Multimedia Project

For my multimedia argument, the topic I have chosen is related to the issue of global warming. My multimedia argument is in response to a video that I have watched on TED. David Keith is a scientist that explains how we are aware of climate change for the past 50 years now, and we are not on a road to a solution. Keith explains to his audience that we have two solutions, we could cut emissions, but it will be too slow, or, we could use sulfur to block the sun and cool the earth very quickly. Keith is trying to persuade his audience that we need to move out of the shadows of global warming and think about it. Not only do we need to think about whether to do geoenginering or not, but we need to decide who is going to do it all. By improving science and technology, it will give us more leverage on what we can do.

For my multimedia argument, I wanted to create an image that targeted adults. I think the lifespan for my projection as a digital text could last for a while, because of the issue of climate change. Climate change has been around for a while now, and I think it will continue to evolve as time progress. I think the text and images could change by replacing the images with other images of global warming and life. People can change the picture of the child wearing a facemask to something else that relates to the endangered species. Or, someone could change the picture of a person holding the tree to another picture of nature. I think the text will stay the same in the image in order to make the message of the image clearer. In my peer review, my partners did not understand the picture without the texts, so having the text helps make the message clear. I faded the text in the picture because the pictures are more important than the text. I want the audience to look at the picture and wonder what the image is supposed to argue. I think by having two pictures and two check boxes make my argument really simple and easy to understand to the audience. I chose to put the words life and death to make the audience conclude about climate change. I chose the picture where it shows someone holding a tree in his or her hand. It is supposed to symbolize how important and sacred the environment is.  I want to persuade the audience to make a decision on whether they want to continue with pollution, or save the environment. The background of the picture is neutral so that the audience can focus intently into the picture. I hope that my image will be recreated into something that may be more impacting, because I am limited in my abilities to use Photoshop.  My purpose of this image is to have the audience think about the issue even if they are no longer looking about the image. 

Apple

The Iphone 4s is the latest Apple product that was released on October 4^th, 2011, before the death of one of its founders, Steve Jobs. Over the years, Apple has become the number one most valued brand in the world, knocking Google down to number two. In the Iphone 4s commercial, Apple argues through emotional appeals in order to persuade consumers to purchase the new Iphone. The commercial shows its customers using their phones to schedule appointments, set reminders, text message, and locating places through their new assistant named, Siri. The emotional appeal comes from consumers having the familiarity with having a flat tire and needing assistance. Apple argues if you have a flat tire, Siri will assist you with whatever you need. This commercial makes consumers trust the Apple brand even more, because you are able to ask direct questions to your phone and get help sooner. 

Bod man fragrance

I remember seeing this commercial air during the summer time, but I have not seen one recently. I just thought this would be a good example for discussing rhetorical strategies commercials often use to persuade their consumers to buy their products. Bod Man is a brand that sells fragrances for men, and is very notable for their commercials. Most of their commercial features include a few men with muscular bodies, with many women staring at them. Also, the commercial has a woman’s voice that says, “I want your bod.” Bod creates an argument through invented ethos in order to persuade the consumers to purchase their product. It can be assumed that if you purchased their Bod Man fragrance, you will have perfect abs, and women drooling over you. The intended audience for this commercial is for men, but I am sure plenty of women and children come across this commercial. For me, I really find this commercial really funny, because it just seems too far out there to be considered real. 

I came across this picture on Facebook when a friend had recently posted it. A few weeks ago there was a picture similar to this one that looked like the actor Nicolas Cage. The picture with Nicolas Cage and Daniel Radcliffe have the same humorous effect. I guess it is comparing that since Harry Potter is a wizard, so he is almost immortal. There is an article from the Hollywood Reporter makes humorous claims that Nicolas Cage must be a vampire because the picture looks exactly like him. The article said that the picture of Nicolas Cage look a like was offered one million dollars for the picture. I think this is a good example of a nanostory from And Then There's This by Bill Wasik. The Nicolas Cage picture died down and now there is the Harry Potter picture surfacing.

Facebook

This meme is a continuation of previous ones that were in response to the outrage over Facebook changing its layout once again. It relates to the concept of the nano story in Wasik’s And Then There’s This book because this meme will eventually die out until Facebook make other changes to their layout again. This meme mocks how Facebook created two newsfeed in one page. I honestly do not understand why Facebook changed its layout to having two newsfeed on one page. There was a previous meme that was created before that says: “Facebook Changes Again! Can you hear a funny noise coming from earth? Oh don’t worry, it happens every time Facebook changes.” 

Angry Ponies

I thought this picture was really funny since they made many versions of angry birds already.