Presentation

David Kelley’s presentations focused mostly upon how our society is affecting endangered animals. It shocked me how much harm a small thing can do to endangered animals around the world. His presentation was obviously well thought out and involved a great amount of research. Although, it was a somber topic, David took the time to lighten the mood by adding music and pictures of baby animals. Overall, it was my favorite presentation, and it made me want to change my ways.

Destruction of us

Overconsumption is killing the environment and ourselves. We always want and want and want, it never ceases. But we are only human; we have limits, and its time to confront that. If not, we will continue to destroy our planet, which will in turn, destroy us. Having limits are not bad though, as Wendell Berry stated in Faustian Economics, “out human and earthly limits, properly understood, are not confinements but rather inducements to formal elaboration and elegance, to fullness of relationship and meaning.”

Manipulation

Advertisers twist people into believing they NEED their product, no matter how insignificant it truly is. Advertisers go out of their way to make their ads what the people want to see. They have pin pointed key layouts that draw consumers in, and use it to their advantage. As stated in “Layouts and Illustrations” by John Caples, “For believability, there is nothing as effective as a photograph…Photographs are proof.” A quality photo can stop a reader dead when flipping through a magazine. Advertisers understand this and use it to draw the consumer in quicker and make them want the product sooner. People in todays society are manipulated so much by advertisers that they no longer realize it, they are accustomed to it. It has become their way of life.

Advertisements

Anthony J. Greene states in his article “Making Connections” that, “We also tend to remember the people and events that resonate emotionally…” Advertisers have realized this and use it to draw unsuspecting consumers in. They use pathos in their ads knowing it connects to our memories. For instance, I saw an ad for learning your credit score, I couldn’t care less about anyone’s credit score, but they used a song to advertise. I could probably sing you that entire song; it was very catchy, and incredibly well thought out by the advertisers. They have made the connection; songs=memory.  Advertisers don’t just use things as obvious as music though. Some of the ways they get us addicted are more subliminal.  How the people look, who the people are, the overall mood of the ad, can all make it more memorable. Eventually, seeing certain items will make us think of an ad, make us remember the product being sold, and if the advertisers did well, make us want it.

Mindfulness

 We can gain many things from mindfulness. As stated by Uwe Herwig in “Me, Myself and I”, “our self-image is a product of our brain.” By being aware of ourselves, we can become what we truly want to be. In today’s society, people are encouraged to lead themselves to success, instead of following others. In order to do that they must be aware of what they want and how to get there and what it will make them become. We may have to act different to get where we want, we still need be true to ourselves sometimes. Although Finkelstein said in “Identity”, “there is no need for a permanent sense of identity.” He also claimed,  “to live without having to wear a mask, is the only way to achieve self-awareness.” This means that there is nothing to be ashamed of if we lose our sense of identity, as long as we fight against the obstacles, and uncover the veil, we can find ourselves again. 

A "postmodern" world, according to Anderson.

What is my identity? Truthfully I'm not sure anymore, I'm not sure if I've every really known. Facebook connects me to the people who surround me, but it is not something to be identified by, it is not me. My identity is affected by my peers, I hold back on doing things, afraid to be judged, 

I am not myself. I guess Facebook gives me a new identity, changes it, extends it. I know who and what I can identify with, Facebook is not it. I hide in my skin, not showing who I truly am "Inside its margins: you. Beyond its flexy surface: everything else."

Anderson says the "postmodern" world is where identities constantly change and shift and mask themselves. People may not be who they really are, they identify with something they are not. Everyone is trying to be an individual, thinking for themselves, which in turn connects them. People are surrounded by decisions and choices to make, that make them different, they do not have to go along the same path as everyone else. But what if the people just want follow the flow, yet there is no longer one. "The only thing we lack is the option of not having to make a choice."