Some say that a picture is worth a thousand words; conversely the picture that we viewed in our class was worth a thousand questions. The image we viewed in our English 1102 class raised a profuse amount of controversy over its meaning. The biggest question it summoned was whether or not it was indeed an argument. The photo depicted a man in his very last moments in life dying of AIDS. Also shown in the photo were his father and sister by his side as he took in his last gasps of breath. The photo was a very sentimental picture. The picture was definitely an argument. The picture argued that we shouldn’t shy away from people with aids but comfort them as well as value their existence in their time of need. The photo was made public by the once very popular European clothing company United Colors of Benetton. The company used this photo not only to inform but for their own personal gain. There is nothing autodidactic about this particular photo. It takes more than two eyes to interpret this photo however I think I did a pretty good job. What can a clothing company gain from a picture of a man dying of aids? Publicity of course. In fact, the photo was so popular that it actually won a national photography award in 1992. Conveniently the company’s name is clearly seen on the bottom right corner of the photo.
The company preyed on the general public sense of compassion, grief and the innate reflex to feel sorrow in order to bring more attention to their business. They gained popularity by pouncing on people's grief, like a hungry vulture on a fresh caucus. I must praise the company for thinking outside the box in the area of advertising. I would have never pondered to use people's sense of compassion towards others to help for my own personal gains.
The portrait this picture that this painting portrayed to me was one focused on tapping into one's emotional side. You would have to have a heart of stone not to be touched by this particular picture. I was deeply touched by this picture because even though my grandfather didn't die from AIDS, I wish I could have been by his side in his last moments of life. While many may not know the pain of having a loved one passing away from AIDS, anyone old enough to understand this photo should know the pain of having a loved one die from AIDS.
It is apparent that the company uses a controversial picture to draw attention to the business. The Benetton picture was not only used to draw a lot of attention to their company, but also a lot of money to their business. The picture of course has no relevance to the clothing company itself, but it sure did make the people in the U.S. spend their money at Benetton's. Ironically, there are very little Benetton's stores left in the U.S. today.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Benetton's Mixed Emotions
Posted by D.CASH at 6:40 AM
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3 comments:
Wow, very impressive entry. This blog is incredibly well written. Your words flowed and your message was easy to understand and appealing. You used words that were strong and throught provoking such as “autodidactic,” “controversial” and “innate.” My favorite line is the first sentrence, “Some say a picture is worth a thousand words…the picture…was worth a thousand questions,” very strong start. Your syntax and tone remains constant, which is good. However, the same things that made your blog great, made it a bit wordy. At time you were a little too verbose, but it always flowed. Kudos.
Your points were very relevant to the questions and issues at hand. Your blog, although lacking a faultless thesis, was open for interpretation. The emotions that were initially experienced when looking upon the picture were clearly demonstrated in your response. I believe that your interpretation of the picture was accurate in that it was mixed and ambivalent.
Your introduction was the strongest part of your argument. And because your strongest part is in the beginning, it made your argument powerful from then on. Overall, a very good response. My only critic for next time is to try to be less wordy.
Very impressive. Words followed, everything was easy to understand,and made sence. Like Courtney said up above that your "entry was a bit wordy." However, everything flowed and made sence. Good job Ca$h.
I really enjoyed your piece, because what you said was intirely true. I also liked the word choice that you used. Your opener was what really grabbed my sttebtion from the start. I also liked how you just didn't answer question, but you also posed questions to make you think about the situation in a deeper way. I also found that your diction made this paper more interestimng to read, because it used more precise word chocing.
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