Propoganda Poster

Rationale 

This propaganda poster aims to portray the main characteristics of the learner profile “reflective.”  It builds on the ideology of reflection and considering the past, in order to support their learning and personal development. We mainly employed devices such as, common folks and glittering generalities. Firstly, the propaganda displays an ordinary girl reflecting on ordinary past experiences in order to strive for a better future, and thus promote the reflective ideology. The young woman in the middle is looking into the mirror and her desired future, but simultaneously reflecting on her past experiences with schoolwork. Struggles regarding academics and future planning are an ordinary thing that everyone faces in a certain point of their life, so it is easier for the viewer to relate to the propaganda and understand the ideology. It also suggests that everyone has an equal opportunity to build their futures and develop.  A statement or slogan has also been asserted saying, “Reflect on the past, build on the future” This statement includes a glittering generality as it briefly states the ideology in the slogan but it is open for interpretation according to the viewer's personal experience. 

Propoganda 4 Corner Reflection

"It is acceptable for a government to try to shape public opinion through information campaigns. "

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it was evident to see specific political ideologies being expressed throughout the media. This sparked worldwide controversy as news companies were being criticized for their biased approaches when communicating with the public. Fox news was seen to hold views of a American conservative bias. On the other hand, Al Jazeera news was criticized for depicting an anti-american Bias. Though both these channels have denied these allegation, and made it clear that they aim to provide neutral reporting, I personally believe that possessing a certain bias is inevitable. It is part of human nature to seek approval, either it being explicitly or implicitly expressed. On the other hand, I believe the government does have the responsibility to present the public with a fair representations of the realities of a situation. I thus disagree with this prompt, I believe it is not acceptable for a government to try to shape public opinion through information campaigns. Although moral and ethical issues are raised, I believe it is wrong for a country to change the publics opinion via information campaigns. Unfortunately, it is often something that is practiced today, especially in instances such as the Iraq War. However, as previously mentioned I do believe it is a part of human nature to strive for social acceptance and support. Usually, the government aims to shape the publics opinion in order to gain the publics support by antagonizing the other side of the conflict. This leads to the government being able to easily justify their actions. In the case of the Iraq war, a large majority of Americans believed that Iraq's regime was evil and that Americans were helping the Iraqis achieve freedom. Moreover in the case of Jessica Lynch, the public believed that she was kidnapped and that she was mistreated and heroically saved by the American soldiers. Several sources later on revealed that that story might not be the case, some nurses from Iraq even went on to say that they took care of her as their daughter. This sparked controversy because it signifies how 
the government tried to twist the truth. The Jessica Lynch story gives the American public two impressions: firstly that the Iraqis seem like rebels who are fighting against Americans. Secondly, the American soldiers seem like heroes. This obviously advances the countrys agenda enables locals support, although they do possess a distorted image of the war- something that America would want but could  be detrimental in the long run. 

Media Bias Article Selection

Rationale 

This article is a modified version of an article previously read on Al Jazeera America that headlines, "Autopsy of Sandra Bland reveals no signs of murder."  Sandra Bland was a woman found hanged in a jail cell in Waller County Texas; her death was classified as a suicide but an increased amount of awareness against racial profiling and police misconduct has ignited national debate against the true cause of Sandra's death. Family and friends called for an independent autopsy, and stated that it was unlikely that Bland would have killed herself, mentioning how she was upbeat about the job she was about to begin. This raises many questions as to how consumers of the media should view the situation; should we listen to news reports and suggested facts, or the personal accusations provided by Bland's family? In the article written particularly by Al Jazeera, provides a detailed account  of the analysis of Bland's autopsy report, submitted by Waller County prosecutor, Warren Diepramm.  This rewritten article will offer a more emotional and personal insight regarding the situation of Bland's imprisonment, which reflects the main ideas of family members and local activists. 

Article:

Bland- a 28 year old African American women- tragically died in Waller County jail just three days after a Texas trooper pulled her over during a routine and "normal" traffic stop. Officials classified her death as suicide by hanging, but those who know the Illinois woman treated that classification with skepticism. 

Activists claim her death is the latest example of racial bias and excessive force by US law enforcement. Now theories have emerged on social media, suggesting the Chicago woman may have been dead when her mugshot was taken. police dashboard camera footage shows the traffic stop incident in the most clear manner possible; shows the incident escalating from a warning for failure to signal a lane change to her being placed in handcuffs and a physical altercation with the white trooper. The video of Sandra's brutal arrest confirms she was subject to a violent, racist and traumatic encounter with the police. And though we still don’t know what happened next, one thing is clear: a traffic stop for a failure to signal should not lead to death.

An autopsy conducted by Haris county Institute of Forensic Science concluded that Bland dies through asphyxiation and immediately classified her death as a suicide. Police stated that Bland had used a plastic garbage bag to hang herself. The autopsy report showed Bland had multiple abrasions on the right side of her back, slight abrasions on her wrists, and 25 to 30 healing, parallel cuts on her left forearm that predated her arrest. This autopsy was inspected by the US prosecutor against Bland's family members case. They have previously requested to conduct an autopsy but did not anticipate that the autopsy would be presented by the main Prosecutor in the case. 

Moreover, Bland's prison intake form included a check mark for "yes" on epilepsy, and she can be heard in the video telling the arresting officer that she suffered from the illness. However, the autopsy  did not include a test for epilepsy, and the sheriff’s office said Bland “was offered Emergency Medical Services prior to being transported to the jail” but that she “refused any medical treatment.”

Practice IOC- The Tempest

Audio for third practice IOC- the tempest

Act 2 Scene 1

Link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5Xjnl_inxw6M1lnYTFlS1Y4anc/view?usp=sharing

Practice IOC- Royal Beatings

Practice IOC- Royal Beatings

Audio Link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5Xjnl_inxw6RnM3YzdXbjJURjA/view?usp=sharing

This Is Water Blog Post

In his "This Is Water" essay, David Foster Wallace addresses issues that are often neglected and overlooked. He suggests that true freedom is acquired through education is the ability to be adjusted, conscious and sympathetic. After reading his essay, I I have been trying to go into a new mindset of acknowledging every day as a new experience, regardless of if I have done the activities or not. David foster Wallace starts off by using the analogy of water to describe our neglected surroundings. He uses this to convey how we can be so accustomed to our environment, that we do not even register them into our quotidian lives. He continues to use another parable of a religious man and an atheist who have difficulties understanding each other due to the differences in their personal beliefs and continues by showing that we have the choice to think that people are in our way, or rather we might just be in their way. We perceive our thoughts and emotions way before we are able to perceive other’s thoughts and emotions; it takes far more effort to understand people than to understand ourselves. As a result, we put ourselves in the centre of our worlds and constantly have trouble seeing where people come from. Wallace offers a solution to put ourselves into other people's shoes. When we understand the perspective of other’s, we are less prone to be stuck in what Wallace calls our ‘natural default setting.’ This natural default setting was the most interesting thing I pulled from his video  as I never acknowledged the concept before. Often times, I put myself into a routine with the same continuous mindset. Now being aware of this cunning thesis, I will approach life with  a new mind set and acknowledge everyday as new experience. In relation to this concept, Literature can play a great role; through the understanding we are able to gain from literature, we have the potential to shape the world around us. Wallace signifies how important it is to be aware of surroundings and the realities of other people's lives to the develop a sense of empathy and emotional intelligence. Literature has the power to give us this sense of awareness as we are exposed to different components of the story and engaged with the characters. These details will allow us to have a greater understand of emotions within a larger context, in turn expanding our emotional intelligence. 

Boys and Girls IOC

Link:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5Xjnl_inxw6LVZVMnFGdl9qeVk

Women's Literature Reflection

This year has started off with a focus on literature and Alice Munro's short stories. These past four lessons have really allowed me to understand the values of studying literature. When studying literature, young adults like us students can learn not only language aspects such as vocabulary items but also open our minds to the power of "meaning." Great literature is able to resonate with audiences all across the world. Literature helps us know the world around us and allows us to be more mindful and aware of other cultures and their struggles. It allows you to empathize and sympathize with characters who are not real and yet mirror the lives of many humans around the world. After being able to empathize with characters and books, that feeling extends far beyond literature. You gain a better understanding about human beings and their feelings and allows you to communicate and connect more efficiently.  Once you look at pieces of literature with an open- you open a sort of portal to the most available knowledge about humanity--our beliefs, our self-perception, philosophies, assumptions and interactions with the world.  We were also introduced to the concept of "women's literature" during  our first four lessons. Although there is no one definition for this concept, I personally believe woman's literature is writing that discusses the daily lives of women and what they go through with their families, and personal relationships. It is very relevant to study this type of literature as it gives us a chance to explore the perspectives and issues that often confront women. It's certainly true that gender roles have been changing in the last 35 years and Alice Munro is certainly the one to depict that in her writing. Though she is not exactly a feminist writer nor does she express political thoughts in her writing, she does express the daily struggles of women being trapped in their conventional roles and dealing with their daily struggles with those assigned roles. This was very significant especially during the 50''s to the 80's as this was a time of women empowerment and  "a generation of adjustment." By expressing these daily feminine struggles, Munro is able to express them in a certain way that impacts the reader to create a sense of understanding for the character. The part I enjoyed most in reading Munro's work was her ability to document small details in the story that related to the main character. Not only does this present the reader with a better visual and atmospheric sense of what  is happening, but it allows the reader to empathize withe the character and imagine themselves in that situation. This is a great way as making the moral meaning of the story more impactful and effective.