Propaganda 2011

prop·a·gan·da

–noun

1. information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

2. the deliberate spreading of such information, rumors, etc.

3. the particular doctrines or principles propagated by an organization or movement.

We have heard the word propaganda used throughout our history books or as we lay half asleep in class during a lecture, but do we ever think of it outside the class or just cramming for the test. Propaganda was not just used in history with Germany in World War II but it surrounds us in our present day modern society. We Chicagoans have a perfect example of propaganda everyday for the last couple week with our election for mayor. Every time we turn on the television we see one of the many candidates in a commercials or debate. Propaganda is telling and putting information out there for the public to mold their opinions and views about a certain topic or against other people. This is exactly what has been occurring the last couple weeks, candidates promising us to lower that and do this, but only if you vote for them. They try to convince you to vote for them because they are the right choice while at the same time tering down the competitors. They run others commercials just to bash on the others telling us at home they won’t be able to keep your children safe and money in your pockets but they can if you give them the chance. They run these commercials to convince you not to vote for the other candidates and change your view of them. This is all propaganda the spreading and influencing you just for a vote is one of the many forms of propaganda that we see today. From the big things like the election for mayor to the type of products you buy. In my opinion most of the commercials on tv are used as propaganda to influence to buy something you don’t need and tell you not to buy something else. Propaganda is a key part of American society in my opinion but that doesn’t mean we have to be influenced by it.

Beat Street

Beat Street

We are currently watching Beat Street in class which is an awesome movie because I actually like it. The movie is a combo of break dancing, music, and graffiti. When you are not distracted by the funny outfit and hairstyles of the 80’s the movie actually has a positive and important message. The characters live in the tough neighborhood of the Bronxs which is depicted as a very bad neighborhood throughout the movies. Many kids that grow up in a bad neighborhood get involved with drugs, alcohol, gangs, and illegal activities but this group of kids use dancing and djing to keep them out of trouble. Many kids who don’t have anything to work for end up going the wrong direction but the characters works towards their passions of music, dancing, and art which keeps them straight for the most part.

                Recently the city and many other city are trying to do the same thing as our characters. The city started an after school matters programs that gets kids off the street and into arts, dancing, science, sport, you name it. They want to prevent kids from being on the street after school lets out and then getting into trouble that could ruin their live. They want to give the kids in the city the chances to succeed and be able to someday grow up and have a bright future. i am a supporter of the after school matters program and think all kids no matter what their situation should be involved in it.

Hungry for Attention

Is Richard the only one hungry for attention?

Our new novel is Black Boy by Richard Wright, the main character Richard a young child at the beginning of the book searches for the attention he doesn’t get from his parents. He wants to be noticed by his father who is always sleeping because of his job and his mother who is busy trying to keep the family running. When Richard is fighting for attention with his grandma who is ill, he sets the curtains on file which leads to his house burning down. When his father doesn’t pay attention to him and only wants to sleep he hangs a poor, innocent kitten. All of Richard’s actions in the first chapter seem to be out of this hunger for the attention which he feels he’s not getting. Is he alone though? when we were babies we cried for attention, when we were toddlers we hid under our beds when no one paid enough attention to you, and when we got a little older and we didn’t get our hunger for attention satisfied at home we acted out at school. We got the attention when or moms who tried to get us to stop crying, our moms when they came and found us when we were missing, and from the teacher then by our parents when they had to come to school to come get us up. When Richard was hungry for attention he was destructive and but he still got the attention even if it was in the way he was hoping for.

          In my opinion everyone in the world is hungry for attention. This world is run off of selfishness and egos. Everyone strives to be the best so they can be praised for their accomplishments. Everyone wants the attention of being better than everyone else or standing out above the crowd. The world runs on everyone’s narcissistic ideas, thoughts, and actions on an everyday basis. We all like Richard strive to be noticed by our parents, family, and peers. So Richard is not alone in the sense that he is hungry for attention that was not received in the first place. But how we deal with not getting that attention is how we differ ourselves from Richard, don’t set the house on fire and don’t kill a kitten. Or at least I don’t.