Assessment 2

After watching this clip several times, I feel that Al Pacino’s portrayal of the character “Frank,” is really solidified once he briefly insinuates that he spent time in the war… I have not seen the full movie, but in the clip used for this assignment, I sense that this is the earliest point at which such a distinction can be made. In regards to the speech itself, I feel that the true character of the speech is a warning about the nature of leadership, and that the “Baird School” should question what kind of values they are instilling in their students, and what kind of leaders they are producing. Franks character is shown in the way he will not sit down, even when asked to, because he is not a man who bends to the image of authority.

I felt that Frank’s speech relied on inductive logic to lend a sense of “fact” to his speech, i.e., in the way Frank described his personal assessment of Charlie’s character. Franks statement, “when the shit hits the fan, some guys run, and some guys stay…” is a logical statement about the character of a man, and that upstanding men and leaders do not “run” when things get hard. When Frank mentions that Charlie chose not to be “bought-out,” this was a truthful statement used as evidence of Charlie’s character…  that he would not yield to the level of being a snitch.

I felt that anecdotes like, “when the bow breaks, the cradle will fall,” or the narrative, “there is nothing like an amputated spirit,” are moving emotional appeals, and show Franks competence of elocution. I also felt that Frank’s statement about having “… been to the crossroads,” is moving testimony, and reveals an element of his true character.

Al Pacino used a lot of non-verbal displays in his portrayal of “Frank.” For example, grabbing his fold-up cane and using it to gesticulate or hit the table for effect, yelling during phrases like “… if I was the man I was five years ago, I’d take a flame thrower to this place!” or lowering his voice when speaking about there being no prosthetic for an “amputated spirit.” These were persuasively effective in a visual and auditory way, and I feel helped Al Pacino’s portrayal of being outraged at the “rot on the top.”

Outline

Topic: The United States should pass legislation to ensure Internet privacy for its citizens, so as to maintain a free and open Internet.

Specific Purpose: To encourage people to petition the government for laws protecting a free and open Internet.

Thesis Statement: Individuals should insist that the government pass laws protecting the privacy rights of citizens who use the Internet, so as to protect the personal information of citizens, and allow for an uncensored arena for public discourse.

I. Introduction

A. Attention-Getting Step: Personal experience about the advent of the Internet, and the development of Internet accessible technology.

B. Tie to Audience: We are all Internet users.

C. Credibility Material:

Here's how we take back the Internet. (2014, March). Retrieved July 15, 2015, from https://www.ted.com/talks/edward_snowden_here_s_how_we_take_back_the_internet#t-882842

Hu, E. (2015, February 4). FCC Chairman Wheeler Backs Regulating Internet As Public Utility. Retrieved July 15, 2015, from http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/02/04/383520623/after-months-of-debate-fcc-poised-to-unveil-internet-rules

Net Neutrality Wins in Brazil’s Internet Constitution [Al Jazeera America]. (2014, March 26). Retrieved July 14, 2015, from http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/3/26/brazil-internet-constitution.html

Rothkopf, D. (2015, February 2). Is Unrestricted Internet Access a Modern Human Right? Retrieved July 14, 2015, from http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/02/02/unrestricted-internet-access-human-rights-technology-constitution/

Shahani, A. (2015, March 30). Bringing Internet To The Far Corners Of The Earth. Retrieved July 15, 2015, from http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/03/30/396391960/bringing-internet-to-the-far-corners-of-the-earth

Wagner, A. (2012, September 6). Is internet access a human right? [Online Posting]. Retrieved July 14, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/law/2012/jan/11/is-internet-access-a-human-right

D. Thesis & Preview: Individuals should insist that the government pass laws protecting the privacy rights of citizens who use the Internet, so as to protect the personal information of citizens, and allow for an uncensored and free arena for public discourse.

II. Body

A. Main Point #1 – Need

1. We never know when we will need our right to privacy.

a. The government uses massive amounts of surveillance on US citizens.

b. Ed Snowden, Julian Assange.

c. UK government turned off Internet during the London Tube Bombings of 2005.

2. What if government turned off Internet to stop peaceful protest?

a. Control of the Internet… Orwellian society?

b. Release of classified documents by Ed Snowden.

3. US Citizens, and citizens of the world.

a. Ed Snowden, FCC.

b. Unveiling of the controlling power of world governments to monitor the Internet.

B. Main Point #2 (Present Solution that Satisfies Need)

1. Laws to protect the privacy of Internet users.

a. Allows individuals the right to a private life and information.

b. Petition the government and be active on social media about this issue.

C. Main Point #3 (Visualize Results)

1. Gives individuals a sense of privacy regarding private communication via the Internet.

2. Growth of the power and “need” for government surveillance.

III. Conclusion

Reich Post

I would first like to apologies for this artifact being somewhat long in length, however, this is quite a moving speech by Aung San Suu Kyi, after she waited 20 years to receive her Noble Award.

Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese political figure that is considered a champion for democracy and human rights. She was detained several times by the military party in Burma, and placed under house arrest for almost 24 years. This speech is persuasive because it is a prime example of the Triumphant Individual… how a person with humble beginnings can make a difference for the world, and so gain honor and recognition from their work. Although she did not speak too much about her life story, the way she spoke about her cause for human rights, and that humanity must not succumb to “compassion fatigue,” were compelling implications of her strong will, and perseverance of spirit during her time under house arrest.

I would say that Aung San Suu Kyi’s speech was an appeal for Self-actualization. This self-actualization starts with one individual, and then grows into a community that spreads around the world… that humanity should work together to achieve creating a world where kindness and peace are in abundance, and efforts are made to alleviate human suffering.

If you have never heard of Aung San Suu Kyi, I highly recommend researching her biography. She has inspired a generation to not give up on their dreams, even when life’s difficulties make it look as though all seems lost.

Larsen Post 2: "Save the Shoes."

http://www.ted.com/talks/mark_bezos_a_life_lesson_from_a_volunteer_firefighter

In this TEDTalk given by volunteer fireman Mark Bezos, he speaks about the ability for all individuals to contribute to the wellbeing of others, without needing to have attained a certain level of success. I believe that this TEDTalk reflects Larsen’s cultural myth about The Possibility of Success, in that we find hard work and virtuousness to be valuable traits worthy of our consideration. Mark Bezos’ story about how he was sent to “save the shoes,” when a lady’s house caught on fire, and how that deed was referenced later by the lady in an appreciative letter she wrote to the department, is moving proof of how our smallest of deeds can have a great impact on someone. This value of “service equals success,” is something that Americans value, and has persuasive social implications when used in the right context.

I observe that this TEDTalk is trying to evoke the emotional gratification that comes with Happiness and Pride. When we do service for others, we sometimes feel a sense of pride about the task we did, and happiness in regards to the nature of our existence… and this emotional validation is what Mark Bezos is trying to convey to the listener as important. If we want to feel happiness and self-worth, we must take every opportunity to “save the shoes.”

Assessment 1

I would say that the ethics of this presentation involve an appeal to a cardinal value of man… that connection to the earth is virtuous, and in no way wrong. In a time of urbanization, how can we judge as questionable the images of the working farmer, with sweat on brow, and fields to tend? The voice of Paul Harvey, a trustworthy voice, a voice from an age of trustworthiness some would say has past, lends to a sense that no ethical quandary can be derived in the words from past elaborations on a farmer.

The point of this commercial is to convince the viewer to purchase a Ram Truck, and in many of the images you see the quintessential farmer working out of the back of his truck, moving hay, or sitting on the tailgate ingrained in a task requiring hand-eye coordination… a direct insinuation, similar to the medieval knight and his sword, that the Ram Truck is an extension of the farmer, and without his truck, he cannot accomplish the tasks that are the purview of his craft. The images of the farmland, family, and the farmer at prayer, lend to the peripheral attributes that pertain to the lifestyle of the farmer, and appeal to the demographic of individuals who are the farmer type, and or grew up working on a farm.

I think that it is difficult to “pin down” a firm logos when one is analyzing a commercial… if anything, the one logos attribute that rings of “truthy” is that farmers are sturdy individuals, and Paul Harvey’s narrative enhances this fact. However, this commercial has much Pathos and Ethos to offer. The images of the farmer in church, and his family at prayer at the dinner table, lend to a sense of “traditional values,” and this gives the commercial a sense of character in the eyes of those with a conservative home-type mindset. Paul Harvey’s words about a farmer “stopping his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadowlark,” are heart touching appeals of a gentle sensitivity that only can be found in the emotional disposition of a farmer.

This commercial highlights the necessity of a farmer to have a vehicle that can go long distances, and serve him well… that the truck he drives is both a symbol of who he is, and a symbol to others of his virtuous lifestyle. It is the endeavor of the producers of this commercial to capitalize on this knowledge of the symbols associated with farming culture to sell Ram trucks. The words of Paul Harvey are moving, and his elocution lends to a persuasive narrative about the lifestyle of a farmer, which to the urbanized individual, may inspire a desire for “trucks,” and a need to travel far, and work hard.

One of Reich’s Cultural Parables that I think best describes this commercial is The Triumphant Individual. The idea that if you work hard, and apply ones self to what may seem to be an impossible task, an individual can reach honorable and worthwhile heights. If you have hard tasks to accomplish, you’re going to need a Ram Truck. Right on the heels of The Triumphant Individuals, we have Positive Altercasting from Marwell & Schmitt, which is a persuasive appeal to what is smart and “right,” in an effort to convince the viewer that buying the Ram Truck is what a good farmer would do.

In terms of the Motivational Process Premises involved in this commercial, I think it pertains to the Need for “reassurance of worth,” in that farmers values are validated in the commercial. The Emotion of “pride” is displayed by the images of farmers in a positive light. The Attitude of “emotional influence” is evident by the use of Paul Harvey’s speech. Lastly, consonant traits can be identified by the “reassurance of security,” that farmers will need trucks, and that if there is a need, then the farmer way of life is “going strong.”