Week 7: Thoughts on Klein's Ideas

After reading "China's All-Seeing Eye" by Naomi Klein, I was very shocked just by how intensive is the security monitoring in China. The article was extremely informative and revealing in regards to the present condition in the country. Here in the United States, for some it already seems that the level of involvement of the government in our affairs intrudes our privacy. The way they can monitor our every internet search and text message seems too much already. However, the Chinese government seems to go more than one step farther. At first, it makes sense to have surveillance at least at some parts of the country in order for security purposes. But as I read on, I realized that their intent was not only to have some cameras in the country but to have it everywhere. Now, that's when it gets scary. How can people feel safe in comfortable when they know someone's watching their every move? One person in the article said that no one needs to be afraid of this as long as they're not doing anything wrong. However, it is not the who decides what's wrong and what's right in this country, what puts you to jail and what keeps you safe.

Another surprising thing was the connection of the facial recognition and surveillance camera company to one here in the United States, "L-1 Identity Solutions". The fact that the representative that Klein talked to tried to cover up their involvement is very suspicious. It seems like they know that what they're doing is on the borderline of violating the law. In China, the companies that are providing security equipment for the government are booming. It is clear how much China wants to monitor each citizen's every move, not only for security reasons, but seemingly for their own intentions as well. The people who are getting caught are ones that have even a small chance of opposing the way the country's run, not necessarily through violent means. For me, I believe that it does help with reducing violence but it also restricts freedom the most. The fact there is a chance that what's happening in China might spread to the United States is a very real and scary thought.

Week 6: Visual Rhetoric

This visual image conveys the message that Old Spice basically turns you from a loser to a winner. The man's 'before' appearance is described as "a sad little nerd person". However, no one needs to read the quote on the bottom of the ad to get this impression. With the awkward, gangling teenage boy donning glasses, a costume, and a bad haircut, it is pretty clear that it is the unfavorable one between the two appearances of the man. One the completely opposite extreme, his 'after' photo on the bottom left is clearly meant to emanate poise, success and high self-confidence. In this ad, the whole transformation of the man's appearance to a more dignified, pleasant look is all attributed to Old Spice Swagger. From the look of the man's face in his 'after' photo, his exaggerated self-opinion he possesses is very apparent, as opposed to his unsure, awkward expression on his 'before' picture. When one sees those two photos, one can clearly see his 'after' shot as a positive one compared to his negative and unpleasant 'before' shot. What this ad is essentially trying to say is that Old Spice makes you "cool"; it is the difference between appearing weird and outrageous to being seen as respectable and successful. The ad is appealing to what people perceive as good and bad in terms of appearance. It shows the extremes of both and just associated themselves to what people are more attracted to.

Week 5: Double Consciousness

Looking back at all the superhero movies we've viewed so far, we can see that each hero has multiple layers. Iron Man isn't just a high-tech super-weapon that defeats enemies using cool gadgets. Underneath is Tony Stark, a man who wants to redeem his father's company seeing how much the weapons they sell caused damage. There are several facets to every other hero as well. Peter Parker is a student, a photographer, a nephew to Aunt May and Uncle Ben. In studying superheros, double consciousness makes us aware of the many things one person is trying to achieve.

In writing my paper regarding American culture's obsession with attaining wealth and success, it helps to see Spider-Man's motives not only as a hero but also as a citizen of New York. It provides another angle to view Spider-Man, keeping in mind that he may also possess the same self-centered desires a human being wants to better their lives. The alter egos of a superhero makes them very complicated because the hero character needs to embody justice and the good for all, yet the human inside can also be tempted by self-gratification. Despite these two different duties or priorities, however, the person must decide which matters to them more. And as I observe the choice they make, it will reveal more about the superhero's character, what motivates and drives him.

Week 4: Allegory of the Cave

Inside the cave as one of the prisoners, I'd imagine it to be a quiet, safe, and predictable place. Even though I’m bound and limited from the things normal people do, I would not know it to be different because this is my “normal”. Day by day, I see the same thing. I guess about which one of the same shadows will pass next. I expect to hear things and see certain forms and shapes. I’m safe and comfortable with my reality.

After being released from this, however, and after walking out of that cave and seeing the sun and the Earth for the first time, it’ll be too much of an overwhelming sight that it would be so impossibly irresistible. Stepping out and discovering another reality would be astounding. I cannot perceive what I’m seeing— the sun, the outside of the cave, the people—as the truth. I would be doubtful, skeptical, and feeling unsure and uneasy about my new and unbelievable surroundings. But, no matter how foreign, the place would be so magnetic.

Upon returning to the cave after what I have witnessed for myself, it would be almost hopeless to try to communicate about these new discoveries. It would seem absurd to them the idea that what they have believed to be truth all their lives is simply not. And attempting to make them believe and trust things they have not seen for themselves would be difficult. What they see is not real, and what they don’t see that is not there is amazing and real. It’ll be incomprehensible to them, just like it was to me the first time I’ve seen it. But I would rather see and engage with an incomprehensible truth, rather than stay in the safe and incomplete darkness.