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Influence of digital platforms on culture
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I’m Poppy: A review of the creation and commentary of abstract YouTube media. Since its inception in 2005, YouTube has grown into the most popular video sharing platform in the world. With its easy to use platform and a massive perspective audience, YouTube connects many content creators with the audience they’re seeking, and introduces many individuals to content and creators they otherwise might have passed over. The sheer amount of content and variety on YouTube has created microcosms of fans, creators, and genres of content, all with their own specific conventions and popular YouTube Stars. One particularly interesting genre that had become popular is the abstract film. In this rhetorical analysis, the conventions of abstract film and storytelling will be reviewed, how one popular abstract artist, Poppy, fits into the genre, and how my own creation, “I’m Poopy” fits into the conventions of Abstract storytelling as well. Even within the conventions of abstract storytelling, variations and sub-categories exist within …show more content…
the genre. The abstract YouTube video is itself is a subgenre of experimental film, which has strayed away from the non-linier aspect of its brothers on the silver screen and evolved into a composite of the art film, abstruse narrative, and critical social commentary. The range of production value and complexity in abstract YouTube videos fluctuates wildly, as does their content; however, all abstract YouTube media share certain identifiable characteristics, and one does not easily misidentify an abstract video when he or she sees one. The most apparent convention of the abstract YouTube video is its unsettling imagery. Unsettling imagery and unnatural behavior is a staple of abstract media on YouTube, as it is used as both attracts viewers and acts as a smoke screen for the creator’s symbolism and commentary. The purpose of the abstract video to two-fold. 1) to be spread across social platforms, garnering attention and conversation, and 2) two present the author’s messages to those perceptive enough to find it. Video such as this invite audience participation to uncover the author’s hidden meaning whether it be social commentary about their world or the story’s hidden narrative. Some well-known abstract videos include the likes of the Salad Fingers, Don’t Hug Me, I’m Scared, Several of Adult Swim’s short films, such as Unedited Footage of a Bear, and Too Many Cooks, and finally, the most recent addition to the list: I’m Poppy. I’m Poppy follows in the footsteps of the abstract films before her with her porcelain skin, doll-like figure, and her unsettling repetitive nature tied with nonsensical imagery in her videos. Many of her videos are thinly veiled commentaries of various aspects of popular culture, including religion, wealth, veganism and more; however, where Poppy subverts the abstract genre is her reasons behind it. Poppy’s channel (and subsequent videos) have all been created as a form of branding for her career as a pop artist. She has taken the conventions of social commentary from abstract videos and turned them into a form of self-promotion and self-gratification--the antithesis of the abstract genre. Following the conventions of her videos specifically, my abstract video is a critical commentary about Poppy and how she has subverted the purpose of YouTube’s abstract genre into the antithesis of its original purpose.
In her videos, she often criticizes the vanity, shallowness, and insignificance of today’s popular culture-- all the while attempting to engrain herself in it. My video follows her conventions through short, repetitive takes featuring an unsettling figure, simple props, and nonsensical imagery. Additionally, the commentary is thinly veiled for anyone familiar with the artist and her channel themselves, similarly to how Poppy ensured her meaning was easy to grasp for the public. Where I break convention of Poppy’s video is that it won’t be nearly as long, running about one minute instead of ten. I believe this will give the viewer plenty of time to grasp the message without being superfluous, and will be more palatable to the
public.
In, “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” written by Benjamin Franklin (one of the Founding Fathers) in 1747, brought up the disparities that were between men and women within the judicial system. Also, “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” also briefly points out, how religion has been intertwined with politics. All throughout “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker,” Benjamin Franklin uses very intense diction and syntax to help support what he is trying to express to the rest of society. Also writing this speech in the view point of a women, greatly helps establish what he is trying to say. If Benjamin Franklin was to write it as a man, the speech my have not had the same passionate effect as it currently has.
In the book Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer wrote about Christopher McCandless, a nature lover in search for independence, in a mysterious and hopeful experience. Even though Krakauer tells us McCandless was going to die from the beginning, he still gave him a chance for survival. As a reader I wanted McCandless to survive. In Into the Wild, Krakauer gave McCandless a unique perspective. He was a smart and unique person that wanted to be completely free from society. Krakauer included comments from people that said McCandless was crazy, and his death was his own mistake. However, Krakauer is able to make him seem like a brave person. The connections between other hikers and himself helped in the explanation of McCandless’s rational actions. Krakauer is able to make McCandless look like a normal person, but unique from this generation. In order for Krakauer to make Christopher McCandless not look like a crazy person, but a special person, I will analyze the persuading style that Krakauer used in Into the Wild that made us believe McCandless was a regular young adult.
“A Modest Proposal” was written in 1729 by a satirical author by the name of Jonathan Swift. Swift studied at the University of Oxford and was also know for his popular writing in Gulliver’s Travel. The purpose for his satire “A Modest Proposal” was to enlighten the citizens of Ireland about their hardship and suffering. He informed them about their scares of food, money, and property, but provided a possible solution to their problem. To persuade the people Swift adopts a comforting and friendly tone to his audience for the people to react to his solution.
Throughout our lives, we encounter promising advertisements from desperate companies attempting to campaign the next innovative product. The Onion's satirical article on MagnaSoles utilizes several rhetorical devices to sell its latest, groundbreaking item. By applying the MagnaSoles as a model for modern day products, The Onion humorously mocks the ridiculous promises and claims that companies offer their customers to market such "marvelous and unmatched" novelties. By presenting a sarcastic, exaggerated tone throughout the essay, we are able to dwell in the true hilarity of advertisements' impetuous pleas. The Onion uses doctors and "experts" to explain the revolutionary technology that MagnaSoles offers the public, even going as
In 1729, Jonathan Swift published a pamphlet called “A Modest Proposal”. It is a satirical piece that described a radical and humorous proposal to a very serious problem. The problem Swift was attacking was the poverty and state of destitution that Ireland was in at the time. Swift wanted to bring attention to the seriousness of the problem and does so by satirically proposing to eat the babies of poor families in order to rid Ireland of poverty. Clearly, this proposal is not to be taken seriously, but merely to prompt others to work to better the state of the nation. Swift hoped to reach not only the people of Ireland who he was calling to action, but the British, who were oppressing the poor. He writes with contempt for those who are oppressing the Irish and also dissatisfaction with the people in Ireland themselves to be oppressed.
Stanley, Robert H. The Movie Idiom: Film as a Popular Art Form. Illinois: Waveland Press, Inc. 2011. Print
Pamphlets were often used to spread ideas throughout Ireland in the late 1600s, however, many were discarded and ignored. “A Modest Proposal,” by Jonathan Swift, uses the pamphlets to his advantage by proposing a ridiculous idea to show how messed up the state of Ireland was. Swift proposed that the babies of all the poor would “contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing, of many thousands” or in other words, improve Ireland 's economic problems and standard of living (Swift). His main reason for proposing this drastic idea was because women continued to have children they could not provide food or anything for in some cases and Swift’s idea would make the children “beneficial to the public” (Swift). For these reasons, Swift looks at not only the politicians to blame for the poor conditions but the citizens of Ireland as well. In “A Modest Proposal”, Swift uses harsh
Today’s economy and the environment are hurting due to the lack of nurture we have been providing. Conventional farming rules the world of agriculture, but not without a fight from organic farming. Organic farming is seen as the way of farming that might potentially nurture our nature back to health along with the added benefit of improving our own health. With her piece “Organic farming healthier, more efficient than Status Quo,” published in the Kansas State Collegian on September 3, 2013, writer Anurag Muthyam brings forth the importance behind organic farming methods. Muthyam is a senior at Kansas State University working towards a degree in Management. This piece paints the picture of how organic farming methods
Imagine a you are writing a speech that could very well change the way life is. If you knew that you would be speaking to hundreds and thousands of people on racial equality, what would you say? How would you start that speech? How would you write that speech so that everyone can understand it and learn from it and get inspired from it? How would you know what to say and how to say it?
Having been diagnosed with Lupus and other chronic illnesses since she was 15 years of age, for over 18 years, Christine Miserandino did not let her chronic illnesses hinder her from life but instead have used her experiences with it to fuel her role to be an advocate for everyone who’s also diagnosed and are suffering. She is an award winning author. A speaker who has founded the “Spoon Theory” which is also published in her website ButYouDontLookSick.com. She is an active member of various groups that aims to raise awareness on the illness by helping as much people, not just the families and friends of the diagnosed but also including Physicians and other medical professionals understand what it’s like to suffer from it to gain an advance
Studying a university degree is one of the biggest achievements of many individuals around the world. But, according to Mark Edmunson, a diploma in America does not mean necessarily studying and working hard. Getting a diploma in the United States implies managing with external factors that go in the opposite direction with the real purpose of education. The welcome speech that most of us listen to when we started college, is the initial prank used by the author to state the American education system is not converging in a well-shaped society. Relating events in a sarcastic way is the tone that the author uses to explain many of his arguments. Mark Edmunson uses emotional appeals to deliver an essay to the people that have attended College any time in their life or those who have been involved with the American education system.
“A Modest Proposal” is a satirical argument written by Jonathan Swift in 1729. In the argument, Swift is seemingly offering a revolutionary solution to Ireland’s potato famine and overpopulation. On the surface, Swift appears to suggest that the best solution for their problem lies in cannibalism. More specifically, in his plan, poor families will fatten up their babies and sell them for a profit to more wealthy Irish citizens. That way, the lower-class will end their poverty and the upper-class will benefit from the introduction of a new dish which is sure to become a delicacy. In his time, Swift’s argument was taken literally, and a general outrage spread across Ireland. However, if one reads carefully, Swift uses some rhetorical strategies
After reading “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift, I’ve noticed that the writing can be a little complicated at first and may require you to reread and actually pick apart the sentences to try and make sense of what Swift is trying to get across. The writer Jonathan Swift wrote “A Modest Proposal” in 1729, which was the same time when the Irish was plagued with three years of a drought and a potato famine that had left many starving and looking for ways to keep food, even very small amounts in their stomachs (630). Swift saw what the famine was doing to the people and the chaos that had followed. He then decided to write “A Modest Proposal,” which consisted of solutions, both ridiculous and serious on how to end the starvation of thousands.
Baba says this quote while having a private conversation with Rahim Khan, which exposes important traits of Baba and Amir. The irony of Baba ranting to Rahim Khan about Amir to never be able to stand up for himself; Hassan always saves him. The irony takes its place when Amir watches Assef rape Hassan without interfering. These words shows Amir’s character flaw, cowardice, and Baba shows how significant it is to stand up for what is right. We all know that Baba is hesitant to seize recognition of Amir because Amir’s decrease of courage to stand up for himself, which leaves Amir deeply wanting Baba’s praise and approval.
“Entertainment has to come hand in hand with a little bit of medicine, some people go to the movies to be reminded that everything’s okay. I don’t make those kinds of movies. That, to me, is a lie. Everything’s not okay.” - David Fincher. David Fincher is the director that I am choosing to homage for a number of reasons. I personally find his movies to be some of the deepest, most well made, and beautiful films in recent memory. However it is Fincher’s take on story telling and filmmaking in general that causes me to admire his films so much. This quote exemplifies that, and is something that I whole-heartedly agree with. I am and have always been extremely opinionated and open about my views on the world and I believe that artists have a responsibility to do what they can with their art to help improve the culture that they are helping to create. In this paper I will try to outline exactly how Fincher creates the masterpieces that he does and what I can take from that and apply to my films.