Weekly Blog Post 5

The aim of any type of media is to make an impression on the recipient via a variety of means including ethos, pathos, and logos. The music video for “Drive Slow” is no different. By adding the visual component to the package, the artists were able to have a greater impact on their audience and employ different techniques. The overarching theme of this music video was to have the viewer get a sense of the rappers’ pasts with the take home message that one should not rush through life. All strategies were employed; however the two prevalent themes that stood out were ethos and pathos.

Ethos usually leads to some form of pathos, so I’ll start my discussion with this topic. Most rap videos portray the artists as thuggish and masculine; “Drive Slow” is the polar opposite. Everything from the lethargic beat to the neutral clothing emphasizes an aura of relaxed contemplation. A majority of the scenes are of the rappers in their cars, keeping true to the theme of the song. Also, the cars are of an older model which tries to invoke a sense of nostalgia. During the duration of the video each rapper drives around the city observing the bright lights. The director of this video cleverly uses low camera angles to make it appear as if you looking up at the glitz and glamour of the nightlife. The name of this city is never identified, leaving some room for interpretation. This was probably done so that it can appeal to a wide audience, not just citizens of a specific city.

All these observations will eventually lead to the expression of a variety of emotions from the viewer. One possible feeling a viewer could have is awe at all the elegance of big cities. This is due to the camera shots of the flashing lights and colorful displays. This is the emotion that participants in this video felt when they were growing up. A brotherly connection is entirely possible between the viewer and the rappers due to their normal attire and brutally truthful memoirs. People from every background can relate with some part of this song; whether it be riding around with friends in the summer, searching the mall for girls, or selling dope on the corner. The goal of these superstars is to relate to their audience that at one time they were just normal teenagers for the time and locale they grew up in. Finally, some viewers may come out with the impression that they should stop worrying about fame and fortune and instead appreciate the friends they have now. This could be caused by the compilation of all the ethos factors and the meaningful lyrics.

Weekly Blog Post 4

“Drive Slow” by Kanye West, Paul Wall, GLC, and T.I. is a music video with multiple messages and contexts. The song incorporates a nostalgic form with each rapper reminiscing about their pre-fame days. One example of a double meaning is when Kanye raps “You never know homie/ might meet some hoes homie, / you need to pump your brakes/ and drive slow homie.” The literal translation is that in order to interact with a prostitute one must drive at a slower pace to attract their attention. After listening to each rapper’s tale, it becomes apparent that there is more to this song. What these lyricists really want the audience to glean from this track is that shortcuts to fame and get rich quick schemes are not worth it. Once one reaches a certain level of fame, they can never go back to their former state. This is exactly what each of these rappers has experienced; therefore, they encourage youth to enjoy their freedom and time with friends. Although rapping might be able to relocate an underprivileged civilian, the trust they shared with their friends before stardom will never be the same once they hit the big time. T.I. expresses his feelings on this subject with the lines “So I guess the moral of this here class/ is life about who make it/ not about who make it the fastest.”

This video is the opposite of a majority of popular rap songs today which glamorize physical wealth and gain. In T.I.’s verse he raps “I never thought that I’d have made it this far rappin’/ for introducing to youth to what we now call trappin’.” This shows his astoundment that he was able to make a sizable income off of rapping about his troublesome youth. This supports the underlying message to take life one step at a time. It was T.I.’s childhood problems that led him to stardom.

I feel this song is a breath of fresh air in today’s age of YouTube and other self-glorifying sites. Rappers like Soulja Boy and Bow Wow lack the life-altering experiences of more mature rappers; accordingly their songs don’t have deep meanings or intricacies. Kanye dropped out of college and T.I. sold dope as a youth. Without these hardships they would not be the people they are today or have a deep appreciation for what they have. Even though these rappers are internationally known, a part of them misses the simplicity of their teenage years where “if you had a car/ you were the Chi-town version of Baby.”

Weekly Blog Post 3

My Link List is complete and all the links work.

Weekly Blog Post 2

This video had a significant impact on how I view writing as a persuasive device and what mediums it can be used in. I realized that the world is changing and writers have almost limitless methods of expressing their ideas to their audience. One of the biggest concepts I received from the video was the fact that online text is so flexible and easy to transform. Color, font, size, links, and length of text can all be altered with the click of a button. Also, by incorporating other forms of media, messages can appeal to a wider audience than if it was just in text form.

One concept that applies to this video is ethos. While there is a limited amount of information about the author that you can glean from a book, websites provide a deeper insight in this area. Observing website design, colors used, videos incorporated, images posted, and the type of audio present the viewer can get a better sense of the author’s personality and views. In this technological age, businesses aren’t making first impressions in person, by phone, or through literature; they’re making first impressions through websites. It’s crucial to have an appealing look and feel to their website so they can persuade their customers to purchase their product.

This video made me realize that the context that writers write in is changing. The digital age is upon us and everyone must adapt including writers. People no longer are just satisfied with text; they expect video, images, and audio to be included in the passages they peruse on the internet. It is paradoxical that there is so much information available at our fingertips, yet many students have trouble learning from the internet. Informational books can usually be trusted as valuable resources since they have gone through a revising and publishing process. However, there is no revising process for information put on the internet, so its credibility is thin.

I was intrigued by the last portion of the video where they questioned authority, identity, and ownership of online material. This is a troublesome issue that will need to be worked out in the upcoming years. It is impossible to regulate everything that is posted on the internet; some changes will need to be implemented to keep things in check. Also, with a diary, there is only one copy which someone would have to go to great lengths to duplicate. With a blog, the whole world can see your thoughts and anyone can print off the text and make numerous copies without the author ever knowing.

Weekly Blog Post 1

"Even those who write against fame wish for the fame of having written well, and those who read their works desire the fame of having read them."--Blaise Pascal

WRITING: I feel this quote resonates very practically in today's world. Ever since oral traditions began, people have wanted fame; whether it is through literature, television, or music. We want to be accepted by the public for our work. For the writer, fame helps them feel accomplished, like they have written something really earth-shattering. For those who read these famous texts, they feel more enlightened than their peers.

The purpose of this quote is to show the hypocritical nature of human beings. We cannot deny that we desire fame and recognition to a certain extent. Even the most blissful people want some sense of accomplishment; which comes in the form of comments from our peers and the general public.

There are multiple audiences that are addressed in this quote; two of which are writers and people who read their work. More specifically, Pascal is talking to hypocritical writers who write about the downfalls of fame, yet want fame themselves. He also delivers this message to the reader who feels they have transcended our realm by perusing such a well-known piece of literature.

The context of this quote is in the 1600s when royalty and wealth were valued very highly. I find it intriguing that Pascal was primarily a scientist and mathematician and then switched to theology. This well-roundedness gives this quote some support. It’s not like he was solely a scientist and just concocted this quote to put down writers; he had seen both sides of the spectrum and commented on it.

I felt this quote stood out from the others because it is relevant today, maybe even more so than it was back then. The new generation is more obsessed with fame than ever before, getting a lot of help from the internet. Why do you think YouTube is one of the most popular sites online? The answer is because it makes anyone with a video camera and a computer a celebrity. Children nowadays expect to be famous when they grow up and therefore put minimal effort into tasks not related to their “talent”. We can’t all be stars, someone has to fix those leaky faucets and furnish that wood patio. This obsession with fame has left society with a lot of spoiled kids with minimal skills, a lousy attitude, and an atrocious work ethic.

This quote will definitely circulate around my brain when I start to write papers or express my opinion in other forms of media. I will ask if I am truly being honest with myself while composing my products. Do these media really represent my thoughts or just what society or my peers will be impressed by? One mantra that comes to mind dealing with this quote is “You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” People will say the want change in the government, their lifestyle, or their work habits; yet only a small percentage of those people actually go through with that motion.