Final Post

What was most memorable about the class?
My most memorable moment of class was when I was able to sit down one-on-one with Marion and hash out my ideas. She was helpful in taking what I knew, and leading my to a more developed thesis. Both meetings really did help me capture the purpose of this class.
Were there specific readings that stood out to you or that changed your thinking?
I liked the reading on metacommentary. I never knew that the idea of metacommentary had been so deeply analyzed. I use it all the time, and to know what it was called and the different uses and functions of it was interesting. I learned the different tones and styles where metacommentary is appropriate and how it enhances writing.
Were there specific assignments you either enjoyed writing or struggled to write?
I enjoyed writing the blog post about Facebook. Although I usually have thoughts about certain topics, it rarely develop them. With my blog post on Facebook, I was able to say what I felt, which ultimately helped me analyze it.
What was the revision process like? How did your thinking about your ARP topic change as you analyzed your primary source and did secondary source research? What do you think about the final product?
From the editing process, my paper only got better. Throwing in my sources truly helped me develop and prove my argument. Both Graham and Girard’s thoughts on the film and theory were crucial in the building of my ideas.
What might future students need to know to be successful in the course and in specific assignments?
If picking a topic to extend through the ARP project, pick something that is rich and deep with analysis potential. I picked the Godfather’s Baptism Scene, which is a classic scene. Not only was there a lot of room for my own analysis, others had already written master’s thesis's on it.
What did you do that worked well and what would you do differently if you could start the class again?
Don’t procrastinate. Get your work done as soon as possible, and never be done editing.
What specific examples or stories from your experience this quarter might help readers to understand your progression as a writer?
I feel that through this course, I have revitalized my interests and skills in writing. These blog posts, for instance, have been a great way to get back on the wagon of writing.

Godfather Collage

To create this collage, I used Adobe Photoshop. I Google Image searched “Godfather Baptism Scene” and “The Godfather Violence” and found these photos. The links are listed below. I started by collecting many imaged from these two searches and filing them into a folder. I then narrowed down the photos, so that when put in the appropriate order, would tell a story. I then added a title and text underneath each image (or pair of images) to explain each step of Michael’s development. To make it look even better, I added stroke and drop shadow layer styles to all of the layers on the document. I think that this final product effectively explains my point, and makes my theme less complicated.

http://www.brendanmckillip.com/uploaded_images/godfather_baptism-760381.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/3051270458_da2429a92d_o.jpg
http://www.jonathanrosenbaum.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/the_godfather_pacino.jpg
http://www.masculinity-movies.com/wp-content/gallery/the-godfather/godfather2.jpg
http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-01-30/FhtCziAvtaigfpEqvoEylcemAxfeeyHmrqAGJnqJFCntssjhvwbyfAcheEow/godfather.jpg.scaled500.jpg
http://content6.flixster.com/question/48/52/95/4852952_std.jpg
http://www.flixster.com/quizzes/the-godfather-part-i-quiz-756186

Facebook, The Social Powerhouse

Facebook, a cultural phenomenon that has spread like wildfire, now hosts 600 million users (active in January 2011). Not only is the amount of users impressive, but the company is valued at $40+ billion, with $2 billion of revenue in 2010 alone! For Facebook to be worth that much, there much be more than just the value to the user. Facebook is like Google, because it can sell advertisement to market to a large group of people. Facebook has the upper hand, however, because companies can use users personal data to taylor marketing campaigns to their target audience.
Beyond Facebook’s obvious monetary power, the social networking site has changed social interactions drastically. When cell phones came out, many people saw that as a big change in social interaction. Now looking at Facebook, physical social networks have been digitized within this website. People’s Facebook profiles become their “social hub” and representation of themselves.
I personally find Facebook useful and scary. Feeling like a FBI agent, users can search details about random people or keep tabs on friends and family. It is also scary because if Facebook were to become “hacked,” all of our personal data could be shared with spammers from all over the world, and 600 million people would be exposed to risks like identity theft or worse.
I have personally gone through stages of rejecting Facebook by deleting my account, but always found myself “needing” to use it. In such a short span of time a simple site has become so vital to the social interactions of a whole generation.

Joining Channel 22

As a typical sweaty palmed and nervous Freshman, I introduced myself, “Hey, I’m Marc Eisenberg,” I said, not knowing what else to do or who to talk to. This was my first meeting for Channel 22, our local educational TV station.
My friend had led me into the meeting, knowing that I would enjoy working at the station, due to my interest in film and public service. The group was comprised of several member of our student body, some my age and some older. Channel 22 was intriguing, being tied to my high school’s technology program, the studio easily assessable during the school day.
My first task was to learn how to use the equipment working as an entry level “Cable Manager.” Learning everything from preproduction to postproduction, I gained a competitive advantage, able to complete diverse tasks in video production and media.
As sophomore year commenced, I felt able to take on a more substantial role at the station. Committing myself to this challenge, I developed many shows, one of which I was able to write, shoot, and direct. The program was called “Books From Around The World,” and was targeted towards young children. The goal was to teach about different cultures every week through folk stories and native cuisines.
As a result of this show’s success, I was promoted to the Director of Programming. Being responsible for selecting the station’s weekly programming, while also being involved in production of daily news shows. I was able to serve my community and earn over 200+ community service hours; while obtaining important skill sets for my future.
At the end of my junior year, I was promoted to Student Director of Channel 22. Throughout my senior year, my staff and I have been continuing to develop many shows, from color-commentated high school basketball games to ethnic cuisine cooking shows.
Committing all of my time and energy to my school and city has been extremely fulfilling. Through my various roles on Channel 22 I have discovered my passion in media, and invaluable skills that will continue to help me build my media business (www.MBPUSA.com).
I went from a nervous Freshman to a confident director, I am glad I showed up to that meeting.

Dexter

Dexter is a Showtime Series which began in October 2006 and finished its fifth season in December of 2010. This American television drama series has a little bit of everything. By genre, Dexter can be considered a crime drama, suspense, horror, dark comedy, and mystery series.
This show follows around Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a likable forensics specialist on blood splatter who works for the Miami Police Department homicide unit. Dexter does have a big secret. He is a serial killer who only kills other killers. As his character is developed through the series, viewers learn that at the age of four, Dexter witnesses his mother being murdered with a chainsaw in a shipping container. He is lift for dead, in a pool of his mother’s blood for days. When he came out, he was forever changed, never being able to feel emotion again, and having urges of killing that turned into an addition. He was taken in by homicide detective, Harry Morgan, who used Dexter’s condition for “good.” Harry taught Dexter to channel his desires to kill to only killing criminals who escaped prosecution in the legal system. Dexter as an adult, lives by “Harry’s code,” which includes many rules. This code was to insure that the people Dexter kills are in fact killers and a danger to society.
Dexter is a very interesting series, because it tests viewers' morals. Although Dexter kills to fix the wrongs of society, he is still killing. Watching this show one finds them self in Dexter’s head, rationalizing murder. Thematically, is Dexter seen as an antihero, who secretly corrects society’s wrongs. He is in a bind because of our legal system. Even though his killings are corrective for the system, the system would hurt him if he was found out.
I would suggest Dexter to anyone with an appreciation for quality writing, production quality, crime dramas, moreover has a strong stomach.

Blog #2 Response to ARP "Rise"

For my first primary source analysis, I used Nike’s “Rise” commercial. In this commercial, LeBron’s new image is sold to the audience, not his shoes (as Nike usually does). This advertisement was James’ first crucial response to the media after “The Decision.”
“The Decision” was a press conference LeBron’s press team designed to inform the public of his move to Miami, moreover to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of America. Although it appeared that his heart was in the right place (raising money for kids), viewers saw it as a way for LeBron to hijack a media outlet (due to huge public anticipation) to promote himself even further. It does not take a press expert to understand that this conference would not be well received. As expected the media fallout for James was horrible.
Nike’s “Rise” commercial attempts to rebrand James, and help his image. This is done by asking the simple question, “What should I do?” Through out the commercial LeBron responds with many different hyperbolic and rhetorical questions of his own. These questions are used to show James as a human and a victim of his own celebrity. In the commercial's end, James states the final and only true answer to “What should I do,” which is, “should I be who you want me to be?”
Although this advertisement does its job in rebranding James, it still leaves some viewers with bittersweet feelings. Accepting LeBron’s move as an appropriate step in his career, yet still seeing him as egotistical and self-absorbed, the commercial is ironic. As a viewer myself, I forgive and understand LeBron for leaving Cleveland, but I still dislike him (as I always did) for being the arrogant prick he has always been.
As a source, this commercial was rich with symbolism and imagery. Every scene is laden with different props, sounds, and film/editing techniques that promoted the message of the advertisement. The hardest part of the analysis was ranking which scenes to use, because there was so much potential analysis and a word limit.
An interesting note: although “Rise” barely featured James’ new line of shoes, sales for the shoes skyrocketed after this commercial was released. I guess it does not take direct advertising of the shoes to sell them, only a revitalization of James’ image.

Link to paper: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ARl6Z_3FLR6nqwhNviMc0HFQ1Dzo8lIL9sIrRf-tpno/edit?hl=en&pli=1&authkey=CJvbgIgN#

Blog #1

Hello, I’m Marc Eisenberg. I’m sure that by reading my name you can tell, I am an American Jew. My family originally came from Europe around 1890. I find that last fact interesting, as many Jewish families did not arrive in the US until the mid-1900s. Because of this, all of my ancestors fought in every major American war, and have been contributing to the country ever since touching land (these colors don’t run).
My religion is important to me, because if not for Jewish cultures and traditions, I would not exist. My parents were from opposite sides of the country; my Mom from San Francisco and my Dad from Long Island. Before these two, they were both independent and ambitious. My Dad moved to Ohio for work, and my Mom moved to Ohio to attend Nursing school and to be near her older brother (my Uncle) Marty. Always interested in Judaism and community, my Father was on the board of trustees at his temple. Through his participation, he met my Uncle Marty, who invited him to spend Passover dinner with him and his family. At this traditional dinner my parents met, began to dated, fell in love, got married, and had four kids. Over the past 28 years, the tradition goes on as my Uncle continues to hosts our weekly Shabbat dinners. This tradition is only slightly religious, yet has been a very crucial family tradition that helps us stay close to the people we love most.
Although I do not consider myself extremely spiritual, I feel connected to my Jewish culture through participating in traditions and staying in touch with my identity.