Month: January 2015

Language Component 1

January 25, 2015 / / 1 Comment

Argue Against TV Advertising

Picture this, you’re relaxing and watching your weekly instalment of your favourite TV show. The tension is building and you can’t wait to find out what will happen next. You feel your face filling with joy! BUT…There’s an ad break! Spoils all that tension, doesn’t it? This is one of the many reasons why TV advertising should be abolished.

 TV advertising is a waste of time and money and no longer benefits our society. It used be effective when there was only one or two channels, as everyone would would be viewing and they could get across important public messages, such as public announcements, (informing you of current events or safety advice) , which were very informative at that time. Now, however, it’s a way to persuade people to buy their product or service through one/two minute/s of manipulation and lies.

 Advertising has been know to be manipulative and at the end of the day all they want is your money. I recently saw an ad for the Google nexus. It was simple combination of some sad music and the story of father not being at home for Christmas, mixed with the nexus’ video calling capabilities. A sad but classic example of TV advertising being manipulative and wanting to show their sympathy, when all they really want is you to buy their product, and in this case: the Google nexus .

Some may argue that adverts can provide people with knowledge of these new products and services but if you purchased the product after viewing the advert then chances are that you probably didn’t need the product in the first place. The advert creates a persuasive illusion insinuating that this the perfect product for you, a product that you did not need nor want prior to watching the commercial but suddenly you may have the desire to want this product. For example, as a child you always wish for the latest toys after seeing the amazing visuals shown on the advert but in reality you are presented with a toy which is far more basic than the advert shows. This is manipulation and is what they use on a larger scale today with business and products.

 The extent of advertisements throughout TV shows can reach ridiculous figures, shown in research from the TNS Media Intelligence, “An average hour of monitored prime-time US network TV programming in Q408 contained seven minutes, 59 seconds (7:59) of in-show brand appearances and 13:52 of network commercial messages, for a combined total of 21:51 of marketing content”, This means that an hour show will be 36% commercials! This is unacceptable and should not be ignored. Readers you should be alarmed at these figures, but you may saying “what can I do to stop it”, The problem is that the huge company’s producing the adverts are too powerful and some, even a threat to government power, will never stop advertising , the only thing you can do is show your support against it and expose the simple methods in which they try to persuade you to buy their product through the advert (such as writing this article).

Slowly, however, even though adverts are not being reduced , less people are being bothered by then (including myself) thanks to programs such as ‘netflix’ and other streaming services. This means for a small fee people can stream unlimited content and for for the majority, advert free. Recent studies suggest 18- 24 year old’s are watching less TV and more online services, this could result in a big decrease of TV viewers, but not everyone is willing to pay for such services, which I find strange as people are being forced to pay a TV licence once a year at a high price. BBC is the only channel to only promote their own shows and not interrupt the current show with any advertisements but the law requires you to pay a TV licence, which is unfair and shows a corrupt system in the TV advertising industry.

If advertising continues in this direction then advertisement will only grow onto more platforms and fill a wider space. Nowadays it’s impossible to walk through London without seeing advertisements everywhere you go. The world we live in is corrupted with the global spread of of advertisements. Who knows what else could come in the future, technologies fast advancement could result even more types of advertisements, even blocking our skyline or even worse, parading the skies above hiding the true beauty of the stars and space to be hidden. This is why not only TV advertising, but all advertisements should be radically reduced and changed to better are current and future society. All forms of advertisement could be the downfall of our future society and inevitably push us into a deeper hole of global corruption.

 

English Literature

January 17, 2015 / / 0 Comments

How are flaws presented in Othello and a range of poetry you have studied?

Flaws are presented throughout Othello and a range of Browning poems in many different ways. They use different types of language to Show characters flaws. Many characters behave in unusual ways when their flaws are exploited. I will show these characters downfalls in Othello and the Robert Browning poems, Childe Roland to the dark tower came and The Laboratory Acien Regime. These poems show characters who’s flaws effect their actions and drive them to come to irrational solutions. There are links between the Browning poems and Othello when analysing how the writers display these ideas in their work.

Othello’s Flaws lead him to believe in Iago’s manipulation and accept that Desdemona is unfaithful. This is shown through Iago’s deceit and slowly unraveled to reveal Othello’s aggressive and paranoid nature. Shakespeare presents these flaws via different uses of figurative language and this can be used to surprise the audience with effective methods, such as dramatic irony. Othello can be easily provoked and this is one of his flaws which lead him to make very bad decisions. ” Did Micheal Cassio, when you wooed my lady, know of your love?” This was when Iago first began to make Othello question Desdemona and himself, Iago does this whilst sneakily inferring his suspicion towards Cassio. He does this by saying that when you (Othello) was first in love with Desdemona, did Cassio know? Implying that Cassio is Attempting to ‘woo’ Desdemona. This aggravates Othello and this is when his flaws are revealed. Othello becomes aggressive and demands to know his intentions for saying this and repeating ” Why of thy thought Iago.”, a use of repetition.

This is similar to Childe Roland to the dark tower came, where Childe Roland is on his quest to the dark tower and shows many flaws on his quest such as paranoia and his negativity toward all the situations he’s faced with. Browning uses symbolism throughout this poem and I think Roland is actually on his quest through to Heaven or Hell but Roland’s flaws lead him straight to hell. I also think the dark tower resembles Hell. When Roland comes to two separate paths, a man points to one path and Roland describes him: “that hoary cripple, with malicious eye” This is a very aggressive way to describe a person,  a cripple can also be a derogatory term to use. He also describes him with paranoia by saying malicious eye, as if he doesn’t trust him through his judgement. This description is also in Iambic pentameter and this may show that he has an honest doubt towards this man (whom he had never met), which may suggest that the man could be the devil guiding him to hell. Browning uses these techniques to present Roland doubt.

After Iago continued to manipulate Othello and convince him of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness, Othello finally demanded proof: ” Be sure of it. Give me the Ocular proof” Othello now demands proof of which he can physically see with his eyes. Iago then receives the handkerchief from Emilia and Iago uses it to plant on Cassio and show Othello, after this Othello is Convinced that Desdemona is unfaithful and Othello starts to act fueled through his flaws. Othello questions everything in his life and is convinced that everyone is turning against him and similar to Childe Roland, Othello is showing paranoia.

The Laboratory is about betrayal and the things jealousy and anger can make you do . The woman in the poem has many flaws and Browning presents them through the actions she takes. The woman plans to poison her ‘rival’ lover. She receives help from an Alchemist, who makes the poison in a laboratory. The woman’s flaws lead her to poison the woman out of jealousy and Browning shows that she begins to doubt what she’s created: ” If it hurts her, beside, can it ever hurt me?” This shows that she may be regretting her decision to poison her as she questions if it could hurt herself, which shows her selfish nature.

Childe Roland can also doubt most things and could be described as a pessimist. When the ‘cripple’ speaks to him, Roland says: “My first thought was, he lied in every word” This could be Roland not believing anything anyone says and being paranoid but I believe Browning purposely gave Roland these flaws to hint at who the Cripple ‘really’ is. I think Roland is right when he says he lied in every word because I believe the cripple is the devil and in this case his flaws could help him avoid hell but Roland follows where he pointed and is flawed for doing this.

The time period Othello and the poems were created can show the flaws in their society. In that time period it is clear that woman were viewed in very negative ways and shown as the housewives of society. Iago uses sexist language in Othello : “I would say I would drown myself for the love a guinea hen” This is considered a derogatory term to use and a sexist use of language, similar to being described as ‘tart’. It shows the reputation woman had and the language they used towards woman in this time period. Also in act 2 scene 3 ” I will turn her virtue into pitch” is said another sexist use of language and this shows the respect woman lacked in their society. The Laboratory also shows how woman behaved in their era. “you may kiss me old man, on my mouth if you will”. This shows that she happily offered the alchemist sex in return for the poison he made, which shows woman’s status and how, even with her money she still offered her own body to the alchemist stranger. This is a flaw within the plays society.

Flaws are also presented through Othello’s angry threats. When Iago convinces Othello of Desdemona’s dishonesty, he begins to threaten her: ” I’ll tear her all to pieces” This is a violent threat and shows Othello’s need to enforce his anger upon his blame towards Desdemona. This is a big flaw from Othello and his anger only makes his paranoia worse.

All these text present Flaws in effective ways and all through different methods of figurative language. They also show that everyone has flaws and they affect people in different ways. All the characters downfalls were a result of their flaws and Shakespeare and Browning use these flaws for the audience to relate to and also for a strong reaction when seeing how the flaws change the characters when exploited. This shows the writers clear intention to impact the audience.

 

 

Language Component 2

January 15, 2015 / / 2 Comments

Descriptive Writing

The Florescent orange lights were populated with the flying insects, stretching their patterned wings as if reaching for freedom, but always becoming a stretch further away. The moths admired the bright flickering of light as they all stared, hypnotised by the artificial illusion of freedom. The light lit the dark void of water below whilst an old dusty boot, clumsily splashed through the puddle, paying no attention to the beauty it destroyed. The path of Destruction continued as the boot created a distinctive print into the, once, natural pavement. The shadow drew further and further into the dark, ignoring all the innocent plants, lying dead on the ground, crushed by the ignorance of a man’s power.

The street couldn’t help but fell empty, the missing element of natural life lurked over the street, like a ghost from its past. The pure shimmering of light from the untouched bowels of darkness tried to fight the wreck humanity had created but it was too late. No one could save the unnatural world from the chaos that lay on planet earth.

Listen Closely. Do you hear the unconscious thoughts? Spreading from house to house like a pathogen infecting the body. Do you hear the silence? Silence of the policemen, silence of the shopkeeper, criminal, citizen, and teacher. The sound passes through time until every ding! And every Beep! Floods into the streets.  Listen closer. Do you now hear the concious thoughts parade through the bright street of life.

” Come n’ get your fresh fruit!”     “Juicy strawberry’s, 2 for £2!”                                                                                                             The enthusiastic seller yelled at the top his voice. He wore dark overalls, which had seen better days but the dust didn’t bother the joyful seller as he tried to make a living. It was the most natural part everyone’s day. Life’s one beautiful cycle, where once again, the great ball of fire would fill every dark void, putting our artificial bulbs to shame.

There two sides to every coin, two opposite sides. There are two sides to every street. The current side bounced up and down ready for anything. Some waited. You could see every eye stare and the colours of yet again more lights. The Red tinge to the light was not enough for them. They just waited… and waited. The red glow reflected onto a shiny bonnet of an expensive car. If you looked closely you would see the rays of pride emitting from all angles onto the car. But when you looked inside you would see the man filled with nothing but shame. He tapped the wheel of the newly polished car. “Tap Tap” He waited and waited. “Tap Tap” His eyes began to go into a trance looking deeply into the soul of the red tinged light. “Tap Tap Tap”. His designer office shoe pushed deep into the pedal as a different, orange tinged light was shown. Another strange cycle which occurred on the slabs of road and pavement, which people, pathetically, call a street.

Are you waiting? Waiting for light to change green? Waiting for someone to give you your next command? Waiting for life’s cycle to run its course? The street was filled with waiters but the kind to serve you food, although these too just wait and wait. For the next order. For their next shift. For a better job to come their way. These people circulated around the street, living less productive lives than the moths on the artificial lights.