Thursday, 7 November 2013

AL GORE 2000

In this campaign video from Al Gore in 2000. The themes shown in this video are America as a nation who care about their envrironment, the outdoors man. The fact that they care so much about drilling close to america in the ocean shows they dont want their nation affected for the short term energy it currently supplies them with. The children playing by the ocean at the end reads the line 'we must create a future worthy of our children'. This is showing that if they dont do anything about the enrironmental issues now, it will affect future generations. This is an strong point which is close to americans hearts in the fact that they want family values to play an important role from their leaders. Politicians to supports family and education is normally a bit part of a campaign. He also refers to the review as 'good stewards'. This bilical reference is linking americans to the bible, and with christianality being very important in America, this would be important to the viewer.
This is an reassuring advertisment, as he sounds like he really does want a better future for americans, and usually the envrironment isnt a high priority for politicians. His eye contact with the camera makes him seem sincere and it seems important to the veiwer to listen to him as he is making so much eye contact.  
It seems to me that talking about the envrironment is an distraction. Once a politician starts talking about the envrironnment, they are usually using it as an distraction from something else.
 

week 3 - countries views about America.

Germany:German views of US influence have worsened significantly over the last year, with negative attitudes increasing from 65 to 74 percent. Only 16 percent of respondents say they have a mostly positive view of US influence in the world, down from 21 percent. Negative attitudes about the US are also reflected in German views of US handling the war in Iraq, with an overwhelming 88 percent disapproving of the US approach to this issue. Germans also judge the United States harshly on its handling of the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo (89% disapprove), global warming (84% disapprove) and the Israel-Hezbollah war (74% disapprove). Significant majorities disapprove of the approach to Iran's nuclear program (64%), as well as to North Korea's nuclear situation (56%). Nearly three in four Germans (73%) believes the US is a destabilizing force in the Middle East, with just 17 percent saying the US military presence is a stabilizing element.


China: Views of the US in China have improved slightly over the past year, though remain negative. Positive views of US influence in the world have increased from 22 to 28 percent, while the majority having a negative view of US influence has fallen from 62 to 52 percent. However, Chinese attitudes about US foreign policy are largely negative in most areas: an overwhelming 83 percent disapproves of US handling of the war in Iraq, while a two-thirds (66%) disapproves of US actions in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. The Chinese also have 60 percent disapproving of the US on Iran's nuclear program and 56 percent on North Korea's nuclear situation. Fifty-nine percent of respondents in China also disapprove of US treatment of detainees at Guantanamo and other prisons. Interestingly, a slight plurality (39%) of Chinese respondents approves of US handling of the issue of global warming. Most Chinese see the US military presence in the Middle East as provoking more conflict than it prevents, with 72 percent holding this view.

These are views of two different countries about America and the first one is Germany and they have a negative view of American for example they are upset about America's views on the war in Iraq and how America are dealing with global warming and three in four Germans believe that the American forces in the middle east are destabilizing the environment and the citizens whereas only 17% believe they are having a positive effect. 

The second view is the view of China and their views are slightly more positive than Germany but still negative overall, they believe that America isn't handling the war in Iraq very well and it disapproves of the actions they are taking to settle the conflicts. but 39% of Chinese people say that America are handling Global warming well. but once again they disapprove of America in the Middle East saying that they are provoking more conflict between the two countries.

These views also emulated across the world and most people have negative views about America because of what it has gotten itself into and how it is trying to dig itself out of the situations it is in. 

immigration in America

This is a map showing the immigration that happens in america, the darker patches are where the most people have immigrated to. This is showing us that people are moving away from the places that are hugely populated and are moving towards the less populated areas and cleaner areas of america. The fact that Florida has many people immigrating there is because the older generation of Americans are moving towards a slower life and many people move there because it is warm and it is a nice place to spend the retirement years. And as you can see there is a trend of people moving towards the western side of America, to places like California where it is hot. And people are also moving towards the southern America to places like Texas. I believe that the huge migration number s are subsequent of overcrowded areas for example New York is an extremely busy place to live and people are wanting a more relaxed way of life so they go to places where it is less dense.

'what is an American'

De Crevecoeur asked 'what is an American?' and I believe that this picture describes an American well, this is someone wearing an American flag tracksuit, this portrays patriotism for America and this is what I believe an American is, I believe that an American is a patriotic and determined person, Americans really back their country somewhat more than other countries because Americans believe that they are one nation stood together and no one can stop the force of a nation. I particularly believe that Americans are in fact one of the only nations to believe in this fact that they are one nation, in the UK we all stand together on a united front when there are celebrations happening for example the Royal wedding or the Olympics but other then the national celebrations that happen people don't walk around believing in their country unlike america where nearly every household will have the American flag flying from their front porch because Americans are so patriotic and they believe. In this country there will only be certain times of the year you might see the union flag or the English flag. This is why America is individual in the fact that they are one of the only nations that patriotism is portrayed in everyday life and circumstances. So to conclude an American is a patriotic and loving person of their country and they will believe in their country in whatever it does.  

Barack Obama's TV advert about choice



This is an election advert for the 2012 election, it is Barack Obama's video about 'The choice'.


In this video Barack Obama talks about the choices Americans are going to have to make and he explains that Mitt Romney's plans for America will not work because they have already tried it it put America in the financial mess it is in. He then talks about his proposals about the way in which he is going to strengthen the economy by strengthening the middle class citizens and he is going to invest in education, manufacturing and American energy in the sense of solar energy. He says that this will help the economy and it will help the middle class with jobs and this will help them pay the bills. He says that sometimes politics can be small but the choices we face couldn't be bigger. This advert is in the common lay out of a election advert, it has the beginning where he is expresses his thoughts about how the other parties ideas are not going to help the country but his ideas are going to help the citizens that need the most help and economy will strengthen because of it. And he keeps the message quite wide saying that it is your choice and it is a really big choice, he is just giving the public the two sides but obviously he is biast towards his ideas as he thinks that they are better.  

Clinton 1992

The video linked above is one of Bill Clinton's presidential ad campaign commercials from 1992. During the video Clinton talks about his humble up bringing with his grandfather in Hope, Arkansas. I believe he talks so much about his up bringing in small town America as he hopes to connect with the average Americans, who were also brought up in a similar fashion. A recurrent theme throughout the ad is Clinton's passion and life long dream of politics and helping others, we can see this clearly as soon as 12 seconds into the ad where Clinton talks of when he met president Kennedy, he tells us he remembers thinking of what a wonderful country this is. I believe he talks of his passion for helping people so strongly in his ad to really drive the point that he really does care, and he really does want to make a difference for everybody in the country.

Clinton ends his ad with the phrase, 'bring hope, back to the American dream'. Clinton wanted to put across this message throughout his campaign, as throughout the video he talks of his humble up bringing, and of having no money, and yet he has been able to work his way through school and run for president of the United States of America. This to me, is a perfect example of the American dream, which i believe is why Clinton felt so strongly about it.

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

George Bush 2000

The link which I have chosen is from George Bush’s election campaign add in 2000, which I found on youtube which was posted on the web by ‘Plopsmom’, who have got a range on videos on their page but also have quite a few different election videos from different campaigns. Within the advertisement video it is clear that it is a persuasive video trying to get the Americans to vote for Bush to be president.
On word which keep re-occurring within the video is the word ‘I trust you’, by repeating the word trust is making the viewers have the thought of when trust is said they think of Bush, therefore believing in him to make a better government, ‘trusting’ him. The way in which Bush uses the word trust, is the way where he is enforcing the matter that by the voters voting for him and trusting him he will also trust in return the voters, giving them more of a say and responsibility in being able to speak up and take action that they want to take with issues within America.
After listening and watching the video of Bush’s advertisement video I came away thinking that it was reassuring, and felt like he meant what he said and wanted America to be more united and work together. Bush also mentioned his other opponent saying ‘he trusts government, I trust you’. By him saying that his opponent trusting government put the thoughts into viewer’s heads that there will be a middle man between the peoples voice, what they want and action being taken. Whereas Bush saying ‘I trust you’  gives the impression that he doesn’t rely on government and is strong and stable to be able to speak out for the people and be able to communicate with them one on one. This will increase votes showing and presenting reassurance that all issues that the people want to and need to be solved will be.


I have also selected this video of Barack Obama’s campaign video as there are similar elements to both videos which are very alike if not the same, I also found this video on youtube but it is published by the Wall Street Journal. At the start of the video Obama get very personal and interacts with the viewer’s making it seem like he is directly talking to them, this is shown when he says ‘if I was to sit round your kitchen table with you’, by making statements like this presents a friendly vibe and conveys the impression that he wants to get to know his citizens and help them directly learning all of their views one on one. This is similar to Bush’s video as he also tries to connect with the audience one on one stating how he trusts them like they should trust him.
It is also mentioned in the video by Barack of his opponent, Romney. However Obama goes into Romneys views in more depth, unlike Bush who makes a comment on the issue. By Obama statements and elaborating on it give the assumption that he is driven to achieve and isn’t afraid to stand up and face opposing issues, such as his opponent Romney.

The recurrent theme that has come across in both of these videos is the idea of working together and listening to on another. To not only try and achieve what the President wants and think is best but also to try and gain trust between different classes to hear all of their views. Within each campaign the idea of looking out and after one another personally sticks out for me as although each of the presidents are trying to win votes they both include the viewers and try to gain their trust and prove they can achieve what America wants and what is best for the country.