Tow #19 - JFK's "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" Speech

My writing and reading goals are the following:

1. Read and find a clear purpose of the text

2. Fully analyze devices used for purpose

3. Create clear argument

            In President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 speech entitled “Ich Bin Ein Berliner,” he addresses the construction of the Berlin wall; built to separate U.S.S.R. controlled East Berlin, and the U.S. controlled West Berlin. In the speech he uses the native language while speaking, and also uses repetition, in order to rally West Berlin and show that West Berlin had a faithful ally.

            Kennedy repeatedly uses German words to create an emotionally tie with his German audience because he is speaking their native language. He says phrases such as “Ich Bin Ein Berliner,” or I am a Berliner, and “Lass' sie nach Berlin kommen,” or Let them come to Berlin. Most citizens of a country to not want to answer to a foreign power because of the lack of understanding or differences of culture, but because Kennedy uses their native tongue in his speech, he can soothe the audience and let the Western Berliners know that they have an ally that understands and feels empathy to their culture.

   Kennedy also repeats these German phrases and other phrases to send a clear message to the World: Berlin must be unified under Democracy or it will surely ruin the already decaying country. Kennedy provides reasons to the Communist state of Russia and the world as he lists the reasons people should come to Berlin and witness its disparity. According to Kennedy, “There are many people in the world who really don't understand, or say they don't, what is the great issue between the free world and the Communist world. Let them come to Berlin. There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin. And there are some who say, in Europe and elsewhere; we can work with the Communists. Let them come to Berlin. And there are even a few who say that it is true that communism is an evil system, but it permits us to make economic progress. Lass' sie nach Berlin kommen. Let them come to Berlin.” Kennedy systematically addresses and refutes every counter-argument supporting communism or compromise with the antistrophe, “Let them come to Berlin.” This shows his western German audience that he will not allow their new way of life to fall apart and that the U.S. will do its best as a world superpower to fight for West Berlin.

   By using these rhetorical devices Kennedy wants to assure to the Germans that they have an ally in the United States, and that the U.S. wants nothing more to help West Berlin and spread Democracy.

Tow #18 - "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell

The narrator of “Shooting an Elephant”, was working as a police officer in Burma located in Asia. He had to work there as an agent of imperialism in spite of his hatred towards it. The experience that he went through while working as a police officer in Burma was traumatic. He describes an incident of shooting an elephant which gave him a realization into the real nature of imperialism. One early morning, he was informed by an inspector at a police station that an elephant was ravaging the festival, and killed someone. The protagonist got a rifle and five bullets just to keep the situation under control, and not actually hurt the elephant. The Burmans, the natives, who had not shown much interest about the elephant ravaging their houses, quite ironically were entertained with the idea that the British police officer was going to shoot the elephant dead. The narrator was followed by a crowd to find the elephant. He knew  that he ought not to shoot him as a working elephant is very valuable. He discovered that the elephant at a distance eating peacefully looked no more perilous than a common
cow. In instant he thinks of this as a metaphor to Europe powers imperializing the east. He then realizes  the role of the dominant ruler not to go against power. Despite his unwillingness to kill the elephant, he was preoccupied by the thought of being taunted by the natives if he failed to control the elephant. The local crowd appeared to observe the shooting as watchful eyes. After much hesitation, the narrator finally shot the elephant straight at the ear-hole. The bullet paralyzed it in pain. Later he shot twice more and the  elephant collapsed after a long struggle but took a long time to die. Afterwards the incident
became a controversial issue among the Europeans. The narrator, however, mentioned that in
actuality he only shot the elephant not to look like a fool before the natives.

-sorry its so late, the internet was down

irb intro #3 - Diary of a Young Girl

The book Diary of a Young Girl is an auto-biography written by Anne Frank, a Jewish girl living in Holland during the Holocaust events of the late 1930's. Throughout the auto-biography Anne documents her life, whether its small things like puberty while growing up in a small attic with other families, or its a nazi intervention in the house below them, her life is fascinating as a political refugee at the age of when most kids are in middle school. Frank is very intelligent girl who is a great first hand resource on the event of one of the world's most infamous genocides.
Anne Frank was born in 1929 on the 12th of June, and is considered to be one of the most influential people of her time during the second World War. She is one of the most discussed Holocaust victims to date.

Tow #17 - 2014 Budweiser Clydesdale Commercial

source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQB7QRyF4p4

Even before the Super Bowl, all viewers of regular television already know the heart-throbbing advertisement campaign of Budweiser, the story of their Clydesdale horses and how they interact with their loved ones. Whether its reuniting with an old trainer after a big parade, or it’s a horse's training montage run by a Dalmatian dog to become a great show horse, these commercials are usually the most remembered after the championship game. That is their purpose, tocreate these heartfelt stories used as their advertisements. Usually companies hire comedic writers to make a funny ad that the audience of the football game will never forget, but Budweiser goes a different route, using animal personification, and imagery of emotion that we can all relate to. Budweiser truly makes commercials that people do not forget.

            The animal personification is used in the advertisement to establish a connection with its audience, people (of course). People have feelings, so by giving animals these human-like characteristics, the audience is able to connect with the animals on a deeper level for the one minute that these ads air. Also by using animals instead of people, everyone can relate to the animal, instead of a person who not everyone can see their reflection in the image, but with animals everyone equally shares a connection with the animal. If an ad uses a girl as their main protagonist, then usually only women will connect to it, and vice versa with male protagonists. But the gender of these animals is never revealed, leaving an open interpretation of self-reflection within these characters. With animals having human-like emotions, everyone can relate and thus drawing the viewer’s attention to remembering that specific ad, over any other advertisements.

            A feeling of accomplishment, love, and sadness is shown very well in these ads. When one of the animals is sad, it is raining, when one of them is happy, it is a bright sunny day. And there is always a bittersweet melody playing in the background to connect to both the sad, and happy parts of the ad. This can give an “aww” factor to the minute video as all of the stories in the various ads have a happy beginning, sad conflict, and an ending, usually redeeming for the main character. We can see how these characters are feeling through their actions and emotions, because there is no sound besides the beautiful background song. This well-acted advertisement really sets itself apart from the other ads trying to be silly.

            These strategies Budweiser uses work very well.  If you ask anyone after the Super Bowl which ad they remember most, they will say Budweiser’s, and they will remember the tear-jerking story that came along with it.