Receiving was never on my mind when I spoke about the Gracie brand. I really believe in the brand and what they stand for which is why it is easy being an advocate for brands that you appreciate.

Japanese Internment Memorial

The perturbing vignettes that jump out of the slab portray messages as cold as the bronze it is made up of.

Suffering and pain can be seen at first glance and can too be felt with the memorials detailed carvings. 

A vignette on the memorial is of a Japanese family destroying pieces of their culture to signify the assimilation process people were going through at the time.

The father holds his daughters doll over blazing logs while his daughter fights to stop him.

Just behind the two is the mother who presses her hands to her face in horror of what is taking place.

As she grieves a man continues to pass more memorabilia in her direction.

During this time the Japanese were encouraged to do away with their culture and give into Americanization.

On the other hand and side of the sculpture it showed that the Japanese did not entirely give up their ways of life.

A man is sitting on the ground wearing his new Americanized dress attire, using chopsticks to eat.

  

The memorial is located in San Jose, it was created by Ruth Asawa who was also a member of a Japanese internment camp.

She experienced first hand the events that are etched into the sculpture.

Subliminal Advertising of Sorts

I was watching a show on USA called White Collar and I noticed they would create scripted advertisements mainly for car companies. What I mean by this is that there would be a situation where an FBI agent would be in a bind and the car would "solve" the problem. For example, one of the agents needed to make a phone call but was driving so he pressed a button on the steering wheel which lead to him being able to make this important call. The cinematography during these in show advertisements differ from the regular style used in the show. Extreme closeups of the cars interior makes it obvious that they are trying to highlight what the car has to offer. Another situation was that one of the agents wives had to park her car but she sucked at parallel parking. So she presses a button and throws her hands up and the car parks itself. After displaying the car feature they immediately cut to an exterior shot of the car and slow pan across the logo of the car company. These advertisements are done on purpose and the director makes it obvious that they are trying to advertise the car. They go about it in a comedic way so it doesn't bother me much. It acts as like an Easter egg within the show because your just waiting for the moment when they implement the cheesy ad.