Summary: In the article Sex, Lies, and Advertising by Gloria Steinmen, she explains how in women's advertising has many features that are continual trends. The airbrushing, photoshop, etc, according to Steinmen is liked by most women. Why else would it be featured in every ad? She argues that although people don't necessarily like the false looks featured in the ads, women are still attracted to that certain sense of fantasy.
Response: I understand Steinmen's stance on this certain subject, and how people are hypocritical on their stance on advertising. We live in a society where we look up at these fake people on billboards, yet complain because they aren't necessarily relatable.

I plan on expanding essay one on the Steve Craig's Men's Men and Women's Women. I focused my essay on the Dove commercial that I chose for it and how it is focused more so towards women. I was only focusing on Women's Women and never gave examples of how other commercials focused on Men's Men or Men's Women, etc. I want to find more commercials so that I can expand and thoroughly explain how the media aims to please a certain gender. The format of the paper will be the same, however it will just be more detailed and give better examples.
Key terms:
1). Introducing Steve Craig's article of the aim of genders
2). Give an example of Men's Men
3). Women's Women
4). Women's Men
5). Men's Women
6). Importance

October 11, 2014

Recently, I've been reading They Say, I Say by Gerald Graff and Kathy Birkenstein for my English 1A class. In my most recent reading I discovered how to properly use colloquial and academic language throughout my writing. Chapter 9 was based on knowing when you should use YOUR language (colloquial) in your writing and when you should use etiquette in your writing (academic). On page 127, it gives examples of each type of writing containing the same context. She uses an example, "You can always dress it up, dress it down, or someone combination of both. In dressing down your language, for example, you can make the claim that somebody "failed to notice" something by saying instead that it "flew under the radar."
Before reading this specific chapter, I knew how to differentiate between colloquial and academic language. Also, I was aware of when I should use the two depending on the type of writing I was doing. However, I realized that it is really easy to get caught on one side of the spectrum. To play it safe, I think I started to use ONLY academic language in my writing. One thing that really stood out to me in this chapter is when it mentions "knowing your audience." Of course there will be those professors who will only allow academic language in your writing, but then there will also be those professors that will look for your creativity in your writing. In all, this chapter is very helpful.

In the final chapters of I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, it explains Maya's coming to age. Maya falls asleep in a junk yard in an abandoned car and a group of teenagers acknowledge her when she wakes up. They tell her that she can join their "group" as long as she contributes. So she's ends up staying there for about a month. After, Maya goes to San Francisco and gets a job. She reads a book about lesbianism but mistakes it for a hermaphradite. She asks Vivian for clarification on everything going on in her body and Vivian confirms that all is well with her body. Maya starts to get interested in guys and knows that associating with them will not make her look like a lesbian anymore. Later, Maya gets pregnant and accepts all of the responsibilites that come along with it.
When reading about Maya's coming to age she says "I think so differently now, that I feel like I don't really even know myself." Personally, I can relate to that. When I was in high school, I had such an immature way of thinking. Once college started, petty little things didn't even phase me. My maturity was growing in me well. You focus more on the things that matter. Maya's independence and confidence grew as she got older. That's also what happened to me. I was able to do things on my own, confidentially. That is a very good feeling!

This last week, I've read a mini essay in the Signs of Life book. This article was titled, "Virtual Popularity Isn't Cool-It's Pathetic" by Ian Daley. In the article Daly explains how people spend way too much time on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.). His point is WHY? Why spend all of this time that you could be doing something productive with on social media? He continues on to ask the question: "Would you go out for coffee with all of the people you're 'friends' with? The answer that most would answer with is no. He also states that while most people spend their time on social media, they can be working.
I agree with Daly's essay. I am also guilty of doing the exact thing he states. Spending way too much unnecessary time on social media. If the amount of time spent on Instagram was spent doing something productive, then I would so much more accomplished right now in my life. Not saying, it would be a drastic change, but I think for some it definitely can be. The fact that we as a society get so caught up in others is just not okay. Staying in touch with family, ok that's understandable. However, when you're just on it to be nosey in others business then that's when we need to stop. What do we get out of doing that? Absolutely nothing. Don't get me wrong, it can be very beneficial. When a problem in society occurs, once it's posted on a social media site, it'll spread like wildfire.

Summary:

Recently, I've read an interesting article having to do with commercials that appeal to a certain sex at a certain hour of the day. In Steve Craig's article entitled "Men's Men and Women's Women" he gives a few examples of how commercials have certain little aspects that categorize them into four different categories: Men's Men, Women's Women, Men's Women & Women's Men. For example, when summarizing a Men's Women commercial Craig states, "Men's women are portrayed as physically attractive, slim, and usually young and white, frequently blonde, and almost always dressed in revealing clothing." As for a Women's men commercial he states, "He's a good looking, sensitive, romantic, and he appreciates her." Furthermore, he explains how Men's women commercials are usually showed in the evening when the man is home for work, relaxing and watching some tv or on the weekends when sporting events are usually aired. As for the women's men commercials it tells how they are usually showed during the day when the women are home.

Opinion/Response:

My response may be totally off the wall but I'm responding in regards to Craig's time of day in terms of the commercials airing on television. The fact that the Men's women commercials are usually aired during the evening time (assuming they are home from work) is acceptable. That's usually what happens. Dad, husband, boyfriend, single man comes home from a long day at work gets comfortable, grabs a beer and watches a little tv before bed. HOWEVER, I don't consider myself a feminist but in this particular blog, I just might… The fact that Craig states that the Women's men commercials are aired during the day because women are usually home (inferring that the women doesn't work and stays home) in a way kind of offends me. I don't like how that is something that is just predicted now a' days. I thought the age of sexism was out and washed away. It shouldn't be assumed that women are home and not fulfilling their careers. I am most definitely over thinking that little portion of the article but I can't help it if it bothers me. Nothing against the stay at home mothers. I know they are always working hard at home. When Craig pointed it out, it just led me into deep thought. I won't ramble and ramble anymore. I think I got my point across. Ok I'm done now.