My Final Project

I am pretty excited about this final project. :D
I got the ok from my professor last Wednesday.... and, my topic is hair color. Why do blondes have more fun? Are redheads really all that spicy? And, are brunettes as seductive as their hair alludes to?

I think hair is a fascinating topic for both sexes.. male and female. We all change our hair for various reasons. I know I highlight my hair whenever I can because my natural hair color is mousy in the winter, and too dull for me to look at. I have highlighted it blonde, red, dark brown, and I have even dyed my bangs blue when I first started dating my boyfriend! He used to have a little blue mohawk when I first met him... now he is a full set of hair because of his job. It's just amazing how much people change along with their hair.

When I look through old photos of me, I often wonder what in the hell was I thinking? Sometimes I'm more blonde, more brunette, and this year, I have more of a reddish tint to my hair. I like changes when it comes to hairstyles, and I want to dive further into the reasoning behind it, and share it with my professor and classmates. I bet they will all relate to this topic.

Just think... when was the last time you cut/colored your hair? And, why did you do it? Sometimes girls cut their hair after a break up because they want a change. Be someone new after an experience like that. I personally prefer shorter hair seeing as I am too lazy to take care of longer hair. I also like red in my hair, whereas my Mom hates it.. she prefers me as a blonde.

Interesting, no?

So, next time you look in the mirror...just picture yourself a few years ago instead... what was your hair like? I bet you anything it was completely different, just like you were.

Fun stuff. :)

Thoughts on Module 6

Here are my honest thoughts on Module 6.
We had to create two separate flyers convincing Latino/a students either graduating high school or just transferring from a community college to chose English as either a major/minor and take classes here at Illinois State University. To say the least, I had no idea how to even go about this project.

So, I tried to get to work with the Adobe program.. InDesign CS3. Of course my personal laptop doesn't carry such an expensive program, and much to my chagrin neither do the lab computers at the library. Their version is too old. I was very upset when I got there and realized my document refused to open. Very frustrating. :(

I then ventured to the Stevenson computer lab where my Visible Rhetoric class takes place only to find the door was locked, I had to ask a janitor to open it for me, I was ever so thankful that he was around and willing to let me in.

I realize that I am not a big fan of InDesign or this project to be quite honest. I don't understand any of the little tabs or cursors surrounding the page, everything just seemed so confined. I spent a half hour just making mistakes and wanting to scream. Needless to say, I hope I completed the project correctly, but it is evident in the final product that a noob did all she could with it. You can tell it isn't professional work by any means.

This was by far my least favorite module out of all of the previous 5. I actually liked the first 5, and I can only hope I'll enjoy the final project. Anything, other than InDesign.

I guess that's all I have to say for now. My next post will be about the final project and what I plan to do with it.

Module 6- And The Mentalist (not the show)

I was wrong. I do have another module to complete before this class ends. Hooray! Hopefully I will do well on it and it shall bring me a most wonderful grade. One can only hope.

I guess I shall blog about the show we all went to in the Brown Ballroom at ISU. There was a man there who called himself a 'Mentalist'. I've heard of the t.v. show, but never watched it. It seems like a load of hogwash to me. Although, I do believe in women's intuition of sorts, that's as far as that goes.

Psychic power though? I just don't see it. I think everything this man did was pre planned and equated in his head. The visible rhetoric component of the show had to do with the audience members that he would frequently choose. He always went with women, young freshmen girls, and one little boy was allowed on stage. Why no freshman boys? Is it because they are rumored to be more skeptic? Where a young, naive girl will just go with the flow and say 'oooo' or the 'ahhh's' when due? I can't help but think he knew this. Or maybe was just some creepy flirt... and if that's the case.. that's kinda disturbing.

The show had some moments where I questioned the reality of psychic powers... such as when he guessed about this boy this one girl was sitting next to. Then again, he could probably say that to any girl in the audience and assume she came with a 'boyfriend' or someone of romantic significance. So maybe he is trickier than I give him credit for. My professor and a few of my peers were discussing how we think he cheated. We think that he could see through one of his blindfold tricks. There is no possible explanation as to how he knew what the girls drew... or how he could tell what they were holding in their hands.

I guess the Mentalist... shows the sexist side of the magic world, which is pretty sad if you ask me. If he wanted to come across as more believeable he should have had both sexes participate in the act. Freshman girls and guys. But, maybe he was just looking for some female support or something.

All I can say is, I'm glad the show was free. Like I said it had some cool elements, but overall, sort of disappointing.. to the skeptical eye. A.k.a. me.

Until we meet again. Only one more project to go! Then, the final one!

Wow, this semester has really flown by. :)
Signing off,
Me

Module 5

This is our second to last module, because the very last one is our final project. Which should be exciting, but at the same time, I rather liked doing these little internet projects here and there. The more I learn from this class, the more I like it. Maybe it's the laid back atmosphere, or the fact that I can do most of my work outside of the classroom as opposed to in? Or, maybe it's because this topic can pertain to any and everyone. I just like the idea of Visible Rhetoric. :)

For Module 5, I got to play with photoshop! Hooray! I realized that I am not very talented with new programs, because I am quite computer illiterate for the most part. But, after awhile, I got the hang of it and created some really wild stuff. I did have trouble uploading my images to blackboard though, which is a shame because the very last image I wanted to portray was by far the most powerful. :( Se la vie, right? That's the unpredictability of technology.

I'm not sure I have much else to say here. I guess the value of photoshop is huge when it comes to advertising execs across the country who want to create a strong message or persuasion. Plus, this application allows for wonderful amounts of creativity.. and you can pretty much do whatever you like with the little icons in the side bar.

So, go forth... take photos.... and create persuasive arguments based on the visible rhetoric of our everyday lives. :)