Thursday, September 22, 2011

HU121: Unit 10 - Reading & Discussion Question

Assigned Reading:
Looking At Movies, by Barsam and Monahan
Read Chapter 11

Discussion Question:
Paranormal Activity is a recent addition to our nation's long history of horror films. What's your favorite scary movie of all time? Using your knowledge of film and the vocabulary from this class, tell us what makes it so scary. It would help to describe the sound, the shots, the acting, the lighting, and so on. Make us believe it really is the scariest movie out there!

Discussion Answer:

In general, I am not a fan of horror genre at all. That being said I do have a few films of the genre that I do enjoy. Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece The Shining is one of those few films. Throughout the presentation of the film, many different types of shots are used to build the suspense and the fear. 
Through the use of many creepy close up shots, especially of Jack Nicholson, raising his signature eyebrows help illustrate the insanity going on inside his head. Another example of different shots is when the family is traveling up to the hotel, there is a high-angle shot done from a helicopter, following them giving the sense they are being watched. Another type of shot that is used quite frequently in the film are jump shots. The shot that comes to mind is when Danny is riding his three wheel around and sees the twin girls and the shot is jumping from a full-body shot to a close-up shot to create tension.
Jack Nicholson, one of my favorite actors, is extremely creepy in this film. He really makes you think that he is completely out of his mind. The way he speaks the lines. The way he expressed with his face. Amazing work!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

MK230: Unit 9 - Assignment & Quiz

Assignment Question:

In Unit 9, we will be completing our studies of an Integrated Marketing Communications program. For your homework assignment in Unit 9, you will complete a course in SkillPort called "Promoting Your Brand to Consumers." This course is designed to help you understand how to implement strategies to conceive, build, and execute a successful integrated marketing communication program for your organization's brand identity. You will have until the end of Unit 9 to complete this course. Once finished, complete a memo describing your experience with the course. A template is located in the Assignment Files link of this Unit. Answer all of the questions from the template in your memo. Submit this memo as your assignment.


To access this course go to the GEN SkillPort tab.  Click in the User ID box and enter your user name.  Your user name will be the same as your GEN e-mail name.  For most students it will be firstname.lastname (ex: jane.doe).  Your password is student.  Then press enter.  In the search box type in the name of the course.  Click on the title to access the content.

Complete the "Promoting Your Brand to Consumers" course in SkillPort. Then create your completion memo. 


Assignment Answer:





Quiz:
10/25

Thursday, September 15, 2011

HU121: Unit 9 - Assigned Reading & Discussion Question

Assigned Reading:
Read Chapters 9 & 10 
Looking At Movies





Discussion Question:
What films have you seen that succeed in both educating you and entertaining you?  Do you believe the films were intended to be both educational and entertaining, or was the educational aspect a defult of the subject matter.  Elaborate on your response.

Discussion Answer:
When I consider films that have both educated and entertained me, one of the first films that comes to my mind are the documentary films of Morgan Spurlock. He broke onto the scene with Super Size Me, which explored the effect of the McDonald's menu on a person over a 30 day period. He approaches each subject with humor, even as he got sicker and sicker near the end of the film. I learned a lot more from his style of presentation of then I would have if it would have been presented in any other way. He also had a had an amazing television show called 30 DAYS where he would live someone else life for... 30 days. Michael Moore, director of Fahrenheit 911 (about September 11th) and Bowling For Columbine (about gun control), also presents his subject manner is a comedic fashion as well. Although the subjects are very serious, Michael Moore presents in a way that make you think deeper into the attitudes and why each side thinks the way they do. Some of the sides ideas can be way out there which creates the comedy.


Super Size Me:

MK230: Unit 9 - Assigned Reading & Discussion Question

Assignment Reading:
Read Chapters 21 and 22
Advertising and Promotion by Belch and Belch





Discussion Question:
What is the role of ethics in advertising and promotion? How do ethical considerations differ from legal considerations in developing an integrated marketing communications program?

Discusion Answer:
The role of ethics in advertising and promotion is making the decision regarding appropriate and responsible actions on the basis of moral consideration than legal or within guidelines. Ethical considerations differ from legal considerations when developing an integrated marketing communications program by being a responsible company and being cautious to the needs and cultures of your consumers in addition to the legal requirements of your business.


Sunday, September 11, 2011

HU121: Unit 8 - Assignment Questions A & B



Assignment Question A:
Describe the sound design of this film. Select one or two scenes to discuss at length. How did the sound (the sound effects, the music, etc) add to the scene? Did it make it funnier? More descriptive? Did it add specific meaning to it? Your discussion should be at least one page in length, double spaced using 12 pt. font and 1 inch margins. Submit your assignment using the link above.

Assignment Answer A:




Assignment Question B:
For this paper, you get to be the director of a new film.  In this case, you are to take an existing film from the list below and re-cast the leading actors and actresses’ and the supporting actors and actresses’ parts for an updated version.  Since you are casting different actresses and actors for the key roles in the film, you will need to address the issue of wardrobe/costumes.  How will you update what the characters wear in the film for the new version?  Finally, you must also update the film’s score to make it more marketable to today’s audiences.  If other changes are needed (for example, 12 Angry Men only has men on the jury), you should discuss those too. Your paper should be 750 words minimum.

Your essay must include an introduction, at least three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Film Choices:

  • 12 Angry Men (1957) Criterion - 11/22/2011
  • All About Eve (1950)
  • Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
  • Casablanca (1942)
  • Chinatown (1974)
  • Double Indemnity (1944)
  • Dr. Zhivago (1965)
  • It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
  • It Happened One Night (1934)
  • Midnight Cowboy (1969)
  • Nashville (1975)
  • One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
  • Rear Window (1954)
  • Rebecca (1940)
  • Some Like It Hot (1959)
  • Taxi Driver (1976)
  • To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) 

Helpful Hint:
It may be useful to rent the original version of a film not on the list and rent the updated version for comparison.  Examples of recently updated films include King Kong 1933/2006 and The Pink Panther 1963/2006.  

Your grade will consist of the explanations you provide for your remake, your use of evidence from and references to the original film, and the overall quality of your essay. Do you have an introduction and conclusion? Do you use transitions within and between your paragraphs? Is your essay free of grammar and spelling errors?

Discussion Answer B:

Saturday, September 10, 2011

CA100: The Beatles "A Day In The Life"

SAMPLE:


LYRICS:

I read the news today oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grave
And though the news was rather sad
Well I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph
He blew his mind out in a car
He didn't notice that the lights had changed
A crowd of people stood and stared
They'd seen his face before
Nobody was really sure
If he was from the House of Lords.

I saw a film today oh boy
The English Army had just won the war
A crowd of people turned away
but I just had to look
Having read the book
I'd love to turn you on

Woke up, fell out of bed,
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup,
And looking up I noticed I was late.
Found my coat and grabbed my hat
Made the bus in second splat
Found my way upstairs and had a smoke,
and Somebody spoke and I went into a dream

I read the news today oh boy
Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire
And though the holes were rather small
They had to count them all
Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall.
I'd love to turn you on

Friday, September 9, 2011

MK230: Unit 8 - Assignment & Quiz

Assignment Question:


Pick 2 ads to write about, one that is effective, one you feel is not. These ads can be whatever media you would like; however, be sure they are the same media. For example, compare 2 print ads, not 1 TV ad and 1 print ad. Answer these questions as the ADVERTISING OR MARKETING MANAGER for the companies and products advertised, as if it was your budget being spent and your company's objectives to grow awareness and sales.
  1. What are the names of the companies and products that were being promoted? Include a short description of the ads.
  2. Who is the target market? (Chapter 2)
  3. What types of appeals were used? (Chapter 9)
  4. What type of advertising execution was used? (Chapter 9)
  5. How effective do you feel the ad is? (Chapter 19)
  6. Would you, as the Advertising/Marketing Manager approve this ad campaign? Why or why not?

Assignment Answer:

Links:
Action Plumbing: ActionToThe Rescue.com
TITAN: TitanAir.net


Quiz:
7.5/25 points

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

HU121: Unit 8 - Reading & Discussion Question

Assigned Reading:
Chapter #8 (Pages ???-???)
Looking At Movies, by Barsam and Monahan


Discussion Question:
Why was this film (SHREK) done as an animation? Would this film have been successful as a live action movie? Why or why not?


Discussion Answer:
My belief is that this film was done in animation because it is about fairy tale creatures (as fractured as they are) and as these creatures are generally drawn for storybooks and read during bedtimes are best presented in this way because   gives the viewer a sense of familiarity. I believe these SHREK films and spinoffs would have been less successful as a live action movie because the actions and creatures would be out of their context would not feel believable and would take the viewer out of the atmosphere of the film.

HU121: Unit 7 - Assignment

Assignment Questions:


Critical Thinking Questions (200 to 250 words):
  1. Compare and contrast Ethan Edwards (the protagonist in The Searchers) and Michael Corleone. 
  2. Discuss the intercutting of the baptism scenes with the murders of the rival families.  What point is Coppola making about Michael? What point is he making about the sanctity of life? 
  3. Don Corleone tells Michael that he had hoped he would be able to lead a different life than the one he chose, a life outside of the criminal world.  Do you think this would have been possible for Michael even if he had not? 
Assignment Answers:


  1.  The characters of Ethan Edwards (from The Searchers) and Michael Corleone (from The Godfather) are similar in many ways. At the beginning of each film, they are returning from war to their families. Shortly after their return, the families are struck with tragedy.
  2. The intercutting of the baptism scenes with the murders of the rival families is interesting because it shows the two lives Michael has to now lead. The point being made by Coppola about Michael is that, even though it is a struggle for him, he is doing what is best for the family. the point being made about the sanctity of life is that we are all born pure and it is our responsibility to stay or not stay that way.
  3. I do not think that it would have been possible for Michael to choose a life, even if his family wasn't killed because it is too much of what is family is and it's in his blood.

HU121: Unit 7 - Reading & Discussion Question

Assigned Reading:

Chapter 7
Pages...






Discussion Question:


Do films like The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino, and Donny Brasco glorify the lives of those involved in organized crime? 
What about HBO's award-winning series The Sopranos? 
Why do so many people find Tony Soprano to be a sympathetic character?


Discussion Answer:


The darker side of humanity has always been glorified in films and organized crime is no exception. The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino and Donnie Brasco  are just a few films about organized crime where they are glorified by showing a lifestyle of excess, without consequence and where a lot of money can be made. The HBO's award-winning series The Sopranos is no different, but the title character Tony Soprano has been found to be a sympathetic character because he is essentially a family man just trying to provide for them.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

MK230: Unit 8 - Reading & Discussion Question

Assigned Reading:
Read Chapters 19 & 20 (Page 620-689)
Advertising And Promotion by Belch and Belch




Discusion Question:
What examples of advertising and promotion have you seen recently that have been done by companies outside the U.S.? Did they do a good job of communicating with an American audience? If they did, what was good about it (using what we've learned in this class)? If not, how did it fail? 
NOTE: The focus is on examples of companies from outside of the US as they advertise in the US. It is not about US companies advertising overseas.


Discussion Answer:
FIAT, an Italian brand, recently became a US brand through a contract. Before then, FIAT was known worldwide as a small sporty car. For the launch of this contract, they have updated the design of their cars and their logo as well. To communicate with an American audience through social media and a playful website. They are communicating well through Facebook and YouTube. Building the excitement through showing events and news in those venues.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

MK230: Unit 7 - Assignment & Quiz



Assignment Question:


Chapter #17:

Page #588
Question #2 Question:
The chapter discusses the lack of coordination that often exists between marketing and public relations departments. Discuss some if the reasons this might occur. What can be done to reduce this conflict to achieve greater coordination?

Question # 7 Question:
The chapter discusses the increasing use of advocacy advertising and issue advertising. Explain what these advertising forms are, and why there has been such an increase in their use by profit and nonprofit organizations.

Chapter #18:
Page #610


Question #6 Question:
Describe what is meant by Relationship Marketing. Explain the reasons why it is so important for companies to engage in this practice.


Assignment Answer:


Chapter #17:


Question #2 Answer:
Some reasons that a lack of coordination that often exists between marketing and public relation departments are because either can be the dominant function, they have a lot of overlapping roles  and they may have different agenda because they are separate entities.

Question # 7 Answer:
Advocacy Advertising is concerned with propagating ideas and elucidating controversial social issues of public importance in a manner that supports the interests of the sponsor. While Issue Advertising may have no affiliation with a corporate or trade sponsor, they may be sponsored by an organization to bring attention to what they consider to be an important issue. There has been an increase in their use by profit and nonprofit organizations because these organization want to show their customers that they enjoying giving back to their communities and associating themselves with these issues and organizations are a way to do that.


Chapter #18:

Question #6 Answer:
Relationship Marketing is described as “an organization’s effort to develop a longterm, cost-effective link with individual customers for mutual benefit.” The reasons why it is so important for companies to engage in this practice are developing trust between the company and customer, using the consumers information to estimate profitability at the account level, and developing non traditional strategies to reach similar demographics.


Quiz:

Score: 15/25