Multimodal Component of Rational Argument Essay

https://vimeo.com/148642519 

^video link 

I chose to make my multimodal component of a remix of the songs "Try" by Colbie Caillat as the audio, and the music video of the song "Selfie" by the Chainsmokers. These both exemplify irony as the lyrics state how much time, effort, and money can go into appearance, to be liked, accepted, and fit in. The music video for "Selfie" shows how important popularity, likes, followers, and comments are on Instagram. In my opinion, it is pathetic that people are so self-consumed in appearance, having to use fake eyelashes, buy expensive clothes, wear tons of makeup, use apps to airbrush their face, and spend hours to put together their individual self. The music video portrays how once an individual is done getting ready, when they are out with friends, coworkers, family, etc, they still are worried how they look, hence the girls in the bathroom fixing their hair and makeup. Then they need to take multiple pictures to capture the night, probably not enjoying the social aspect of it. Many times people are too busy of who will like their picture, or if they don't have enough likes, they may delete it. I think this leads to a self-esteem problem many face in our society because many feel the need for constant attention and approval. Colbie Caillat's lyrics to the song "Try" are posted below:

Put your make-up on

Get your nails done

Curl your hair

Run the extra mile

Keep it slim so they like you, do they like you?

Get your sexy on

Don't be shy, girl

Take it off

This is what you want, to belong, so they like you

Do you like you?

You don't have to try so hard

You don't have to, give it all away

You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up

You don't have to change a single thing

You don't have to try, try, try, try

You don't have to try, try, try, try

You don't have to try, try, try, try

You don't have to try

You don't have to try

Mm, mm

Get your shopping on, at the mall, max your credit cards

You don't have to choose, buy it all, so they like you

Do they like you?

Wait a second,

Why, should you care, what they think of you

When you're all alone, by yourself, do you like you?

Do you like you?

In my opinion, these lyrics are very meaningful and touching to women especially because for most of us, our appearance and our look is part of our daily routines. I think everyone wants to look and feel their best, and sometimes that has no boundaries. I think the most important thing to take away from these lyrics is that as long as you like who you are, as an individual, without needing gratification from others, then you don't need to try for anything except happiness from within. 

A Look Into Slacktivism...

What is slacktivism? During the first day of class was the first time I had heard the word slacktivism. Before searching the internet for a definition, I assumed the word related to a type of laziness hence the word 'slack'. When combining the words 'slacker' and 'activism', slacktivism is the act of sharing, communicating, and promoting an image or information. Slacktivism is trying to advocate and give awareness to something that reflects a person's beliefs, values, goals, or personality. An online website I used while researching this topic was Techopedia, which stated, "slacktivism is most commonly associated with actions like signing online petitions, copying social network statuses or joining cause-related social networking groups." With social media at our fingertips, I believe many of us are slacktivists and not activists, as it is easier to support something through cell phones, laptops, and tablets instead of participating and showing effort elsewhere. I am interested to explore this topic in my College Writing 2 class!

Reflection from class 9/9/15

I thought class Friday was very interesting as I heard from multiple classmates their opinions and views on Slacktivism. Most of my groups definitions and findings on various websites were similar to mine. As a group we came to a conclusion that Slacktivism is showing awareness or support for a certain cause or belief through different types of social media. I believe Slacktivism today is more effective then protesting because more people use social media on a regular basis. You can use social media almost anywhere at anytime, and it is instantaneous which allows for news and events to give details immediately and spread like wildfire.

Documentary Questions

I have watched numerous documentary films in my life that have been very eye-opening, informative, and historical. My sophomore year of high school I took a Social Justice class that challenged many of my views on things such as abortion, death penalty, and gay marriage. My teacher was great at leading open class discussions on ethics and morality, and showing us educational and relatable documentaries about a specific topic. I have seen bits and pieces of others while searching the web, but don't have a specific favorite. 

I chose the documentary "After Innocence" by director Jessica Sanders for many reasons. First, after browsing the choices, this one caught my attention immediately. I have always been interested in the criminal justice system, what prison is like, life after a sentence is served, prison related series or television shows, and the death penalty. I find our system flawed in ways as this documentary was all about men and women being exonerated after serving decades in prison. I think using documentary films will help me as a writer because most are educational which broadens my knowledge on topics I didn't know before watching. It is a form of learning that didn't exist many years ago because most of my reading is done through the internet now. 

I think the documentary "After Innocence" was very well put together, explained, and captured the real-life explanation of life after prison. Even after these men were freed, proven not guilty through DNA testing, they still would have a difficult, far from normal life. From psychological, emotional, physical, and financial problems they were experiencing, it was hard for most of them to even find a job, a place to live, or adapt to their new life. It was amazing to know that there is a foundation out there called "Project Innocence" that helps exonerate and free men and women convicted of a crime they did not commit. It was shocking that it took so many years for these men to prove their innocence, and still remained positive after all that happened to them. As a writer, you have to write how you really feel and stand up for what you believe in. For communicating, it is important I believe to stand up for yourself, listen to others, and trust your gut feeling like the exonerees and their families did. One exoneree said during this documentary, "It breaks your soul, takes your manhood, takes your pride, takes your decency, your respect, because you're actually nothing. All you are is something just locked in a cage everyday."

Heres the link to the documentary "After Innocence"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWyaolBlXVc

Draft Summary for "After Innocence"

After Innocence is a real-life documentary released in 2005 that was directed by Jessica Sanders and written by Jessica Sanders and Marc Simon in association with The American Film Foundation. Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld, founders of the Innocent Project, are featured in the documentary, and have helped free over 150 people through DNA testing. The documentary focuses on seven men, convicted of various crimes they did not commit, sentenced to decades in prison, before being exonerated after the release of DNA evidence that proved their innocence. The documentary tells how each men was convicted, their trial process, and life after being released. After Innocence is a dramatic, emotionally devastating, but inspiring documentary that shows the struggles of these seven men attempting to adjust back into society after they lost so many years of their lives.

The general purpose of this documentary was to broadcast the flaws in the criminal justice system and show the real-life hardships that these seven men face after being freed. These men felt frustrated, hopeless, and angry with the criminal justice system as they lost some of the best years of their life that changed their lives forever. After Innocence portrays the real life situations presented in the criminal justice system with things such as police misconduct, mistaken identity, and weak legal representation.  The Innocence Project works to prevent wrongful convictions such as the ones shown on After Innocence, especially those placed on Death Row.

Although the criminal justice system will never be perfect, working towards a more reformed system will reduce the amount of people that are serving while innocent. The documentary raises questions on human rights, freedom in America, and how difficult a prisoners life is after being freed and exonerated.

Most of the men were accused of rape, murder, or burglary in After Innocence. Although all seven of these men were proven innocent through DNA testing, that didn’t help when trying to find jobs, buy a home, or see their children. The government didn’t help get these men back on their feet, offering one man only $5.34. When applying for jobs or school, these men couldn’t have their record cleared, which affected these men on a personal, physical, and emotional level knowing they would always their past almost haunting them. After all these men have been through, everything that could help them move forward was actually holding them even farther back.

After Innocence also focused on the victim’s family and how the criminal justice system affected their families. Through the support, perseverance, and financial help, many of the men were able to rely on their families after being exonerated. As this was an upsetting and unfortunate documentary, it showed how the faith, family, and hope were the most important things to these men. This documentary is inspiring to the audience as it shows the audience to never give up and always stay positive like the men in the film did. 

            One of the exonerees, Wilton Dedge, served 22 years in prison of his life sentence.  Even after his DNA evidence proved his innocence, he had to serve two additional years because the prosecution tried to hide it in court. Eventually, Wilton was freed, but this specific case really opened my eyes to the judicial system we follow. How could one prove his innocence and somebody try to prevent his evidence from being seen in court? The documentary was real, powerful, and motivating to stop what is being done to people like Wilton (After Innocence).  

What I Have Learned From Summaries

This past week in class we have focused on our documentaries that we individually chose to watch. I have written many summaries before, but I did learn a couple new things in class while revising my own.

I think majority of what we read today in magazines, online articles, and newspapers are summaries. I think this is because most people would rather read a 3 page paper, then a 10 page paper with every possible detail. If the specific summary is well-written, the summary suffices because it portrays the story or tells the story to the reader. It is essential to be able to compose a summary on various things because almost everyone will one day need to write one.

I think a summary assignment as our first assignment was a good idea, as it ties into our class idea of "Slacktivism". After writing my first draft of my summary, I knew it wasn't to the best of my ability and needed some revision. Class on Wednesday was helpful because I had the chance to see my own flaws in my summary, and know what I needed to fix. I knew the summary was not my opinion on the documentary, but instead telling the reader what the summary was about. I am struggling a little bit on my own summary even with the corrections made from my first draft since my documentary, After Innocence, portrayed the lives of seven men exonerated for crimes they did not commit. I don't want to discuss each and every man because that is not a summary of the documentary, but I feel my summary is too short and vague. My goal this week is too add more detail in to make my summary stronger, without adding unnecessary events in the story.

For the changes I have made already are mostly grammar and punctation, I did leave out a couple things mentioned in class. For example, the year the documentary was released, the use of past/present tense verbs, and using the word "viewers" or "readers".

#sweetbeginnings

The post about Sweet Beginnings was conflicting in my opinion. I watched a documentary in the beginning of the semester that dealt with 12 men being convicted of crimes they did not commit. Even after being proven innocent, they were given a ride back with only a couple dollars and no job. This would still be on their record, which would make finding a job extremely difficult. I think this company, Sweet Beginnings, is awesome to give ex-cons an opportunity to gain some work experience in the real world and have a chance to "start over". Author Casey Tolan, stated that this also gives ex-cons the opportunity at a future job interview something else to talk about except their criminal history. Most of the employees were convicted for drugs, all around North Lawndale. This also gives the ex-cons something else to focus on besides getting back behind bars. It is a weird job, dealing with bees in my opinion, but at least it is someway somehow bettering the community which is something I believe in!