ENG 273 FD#2 My Life Teacher

Kristine Asato           

12 October, 2010

FD #2

My Life Teacher.

My grandfather sits in his grandfather chair.  The armrest is worn from over use, and I’m pretty sure the chair is older than me.  My grandfather was a man of few words.  But when he spoke, everything seemed to resonate in me.  [THESIS] Without even knowing, my grandfather has taught me lessons in life, that I thought could only come from books. [THESIS]  Oblivious to his powers, my grandfather has shaped my life, and I am eternally grateful for it.

My grandfather was a brother to seven other siblings.  At his old age, he had drooping ears that looked like they were the models for the Buddha statue in a temple.  It wasn’t until recently I started taking pictures of my grandfather.  And when I caught a good shot, his smile would always make me laugh.  It wouldn’t die out like some over played song.  I’m sure my grandfather’s smile will last for decades to come.  At a young age, weighing in at probably two hundred pounds, my grandfather was the biggest person ever.  His round belly made him the perfect Asian Santa Clause, although he never dressed like it once.  Now that time has passed, I am just a head taller than him.  But to me, my grandfather will always be the biggest person in body and soul. 

The earliest childhood memory still left in my brain was of my grandfather.  I remember crying, for what reason I do not remember.  I do remember feeling upset, and I remember being picked up.  He brushed his hand back and forth on my back to calm me down.  My grandfather carried me, around the house until I fell asleep in his arms.  I always felt love and a silent sense of affection from the arms that once held me close.  I learned how it felt to be loved at such a young age.  The fact that I still remember causes me to think that my grandfather’s embrace made me a little more warm hearted. 

During my elementary school years I had to do a project on a person, and I picked my grandfather.   I asked him questions about Pearl Harbor where he used to work before retirement.  I took down notes, of the Japanese and the internment camps.  He looked over and saw that I had abbreviated Japanese into “Jap”.  Bewildered, he told me never to write that word again.  I laughed a little; I didn’t understand the big deal.  I looked up for the familiar smile and a laugh.  But instead, I was met with a slap on my hand and a gaze that could break stone. In my later years, I came to understand the word derogatory and my grandfather’s outburst was finally clear.  I don’t remember the paper I wrote, or even which teacher I wrote it for.  But the lesson I learned has stayed with me.  I’ve never written that word again.  I felt like I’d be letting my grandfather down if I did. I am proud to be Japanese.  My grandfather had taught me to have respect and pride for my culture.

Everyone seems to tell me that I should learn to cook from my grandfather.  I asked him about it once.  The joy in his face was worth the time it would take to master this unique art of grandfather cooking.  My grandfather proceeded to remove a simple green book from the kitchen shelf.  I had never noticed it before.  I could see the clipping from magazines sticking out and aged pages with his familiar slanted handwriting.  This book was like the creator of all things that taste stupendous.  Although to make almost everything in the book, it took hours.  I remember his small sausage fingers that despite any arthritis, moved smoothly across the cutting board. This was at a time in my life when I would be content with microwave dinner, and ice cream straight from the carton.  I didn’t want to spend my summer days at my grandfathers’ house.  I didn’t want to spend all day waiting for the meat to soak up all the spices or whatever.  Eventually I took the time to make a dish.  It was a rewarding experience. It took the entire day to prepare some of the best dishes.  Patience was the ultimate lesson. 

As I grew older, I needed to choose a specific field of study.  My grandfather had his heart set on me becoming a nurse.   Every summer he would cut out a clipping from the paper with a nurses school advertisement.  He would tell me “When I was in the hospital the nurses took such good care of me.”  And I it was the only explanation I received on the subject.  As the years went on and my attempts at any sort of major went out the door, I turned to the medical field.  I started my classes, and went over to see my grandpa.  “I told you so” was the ultimate answer I received.  A short and blunt lecture on “if you listened earlier,” followed.  But the smile was unmistakable, and I relished in it. I am currently employed in a care home facility, and am enjoying it completely.  It seems my grandfather knew me better than I knew myself.  When all else failed, my grandfather was there, with his hopes for me.  His confidence encouraged me to become something better than what I used to be.

My grandfather stands for everything I’ve become, and he has taught me a little bit of everything I know.  Sometimes the paths we choose may be wrong and hard.  Being able to know that someone will always be there helps us get through.  My grandfather taught me to respect where I came from.  I know what it feels like to be forever loved.  The hardest one was patience, but only though patience I learned can great things happen.  Finally inspiration.  I hope to one day be able to inspire someone to be who they are just by being themselves.  It seems that these are the things that have helped me get by in life with flying colors.  I found that the lessons my grandfather taught me are valuable to my well being.  I can apply every one of them to my work, my social life, and even on a personal basis of character.  My grandfather was, without knowing, the greatest teacher ever.

Log of Completed Activities
X  Sep. 20M- Complete readings – all of chap. 13. Optional: “Cucarachas” by Madeline Sonik Confirmation reply required.S
L  Sep. 22W- Laulima Discussion: Portraits by Lee and Simic.
X  Sep. 24F- Laulima Discussion: Portraits by Steinbach and Toth.
X  Sep. 28t- Laulima Posting: Sample from Your Portrait.
L  Oct. 4M- RD2 due [50 pts] Review the guidelines. Confirmation reply required.
X  Oct. 8F- RD2 Evaluations due [50 pts] Review the guidelines. Confirmation reply required.
L  Oct. 12t- FD2 due [125 pts] Review the guidelines. Confirmation reply required.

ENG 215: A Misleading Conception FD#2

Kristine Asato

8 October, 2010

FD #2

A Misleading Concept

The average American spends most of their time watching TV.  Half of the TV they are watching consists of commercials and adds.  There are also dozens of magazines in circulations with many different types of advertisements.  [THESIS]  Distributors advertise products that do no support a productive lifestyle because of their misleading advertisements.  [THESIS]  These advertisements and commercials also target different types of people.  Knowing exactly whom they are targeting incredibly benefits the marketers. 

When we go to the stores, we see the shelves of magazines plastered with the touched up faces of women and men.  Skimming through them we notice a plethora of advertisements for an assortment of perfumes and accessories.  Marketers use photographs of beauty to capture the image an entire commercial can do in sixty seconds.   The main audience for a magazine is women.   Therefore displaying a canvas of beauty along side a product is appealing and eye catching. To some women, this perfection is attainable, but the advertisement is misleading.  Many women don’t factor in the hours of mixing and matching of lipstick colors to find the right shade.  Or the countless times it took to get each hair to stay in the exact desired place. Products like Revlon that portray faces like Halle Berry and Jessica Biel, mislead their audience as well.  Revlon wants people to believe that if their product is used, people will be able to achieve the same prestige as these women.  During a discussion, Patricia Miller-Ho goes to say, “What a person sees in an ad is what they perceive to be reality” which I find to be very true.  A false image of reality can dumb down a person, and in turn harm the lifestyle they are trying to live.   

There are many different types of weight loss programs out there.  One of the more popular ones, backed by singer Jennifer Hudson is Weight Watchers.  Their website is filled with helpful tools, success stories, and recipes for a healthier diet.  But after careful examination of their commercial and website, there are some fine print that can’t be ignored.  During the commercial, Hudson claims that she feels “powered”, and is learning healthier habits.  Hudson goes on to say that “You can join for free.”  As soon as this is said the fine print shows up for a few seconds and then the end of the commercial.  The fine print that some people may not have caught said this “Must pay fees for meetings and online tools.”  Hudson’s statement and fine print are both true but very misleading.  People think they are joining for free, which they are, but now they must pay to participate in the free membership.  It is misleading, but also not a lie.  

Although sometimes avoided, advertisements in the newspapers are just as distracting.  Many of us don’t see the newspaper as our main source of news anymore, but the fact is that its still there.  If you skim through, there are advertisements for sales, and local businesses scattered throughout the pages.  These can be a great distraction to the reader and also may take away from the news.  There may be a story on a rap victim, and directly below it will be advertisements for a local strip club’s happy hour.  The news is our lifestyle, a simple portrayal of what we are doing in the world.  To have an advertisement about the hottest deals, coincide with the presidential debate, almost undermines the news itself.  Jean Kilbourne writes “Newspapers are more in the business of selling audiences than in the business of giving people news.”  Marketers see the newspaper as another opportunity to take advantage of readers.   Demeaning what we are doing in the world, and the lifestyles we are trying to live.

For some marketers, selling their products is not the problem.  Appealing to the right cliques of people is more of their aim. Companies like Louis Vuiton, and Dolce and Gabana, have a price tag on their products so big they can afford to be selective on their clientele.  Having a product of such prestige is a symbol of a rich lifestyle.  Anything else would seem demeaning.  These advertisements make it possible for everyone to be put in a clique.  Much like an over populated high school.  Joseph Turow analyzed in his story “Targeting a New World” describes this phenomenon as “A desire to label people so that they may be separated into primary media communities.”  Turow goes on to explain that by this separation it is easier to target consumers.  Marketers are now able to focus their commercial production on catering to a specific lifestyle.  From this, a purchase is more of an enhancement of a lifestyle, and if you can’t afford it, you can’t be part of it.  Classmate Gregory Jenkins states, “I am spending money to buy brands.”  Because of commercials and advertisements you are no longer just buying a product, you are buying a brand.  It is this brand that tells everyone your clique.  This mind set leaves us judgmental, prude, and heavily aware of the separation among us.  In high school we labeled each other by the clubs they were in, and the people they were with.  Now in the real world, we base their lifestyles on the brands they adorn themselves with.  Last time I checked racism was illegal. 

An over exaggeration of things can delude consumers to believe the product in question is better than it is.  Over exaggeration can also lead to unnecessary purchases.  Companies spend a handful of money to produce an over exaggerated idea of a finished product.  One powerful example is a movie trailer.  Most of the great special effects, or funny parts, are shown in the trailer.  The order of the movie clips lull viewers into an anticipated excitement.  When the preview for “The Village” by M. Night Shyamalan aired, it was highly anticipated.  When the movie finally comes out in theatres, it was a big disappointment.  The cost of the ticket, snacks, and drinks, from each person in the theatre, more than covers the cost for the misleading trailer.  Such over exaggerations are not just seen in movie trailers, but other commercials and advertisements as well.  Beauty products, food items, electronics, and many more display an over exaggeration of each respected product.

Commercials and advertisement make shopping more of a competitive sport than a basic necessity.  We are comparing the latest makeup craze, trying to decide which will make me look better.  We give in to the costly weight loss program because we feel inadequate.  The quality of our news is lessened by selective advertisements.  Being apart of a clique by the brands we ornate ourselves with, making us feel superior or inferior to others.  These commercials and advertisements have made our lifestyles a horrible materialistic one.  We put such high hopes in each product hoping that they will vanquish our insecurities.  These products that marketers produce are unhealthy to our lifestyle.  They are cleverly hidden so no one can see that they are being misled to buy a product that may or may not help you.

Work Cited:  
 

Jenkins, Gregory.  Class Discussion.  October 8, 2010.

Kilbourne, Jean.  “Buy This 24-Year-Old and get all His  Friends Absolutely Free.” Dialogues.  Goshgarian, Gary.  Krueger, Kathleen.  Sixth Edition.  New York: Pearson Longman, 2009.  335-343.

Miller-Ho, Patricia.  October 8, 2010. 

Turow, Joseph.  “Targeting a New World.” Dialogues.  Goshgarian, Gary.  Krueger, Kathleen.  Sixth Edition.  New York: Pearson Longman, 2009.  331-334.Weightwatchers.com.   

Weight Watchers International Inc.  2010.  October 8, 2010.  < http://www.weightwatchers.com/>

Log of Completed Activities
X  Sep 17F- Intro to Paper #2. Read the Guidelines for Paper #2. (Confirmation reply required.)
X  Sep 20M- Complete readings for paper #2. (Confirmation reply required.)
L  Sep 24F- Laulima Discussion: Ad Pros and Cons
X  Sep 28t- Laulima Discussion: Logical Fallacies Exercise
L  Oct 4M – RD2 due [50 pts]. Review the guidelines. (Confirmation reply required.)
X  Oct 8F- RD2 evaluations due [50 pts]. Review the guidelines. (Confirmation reply required.)
X  Oct 12t- FD2 due [125 pts]. Review the guidelines. (Confirmation reply required.

ENG 215W RD#2 Advertising & Consumerism

Kristine Asato

8 October, 2010

RD #2

The average American spends most of their time watching TV.  Half of the TV they are watching consists of commercials and adds. [THESIS]  In twenty seconds, distributors advertise products that do no support a productive lifestyle in any way.  [THESIS]  Some say that these commercials are for the fool hearted, but for those who read, advertisement can be inconspicuously found in magazines, and newspapers as well.

The main reason that ads and commercials generally have a negative impact on our lives is it leaves us insecure.  Popular advertisements include products for loosing weight, getting clear skin, and money issues.  Those who are faced with these problems are directly affected.  The before and after photos of selective commercials, are used as a base of judgment for peoples outlook.  Sometimes people are worse than the after picture making them feel even more vulnerable about their personal image. 

Some advertisements use the save time with less money approach.  If the consumer spends money on this particular item, it will save them time in the day to do other things.  For example, a consumer purchases a multi purpose sofa that is a five in one living room set.  You save money on a whole set of living room furniture, but there are flaws that some people don’t think about.  Since the sofa is five in one, there is always the issue of needing more than one at a time.  The consumer that purchased the item has guests over, but needs an entire living room set, and only has one.  The idea of a five in one living room set may sound very appealing.   Unfortunately, in retro speck the product may cause consumers to spend more money to accommodate what product lacks. 

An over exaggeration of things can delude consumers to believe the product in question is better than it is.  Over exaggeration can also lead to unnecessary purchases.  Companies spend a handful of money to produce an over exaggerated idea of a finished product.  One powerful example is a movie trailer.  Most of the great special effects, or funny parts, are shown in the trailer.  The order of the movie clips lull viewers into an anticipated excitement.  When the movie finally comes out, it’s usually a big disappointment.  The cost of the ticket, snacks, and drinks, from each person in the theatre, more than covers the cost for the misleading trailer.   

In some instances, the quality of the product being advertised is the last thing on a distributor minds.  It may be something as simple as a makeup product, all the way to affordable life insurance.  Many of the best commercials are effective among the weak hearted, or elderly.  Without realizing its hidden propaganda, the distributor feeds off of the elderly lack of awareness to decipher the false advertisement.  This leads to unhealthy habit of purchasing unneeded products.  The purchasing of these products is negatively affecting the monetary worth of a person. 

The consumer industry is being negatively impacted by false advertisement, attack of insecurities, and highly advertised inadequate products.  Many commercials feed off of the insecurities of the thousands of obese men and women.  Flamboyant advertisement, also mislead even the best of us into believing a product may have some promise.  The impact these commercials have on us as a person, and as an entire lifestyle is phenomenal.  

ENG 273N RD#2-PORTRAIT

Kristine Asato           

8 October, 2010

RD #2

My grandfather sits in his grandfather chair.  The armrest is worn from over use, and I’m pretty sure the chair is older than me.  My grandfather was a man of few words.  But when he spoke, everything seemed to resonate in me.  [THESIS] Without even knowing, my grandfather has taught me lessons in life, that I thought could only come from books. [THESIS]  Oblivious to his powers, my grandfather has shaped my life, and I am eternally grateful for it.

The earliest childhood memory still left in my brain was of my grandfather.  I remember crying, for what reason I do not remember.  All I remember was I felt upset.  My grandfather carried me, around the house until I fell asleep in his arms.  I always felt love and a silent sense of affection from the arms that once held me close.  I learned how it felt to be loved at such a young age.  The fact that I still remember it causes me to think that my grandfather’s embrace made me a little more warm hearted. 

During my elementary school years I had to do a project on a person, and I picked my grandfather.   I asked him questions about Pearl Harbor where he used to work before retirement.  I took down notes, of the Japanese and the internment camps.  He looked over and saw that I had abbreviated Japanese into “Jap”.  Bewildered, he told me never to write that word again.  In my later years, I came to understand the word derogatory, making my grandfather’s outburst clearer.  I don’t remember the paper I wrote, but the lesson I learned has stayed with me.  I am proud to be Japanese.  My grandfather had taught me to have respect and pride for my culture.

Everyone seems to tell me that I should learn to cook from my grandfather.  I asked him about it once.  The joy in his face was worth the time it would take to master this unique art of grandfather cooking.  My grandfather proceeded to remove a simple green book from the kitchen shelf.  I had never noticed it before.  I could see the clipping from magazines sticking out, aged pages with his familiar slanted handwriting.  This book was like the creator of all things that taste stupendous.  Although to make almost everything in the book, it took hours.  Patience was the ultimate lesson.  It took the entire day to prepare some of the best dishes. 

As I grew older, I needed to choose a specific field of study.  My grandfather had his heart set on me becoming a nurse.   He told me “When I was in the hospital the nurses took such good care of me.”  And I it was the only explanation I received on the subject.  As the years went on and my attempts at any sort of major went out the door, I turned to the medical field.  I am currently employed in a care home facility, and am enjoying it completely.  It seems my grandfather knew me better than I knew myself.  When all else failed, my grandfather was there, with his hope for me.  His confidence encouraged me to become something better than what I used to be.

My grandfather stands for everything I’ve become, and he has taught me a little bit of everything I know.  Sometimes the paths we choose may be wrong and hard, but knowing someone will always be there for you is what counts.  My grandfather taught me respect, inspiration, patience and love.  It seems that these are the things that have helped me get by in life with flying colors.  I found that the lessons my grandfather taught me are valuable to my well-being.  I can apply every one of them to my work, my social life, and even on a personal basis of character.  My grandfather was, without knowing, the greatest teacher ever.