Independent Viewing- Post #2

When a socially controversial subject matter is brought into the public, there is often a clash between contrasting opinions surrounding the appropriate ways in getting across the message to students across the nation without causing problems. The topic of “sex” is certainly a victim of this issue. The improper education that children are lacking in homes and school on the topic of “sex” is imposing a hindrance on the lives of many teens who may not be able to do normal activities due to a pregnancy or an STD. As discussed in James Houston’s documentary Let’s Talk About Sex, it is imperative to have an open communication in the homes of families as well as in the buildings of schools about sexual education and the importance of sex safety in order to deduce the number of teen pregnancies and STD’s in America.

In the United States, the majority of teenagers find the topic of sex very awkward to discuss with parents and teachers. The usual lectures are given by adults to young ones about abstaining as long as possible in order to fully prevent any pregnancy or STD. However, this certainly is not the path that most teens follow. In America alone,10000 teens catch a sexually transmitted disease everyday, and 2400 become pregnant. These statistically high numbers are largely due to the lack of communication teens have with their families and teachers regarding sex. In health class, teachers must be careful with what they preach because they know that some students are sexually active while others are not. At home, different families have different religious backgrounds which only stress abstinence, and does not even take into consideration that their children may be sexually active and do not know any other precautions because all they know is sex or abstinence. With these scary statistics continuing to increase, it is important to teach sexual education properly by accommodating for individual, familial, or religious values with accurate fact-based contraception education such as birth control options in order to show teens how to safely be sexually active. 

In addition to the high number of pregnancies and STD’s increasing due to the limited discussion occurring between teens and adults, the media plays a large role as well in manipulating the minds of teens and adolescents. Sexual imagery is all around us- on billboards, television, computers, etc. The beautiful models pose in tiny bikinis as they caress a male very seductively. This mean of advertisement conveys a message to the audience that sexual activity makes you “pretty” and socially accepted in the American society. Teens are usually the target market because this exposure to sex-related images drive their raging hormones more than that of a mature adult. With a sexually-driven environment surrounding teens in this country, it is difficult for them to resist what they see based on little information at home and in the classrooms about sex. It is significant for sex to be discussed openly at homes and in school because of today’s liberal environment using seductive photos to advertise products. 

Humans have a natural tendency to avoid situations that make them feel out of place and uncomfortable. In America, sex has become an awkward topic of discussion, and parents tend to put off the “talk” in order to avoid the sensitive confrontation with their children. However, this act of refraining from the situation is actually doing more harm than good. The lack of communication is causing a plethora of negative actions such as teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Fighting through an awkward situation is far more beneficial than avoiding one and risking a bad consequence. 

The knowledge of sex is a very powerful key to a healthy life. Understanding the options for birth control helps one to take an approach to safer sex. Having that conversation of the “birds and the bees” sounds silly, but certainly makes a huge difference in the life and mindset of teens. If open communication about sex is achieved in the home and in the classrooms, then the birth and STD rates will significantly decrease. Taking the first steps to a clean future starts with a simple dialogue.

Independent Viewing- Post #1

1. Let’s Talk About Sex is a documentary that discusses the effect of sexual imagery and attitudes portrayed in our society has toward adolescent sexual desires. In America alone, 10,000 teenagers catch an STD, 2,400 girls become pregnant, and 55 are infected with HIV every day. The documentary was directed by Australian James Houston, one of the world’s leading beauty and body photographers. After traveling around the world, Houston realized that American teens live in an environment where sexual imagery is used to as advertisement for everything from toys to electronics. This documentary was used with the intent that if our society witnesses how other nations treat the sexual discussion, then these conversations will occur more openly within classrooms and family rooms across the country. 

2.

James Houston uses a multitude of rhetorical devices to establish his purpose in the documentary. Houston’s use of ethos, pathos, logos, as well as his arrangement and organization throughout the viewing helps to establish his purpose by demonstrating that open communication and education around the topic of sexuality is important for adolescents. 

In the beginning of the documentary, Houston sets up his purpose by starting with the environment and the sexual imagery surrounding young teens on television, advertisements, social networks, etc. This pathological approach makes the audience aware of the subconscious messages that are actually affecting teens more than one may think. Emotions of anger, annoyance, and disturbance arouse within people because they cannot believe how our society is using sexual imagery as a means of persuasion. In addition to the pathological approach, Houston also establishes his credibility in the beginning when he states how he is one of the leading beauty and body photographers of these sexual photos. This demonstrates that since Houston is the photographer, he knows a plethora of information about the purpose and reasons as to why this industry uses photos to boost revenues for companies. Also, throughout the film, there are testimony’s from experts and statistics from research surrounding this issue, which also increases credibility. Finally, this film contains many facts surrounding the issue of adolescent sexuality. Throughout the film, Houston uses visual text to provide statistics about teen pregnancy and STD’s. The use of visual text instead of audio helps the reader interpret the severity of these issues and makes them remember the image longer. 

In addition to the use of the appeals to portray Houston’s purpose of open communication within families about the topic of sex, the director also uses a specific arrangement. Houston uses a comparison and contrast organizational method in order to address his purpose. In the documentary, Houston globally compares the family dynamics of different countries to the United States by traveling to the Netherlands and Australia to prove that their birth and STD rates are significantly lower because the connotation of the word “sex” is not a negative one, but more a positive one. Teens are more comfortable talking about sex to their parents, and the topic is very open in schools. Condoms are even free which helps to prevent STDs and births. Houston also portrays his purpose nationally when he compares different parts of the United States and how they deal with sex. For example, in a religious town in Georgia, the topic of sex is not discussed in their home, and the parents assume that their children know not to have sex. However, this girl actually is sexually active, and she is just not telling her parents. Houston includes this in the documentary to contrast how teens in America are much different globally and teens do not feel comfortable discussing certain topics because they know their parents will only preach abstinence. Houston’s compare and contrasting arrangement adds to his purpose because it demonstrates the different ways that different families depending on their backgrounds deal with teen sexuality.

Let’s Talk About Sex is a very effective documentary because Houston uses each rhetorical device flawlessly in order to portray his purpose. Each rhetorical device has a specific use, and they each add to the message that Houston is trying to convey. 


 Let's Talk About Sex. Dir. James Houston. Let's Talk About Sex. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://www.letstalkaboutsexthefilm.com/>. 

David Beckham Burger King Commercial

This commercial is introducing Burger King's newest addition to the menu- fruit smoothies. This advertisement features David Beckham acting as a customer ordering a fruit smoothie and the employee and employer waiting on this famous soccer player are starstruck by Beckham's good looks. The source of this piece is Burger King fast food restaurant, a global chain with more than 12,400 outlets in 73 countries. The context of this piece is causal because the commercial was created to persuade the audience, which are Burger King customers as well as new customers interested in drinking real fruit smoothies, to buy this new product. A few rhetorical elements used are pathos to get the message across that if David Beckham is ordering this smoothie, than other people should order it as well, since Beckham is a role model through his amazing soccer skills and his dashing appearance. Also, the fresh fruit that is displayed in the commercial helps to create logos that the fruit is fresh and not frozen, which makes the smoothie taste better without any artificial chemicals or sweeteners. The author accomplished his purpose by choosing a famous person to persuade the audience to purchase Burger King's new product of fruit smoothies.

Jim Yong Kim, Dartmouth College president, tapped by Obama to head World Bank

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/official-obama-to-nominate-dartmouth-college-president-to-head-world-bank/2012/03/23/gIQAAPLiVS_story.html

This article discusses Barack Obama's decision to appoint Jim Yong Kim, Dartmouth College president, as the president of the World Bank. As the World Bank's major contributor, the United States is granted the privilege to choose the president of the bank, and the European nations choose the head of the International Monetary Fund. Jim Yong Kim is the first Asian-American to represent the United States in the World Bank. This article comes from the Washington Post- the most widely circulated newspaper covering information locally, nationally, and globally. It is also the oldest paper in the DC area, which demonstrates its high credibility to provide accurate information to the public. The context of this piece is causal because every five years a new president for the World Bank is elected by the president of the United States. The last president was elected in 2007 by George W. Bush and now President Barack Obama made his selection for 2012. This piece was written to inform the entire world about the new president coming into the World Bank and to describe his background and how he will ameliorate the global economy. Since the World Bank includes a multitude of nations, the audience is primarily everyone. The plethora of factual data within this article about Jim Yong Kim's success, a slight rebuttal to recognize the other side's hesitance towards Kim's future presidency, as well as the formal diction used to create a serious tone makes the author effectively accomplish his purpose.

7 Things You Don't Know About a Special Needs Parent

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-lin/special-needs-parenting_b_1314348.html

This article discusses the struggles and triumphs a parent with a child with a medical and developmental issue has to undergo in everyday life. This article comes from the Huffington Post, an American news website that was launched in 2005 and still growing and expanding. The context of this piece is causal because it has been brought about due to the 6 million children in America receiving special education. The purpose for this article is to show from the point of view of a parent with a child with an intellectual and developmental disability how they truly feel. The audience for this article is the general public because special education children are all around them, and this touching passage can show them how their lives are so much different. Also, the audience is other parents with IDD children because they can share similar characteristics with each other and swap tips on parenting. The rhetorical elements used in this passage was the point of view written from the parent with a child with a medical and developmental issue because it created a more emotional piece and reality to the article. Also, the full circle ending puts the entire article into perspective and thus helps the audience (even people who do not have IDD children) to relate to this parent and feel her thoughts. Due to these rhetorical elements, the author accomplished her purpose and established her credibility well through the eyes of her life.

IRB #3- Post 2

Chapters 14 to 27 of Payment in Full delve into the life of Elvira, the orphaned African American girl taken into custody by a Jewish couple after they could not conceive themselves. Rebecca, Elvira's adopted mother, introduces Elvira to the African-American community as well as exposes her to Christianity. However, Elvira seems to be more interested in the Jewish religion. For example, Elvira's favorite foods are bagels and she enjoys watching Rebecca prepare Shabbat dinner and other Jewish remedies. The bond between Elvira and the Rosen family strengthens day by day, and she realizes that this is her family. Later in the sectyion, it is discovered that Elvira must move in with a colored family- one who is more like her. Elvira refuses to do so, revealing her love for the Rosen family. In the end, the judge allows Elvira to stay with the Rosen's, and it is official that Elvira is in the custody of the Rosen family. 

Henry Denker's stylistic approaches in this chapter often reveal allusions to the Civil War era through the prejudice that Elvira is experiencing while living with a white Jewish family. His informal diction to describe the slang used by African Americans during this time demonstrate the differences during this era between blacks and whites. The syntax is often very short, for most of the details are described through dialogues between people. The imagery used in this section reveals the context of the story because it describes typical scenes that one would see if they lived during this era. Every chapter describes a dilemma Elvira must overcome, with vivid details that spark an emotional connection between the audience and the characters, while enticing the audience to continue reading. This ratio, according to Burke's Pentad, is very effective in this fictional story.

Finding the Fountain of Youth

This piece discusses how moderate exercise can actually decline memory loss and increase hippocampus size, which, in terms of the aging process, increases a life expectancy rate of 1-2 years. This conclusion was seen when 120 elder adults between the ages of 55-80 were tested. One group was sent to an aerobics class and another was sent to a stretching class. The aerobics class saw the greater improvement with memory and hippocampus size because their kinetic ability increased. This article was written by Dr. Michael Otto from Psychology Today magazine. Dr. Otto has a Ph.D. in Exercise and Mood. The context of this piece is spacial because as people age, their memory decreases which is linked to hippocampus size decreasing. With this study of a moderate vigor to exercising, people can actually increase their memory and stop the hippocampus from decreasing as people age. This piece was written to convince people that exercising has more health benefits than just one, and it is important for everyone to be active in order to maintain a healthy physical and mental life. The specific audience for whom this piece was intended for are the senior citizens and elderly ranging between ages 55-80. However, the general audience is the public whom with this information can start at an early age to increase their life expectancy, memory, mood, etc. to live a happy and healthy life. The rhetorical devices used in this piece is an illusion dating back to the "Fountain of Youth" myth by Ponce de Leon which ties into this piece because it is said that the "Fountain of Youth" has been found through exercising. Also, the use of exemplification as a structure helps the audience to relate this finding to an actual test that people in their age group have performed to show how amazing these results truly are. Finally, the formal diction used is geared towards anatomy and bodily organs such as the hippocampus, which establishes the authors credibility as a doctor, for he was able to connect the hippocampus to memory to exercising. This demonstrated his understanding of the entire situation. The author accomplished his purpose because he not only talked about exercising as increasing memory, but he talked about the exponential amount of health benefits that exercising has to offer as a whole. Also, the author was able to provide a study that was shown to prove how moderately vigorous exercise does indeed increase memory and hippocampus size.