TOW #13: "The Obama Selfie-Face-Gate", Lauren Collins

A couple of weeks ago, the world lost one of the most influential leaders that it has ever seen. On December 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela, president of South Africa, died. Since his death, a lot of news media has been focusing on him and his many innovations toward society. Recently though, the attention has not been completely on Mandela. At his memorial service, there was a photo taken of Barack Obama, with two other world leaders, snapping a "selfie." Although this type of picture seems to be commonplace in America now, it became a big deal when the president of the United States was taking one, especially at such a somber occasion. The most talked about part of this whole matter? Michelle Obama's face, and the "story" behind the photo. In her blog post, "The Obama Selfie-Face-Gate," Lauren Collins addresses the media attention on this popular picture. Many commentators looked into the character of the Danish prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who was seen in the photo with Obama. One of the things that was dug up about her was that she enjoys watching the American show "Sex and the City." This popular show has captivated many viewers over time, so it is not surprising that Thorning-Schmidt likes it, but reporters tried to attack her with this information because it is considered a racy show. To counter this, Collins states that "Celine Dion, Harry Styles, Julian Fellowes, Marina Abramović, and Antonin Scalia" are also fans. That does not make them any worse of people. The media tried to portray the prime minister as a temptation for Obama, and attempted to create a story where he was flirting with her, while his wife was off to the side, jealous. After all of this, Collins asks, "why the presumption...?" What makes everyone feel the need to assume there is a scandal. Michelle Obama is not smiling in the picture with the other three, but as Collins states in her closing, "sometimes a woman who doesn't smile is just thinking about something else." Her turned face does not mean she disapproves or is jealous. That is just what people chose to interpret it is. Maybe it was not the most appropriate time for this shot, but that does not make it the scandal that the media has been trying to create. The idea "that Barack Obama was flirting with Thorning-Schmidt, and that Michelle Obama was mad about it" is "juvenile." I believe that rather than broadcasting news on a selfie of the president, the media should pay more attention to what the memorial was actually about. Mandela, and all that he did for South Africa and the world.

David Cameron, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Barack Obama, and Michelle Obama

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/12/obama-selfie-face-gate.html

TOW #12: In My Brother's Image, Eugene L. Pogany (IRB)

The book, In My Brother's Image, by Eugene L. Pogany, is very powerfully written. Since it is a memoir, it is written in the style of a story, and Pogany is able to utilize devices such as imagery and other figurative language. At the very beginning of the book, the two young boys are running through a church. Pogany describes it as an "awe-inspiring sanctuary, sheathed in red marble and gilt...line with magnificent statues of saints, angels, and kings, larger-than-life somber paintings of the crucified Christ, and four enormous central columns, supporting a domed cupola that rises to where heaven meets earth" (2). Normally, squeezing all of this detail into one sentence would be too much, but this author seems to create a strong and descriptive sentence that is perfect for the book. The church that the boys are in is obviously crucial to the story, being a center of religious meeting. The book continues to have religion as a theme, following the conflicts that the boys discover regarding their worship choices. The event in the chapel also represents how close the twin brothers are. In their childhood, they seemed to be inseparable. This detail is important when readers see how their relationship develops through the book. Twins are said to have a special bond, stronger and closer than normal brothers and sisters. With this in mind, I believe that it will be interesting to continue reading and see what happens. Although they do everything together, it is clear that the brothers have distinct differences. On page 3, there is a scene where Gyuri wants to go and investigate behind the altar, while Miklós is scared to. This juxtaposition of the two characters creates a necessary difference between them. It shows the reader that one is adventurous, while one is more timid. It allows the audience to see that they are not exactly alike, despite the fact that they are twins. So far I really am enjoying this book. I am not fully sure of the message Pogany is attempting to send, but I think that it has a lot to do with family values and relationships. As boys, Gyuri and Miklós have a very strong relationship, but it is not clear yet what will happen when they grow up. I am very excited to keep reading and find out!

http://blog.hdrshooter.net/2013/02/19/more-from-the-basilica/

TOW #11: AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FO DAT

http://nikkisho.blogspot.com/2013/02/aint-nobody-got-time-for-that-blogger.html

 

With all of the possibilities that the Internet provides, it isn't a surprise that parody pictures and amusing e-cards quickly pop up. Some people, that have plenty of time and the knack for graphic design, have enjoyed creating humorous memes, that entertain bored computer viewers. The Internet memes, such as "Socially Awkward Penguin" and "Bad-Luck Brian," have become so popular that they are now a part of the recent technology-age culture.When most people hear the names, they immediately think of the memes they encompass, and the memorable picture that appears on each one. One of the most popular memes among Internet users is the "Ain't Nobody Got Time Fo Dat" meme. The meme quotes a women that was interviewed after a fire in her apartment in Oklahoma City. It is amazing how fast these words went viral, and how famous they became. This is now a common phrase, that you can hear many people reference in their everyday lives. It is posted in response to other people on Facebook and Tumblr. It is a tiny piece of pop culture that has sprouted from the Internet. Through the use of block white letters, outlined in black, this image clearly gets the message across to reader. Nobody has time for that. Also, by choosing this frozen photo of "Sweet Brown," viewers can really feel the emotion that this lady has invested in her words. A fire has just destroyed her home, and she is obviously distraught. The emotional expression on her face, mixed with the almost disconnected words, create the humor. The back story is not even necessary for users of the meme. Depending of the context of the situation, this image can have a completely new meaning, which is the beauty of the Internet. This picture has reached global audience, making this virtually unknown woman a star of the web. Personally, this is one of my favorite Internet memes, and I still laugh when I see it paired with other images or stories. Memes are still growing, becoming an even larger phenomenon, so if you don't like this one, there are many others that you can search, that just might bring a smile to your face. :)