TOW #27 - iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in 107 Seconds

Following their usual schedule, the tech-giant Apple Inc released the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus in early September. The device came filled to the brim with all sorts of new features that were brand new to Apple devices. As with all of their products, Apple’s marketing team released a series of images and videos in order to advertise the advancements. One video in particular titled “iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in 107 seconds” displays many of the new features in a creative and engaging way. In order to build interest for the product within this commercial, Apple employs a fast upbeat soundtrack, as well as quick moving text.

As soon as the advertisement opens, a fast paced percussion beat begins, roping the viewer in right from the start. While this music may seem on the surface to simply a song that the marketing theme thought was interested. In reality, this fast paced beat serves as an allusion to the world that we live in today. Due to the advancements brought by technology, society now thrives on speed and being able to transfer data and accomplish tasks quickly. The quickness of the music serves as a sign that the iPhone 7 will be able to deliver this speed that the public is attempting to achieve in their everyday phone usage. This ultimately will mean for more functionality for the user and will likely cause more viewers to want to try the device first hand with the chance of potentially purchasing it.

In addition to the choice in music, the ad is also able to grab the attention of the viewer through the inclusion of the very fast moving text. The text that does appear on screen includes all of the information that a potentially consumer may want to know, including new hardware features, new design choices, and of course new software features. Not only is the text informative to a viewer, it also works in a similar way that the tempo of the music does. The rapidity of the text with so much information shows the viewer that the number of features packed into such a small device seems to be nearly limitless. With so much information on what makes the product great according to Apple, the advertisement is able to convince a consumer to take a closer look at the new phone.

Overall, I do believe that Apple’s advertisement for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus was very effective in the way that it attempts to convince the viewer to seek more information about the device. I believe that Apple’s marketing team consistently does a good job with their work and they did not fail to disappoint here either.

TOW #26 - The French Disconnection

After the great controversy of the 2016 presidential election in the United States, France is experiencing a similar bout of controversy in the battle for leadership within their own country with many of the people split just like the American people. One of the candidates, Marine Le Pen, is a member of the far right National Front party. Le Pen’s campaign is also similar to Trump’s due to the vow to “make France free again” and considering a “Muslim travel ban”. Despite the great fear that exists surrounding the close-campaign, Kamel Daoud of the New York Times says otherwise.

On April 21st, the news source published an article written by Daoud in which he claims that Marine Le Pen will not become president of France. In order to support his view, Daoud reflects on the history of the National Front party and her tactics thus far.

In more recent years, the National Front has been associated with fear mongering among the French people and by supplying a voice to those who are in fear. Daoud rather boldly claims that “the National Front exists to arouse fear, not to govern.” (Daoud 4). Through the use of such a bold statement, Daoud attempts to sway the opinion of his readers, playing with the own fears that they may have about the government. In a time where political discourse is more prominent than ever, it is not difficult to believe that such a claim is true. While this may not be the most effective way to convince an audience, it certainly does work.

To go along with this idea of inspiring fears and playing on anxieties, La Pen has often spoken out about the rise of immigration and terrorism that has occurred in France. A sensitive topic around much of the Western world, the people who are living in fear within France are finding a voice to rally behind. While this would seem like a sure-fire way for her to secure the role of president, La Pen has spoken with many falsehoods in order to bolster her position. The mainstream politics within France completely go against this, believing that democracy will improve and that it does not need to be radically changed.

Overall, I did not find Daoude’s article to be very effective. It mostly seems to be personally opinionated with very little factual basis to reinforce his claims. I also cannot be sure that La Pen will not become president, seeing as the same thing happened with Trump. I do hope, however, that she does not.

IRB Introduction #4 - Born A Crime by Trevor Noah

For my fourth and final IRB of the 2016-2017 school year, I will be reading Trevor Noah’s, Born A Crime. The book follows actor and Daily Show host Trevor Noah and his growing up in South Africa towards the ending of apartheid there. The title of the book is derived from his birth being a crime as his father was white and his mother black - this was highly illegal at the time in South Africa. He tells the readers of his life in the time following apartheid and the struggles that he overcame struggling with the idea that in the eyes of the law, he was never supposed to exist. I believe that this sounds like a truly compelling story and I am excited to have the chance to read it!