Tow #10 Review of "Gravity"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-morgenstern/gravity-review-in-space-n_b_4086012.html

Sandra Bullock playing the role of astronaut "Ryan Stone"

In honor of the recently learned effects of claims of policy, fact, and value, I decided to write about a review on a movie I had seen this weekend, "Gravity". Gravity was a film about a woman (Sandra Bullock) who is stuck in space. The most intriguing thing about the movie, however, was not the situation, but it was the reality of every scene. The filming was, in my opinion, incredible, and the review agreed with me. The movie review was written by a man named Michael Morganstern, who writes for the Huffington Post. I found its claim first. The article writes, "I don't usually write movie reviews, but this film was so spectacular and disturbing at the same time, I felt like I had to." (Morgenstern, 1) Automatically, I agreed. The article also makes a claim of value by saying that he wouldn't be surprised if Bullock won an Oscar for best acting, while also saying that her acting performance was "stunning". He also mentions that her character was not only intriguing, but she was the heroine throughout the film. In a way, I feel as if he tries to persuade the audience to see the movie, maybe even twice. What jumped out at me from the article, though, was that he did state some of the claims that could have been made from the other side of the argument. For example, he says that it's "easy to forgive the cheesiness of the film" (Morgenstern 1). Although he agrees with this statement, he also says that it's extremely easy to look past this little flaw because of its achievement in so many other areas. He then goes on to try and oppose a claim that has been made about the script being underdeveloped. I think the article itself was extremely effective in supporting its initial claim. Not only does it praise the filming, the actors, and the director, but it also recognizes the possible opinions that others may have against the film, and addresses those claims as well as the one that the article attempts to make. In my opinion, I did enjoy the movie the first time. The article, though, almost makes me want to see it again.

Tow #9: ETrade Commercial

                                                              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbnWbdR9wSY
Whenever this commercial comes onto my television, my family can't help but laugh at it, because who doesn't love babies with adult voices? Come on, it's funny! But when I started to repeatedly ask myself what the commercial was actually for, (and of course, rhetorically analyze it), the question of whether or not the commercial was effective came to mind as well. First, the speaker is obviously ETrade, but in the commercial, it's either one or two babies talking on phones in their low voices that make the commercial humorous. The commercial definitely uses a sense of sarcasm and humor to maybe get the audience's attention. This is a good thing. The audience is either businesspeople or people looking to trade stocks, but in my opinion, who would have known that from the commercial? I believe that this commercial is extremely ineffective. I agree that the babies are definitely a humorous factor, but at the same time, throughout the commercial, the audience is mainly paying their attention to the babies, and the fact that they're being technologically transformed into grown men making business deals over the phone. No one really pays much attention, well I didn't, as to what the commercial is actually telling the audience. Unfortunately, as funny as the ad may be, the fact that it is ineffective leaves the audience with the picture of the talking babies in their heads, asking, "what was that commercial for?". I noticed that this is the case with many commercials for the Super Bowl, but some were actually effective. Many of the beer and Doritos commercials make it obvious as to what they are advertising, but ETrade did not really have that effect. The flash of the ETrade name and slogan at the end of the commercial obviously allows for some recollection of what the commercial was advertising, but, in my opinion, not enough. In all honesty, this is one of my favorite commercials. Whether or not it does its job correctly or not, that is in the hands of the creators and advertising agency, but it definitely succeeds in getting a laugh out of me and my family.

IRB Preview

The non-fiction book I have decided to read is called, Three Little Words, written by Ashley Rhodes-Courter. I found the synopsis to be interesting, as it is about a girl who has been in foster care for most of her life. Ashley Rhodes, the author, was in foster care for nine years of her life, and switched schools over fourteen times. I think the main reason I would like reading about that kind of life is the fact that my life is so much different. I think it's amazing how different peoples' lives are compared to mine, and I find some very interesting, but, in this case, very sad. At the ned of the story, without giving too much away, the synopsis says that Rhodes ends up finding a voice for herself. In that sense, I'm really excited to read the book because I want to know how she ends up creating a persona for herself. She was abused in foster care, as well as
switched identities multiple times, so I find it interesting that she has the ability to make someone out of herself. This book is a bit similar to the last IRB that I read, in the sense that it is about a person overcoming adversity. Just as Daniel Tammet had to overcome autism to get where he is today, Ashley Rhodes-Courter has to overcome being a foster child, and essentially, being left out and abandoned. I have a feeling that the tone of this book isn't going to be very bright, but it will be very dark at some times, and very dramatic and sad as well. The author is obviously credible, as she has gone through the experiences and is able to write about them. The author happens to be a well known public speaker, and her book has won over 5 awards. I think her audience is everyone and anyone who wants to hear a good story about the strength of a girl in a hardship. She was a girl who was dealt a bad hand of cards, and she had to figure out a way to play the cards right, and she did. I think by the end of this book, I'm going to really respect the author, more than I already do. Her story seems inspiring, and I'm extremely excited to read about it.

Tow #8: IRB Final Review

Daniel Tammet

Daniel Tammet is my new inspiration for every single thing I'll ever do for the rest of my life. Born On a Blue Day is one of the most touching yet fascinating books I have ever read. Tammet learned a language in a week. Not only do I struggle with Spanish, but I can't imagine being completely fluent in it within seven days. Tammet hasn't failed to blow my mind with every line and every word of the book. In the book, Born On a Blue Day, Daniel Tammet uses humor, and reality to portray this character of himself that everyone can fall in love with. Although he suffers from this type of autism and disability, his ability to communicate is profound. One of my favorite quotes was,"I Became upset if a school event was announced at short notice in which everyone was expected to take part, or by changes in the normal routines of the class. Predictability was important to me, a way of feeling in control in a given situation, a way of keeping feelings of anxiety at bay, at least, temporarily." (Tammet, 76) The main reason I loved this quote was because I could relate. Personally, I hate change. It makes me nervous, and I like order in my life. Ironically, I'm not the most organized person, but I like schedules and knowing when things are and having nothing change. I like being in the same state and the same house and the same school. The way Tammet writes, it makes me feel like I'm his best friend. It's almost as if I can speak to him and have a conversation about whatever his paragraph is about. Another quote I love is,“Why learn a number like pi to so many decimal places? The answer I gave then as I do now is that pi is for me an extremely beautiful and utterly unique thing. Like the Mona Lisa or a Mozart symphony, pi is its own reason for loving it.” (Tammet, 55). He uses similes here in order to connect with his audience, but he also just makes me love him more by stating why pi, something abstract and unimportant to me, has its own motto. It is loved because it is. That's why. And as mind blowing as hat sentence was, I realized it was true. That's the main thing about this book; as I flipped through, each page never failed to teach me something new, something I could actually use in the future. School doesn't teach me how to accept others. School never taught me why love is so important and why differences don't matter, but this book does. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a book to inspire them and change their life. I loved it.