tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64823345223171666092024-02-19T05:21:52.575-08:00Grady at Oxford 2012Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-87940441214179021292012-08-10T15:09:00.003-07:002012-08-10T15:12:16.339-07:00Heading Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was a gorgeous day in Oxford today. Sunny AND dry. Unfortunately, it was the day that most of us had to head to the airport. Hope you will keep some of the posts coming. Here are some parting shots for you<span id="goog_164586504"></span><span id="goog_164586505"></span>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-13475805698052880072012-08-10T07:00:00.000-07:002012-08-10T07:00:26.304-07:00Since we talked about it in class, thought I would pass along ESPN's list of the Top 10 Athletes of the 20th Century:<br />
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1. </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016048.html"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Michael Jordan</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
2. </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016451.html"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Babe Ruth</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
3. </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014063.html"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Muhammad Ali</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
4. </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014125.html"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Jim Brown</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
5. </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014218.html"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Wayne Gretzky</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
6. </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016393.html"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Jesse Owens</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
7. </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016499.html"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Jim Thorpe</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
8. </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016223.html"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Willie Mays</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
9. </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016385.html"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Jack Nicklaus</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
10. </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014147.html"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Babe Didrikson</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/athletes.html">http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/athletes.html</a><br />
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You will note that Babe Didrikson was the only female. Check out her bio and perhaps you will see why she earned a place on this list. It is particularly impressive since she died young and in the mid-1950s.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-76120449519390399752012-08-09T23:02:00.001-07:002012-08-09T23:02:11.601-07:00United BlingdomIt seems like a lot of people on here are starting to get irked about Britain's cheesy obsession with Team GB. But we can't blame them! Hosting the Olympics and racking up medals (after a slow start) is reason enough to get a little overboard with their excitement. Ask yourself, when you have a chance to represent USA in some sort of match, event, or even the 4th, let's get real, how tacky do you get? Pretty tacky to where it's almost an embarrassment. But you don't care because you're proud to show of your citizenship and pride for the greatest country on the planet! Back to Britain, it surely is cheesy and cute the way they're excited for their winning team. It seems that every commentator would rather focus on that than the scandal that could have just happened in the sport they're working - like gymnastics. I think I see the excitement more in the newspapers though. During these past two weeks, the only headline/photo I've seen on every front page is winning results/athletes from the day before - or even HOURS before. Yesterday, a friend was reading one of these papers, and it was interesting because it didn't have an athlete on the front - it was just numerous gold medals with the cheesiest line of all: "United Blingdom." Yeah, I guess we can make our own judgements on that one. Congrats Team GB, thanks for a great Olympics and GO TEAM USA!<br />
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<br />Teresa Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720368215524909255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-77549165060586369962012-08-09T11:30:00.001-07:002012-08-10T14:20:54.340-07:00Olympics ExperienceI attended the bronze medal women's soccer match in Coventry this afternoon. This is the closest I will ever get to "going to" the Olympics since I have negative athletic ability. It was definitely a fantastic experience to see other women who do have talent representing their countries and playing to win them a medal. And they sure were playing to win; my blood pressure was spiking each time one of the teams almost scored a goal and came so close, but not close enough.<br />
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The experience was great besides just the game. The Olympics staff members and volunteers were extremely nice, and were helpful and friendly at the rail station. There were people everywhere at the stadium directing fans and contributing to a sense of safety and control despite it being in something of a secluded spot in the middle of the day. <br />
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Going to the game meant a lot to me--the 1996 Olympics happened before I lived in Georgia, so this was a truly special experience for me. It's not something I ever thought I would get to do, but I am so glad I had the opportunity. I haven't been able to watch the Olympics coverage much, so I am glad I got to experience it in person!<br />
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Has anyone who remembers the Atlanta Olympics gone to the London Olympics and had any similar (or different) experiences? Do you think the venue contributes to the experience, or that the Games are mostly the same no matter where they're held?Samantha Meyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17000932289586801042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-34562108634348477342012-08-09T11:03:00.000-07:002012-08-09T11:03:07.538-07:00All Good Things Must Come To an End...Or Do They?Saying I'm a procrastinator is an understatement. So it's no surprise that I've waited until the last day to compose my final blog post. But whereas I normally put things off because I'm a tad lazy, this time it's different-- I waited until the last minute because I just don't think I want to acknowledge the fact that our time here at Oxford has come to an end.<br />
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I knew I would have a wonderful experience here; I knew I would learn a lot and enjoy the subject matter. But I think I underestimated the impact that our Grady class would have on me.<br />
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Before taking this class, my experience in Grady was mostly confined to PR and news writing classes. I found other majors such as advertising and broadcast journalism interesting, but I didn't know much about them. Being in this class allowed me to understand the perspectives of students with different majors and let me learn more about them. I really enjoyed hearing everyone's experiences with their career pursuits and what attracted them to their major. What was especially remarkable was that this class showed me how interconnected our professions are-- whether you're in PR, advertising, photojournalism, magazines, the theories of mass communication still affect your lives. Our careers are all influenced by the mass media and the growing age of social media. Even if you aren't in Grady or aren't majoring in the field of communications, what we learned in class was still relevant to our lives and really changed the way I'll look at the mass media. I'll be more aware of advertisements, how news stories are framed, whether or not ads and commercials perpetuate negative stereotypes or break them, and other issues such as these. I think, if nothing else, this is what we were supposed to have taken away from this class-- to be more cognizant of the world around us and understand how the media affects us and how we can adapt to it. We can all take what we've learned and apply it to each of our professions, and I can tell by seeing my peers' final presentations that this will definitely be the result.<br />
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This probably won't be my last post, because I think this blog has been a fantastic way for us to not only document our journeys, but to view the progress that we've made-- so I'll keep composing to show how much this class has really affected me. I know it's a bittersweet ending, because Oxford has stolen most of our hearts and it's very sad to leave, but I can't wait to get back to Athens and continue to experience more of what UGA and Grady have to offer me.<br />
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<br />Rachel Kaplanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06080791942231923670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-47080144305817893732012-08-08T13:23:00.002-07:002012-08-08T13:23:32.815-07:00Britain's Gold RushThis year's Olympics stands as a milestone for Team GB. They currently rank third overall and hold an impressive 22 gold medals. Considering that less than 20 years ago, they only won 1 gold medal in the Atlanta Olympics, Team GB has come a long way. Newspaper front covers have reflected a growing sense of pride and patriotism, particularly after the past weekend's "Super Saturday" when Britain celebrated its greatest single Olympic day in over a century. I suppose I have been lucky enough to pull for a country that has continued to dominate the Olympic stage (or podium) and have therefore been slightly desensitized towards our collection of medals. I constantly update the medal count; sometimes after only 3 hours of not checking, we will have collected multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals. It's hard to image America not being ranked in the top 3 most decorated countries, nevertheless bringing home medals in the single digits.<br />
For Britain, I think the excitement of hosting the Olympics on their own turf and other recent international attentions (the jubilee and the royal wedding) has definitely given the country the boost that it needed.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451528774883577331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-64401588161010269502012-08-08T08:35:00.001-07:002012-08-08T08:35:23.905-07:00American Wives Versus Army Wives<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>American Wives</i><i> (</i>called <i>Army Wives</i> in the USA)</b></span></div>
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I'm sure many of you are familiar with the show <i>Army Wives</i>. While I was in France this past weekend, I recognized the characters from it in a teaser on French TV. I was at first surprised to see that they broadcast the show in France, but I got over that initial shock pretty quickly when I saw how they were broadcasting it. Instead of calling it <i>Army Wives</i>, it is simply labeled <i>American Wives</i>. I found this to be quite troubling. I don't know if a lot of French people watch the show, but given that it's centered solely around Army wives and the dramatized struggles they go through, I take issue with simply calling it <i>American Wives</i>. The Army represents a fairly small segment of our population when considered in the context of the variety of other women who are married and living in the States. What do you think is the reasoning behind the title of this show in France? Can you think of any other examples either in our culture or in another culture where a television show is re-branded and ends up incorrectly depicting an entire population?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115007721962005412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-19027774201770263782012-08-08T03:19:00.000-07:002012-08-08T03:19:32.660-07:00NBC is greater than BBC. At Least When it Comes to Sports Coverage.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hate watching the Olympics in Great
Britain. Some obvious reasons exist for this spite, particularly the
fact that I am American and am less interested in British athletes
than American athletes. This reason, however, can't really be
justified because, hey, we're in Great Britain. They should be
following their athletes. The reason I hate watching Olympic sports
in Great Britain is because don't know how to cover sports.</div>
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America is so good at covering sports.
We do it all the time. Fall to Winter to Spring to Summer. You'd be
hard pressed to turn on a television in America and not be able to
surf to a sports program. This constant sports coverage certainly
translates to coverage of the most hectic and largest sporting event
in the world: the Olympics. In Great Britain, the BBC edit instant
replays with slow motion zoom in cuts of high fives. In America, NBC
actually shows the play that merited the instant replay in the first
place. BBC showcases British swimmers finishing last. BBC misses the
emotional impact of the Olympics as well. I haven't even heard that
iconic Olympic jingle that always sends chills down my spine of
excitement.</div>
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NBC does backstories of athletes. BBC
does exposes of their boring Equestrian bronze medalists. I know I'm
biased. But watching the Olympics here in Oxford has been
increasingly frustrating. Thats something I would have never
expected. But it makes a lot of sense. America is just better at
sports coverage and editing. As far as I'm concerned, its that
simple. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06292084806974759292noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-70065437964215068012012-08-07T20:23:00.002-07:002012-08-07T20:23:06.799-07:00PR On Every Level<br />
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Our last weekend trip was spent in Barcelona, and although
the city was unbelievably beautiful, we hit a few snafus. The biggest came when
one of the members in our group lost her tourist bus ticket while we were off
the bus. When we "hopped on" again, we tried to explain to the
situation to the ticket woman. Even though our “lost-ticket” friend showed the
ticket woman her book of discounts and map that they hand to you, and we all
showed her our tickets that we all bought together, she still would not let her
ride without buying another ticket. She did show us the rulebook however, which
explicitly states that without a ticket, you cannot ride. I guess that is fair
enough. But what really bothered us was that the bus driver turned around and
spoke to the ticket woman in Spanish. Little did he know a member of our group speaks
fluent Spanish. He made comments like "Someone needs to tell them that if
you lose your movie ticket they do not let you back in the movie" and
after we opted to buy another ticket, he said, "oh look how calm they are
now". It was really rude and offensive. Just because we're American
doesn't mean we are ignorant. And if you're in the business where tourists are
your main source of income, maybe you should hold back on your offensive
comments and appreciate that we traveled so far to visit you're beautiful city.
This goes to show that there is PR at every level, even with tourist relations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After this experience, I wrote the bus company quite the
scathing review on trip advisor. It might be one review out of millions, but it
is still a warning to the public. Due to “Barcelona Bus Turistic’s” bad PR,
they had some bad PR handed back to them. <o:p></o:p></div>Maddie Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357126956167419494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-11460109800560331092012-08-07T15:44:00.003-07:002012-08-07T15:47:25.131-07:00Always on SaleHaving a sale is an easy way for an advertiser to catch the attention of prospective buyers. Here in Oxford, it seems like every store or restaurant is in a constant state of discount. While this may be a result of the many tourists who frequent Oxford streets in the daytime, it does lead me to think about why stores would be constantly selling items as part of a sale. The rise of the online marketplace certainly has something to do with this, but discounts can be seen everywhere.<br />
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One restaurant on George Street actually offers half off of pizza at all times. Why wouldn't the restaurant just have lower prices instead of constantly being discounted? It seems like a marketing ploy to just always be giving the customer a "good" deal. Is it unethical of an establishment to promote an item as on sale if the price is consistently the same?John Leonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05677125964631787436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-91896422790381061252012-08-07T13:46:00.000-07:002012-08-07T13:46:04.021-07:00Laws In Ireland
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A few weeks ago I went to
Dublin on a weekend getaway with some friends. In our efforts to do as
many things as we could in a short amount of time, we went two places that
really got me thinking. The first was a little street market where people
were selling their crafts. I came upon a table where two Irish women were
selling the jewelry they had made. I wanted to purchase my Mom a
bracelet, so I asked what kinds of materials the bracelets were made out of. I
always do this in the United States to make sure I do not purchase any jewelry
containing Nickel or Lead. The woman said they were made out of silver
and not to worry because it was illegal in Ireland to make jewelry containing
harmful or irritating metals such as Nickel or Lead. This struck me
because I could not believe there was actually a law in place for something so
small. Later on, for dinner, my friends and I attended a nice little
restaurant across from the theater we were attending. In an effort to
have "American" food, I ordered a Burger. I asked for it to be
cooked medium well and the server replied, "You don't have to tell us how
you want it cooked because it is illegal in Ireland to serve meat undercooked.”
Here I was again, shocked at the second small law I had learned about
that day. These laws did not anger me; I actually thought they were
great. They really showed how the government in Ireland wants to protect
their people. I think the United States should adopt more laws like this.
Maybe then the problems people have in the U.S. would lessen just a
little bit. Do you think the United States would ever allow laws like
this to be created or does it infringe too much on our Democratic ideals? How
do you think the media would respond to creation of such laws in the United
States?</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Ellie Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614809727899583899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-47768287228951970412012-08-07T12:40:00.001-07:002012-08-07T12:40:15.749-07:00There is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch<br />
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<a href="http://www.nipahutgardens.com/images/chaseflex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.nipahutgardens.com/images/chaseflex.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
phrase is common—there is no such thing as a free lunch. A free lunch might not
exist, but apparently there <i>is</i> such a
thing as free dinner and unlimited drinks, if you have a Visa Chase card that
is. Last Thursday night I was in London. The guys I went to visit had heard
about a VIP lounge for Visa Chase Card holders. One Visa Chase card provided
entry for the holder and five guests. One of the boys I was with is a Visa
Chase card holder so we all walked toward Trafalgar Square to the hotel hosting
the lounge. Inside this VIP lounge, one had access to wifi, multiple TV screens
airing the Olympics, an open bar and a gourmet style dinner. We all kept asking
each other, “what is the catch?” But there was no catch! What surprised me the
most was the fact that this was not a one night deal. This VIP lounge was open
July 27 to August 12. In other words, it was open for the entire duration of
the 2012 London Olympics. On their website Visa says, “<span style="background: white;">Join us at Visa's VIP Lounge, exclusively for Visa Chase cardmembers.
It's your private retreat during the London 2012 Olympic Games.</span>” Visa suggests
that this VIP lounge is set up as an appreciation for their customers, but this
lounge serves another purpose as well. By allowing the cardholder to bring five
guests, Visa is ensuring that people outside of their current clientele are exposed
to Visa in a very positive light. Attending this VIP lounge definitely made me
want to be a Visa Chase cardmember! However, Visa is spending A LOT of money to
sustain this VIP lounge. Seventeen days of free food and unlimited drinks for a
couple hundred people a night is worth a very large sum of money. By hosting this
type of reception during the Olympics, Visa is able to promote their product very
positively to a global audience; however, I would be curious to know if this positive
advertising offsets the extreme cost incurred over the course of those
seventeen days. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Picture obtained from: <a href="http://www.nipahutgardens.com/cardchase.asp">http://www.nipahutgardens.com/cardchase.asp</a>Ashley Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455719474938902420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-81145276723333651042012-08-07T12:03:00.000-07:002012-08-07T12:03:26.063-07:00Decent vs Spectacular<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuskcSBI4qnAqtx_vabLUvgvPnmOBM0Tj-rvljMjrK2bx486Eo0HRrQ0zVAARUpglgz2aPGnYYen4V6rnG6fZnsaaDVxT2XpC_TV1-urTRHjdycUyxZlNQppoffuj2QfUecCHO9ahG3Dc/s1600/IMG_0712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuskcSBI4qnAqtx_vabLUvgvPnmOBM0Tj-rvljMjrK2bx486Eo0HRrQ0zVAARUpglgz2aPGnYYen4V6rnG6fZnsaaDVxT2XpC_TV1-urTRHjdycUyxZlNQppoffuj2QfUecCHO9ahG3Dc/s320/IMG_0712.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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In Dublin this weekend I spotted this promotional ad for a new store. It really stuck out to me because in the upper left and right hand corner was a sign for "The Decent Cigar Emporium," the store right next door that was still open. The contrast between the "Spectacular New Shop" and "The Decent Cigar Emporium" made me laugh. Then it made me think why anyone would name their store as "decent." Possibly decent has a better connotation in Dublin than it does in America. I doubt that however, since the other store was called "spectacular." Perhaps the store is telling the truth, as Sue Unerman suggested. I cannot be sure as I did not go into the Cigar Emporium nor do I smoke cigars to know the difference between a decent and great cigar. This was just an interesting advertisement to me due to the juxtaposition of the contrasting adjectives.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05446104967011426855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-165825643266715002012-08-07T08:05:00.001-07:002012-08-07T08:05:27.730-07:00A Typical Sunday in OxfordThis past Sunday, my roommate and I decided to go out for the famous "Sunday Lunch" at The Eagle and Child Pub. Just by chance, we happened to sit in a room where two other American guys were already eating. Once they heard our southern Georgia accents, they asked us where we were from, excited to meet some fellow Americans. After the small talk was finished, they informed us that they were in London for the month working for one of the largest and most successful advertising agencies in the States, DDB.<br />
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Their job for these next few weeks is to go around London and find fun, creative ideas for their videos promoting McDonald's. McDonald's is a huge sponsor for the London Olympics, but they have to overcome the obstacle of selling an American business in a foreign country. Their challenge is to make videos that can relate to a wide range of people who may not already identify with Mcdonald's or America. Click the link below to watch three of the videos they have already made (my favorite is the second one with the guy in the purple shirt) and check back again for a new one being posted on August 8th. They've incorporated people of different nationalities, various olympic sports, and the love of McDonald's food all into one video, making them very successful as well as fun to watch!<br />
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http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd.htmlUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-841602995991372252012-08-07T04:21:00.001-07:002012-08-07T04:21:16.351-07:00Absolutely Curious...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1WwLpM72M3qGRrLLpx6BzEXoXAJUNhz3xyB5Q6Sku3aFHzZbwjPioY4cbNxms9Hb2t1Oj2aOB0i-ljGBZg4cvL9S7Grw4kqeZFrRTwUsHqjTvlI0iJj9W4oUtC_ADxjIpKYX9wTLD_yF/s1600/IMG_3164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1WwLpM72M3qGRrLLpx6BzEXoXAJUNhz3xyB5Q6Sku3aFHzZbwjPioY4cbNxms9Hb2t1Oj2aOB0i-ljGBZg4cvL9S7Grw4kqeZFrRTwUsHqjTvlI0iJj9W4oUtC_ADxjIpKYX9wTLD_yF/s320/IMG_3164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My trip to Dublin, this weekend, served as a great source for fodder and
blog content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While waiting at a
bus stop, this advertisement for Absolut vodka passed by, and I couldn’t help
but notice it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ad reads:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It all starts with an Absolut blank.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The advertisement is simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The limited use of color makes the patterned bottle stand out, and the
starkness of the white background certainly popped against the overly vibrant
yellow of the bus (compare this ad to the Coca Cola ad on the bus next to it,
and the difference is clear).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
typeface is easily readable, in all caps, and the gray and white color
combination allows the text to exist without taking away from the greater
message—Absolut is a versatile drink (a blank canvas, if you will), and this
provides endless possibilities for the drink and the situation in which it is
consumed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These seven words
provide a powerful and somewhat uninhibited message, without the use of sexual
content or violence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The refreshing nature of this ad made me look twice, but do you think
this ad is effective? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I’m sure much of this depends on the target audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the forum in which it is
displayed (public transit in a prime tourist destination--Temple Bar), this ad may be meant for tourists, not the
citizens of Dublin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would be
my first guess, as the ad is relatively culture neutral (at least in comparison
to the Jameson ad posted earlier), but what are your thoughts?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who do you think the intended target
audience is for this advertisement, and is it effective?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294339993614964930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-8425218673620481422012-08-07T01:27:00.002-07:002012-08-07T01:27:22.983-07:00Olympic Rings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGeexudJ6ILNJcDDf8RbBbowTlNJoYFg1lCHSVVhOPlwy2XcKx6R6jl5S-a5Zmn9A8Qkl2hVcxuPi3CtHB0RVXnXhrcsxLW2oi9_WWtvdjZLh_QJPRJ8WNJlSxwQEEGOL3809X4iyx24n/s1600/olympic+rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGeexudJ6ILNJcDDf8RbBbowTlNJoYFg1lCHSVVhOPlwy2XcKx6R6jl5S-a5Zmn9A8Qkl2hVcxuPi3CtHB0RVXnXhrcsxLW2oi9_WWtvdjZLh_QJPRJ8WNJlSxwQEEGOL3809X4iyx24n/s320/olympic+rings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Of the countless Olympic-themed advertisements I've come across in London
over the past 6 weeks, this may be my favorite. Despite its obvious creative
brilliance, this European ad also addresses the very serious, (but
American-taboo) topic of safe sex. During my time in London and Paris, I
encountered numerous advertisements stressing the importance of condoms and
other precautionary measures in terms of mediating the consequences of coitus.
Now, I have mixed feelings about these ads and unfortunately the situation is
really a catch 22. I do not think these blatant exhibitions on public streets
are ideal for the eyes of the children that are likely to be strolling along.
However, I do think Europe has the right idea in educating its people on the
importance of being wary of sexual repercussions. Which do you think is more
important-protection or education?<br />
<br />
On a side note, I recently read an article that suggests this ad may not be
for Londoners as much for their visiting foreign friends.<br />
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http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/sex-relationships/sex/london-2012-sex-mad-athletes-set-1144971<br />
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Interesting...It makes you wonder which of the games is really generating
the most competition. <br />
<br />jessie.mooney...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10908343930764062351noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-67948092129618623872012-08-07T01:25:00.001-07:002012-08-08T00:30:47.017-07:00Opening Ceremonies Concert<br />
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This past weekend I was lucky enough to witness the opening
ceremonies as a small, foreign speck in a massive crowd of UK folks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I attended the BT London Live concert,
which was the “official Opening Ceremonies concert” in London. In the middle of
the concert, they paused to show the Opening Ceremonies live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The amount of excitement that enveloped
the crowd during the Opening Ceremony was remarkable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a tourist standing amongst them, I felt a little bit out
of place; it was almost as if I was impeding on a moment of nationalism for the
Londoners witnessing the event together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although I loved that the Opening Ceremonies played so much into Great
Britain’s personal history, I also thought it was interesting that London
decided to go with a show that was so specific to the nation itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When hosting an international event, I
would have expected them to be a little more international in scope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The route they chose wasn’t distasteful
by any means, but I just would have never thought to take it in such a local
direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very cleverly
crafted, because while I laughed along with the jokes and was equally in awe at
the ceremony itself, the “locals” seemed even more enthralled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were definitely some elements
that I just didn’t get, but they did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was most true when it came to the music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the people at the concert could sing along with all
the songs played during the Opening Ceremony, while I had never even heard of a
lot of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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The whole time I was watching the ceremonies, I was pretty
surprised at how much media played a role in the overarching theme of the
Opening Ceremony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole show
was basically a showcase of some of the UK’s biggest icons and “claims to fame”
of all time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had fun with
elements of their own culture, like the royal family for example, as well as
with UK pop culture icons such as David Beckham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Witnessing the reactions from the crowd was unbeatable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was this one guy standing right
behind me who had the best reactions!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The most hilarious moment was when the Queen showed up in the
ceremony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All he could say was “No
way, no way! Ah that’s so cool!” over and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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This is what made me think of the media’s role in
cultivating that deep sense of nationalism that was clear in the reactions of
all the locals surrounding me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947936568888634682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-58933642262713792732012-08-07T00:30:00.003-07:002012-08-07T00:30:42.760-07:00Health Food, there is lots of it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltb1bMKAvWbpY0Ht9zCc6RnheMltJVvXjbatUs0BT-SNbewM3QnYA6oQtzc_IaTNEcLJ4jOkIT3QkUP1b2KpptvOqo0Im33EzQdy2rfXsWydX6z350F3OfAE71hlWT2wVKHCsX1RXgyQ/s1600/healthy-food-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltb1bMKAvWbpY0Ht9zCc6RnheMltJVvXjbatUs0BT-SNbewM3QnYA6oQtzc_IaTNEcLJ4jOkIT3QkUP1b2KpptvOqo0Im33EzQdy2rfXsWydX6z350F3OfAE71hlWT2wVKHCsX1RXgyQ/s320/healthy-food-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To advertise a food product or to even have it on the shelf
in the supermarket, I have found there to be an extensive appeal to
vegetarians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems, that here
in the United Kingdom they are more conscientious about staying true to what
vegetarian food is, and have more of it then in the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also typically more of a use
of the calorie count on the products in comparison to the United States as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in McDonalds, the
calorie counts for each and every product is shown, even if it is 645
calories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the United States, if
one desires this type of labeling on their products that caters to vegans and
vegetarians, and is explicit with labeling their calorie count; they oftentimes
have to venture over to a health store supermarket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The </div>
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Why is this labeling so much more prevalent in the United
Kingdom? Are British people as a culture more health conscientious than
Americans?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>HBAllen.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12675470050035533689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-80588854901536995352012-08-05T17:31:00.004-07:002012-08-07T15:48:31.408-07:00Team GBWhile the Olympics bring excitement and a sense of national pride to America, they did bring some controversy to Great Britain. Besides the fact that the Olympic games were being held in London, the issue of how Team Great Britain would compete was heavily argued about.<br />
<br />
It seems that many British have the opinion that Team GB should be split up and athletes should compete for their respective lands (England, Scotland, or Wales) instead. In all FIFA soccer events these countries compete individually from each other, yet they play as one in the Olympics. Now this does bring Great Britain more recognition, since their medal count is much higher, but is it worth it for these countries to give up their pride and heritage for more acclaim?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />John Leonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05677125964631787436noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-17081317464104492942012-08-05T16:14:00.001-07:002012-08-05T16:14:57.797-07:00Southern or British?The longer I have been in England and the more British people I have met, the more I have realized them saying what in America people would consider "southern" words and phrases. For example, I have heard many British people say "reckon", which in America is used primarily by very Southern people.<br />
While walking around looking for somewhere to eat with my friend I saw a sign outside a restaurant called Zizzis that said "ZIZZIS IN THE HOUSE, YALL". Seeing that, I wasn't sure if the restaurant was making fun of Americans or if it was ever used ove here.<br />
At a pub a few nights ago, I was speaking with some newly acquired British friends and the word y'all slipped from my mouth. They started busting out laughing saying how "cute" it was to hear someone say y'all. This lead me to realize the sign outside of Zizzis had to mean something else. It is just very interesting that although both countries speak English, how different it really can be.bonnie pinturhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023186950283805660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-82087566169150056372012-08-05T15:52:00.002-07:002012-08-05T15:52:36.153-07:00British Newspaper and TV RelationshipIn the past week, most of us have tried to watch the Olympic Games, but only to find that we are limited to the UK provider of Olympic content - the BBC. I've caught a few sports, listened to some commentary, but did not get the same feel as I do in the US when I watch the Olympics, or sports in general. I've found the commentaries very interesting, and sometimes quite funny, but I feel like the commentators take to their job as more of an entertainment aspect than an actual sport aspect. For example, after every swim match, the commentators talk about what just happened for a few seconds, and then go off topic into some other aspect of the Olympics (most of the time it's Team GB). I'm not sure who's who in the reporting and news world in the UK, but it seems to me that the reporters and commentators have a higher status here than in the US.<br />
<br />
While browsing through a British newspaper today, (which is all focused on the Olympics, of course), I noticed an article about people crying at the Olympics. This is not what caught my eye. What caught my eye was what was under the picture of a crying athlete. It said "From the TV chair of Rachel Johnson." This stood out to me because it did a major crossover - it merged TV and print together, working harmoniously. It was really cool to see the bigger role and multi-talented role that British reporters held. It shows that someone who is always at the action of the Olympics, who's main job is to report on television, is also giving the world something in print. It makes sense because here I've noticed that newspapers have a bigger presence. All in all, it seems that as a journalist, you can do anything in GB.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrUEjOjr6m6xbzTM6uYmpeItvZtKKSnjPjyB6JUN0S-WS0TZFArIGTJOrpzwcJTsK0A6fmdqfkSsKKwkJpRo63Rje0PFRY0op5jBIXeyKQshFad48QxFxI3e0rdSafi6RPmtNoBGdp8c/s1600/gradyblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrUEjOjr6m6xbzTM6uYmpeItvZtKKSnjPjyB6JUN0S-WS0TZFArIGTJOrpzwcJTsK0A6fmdqfkSsKKwkJpRo63Rje0PFRY0op5jBIXeyKQshFad48QxFxI3e0rdSafi6RPmtNoBGdp8c/s320/gradyblog.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Teresa Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720368215524909255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-25025714639242825972012-08-05T15:17:00.001-07:002012-08-05T15:17:55.622-07:00Ted Talks and the future of humans<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;">Here's the link to the Ted Talk I mentioned in class on Friday. The parts that have the greatest implications for communication go from 11:11 onward.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Syi9bqfFIdY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3313870553392917" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He talks about evolution in real time- seeing rapid changes of the brain and the idea that we are</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“processing more information in a day than people used to in a lifetime” - this is an effect of the media and an effect of the internet. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By having a world of information readily available at our fingertips, we have the potential to change the way that our brains operate and potentially become more cognitively advanced. </span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you think this is a bit of a stretch or that it’s entirely possible?</span></b></b></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Joanna</span></span></b></div>
tradition with an edgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04595399516853260326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-65998014909185353712012-08-05T13:47:00.001-07:002012-08-05T13:47:28.101-07:00A little ModestyThroughout my course here in the United Kingdom, I have noticed a significant difference in the sexuality of this country. I noticed it first when I went to London. I am very big into broadway musicals and have seen many in New York. I saw <i>Mama Mia </i>a couple years ago on Broadway. When we went to London we decided to find tickets and go to <i>Mama Mia.</i> The script was the same, but the modesty was not. The actors and actresses seemed to be much more sexual than the version I saw in New York.<br />
<br />
That same weekend I also saw a large difference in the British word choice. There were several occasions when I heard people speaking on the phone using the f bomb every other word. We then met some older men in a pub one night and their language was extremely vulgar. They had no filter. It seemed strange to me the terms and phrases they were talking about in general, but the fact that they had no problem using them in front of 3 girls was very strange.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibntMlsuu_E2ax-0VNvFdfsC4Dv_tL-_SqY0vbSs3Y1iD-ypfthMjlZGYvE1YTq35Z-mUbtQYRy5RHNcV_ANKdMwkSDiDNnmjSbvxS3GTLJJXKmym4rXOfu6AUoGOT5dRw17WnmH8zNHrS/s1600/rugby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibntMlsuu_E2ax-0VNvFdfsC4Dv_tL-_SqY0vbSs3Y1iD-ypfthMjlZGYvE1YTq35Z-mUbtQYRy5RHNcV_ANKdMwkSDiDNnmjSbvxS3GTLJJXKmym4rXOfu6AUoGOT5dRw17WnmH8zNHrS/s320/rugby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Finally I actually met a group of Oxford students at a bar one night. We chatted about school and compared and contrasted Oxford and UGA. The list of things to do before you graduate differed pretty drastically from the UGA's list. Most of it entailed having sex in various places and drinking. I found this to be quite amusing. Lastly he showed me the rugby team picture. This picture took me by surprise to say the least. This would not fly with the UGA athletics.<br />
It's as if they don't have any taboo topics. They do and say what they want no matter how vulgar it is.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00200485550817326399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-67921186553144789402012-08-05T11:44:00.000-07:002012-08-05T11:55:41.414-07:00Pouring in Dublin<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There has been a trend in the discussion of stereotypes on
this blog, or rather, the negative connotation of stereotypes, but what I think
we have yet to consider is positive stereotypes (or cultural acceptance of
stereotypes, particularly in advertisements).</div>
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<br /></div>
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This weekend, I was able to make the trek to Dublin with
some friends, and coming out of customs in the Dublin airport, we ran into this advertisement:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPCIrilnHzhap2jUzMorEnMjcoDIUQzUd5xIS6QymYUfx3fMzsfVc6kUoYaRkw3h2KYDvmHp-qHSk02UOP54-vh7woAZbuYRwBzzU5lWMtZFfk5J88nOf2zD26u2YrEp7aVMOohBdgiDG/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPCIrilnHzhap2jUzMorEnMjcoDIUQzUd5xIS6QymYUfx3fMzsfVc6kUoYaRkw3h2KYDvmHp-qHSk02UOP54-vh7woAZbuYRwBzzU5lWMtZFfk5J88nOf2zD26u2YrEp7aVMOohBdgiDG/s320/IMG_0708.JPG" width="272" /></a></div>
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The Irish are
known for showing favor to the drink, and this advertisement embraces this
sentiment, shedding a more positive spin on the stereotype and embracing it as
a source of revenue.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I thought this was creative, to say the least (or as the
Irish would say, “Brilliant Craic!”), but I would love to hear other thoughts
on the subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I</span>s embracing a stereotype, even a negative one, an ingenious use of resources, or is it detrimental,
as it reinforces a “negative” sentiment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If this ad is negative, do you think there is a positive way to use
stereotyping in product promotion?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294339993614964930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482334522317166609.post-80956941955702577072012-08-05T10:39:00.001-07:002012-08-05T10:39:18.318-07:00Got Me Begging You For Merci<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In traditional blogger fashion, I’m going to attempt to
incorporate some form of cultural insight and theory into this post which has
the primary function of providing me a platform to vent. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
Paris this weekend, my friends and I experienced a culture shock perfectly
crafted out of stereotypes and hearsay. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
our hotel, when prompted to pay for a three persons’ stay, we were still accommodated
with a two person room. We were charged for what the website promised was a complimentary breakfast. When
I asked the hotel attendant to confirm this, she feigned an inability to
understand my questions. (I later heard her converse with two other guests in
perfect English.) Finally upon checking out, the clerk attempted to charge me a
second time for our reservation. He apologized with a smile only after I
politely leaned over the counter to point out my signature on a receipt of
payment he had printed out and stapled to our entire bill. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While
enjoying a picnic dinner on the lawn of the Eiffel Tower, we were approached by
a group of French students who decided to sit down next to us without any kind
of greeting. One of the girls was literally rubbing thighs with Rachael for
minutes until she introduced herself. The conversation that ensued consisted of
weird flirting and insulting that culminated in one guy’s declaration that we
had “brooms up our asses” and we’d be better to “look beautiful and not speak.”
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our entire
time in Paris, (which we did enjoy immensely despite these occurrences) we’d
attempted to be as friendly and cooperative as possible, but our American
status seemed to automatically label us naïve, stingy, privileged, and
conceited. It really hurt my heart; the French have us pegged so wrong. I also
found this evidenced in their translation of the new Step Up movie set to
premier this summer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXyJTvnbyvifknV-XEL1Y5HPAeOx6L8Reb48T2xl9Y2dppmoao7wipAhuHLLJUsOFdDnIr2smoBv3ajRqUmPQjkjHgFyyYy2ad5VltR_6oMUwLWa53ONnj5sW8acalW6IN9CpxAlOHTuq/s1600/step+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXyJTvnbyvifknV-XEL1Y5HPAeOx6L8Reb48T2xl9Y2dppmoao7wipAhuHLLJUsOFdDnIr2smoBv3ajRqUmPQjkjHgFyyYy2ad5VltR_6oMUwLWa53ONnj5sW8acalW6IN9CpxAlOHTuq/s320/step+up.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now, I’m
not denying that sexuality is a prevalent aspect of this film and much of its
appeal probably comes from the sexiness of its main characters. However, the
film is supposed to be about a group of dancers “stepping up” to the challenge
of using physical movement to inspire change and express themselves-not simply to
look hot. This ad makes me feel that America has been overly simplified into a
culture of shallow materialism in the eyes of the French. This sentiment was
only augmented by my personal experiences with the Parisians. Has anyone else
encountered American culture that seems distorted or lost in translation? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I guess
I couldn’t consider myself fully cultured unless I experienced at least one
instance of the negative connotation that sometimes accompanies my nationality.
I do hope to visit Paris again one day, but hopefully I’ll be doing so with a
better accent and a stronger spine. Merci very much. </div>jessie.mooney...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10908343930764062351noreply@blogger.com2