As you can see, I originally made this page to handle some final assignments for an English class. However, with Tumblr getting vivisected by its new content policies I figured here would be a good alternative for any more personal posts. Stay tuned.
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The assignment was a pitch, but to go the extra mile I wanted to write part of a very rough draft of a script to a spiritual successor to Mr. Rogers. Author's notes in parenthesis.
--------------------- -A man enters a small, peaceful-looking house as cheery theme music plays. He sits down and stares directly at the camera- Man: Hello there. Today we're going to take a look at what's going on with the residents of our neighborhood; their hopes, fears, dreams, and what makes them all special. (target audience is young children, but intended to be meaningful to anyone else who watches as well) -He pushes a toy trolley through a tunnel, and the camera cuts to it emerging in an elaborate setpeice, the center of which is a clock tower. A blue dog puppet pops out of the clock tower, covering its eyes- Dog: -sniff, sniffle- -A tall woman approaches the dog- Woman: What's wrong, Alec? Alec: I... I said something mean to my friend! And I don't know if they'll ever forgive me! Woman: Well did you apologize? Alec: Y-yes... Woman: Sometimes that's all you can do. Alec: But... What if it doesn't work? Woman: Sometimes it just doesn't. Sometimes it takes time. Sometimes maybe the person doesn't want to be your friend. Alec: Oh no... Then what will I do? Woman: You learn from it, and look for people who really do want your company. Who like you just the way you are. Alec: Okay.. Will you still be my friend, Ms. Gudrunn? Ms. Gudrunn: -smiles- Of course. (Sometimes children need to learn about aspects of friendship that aren't 100 sunshine and rainbows, but the show needs to keep it optimistic.) -The trolley moves on to a castle, where a puppet with an animal skull for a head is sorting things- Skull Puppet: Prepare yourselves! The hurricane is coming! Survival of the fittest! -Another puppet, an owl, turns to a redheaded man leaning on the side of the castle- Owl: Excuse me Mr. Tom, what's a hurricane? Mr. Tom: Oh, uh... A hurricane. It's like... A really big storm. Owl: A storm?! Should we be worried? Mr. Tom: If it hits us, yeah. Hurricanes kill people! Owl: Oh no oh no... Why? Mr. Tom: I dunno. Nature's just like that sometimes. Owl: Oh no... What do we do? Mr. Tom: Help each other out! Don't be greedy and selfish like skullhead over there. You're better than that, Willow. Willow: Heh... Thanks, Mr. Tom. (current events: Hurricane Michael) -The trolley moves on, looping back to the house, where the man is sitting with the boy- Man: So, what did you want me to ask about, Aaron? Aaron: I saw two boys holding hands. Don't only boys and girls do that? Man: It's not really that easy. Sometimes boys like boys, sometimes girls like girls, sometimes they like both, or neither. It's a fact of life. Aaron: Really? So it's OK for people to do that? Man: Yes it is. Some people don't think so, but those people don't matter. All that matters is you being you and treating others kindly. Aaron: Okay... What if I grow up and I like boys? Man: Then that's good. Just keep being who you are. ------------------- (And that's all I could come up with; sorry if I butchered both the spirit of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and the assignment, I just really wanted to try this out!)
Ad to be analyzed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCsqABAQLjs
Questions: 1. What is the central purpose of the image? The purpose is to advertise Kmart shipping. 2. By what means does the artist achieve his or her purpose? Bad puns. Really bad puns. 3. Why does the image succeed or not succeed? It succeeds in the sense it is humorous. Alas Kmart is dead, so I cannot take advantage of this service. 1. What kind of angle is the picture or video taken from? It is taken from the side. 2. What kind of colors are used in the picture? Grays and subdued colors are used. 3. Outdoors or indoors? The ad is set indoors 4. How many people are in the visual argument? Who are they? How can you tell? There are several people, all KMart customers. I can tell because it's a KMart commercial. 5. What time of day? What season? Unknown; the commercial is set indoors. 6. Are there any words in the picture? If so, what do they say? Several words are said, mostly vulgar puns around the word "ship." 7. How close together or fall apart are the objects or people in the picture? They are scattered around a KMart store. 8. Are there any symbols visible? The Kmart logo is visible. 9. How do I feel as I look at the visual argument? How does the creator want me to feel? I am amused, as the creator wants me to be. 10. Are the objects/people in the visual argument familiar to you? No, they are not. Analysis: This ad, in a way, is crude. It makes use of the word "ship" and makes it deliberately sound like the much more vulgar "shit" over and over and over. It is a risky move for something that is being aired during daytime television, especially with a child involved in the shenanigans. That said, the only record I currently have of this commercial's reception is Youtube comments, which go as follows: "kmart is playing a dangerous game" "I just shipped my toilet" "Should have ended "Are you shipping me?!" "No."" "I can't wait to ship my pants dad" "Achievement hunter brought me here" "I just shipped my pants laughing out loud." "Shipped right out of business" At the very least, the commercial was a hit with the Internet. Too bad KMart went out of business. Honorable Mentions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_SwD7RveNE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpKtzumUmmA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxVH5sKUlPg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9Yec76fK3E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZmdVglQs-Y |
AuthorYou'll find lots of fantasy, sci-fi, video games, and animation here. Especially Pokemon which is somehow all of these things. Archives
May 2019
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