Killing Us Softly

I had the chance to watch the video "Killing Us Softly" by media and culture critic Jean Kilbourne. I really enjoyed this video and found it to be very unique and interesting. Throughout this video, I found myself thinking more and more about advertisements in our society today. Before watching this video I didn't pay much attention towards advertisements. I just thought of advertisements as another way of getting ones attention towards certain products.

There were several interesting topics on advertisements throughout this video. For example, the topic of women and the effect they have on every advertisement they are on. I fount this topic on women to be very interesting due to the fact that I realized the amount of effect they actually have on an advertisement. Women seem to have more effect on advertisement than a man does. The reason for why this was were also very effective. There were also some facts explained in this video that I have never thought of learning. The author, Jean Kilbourne also did a great job of making this video even better by having some comedy in it. The comedy in this video was funny but then again everything she said was very true about advertisements today.
In overall, this was a very good video. I enjoyed watching it and I recommend it to anyone elso who hasn't.

Social/Cultural Messages in Advertising

I was able to analyse an advertisement made for an alcohol bottle called "Bacardi Limon."

In this advertisement, there were several stylish young people in a club. There were African American and American people in this advertisement. In this advertisement there is an American sitting in the bar of the club looking at the reflection of his glass with the bottle of Bacardi Limon in front of him. When he is looking at his glass, he see the reflection of a women in the dance floor staring straight at him. You can tell that the women has her attention on the guy by her sensual look on her face.

This advertisement has a obvious purpose. The purpose of this advertisement is to try convince people, especially if you are a male, to buy this drink. The advertisement is also obviously stating that with this drink, you will get females attention. In other words, the target in this advertisement are males and/or females who like to go out and have a good time.

Ring Around the Collar

Niel Postman's article "The Parable of the Ring Around the Collar," had very religious views on advertisements. In society today, an other word for advertisements is "commercials." Postman's article was all about television and religious advertisements. For example, Postman explains a story about a couple having dinner at a restaurant. This couple have an awkward moment during this dinner but after they go from being angry to being happy. In postman's article, this is used as an example of one's religion. Also, in this article Postman explains how television commercials no role in bringing in one's religious transformation, but they do do reflect the change. Postman has a great way of explaining and showing the importance of commercials.

In the very last sentence in Postman's article says, "That is why we have a solemn obligation to keep television commercials under the continuous scrutiny of hermeneutics." This last sentence to Postman's article is an example and shows the importance of these religious advertisements/commercials.

My These and Sources

My research topic is on "Aliens". I chose this topic due to the fact that like myself, there are many people in our world today who have their own thoughts and questions on aliens. Everyone has their own specific thoughts and questions about aliens. For example, I have always asked myself if aliens were actually real. If so, I would like to see evidence, news, more about aliens.

On the website "Alien-UFO-Research.com, there is a lot of information and pictures on aliens. When looking and reading through this website, my attention towards aliens grew and I wanted to learn more. The pictures on this site capturing real aliens caught my attention as well. On this site they have current news and updates on aliens and UFO's.
The "International community for alien research" website, there is also some good information. When reading through this web, I found a couple new unkown facts on aliens.
"Alien Ubduction and Experience and Research" is also another website where I found some good on Aliens. When going through this site, I was able to find some top stories on real life encounters with Aliens.
Also the "Alien Research Corp" web has some great photographs and news on my research topic, Aliens. Along with the photographs, this site has other important news and info on aliens and UFO's.
Being able to have these types of websites for my research topic, was very helpful.

Favorite American Destinations

The Tourists in this video seem to be enjoying their experience visiting Disneyworld. I also realized, when watching this video that most tourists are just browsing around the park. Now in days, tourist seem to enjoy Disneyworld much more. Watching this video also brought back memories of my only experience visiting Disneyworld. My experience seemed to be different from this video. This could be due to the fact that things have really changed from back in the 70's. The only experience I had visiting Disneyworld was back in the year 2003 and when watching this video, the difference from back then untill now is very noticible. Technology for example, is major factor for this reason. Now in days, when visiting Disneyworld, technology takes over throughout the park. To many visiters, technology has actually helped "experience the magic." There are also a few similarites from this video and Disneyworld today. For example, the same characters, the parades and most importantly, the way everything in the park makes you feel "happy."

Having a one chance to experience visiting Disneyworld was very unforgettable. This video really brought back memories and makes me want to go back again. I would like to visit Disney world and see how much things have changed from the last time I was there. Maybe things won't be as different, but this video has really got me thinking.

Why We Travel

This essay on why we travel, was very interesting in my oponion. I felt this way due to all the different views and aspects that the author described in his/her essay. The author also described his/her experiences when traveling. For example, the author describes his/her own experiences in Southeast Asia. When the author described his/her experience during and after visiting Southeast Asia, it was very interesting to read how he/she used thier emotions and feelings in the essay. Describing his/her emotions in the essay helped the author explain the topic wanting to provide. This essay also helped me to think more and ask myself, "why do I travel?" Everyone in my opinion, is different and so everyone has their own objectives when traveling. Everyone has thier own objectives on what they expect or what they want to expect when traveling. This essay describes the authors own experiences, emotions and reactins when traveling.

Historical Travel ads

In my opinion, the ad on the Bahamas was very interesting. The features on this ad is obviously the beautiful landscape and beach. This ad on the Bahamas is interesting to me due to that it just seems too simple for a travel ad. In other words, I feel like there should be more images. I feel this way because people, in my opinion, would get more attracted if there were more images to the ad. Images are important on ads, especialy travel ads because they help show a better description and feelings. On this travel ads, there could be more images of other activities that could be done at the Bahamas when traveling there. There could also be more images of more beautiful landscapes on the Bahamas.

The "Grand Cypress Resort" travel ad, in my opinion, is an example of travel ads should be. I feel this way mainly because it has enough images and information on it. This really helps people wanting to travel to this place. On this ad it shows beautiful landscape of the place, along with images of activities that can be done.

The Loss of the Creature

In my opinion, this essay was very interesting in many ways. I found it interesting due to the fact that it is rare for me to read essays of such topic. I also found this essay to have very good support to the point that was being made. It was very interesting to read the different examples that the author gave to try show and explain his point. I have never had any of my friends talk to me about taking a vacation to the grand canyon and seem so excited about it and in my opinion, this is where the author coming from. I agree with all the examples that the author gave in the essay. I personally have never visited or thought about visiting the grand canyon but after reading this essay, maybe some day I will.

Track One: Fantasies of Home

After reading "Track One: Fantasies of Home," "home" means a lot today in different ways. When reading, "A Home Sweet Home Nestled Amid Junkyards," it really gave me an understanding of what people view as home today. This text had a lot of detail and feelings towards what the people in their small neighborhood call home. Today home means a place or community and surroundings where they feel safe confortable. "Home" doesn't have to be the nicest place and could be "messy" looking like described in "A Home Sweet Home Nestled Amid Junkyards." Home is the place where it just feels right.
Class and culture are major when reflecting to people's homes. For example in the reading, "A Home Sweet Home Nestled Amid Junkyards," class and culture have to do a lot with the neighborhood they call "home". They show class and culture describing the way they live and how messy their neighborhood is. This shows a sign of class and culture because it shows how no matter how messy their place seems, they don't mind and still are able to call it "home".
Some problems people face today when wanting to create a home is chosing the neighborhood where they want to live in. People today just want to live in the perfect place with the "perfect" people around them, so they have trouble finding this "perfect" place. This is just a few of the problems people face when wanting to create a home. My grandparents faced the complete opposite of this when creating their home. To them it didn't matter where or what neighborhood they lived in. They never worried about finding the "perfect" place like people today do.

House Hunting

Todd Hido's compared to Owens and Lahrmers work is somewhat different. Hiddo's work and photographs were easier for me to understand his feelings and discriptions of a surburb area, compared to Owens/Lahrmers work. For example, listening to Hido's audio. Listening to the part of the audio where a man shows his emotions towards someone else parking in his driveway, helped me understand life in surburb area. Also, comparing Hido's work with Owens and Lahrmers work is some way similar because in all three of their work they show their personal emotions towards a surburb area.

Slowly Calling the Burbs Home/ Suburbia

Patricia Lahrmer's reading "Slowly Calling the Burbs Home," was very interesting in my opinion. At first I was'nt sure if Lahrmer was describing a suburb area that she liked or disliked. As I got more into the reading, I realized that Lahrmer's reading was describing how living in a surburb area can easily take affect in someones lives. When finished with the reading, I began to wonder how my life would be if I lived in a surburb area. I also thought to myself if I would to feel the same way Lahrmer describes in her reading. In overall, I really enjoyed this reading.
Bill Owens photographs in "Surburbia," were interesting to see. Every photograph has a caption with it, describing the picture. When looking through the photographs and reading the captions, I noticed that every picture is Owens way of showing his feelings towards a surburb area. I also noticed that each photographs shows the way of life in a surburb area.

In my opinion, both Lahrmer's reading and Owens photographs are somewhat different. Their discriptions show their different feelings towards a surburb area.

K'Mart Has a Loveable Disorder

This essay on "K'Mart," was very enjoyable and funny to read. Most of the essay was enjoyable for the same reason that it was funny. As I begun reading this essay, right then I realized that this essay was going to be a very interesting one. Everything in this essay, when describing K'Mart, was very similar to my experiences when visiting the store. Almost every piece of detail was very alike to the details I see when I go to a K'Mart.

In my own experiences, K'Mart sometimes does seem empty inside and outside the door. I always seem to find a parking lot and never have to worry about it. As I walk in the store, I don't see as many people as in other stores. Stores for example, like Target or Walmart. In stores like Target or Walmart, I experience the complete opposite from what I experience in K'Mart. These similar experiences are what made this essay very interesting and funny.

Criteria for a Healthy Landscape

Reading through this criteria for a healthy landscape gave me the chance to learn more and get something out of it. All seven main points in this reading were very interesting. These seven main points in this criteria had a lot of helpful information. Also, every main paragraph connects and begins with "a healthy landscape." The examples in this criteria were also very helpful when explaining a point. One of the main points which I found very interesting in this criteria was, "A healthy landscape connects its participants to themselves as individuals."

In overall, this "criteria for a healthy landscape," could be very helpful and beneficial for me in the future.

My Street

As I turn right on Sebastopol Rd, I notice the difference to the rest of the city. As I turn onto the street, on my right I see a "taqueria", a mexican restaurant. Right across from it, I notice the new mexican market. I notice the sides of road a bit more messy compared to the rest of the streets in town. As I keep driving down, I notice two ice cream men with their carts, one on each side of the road. I hear the bells as I drive right past them. On the corner I see a "taco truck" with smoke coming out from the top of the truck. I see a bunch of jewlery stores. This street brings a lot of emotions and memories. When I'm on this street, I feel like I have been their most of my life, this is because it reminds me of the country where I was born. Not just me notices this street, but I am sure the rest of the town does as well.

The Monument and the Bungalow

I "The Monument and the Bungalow" essay to be very interesting. Throughout my life, I have never thought about learning the education of landscape. After reading this essay, I have already realized that my thoughts of landscaping have changed. Even though the only Job I have had in my live is working in landscaping, the thought of learning eduacation from it never came to me. I really enjoyed reading this essay because it had a lot of examples and questions of university teachers and students. Reading this essay made me think back about the work I have done in landscaping. In this essay when reading about the similar questions students and teachers had about how to teach reading landscape, it was very interesting to read the different ideas. Asking questions, in my opinion was the perfect way accomplish it. For example, when asking questions about landscape, it would be easy to respond.


This essay has showed me a different way to view landscape and I am looking forward to the next job site.

About Myself

Hey everyone, my name is Manuel Leon but I am known as Manny. This is my second year here at SRJC and I have enjoyed it so far. Soccer is my sport and I have been playing for about nine years now. I play here for the JC mens soccer team where one of my goals is to win it all this season. When I'm not in school or playing soccer I try to work as much as I could. I try to work so that my parents don't have to worry about spending their money on me. When I'm not in school, soccer or working, I enjoy going out and spending time with my family and friends. Family to me always comes first. My family has always been there for me, through good and bad. If it wasn't for them, who knows where I would be now. I also try to be as responsible as possible.

This is the second time that I take an online class and I'm looking forward to this class. Getting a good grade in this class is another one of my goals. I know that if I focus and don't let any distractions get the way, I will do well. Not only do I want to do well in this class but also in the rest of my class.