"United States is a land of opportunity, a place where people can start out poor, work hard and become rich." This very traditional and glorious believe gets a crack in today's society. The escape of poverty is rare, since the damage it has brought over the child in its early age will make it very hard for it to gain financial stability and the support of the US-government is not effective enough.
The worsening situation of poverty has emoted in the last years. Though the democrats candidates have called for improvements the measures cannot be taken seriously yet. A wealthier nation is the result of the government support which is given in European states. Until now the US government has made more excuses than promises.
Studies have proven that the living situation in poorer households cause "unhealthy levels of stress hormones which impair neural development". Low memory and language development is an often result of this. Poor families are often the outsiders and outcasts of towns which is a drastic problem for the progression of a child. Children who come from wealthier families gain a better education than poorer children who are smarter, a study says. The rate of those who escaped from poverty is older age is low another one states.
As a conclusion the governmental situation and the limited development of poor children often take away the possibility to become successful in the future.
(Povert is Poison: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/opinion/18krugman.html?_r=3&scp=1?&sq=Poverty&st=cse&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin)
Sonntag, 28. September 2008
Dienstag, 23. September 2008
Grudge Music Movement
The grudge developed in Seattle (Washington) in the mid 80s. It was influenced by bands like Pear Jam and Nirvana but also went back to the musical inspiration of bands like Melvins and Mudhoney. Grudge bands combined guitar rock with metal and punk. Another characterization of this movement are the heavily distorted electric guitars.
The commercial success, which a lot of bands were very unhappy about, arrived in the early 90s. With this grunge crossed over to mainstream and became the most popular style of hard rock.
http://www.silver-dragon-records.com/grunge.htm
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=77:2679
The commercial success, which a lot of bands were very unhappy about, arrived in the early 90s. With this grunge crossed over to mainstream and became the most popular style of hard rock.
http://www.silver-dragon-records.com/grunge.htm
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=77:2679
Mittwoch, 17. September 2008
Summary Chapter 2
Logos seem to have gotten bigger and bigger in the last time and younger children are becoming the focus of brand recognition, to create early brand loyalty. “Walking billboards” are now seen everywhere, they look good and they are cool. The next step was the branding of cultural events (MTV music awards, Euro cup etc). Art used to be a skill that wealthier people sponsored. Today it is for the arts sake. Another example for this would be Tommy Hilfiger that did an ad campaign for the Rolling Stones Tour. Also advertising used to be very competitive (coke used to go against Pepsi) now coke is going against everyone. Advertising is not only replacing culture it is culture. Shows like Dawson’s creek that teenagers love to watch everyday earn money by product placement, where they place hidden advertisements for the products in the show. In earlier times the main focus was lying on sports music and art. Now all of these 3 themes are ads. Today people (ex. Sport celebrities) are branded. An example for this is Michael Jordan. The celebrities aren’t only making commercial for the brand, today they ARE the brand.
Poverty isn"t our fault!
Poverty isn't our fault. In today's society inequality in wealth over the world is a top theme. But though this is always said to be the West's spoiled lifestyle's fault, it is not. Instead of blaming the poverty of the East on the West, it should be blamed on the corrupt governments, since statistics show that the western democracies have better living standards.
In the world statistic that states that "1 of 10 people of the world own 99%", 82% of the Americans are included. This shows how "even poor Americans are rich by world standards".
While a study shows that earning more than 2200 gets you in the top half of the wealthiest people in the world another study shows that western democracies in general have higher levels of wealth than 3rd world dictatorships.
But what makes the West's population have such a high living standard? What sets it apart from the dictatorships of the 3rd world? Clearly the answer to these questions is the government. We can be proud to have such a successful functioning democracy which is the fundament for our wealth. To come to a conclusion this is the reason why the West is generally living a better lifestyle. Not because it is taking up the possible wealth and money the East could have, but its government is right and functional.
(see times article <http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2006/12/they_are_not_poor_because_we_a.html> )
In the world statistic that states that "1 of 10 people of the world own 99%", 82% of the Americans are included. This shows how "even poor Americans are rich by world standards".
While a study shows that earning more than 2200 gets you in the top half of the wealthiest people in the world another study shows that western democracies in general have higher levels of wealth than 3rd world dictatorships.
But what makes the West's population have such a high living standard? What sets it apart from the dictatorships of the 3rd world? Clearly the answer to these questions is the government. We can be proud to have such a successful functioning democracy which is the fundament for our wealth. To come to a conclusion this is the reason why the West is generally living a better lifestyle. Not because it is taking up the possible wealth and money the East could have, but its government is right and functional.
(see times article <http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2006/12/they_are_not_poor_because_we_a.html> )
Mittwoch, 10. September 2008
Product vs. Lifestyl
Aspirin tablets against headache are being sold by a simple advertisment which is
often in the windows of the pharmacy.
The picture does not sell anything else but the pure product
A holister advertisment on the other side (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po7J7gn2h4M) shows pretty teenagers jumping around having fun with their friends while they are wearing the expensive brand clothes. The commercial is saying: This is how life should be: Hang out, have fun!
Therefor it is definentally a lifestyl because the most importand thing of the commercial is not to sell the product but the feeling to the people.
Another example of a lifestyl commercial made in Zuerich is G-Star Raw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5p0MMUg9is). Its showing models walking throw the streets of Zuerich in G-Star clothes and people staring at them. Its saying: Come into our new G-star shop in Zuerich and be cool!
often in the windows of the pharmacy.The picture does not sell anything else but the pure product
A holister advertisment on the other side (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po7J7gn2h4M) shows pretty teenagers jumping around having fun with their friends while they are wearing the expensive brand clothes. The commercial is saying: This is how life should be: Hang out, have fun!
Therefor it is definentally a lifestyl because the most importand thing of the commercial is not to sell the product but the feeling to the people.
Another example of a lifestyl commercial made in Zuerich is G-Star Raw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5p0MMUg9is). Its showing models walking throw the streets of Zuerich in G-Star clothes and people staring at them. Its saying: Come into our new G-star shop in Zuerich and be cool!
Montag, 8. September 2008
No Logo
Summary
Chapter 1: No space, New Branded World
While merged companies are shrinking successful companies have to produce brands instead of products. Advertising is a very important part of branding, which came to the market in the mid 19th century. Advertisements have to convince people that they need to change the way the live their life. They have to sell a new lifestyle. Companies can today manufacture as many products as they want to what people are looking for are brands they want to buy. If a new product is invented, people must be convinced that their lives will be much better with it. The best example for this is Marlboro, the longest running ad campaign in history. Successful brands sell their item not as a product but as a way of life, an attitude, a set of value and a look. All companies big companies like McDonald’s, Pepsi, Cola who have their eyes fixed on total expansion are following these ideals.
So while in the older days advertising for the selling of the product was the main achievement of a company today it is branding which is giving a lifestyle and an image.
Chapter 1: No space, New Branded World
While merged companies are shrinking successful companies have to produce brands instead of products. Advertising is a very important part of branding, which came to the market in the mid 19th century. Advertisements have to convince people that they need to change the way the live their life. They have to sell a new lifestyle. Companies can today manufacture as many products as they want to what people are looking for are brands they want to buy. If a new product is invented, people must be convinced that their lives will be much better with it. The best example for this is Marlboro, the longest running ad campaign in history. Successful brands sell their item not as a product but as a way of life, an attitude, a set of value and a look. All companies big companies like McDonald’s, Pepsi, Cola who have their eyes fixed on total expansion are following these ideals.
So while in the older days advertising for the selling of the product was the main achievement of a company today it is branding which is giving a lifestyle and an image.
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