Making our green washing video was overall very rewarding. Ever since I was my elementary school years, making videos and skits has always been an interest of mine. Whenever there is an option to be creative for a project, I usually opt for this sort of option. With this background, I still don’t have very much experience with a video camera so it was convenient what one of our teammates has a talent for filming.
The planning in the very beginning was probably the only difficult part of our filming process. There were five of us and we all had different ideas. When we started filming, we realized that we overestimated the amount of scenes that we would need to create a ONE minute film. Cutting it down meant taking out some of our creative ideas but in the end, I think the time limit was a good challenge to make it short and to the point. In all, I got to know some neat people in class and I enjoyed being a part of this project.
Theme:Kashi is a very healthy food that inspires people to change their old ways by eating this cereal.
Triune Brain Limbic: The limbic system is engaged with music when there is light guitar strumming that is upbeat and happy but still soothing. Emotional part of the limbic system is engaged as the commercial is promoting and triggering happiness, while eating the cereal, people seemed like they felt genuinely inspired and happy Neocortex: The Neocortex is engaged when you have to reading the words in the screen, (a small amount) and thinking about your habits and whether or not you should change them
8 trends in Our 21st Century Media Culture -Personal shift: people are shifting from their old food to a new, better and healthier food. They’re shifting from their old habits to new habits. -Technological shift- This advertisement is only available to view on television and therefore requires technology to view it -Discursive shift: The commercial repeatedly says that the cereal made a change in their lives but they are not saying how the cereal was able to change their entire lives.
5 facts/ claims -Kaski brand is all Natural -Kashi brand has nothing artificial -Kashi brand has 7 whole grains -Kashi claims- “Food for change” -Kashi claims- “The way nature intended it”
7 Questioning Media Principles -Pacing: I noticed that there were 17 screen changes in 30 seconds. This actually does not seem like a lot of screen changes because television runs at 30 frames per second, but it still is roughly changing every 2 seconds. -Production techniques: A lot of outdoor relaxing settings were shown. The lighting showed a sunrise getting brighter and silhouettes with the lighting behind them. Creative camera angle techniques were used as grains of wheat in the hand of the boy were focused on up close. The camera also focused on a wheat field swaying slowly to the soothing music, and the girl in the huge and healthy looking tree. The commercial used a font that was green and clear. -Emotional transfer: People are changing and improving their lives and attitudes to a new and happier outlook. Average people seemed to be feeling inspired after eating this cereal.
Techniques of Persuasion -Simple solution: Not that people were necessarily having any real problems before, but the commercial made it seem like all they have to do to change their lives and health is to change their cereal choice. -Plain Folks: Average every day people can change their lives with this cereal. Average families with normal kids were getting ready in the morning and eating it for breakfast. Product is appealing to all age groups and different stages of life. (Older woman, pregnant woman, children) -Beautiful people: Showed a pretty girl in tree. -Repetition: The commercial repeated the phrase “I’m making a change” the word “Natural”
When I think of my childhood and media, I think of Blues Clues, Snow White, and Zoombinies. This might sound strange but these television and computer programs were what sparked my imagination, taught me my first words in Spanish, inspired me, and exercised my brain. As I was growing up, I actually did not have as much technology as my friends had. I never had video games or Gameboys, and we never had a computer or a “family cellphone” until years past a lot of my friends. What does worry me is the amount of time that I spent in front of the screens after we got them but it was in fact enjoyable time spent with my family and friends. On Tuesday afternoons after kinder garden, my uncle David and I would watch the cartoon Blue’s Clues. It was a weekly tradition where my uncle and I would talk through the activities that that Blue and Steve were doing that week and sing along to their songs. Sesame Street, The Rug Rats, Barney and a couple other goofy shows on Nickelodeon were what I would watch religiously. The adventures that the Rug Rats went on inspired me and my friends to write and perform short but intricate plays for our parents. When I would ask my parents how long the car rides would be, they would measure it in Rug Rats episodes. Another show I watched was called Sesame Street. Sesame Street taught me my colors, how to count to ten in Spanish and morals such as to treating others the way you would want to be treated and to accept people no matter what their skin color is. All of these shows taught me basic and valuable morals, school lessons and sparked my creativity.
When my family finally invested in a white cube shaped computer, I remember the only thing I was interested in was playing games. In school, we were allowed to play a game called Zoombinies and The Organ Trail. When we finally had our family computer, my sister and I were so excited and we were given a computer time limit for how long we were allowed to play these games. The Logical Journey of the Zoombinies game taught me about numbers, combinations and strategies for how to get the Zoombinies to their destination. The Organ trail taught me about maps and the journeys that families would take across plains as we created our own families and our own trips across a country. I would play these games with my friends and we would have a blast.
Disney movies were definitely a huge part of my childhood being the average young girl who believed in fairytales. The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Arista Cats, Hercules, Hunchback of Notre dame and especially Snow White inspired my imagination and interest in stories. I was Snow White for Halloween more than twice (I'm the one on the right)and I would have modeled my life after hers if I could have. I imagine that all of these Disney movies influenced my music interest because I still know of the words to all of the songs in numerous Disney movies. Even today I am still singing as a hobby in vocal groups and on my own. These various programs on television and on computers taught me lessons and stretched my imagination. They were privilege activities that my parents would reward us with when we deserved to use them. It was interesting and concerning to think back about how different screens were able to be such a large part of my actions as a kid. Although my main activities did not include only the television and computer, these technologies did help to shape the way that I used to think in a creative and educational manner.
The picture at the top was taken by my mother, Deborah Hendricks. The picture of the computer was found on Google.com/images
My name is Leslie Joyce Hendricks and I'm from Hatfeld, Pennsylvania which is just a 45 minute train ride to the fantastic city of Philadelphia. At home, I live with my mom, dad, sister, and with two cats, a dog and a bird. I am a sophmore at University of Vermont with a major in Environmental Studies. My family has definitely influenced me alot in my decision to become an environmental studies major with our diligent recycling and composting habits and with our great interest in gardening. Although I am not sure what I would like to be doing with my future, I know that I love to volunteer and do what I can to benefit the environment. Over the summer, I volunteered with the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy. We were able to go out on canoes and hand pick the invasive species, Water Chestnut, out of the Delmont and Unami rivers. This summer I also worked for PennEnvironment as a canvasser. This was not easy work but it was rewarding being able to raise money and spread the word about the water pollution and impaired rivers all over Pennsylvania.
All through high school, I was heavily involved in chorus, emsembles, jazz vocal groups and festivals. I also play the guitar and ukulele and I used to play the trumpet. Playing the guitar has always been a passion of mine and I like to perform everytime I get the chance. When I got to UVM, I auditioned and got into the Cat's Meow, UVM's all female a capella group and it's been one of the best decisions I've made here.
This picture was taken at Saxby's Coffee by Caitlin Magarity Check her photography out!
This video was taken during our combined winter show with the UVM Top Cat's last year in Ira Allen Chapel. Performing with my friends is one of my favirite things to do. The song is titled On The Radio and is origionally sung by Regina Spektor.
