Absolut Impotence

The first thing that came to my mind is Absolut comic. The ad cleverly uses a quote from Shakespeare of how “Drink provokes the desire but takes away the performance.” The crumpled bottle relating to impotence allows the viewer to not understand the spoof ad mentally, but visually as well. It applies many rhetoric strategies to not only show negatives to drinking to the viewer, but does it in a manner where the viewer will remember. One, the ad uses strategies that implies persuasion in a ‘logos’ logical fashion. Drinking surely does create less performance when consumed, but no one take it to heart. When we are able to visually see a crumpled bottle, we are able to understand on a visual note. We are also able to see the ad speaking to us on an emotional ‘ethos’ note as well. We are all familiar with the advertisement showing the Absolut Vodka bottle. Majority of the commercials for this product features scenes and images of enjoyment and excitement. The irony in this parody creates an emotional touch that is so contradictory to the original, that it creates a humorous note. This laughter influences and persuades us on an emotional note. While the ad seems merely humorous, the message within seems to have a harder punch. Drinking is always what our society considers a good social event. Yet, hidden within, are possible outcomes of many negatives. We know that drinking can lead to addiction, abuse, death (drinking and driving) and impotence as well. Yet, the way these negatives are delivered never sticks to us; it’s always on a long boring column, or never emphasized too well. Yet, this ad that we are so familiar to was twisted in a contradicting way, and it reaches to us the way that the original ad reached to us. The influence of this new ad seems more influential than any other way it was proposed before.

Sex Appeal: The ups and downs

Sex appeal is one of the best tools when it comes to marketing. Not only does it capture attention, it fools the viewer to think that they want to buy the product. When in reality, the feeling of need comes from the sexual arousal, rather than the actual product. Many products are marketed in this fashion, especially clothing apparel and outer garnishments. One of the companies that use this method is Calvin Klein. Often, their models are shown advertising their body more than the actual product, yet the effectiveness of the commercials is unrivaled by any other way to show off their product. For example, the model shown within this writing is Christy Turlington. Many of her pictures are nothing but black and whites of her in a sexy undergarment. Yet, when you see her shoots, you automatically can think CK. Even without the text, you are able to see a picture and think CK. Even for those who do not know of CK, the ad using sex appeal captures their attention, and makes sure that they’ll remember their company. As far as the effectiveness goes for this style of ad, it is more than good. However, this ad is questionable when it comes to the matter of appropriateness. This advertisement is seen by viewers of all ages; from the responsible adult, to the growing up pre-teen. When such material is shown, it may give a “negative” influence to a young adult. Identity is an issue being developed for a teen. If an ad such as this becomes the ideal model of beauty, this concept can lead the teen into a wrong direction. Although there isn’t much ‘pathos’ in the actual picture, the effect it may have on its viewers can surely be emotional. Perhaps too emotional…

Analysis of the Picture: Emptiness

The picture is well taken despite bad lighting and stale background. The picture was taken within a fog, which would create stale and bland coloring of the picture. The photographer actually used that as a theme of the picture, creating a sense of being lost visually as well as rhetorically. The focus of the picture, the woman, stands out well with her black dressing manner. Against the pale background and stale grass, she makes the viewers focus on her, making it obvious she is the focus. The proportion of the woman versus the background is also very good. It is close enough for the viewer to observe some type of emotion from the facial expression, but far enough to create a sense of void within the picture. We are able to tell that she is looking and calling out for something (most likely a dog, looking at the leash in her hand), and the spacing with the woman and everything else is very well proportioned. Also, making the woman placed at the far right of the picture makes the background seem much wider. As far as the message goes, the picture speaks in regards to wanting to find something. Whether it’s a dog or a meaningful relationship, the focus of the picture is definitely searching out for something in desperation. No time in our lives are we able to think that we are complete. We always seem to lack something, and it creates emptiness inside. This picture persuades us to reflect on ourselves once again; to once again evaluate what we have and do not have.

Reflecting on the picture

A dog is a man’s best friend. This is a saying we know too well. There has been countless stories of the loyalty these animals possess. From saving their owner from a burning house, to risking their lives to protect their human friends, dogs have been the loyal companion of mankind far back into the history books. This picture shows a woman holding a leash, looking for her pet in desperation. It makes one question, “why did she lose her dog?” As a dog owner, you give your dog some freedom, and it may run off; yet, you should have no need to call for it desperately. Calling for it once should retrieve the dog without too much trouble. Although no judgment can be made by simple visuals, the fact that this lady made this dog run away makes me question her character and personality. Also, the weather seems horrible; if the picture was taken at a park, we should have been able to observe others present within this picture. Yet, she seems to be the only one out there. Looking into her dressing style, the weather also seems chilly. Why is she out there? Of course, if the dog needs a walk, it’s understandable, but if she’s a type of owner where the dog would run away from her, most probably she made no consideration of that sort. The lady simply looks as if she needs more help than retrieving her dog. Maybe she needs psychological treatment.

Observing of the picture

Within a fog, we are able to see a woman in her thirties crying out into the mist. Holding a leash in her hand, it appears that she has lost perhaps a dog. Dressed in black pants overlapped with a black overcoat, she appears very warm. Although she is dressed for the cold, looking at the grass (which appears still fairly green) we are able to assume the time of the year is still summer, if not fall. It is too foggy to determine the time of day because of the fog, but we are able to assume that it is still daylight because the picture was captured with decent lighting. In the background of this picture, we see faintly some trees and bushes. The trees still have their leaves and green color. Although the grass is too well-groomed to look like in the wilderness, nowhere in this picture are we able to see a bench, a sidewalk, nor any other people; it appears that this photo was either not taken at a park, or with excellent timing, made the viewer assume it was out somewhere in the wilderness. A detail that strongly convinces a reader to believe this WAS at a park, is the fact that to the left of the woman in the picture, there are marks of some sort on the grass. Although very faint, the grass is shown with marks from a wheel of some sort. The marks are too thin and faint to be any large vehicle; it seems to belong to maybe a bicycle or a lawn mower.

Drinking: The good, the bad, the ugly

As I walked in to the huge party and see my friend “Johnny”, I can once again see what a popular guy he is. Surrounded by people I don’t know, he seemed to have made the party. He didn’t seem to realize I came, so I walked up to him to say hello. “David! Glad you’re here!” He starts to introduce me to those around him, and we exchange hands and waves. It is surprising to see how one person seems to know so many people, and how appealing a person can be. He gestures me to follow, so that we can take shots (Despite the fact that I tell him I can’t drink, he is not fazed and offers nonetheless). I followed him anyway, and as we walk through the party, almost everyone in the party seemed to know who Johnny was. After swimming through the crowd, we arrived at a table, which was already occupied by a few already drunk as well as an empty flask of Crown Royal. Opening another flask of the terrible toxin, Johnny pours me a shot as he introduced me to the group of very tipsy people. There were three people who were present; one guy who had his head down on the table, breathing as if he was snoring, another guy who kept going to the restroom to throw up (who had more shots once he came back), and one other guy who just kept talking as if he hadn’t spoken for years. When I asked the talkative guy how many shots they each had to drink, he replied with a sly, reddened face, “Eight or nine I think. Dude I’m so drunk ha ha ha…” In my opinion, it looked like they had about twenty. Each of these guys were very well-groomed. They all wore nice dress pants and shirts from Banana Republic or something of that nature, but their composure was a mess. They slurred words and their breath stunk of alcohol. And, to my discomfort, my friend Johnny was the same mess after about an hour. The cool, laid back Johnny was no more, and only thing left in his place was a speech slurring throw up mess. On the surface, this scene first seemed to be of great excitement. People laughing, dancing, meeting new people, it appeared like a good social gathering. But, venturing into each individual, alcohol and its consumption seemed to be more of a torment than an enjoyment. Majority of the people were seen losing control and self-image. The faces of those drinking it made it appear that alcohol consumption was more of a torture than anything else, and those who had consumed it looked very ill.

Bad decisions in consuming can have a horrific consequence. In the United States, the legal age to drink is 21. Although the limit seems to set a sense of curiosity and ‘taboo’ which invokes a minor to drink earlier, this age limit I believe, was set at this number for a reason. A person is allowed to drive a vehicle that moves at a high velocity at age 16. A person is allowed to enlist into the army and learn to be a soldier of war at 18. After that, a person is allowed to drink at the late age of 21. We wonder of why responsibility followed in this sequence; a person allowed to learn a skill that can kill is learnt before allowing the person to drink a beverage from barley; the reason I think this is set up this way, is because alcohol IS that dangerous, and it requires a person to be more mature before allowing its consumption.

Not only is drinking harmful to the consumer, it’s just as dangerous for those around the consumer. Studies show that drunk driving is a leading cause of death, binge drinking can lead to liver failure and weakened heart, and that abuse of many sorts often trace back to the substance alcohol. Also, many families are broken up because of wrongful alcohol consumption. Alcohol just seems like a portal for crime and sin for a person to walk through.

The problem is, is that everyone already is aware of the consequences of alcohol. Yet, people continue to drink anyway. At the party, I was able to see a girl, who obviously was not of legal age to drink. I asked if she liked the taste of alcohol, and she gave me a stern ‘no’. I asked her if she enjoyed throwing up, and she looked at as if I was stupid. When I asked her why she drank alcohol, she told me that it allowed her to have fun and to forget her problems in life. People often first taste alcohol with curiosity, but continue to drink it for other reasons than taste. They force their bodies to drink the toxin in order to cover for a different pain or suffering. Some people drink it to have the approval of those around them, some people drink it to use it as an excuse to lose control, and some people drink it to forget terrible pains within them. The TV commercials we see from alcohol companies like Henessy or Bacardi advertise drink-free driving and safety within alcohol consumption. Yet, before that message is delivered, scenes of people at clubs and parties are shown having a good time thanks to the alcohol. This lures many people to think that alcohol can truly bring them happiness and comfort within their distressed lives. In reality however, the emotional pain inside does not go away and people are left lost. To add on to the disappointment, the girls at these types of events are never really hot as they appear on TV, the setting of clubs and parties are not as crisp or friendly, and alcohol sure does not taste as good as it looks.

Drinking itself is not bad. But, it can lead a person to abuse its substance and create a gateway to lots of pain, physical and emotional. The victims of alcohol, who had lost their health or family due to it are asked upon their decision in drinking, no single person will reply positively on alcohol. The true identity to what alcohol can do is never discovered until it is too late; hopefully people will realize that and alcohol will not be abused once again.

FYI
For treatment of alcohol abuse, please visit the Alcohol Anonymous Website

Ends justify the means? Means justify the ends?

A simple question: "If a loved one is dying from hunger, is it ok to steal food?"

This is a very delicate question. Imagine a person that you love deeply is suffering from hunger. Because you don't have money, you cannot buy food. Now you're in a dilemma; to watch your loved one die, or to commit a crime and steal food. What should you do?

When a large group was asked, many people replied that IT IS OK to steal food. Their justification were something like these: "A life versus food. What is more important? Of course, a life." "If you love someone, you should be able to anything for them, especially to save their life." "Stealing a piece of bread or something like that won't make a difference. It's just food."

I asked myself what the world would be like if everyone lived by this philosophy. A person stealing a piece of bread, when another person steals the bread from that same person who stole the bread just 3 minutes ago... Society would be in a chaos and common order would lose its place. Often people seem to neglect that when they do something like this for their loved one, they are hurting someone else's loved one. What if, the question asked was not regarding food, but regarding a medicine? "If a loved one is dying from hunger, is it ok to steal medicine?" If you steal medicine, the medicine that may be going to another person is not available. Your loved one may have survived, but because you stole that medicine, another person's loved one died.

Within the innocence of the answers to the question, I found purity and greediness at the same time. People are willing to commit crimes for who they love, yet at the same time, harm another that they do not know. It seems like poverty is the real crime, but deep within the honesty of this question, I seem to find the true image of a human being; that humans, who themselves consider to be so high and mighty, are really weak imperfect animals.

When I was asked this question, I for one said "No, I would not steal." I later got into a huge fight with my girlfriend, who happened to be with me at the time. Life is hard...