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.
Thursday, 7 November 2013
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.
Thursday, 31 October 2013
De Crevecoeur
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/obama-wins-1-2.jpg
Within 'What is an American?', Crevecoeur talks about the accomplishments of his fellow countrymen, more specifically pride in these accomplishments. Pride in the accomplishments of the new society of Americans and pride in the fact that he feels that America is now comparable to Europe in a sense of development, art, and culture.
"Here he sees the industry of his native country displayed in a new manner, and traces, in their works,the embryos of all the arts, sciences, and ingenuity, which flourish in Europe"
"Here he beholds cities, substantial villages...where, one hundred years ago, all was wild, woody, and uncultivated...It is a prospect which must inspire a good citizen with the most heartfelt pleasure!"
I believe that this is as true today as it was back then as national pride is always something i would personally associate with American society. The image above shows average American citizens on election day waving their countries flag together. People of all ages and ethnic backgrounds all showing support and love for their country by coming together as one to share their pride in the country they love.
This is a link to a you tube clip which I found. Within the video it shows how much America has progressed through time.
Within De Crevecoeur's book he explains how it's strange how there are so many tourists in Europe where they go around and look at old ruins of buildings and history which has happened when they could visit America and see progress and a future being made. I think that this clip shows the real life American dream as within the video it doesn't only show what is happening in society today, and Americas succession, but it shows what America and many famous people and successors have come from. Progression being the main feature of the American dream.
Within the video (near the end) it explains how a boy's parents want him to strive to have even bigger dreams and goals than what they have, as they hope that they have allowed him to have more opportunities than they ever had growing up. Obama's speech explains with in the video, about how his family have struggled through life, I.E. slavery, however each generation want the next, their children to strive to achieve more, main example beings through the growth of Obama's, from slavery to know running one of the most if not the most successful country in the world, which helps to allow many other countries to continue to survive financially. America is a magical place where achieving goals is part of everyday life, wanting to achieve a little bit more to having the completeness of the succession of the overall individual dream.
A comment under the YouTube video, which caught my attention,states how the American dream is possible and not just for them lucky individuals. The boy explains how his parents came from nothing and were saving from the age of 12, their wages, to go to college. And now after putting in so much effort they have succeeded and now are very wealthy, being able to give their son all of the opportunities and more, which they never had. This was all due down to the thought of having the drive to achieve and succeed, being ale to have the real life American dream. People may not believe all of this, but there is also, it was explained, not specific American dream. There is no single one, everyone's is different as it depends on what you want to achieve and what you believe succession is.
Thursday, 17 October 2013
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/pocohontas/pocahontas_smith_letter.cfm
This account is a letter written in 1616, and it is a letter written to the Queen from and explorer, John Smith, who has visited America and made contact with the natives.
Within his letter he makes references to the native people explaining how he was captured but also how friendly they where and how they had such good courtesy towards them. One native he speaks of in specific is a female called Pocahontas who is the chiefs daughter.
This post surprised me as it showed how friendly the natives were and welcoming, but then, from history we know that the Americans captured them and forced to transform their life, learn a new language and give up their culture. Within the letter written to the Queen it does mention briefly how the natives were captured. which came as a huge shock as they offered nothing but hospitality to these new being on their land.
This account is a letter written in 1616, and it is a letter written to the Queen from and explorer, John Smith, who has visited America and made contact with the natives.
Within his letter he makes references to the native people explaining how he was captured but also how friendly they where and how they had such good courtesy towards them. One native he speaks of in specific is a female called Pocahontas who is the chiefs daughter.
This post surprised me as it showed how friendly the natives were and welcoming, but then, from history we know that the Americans captured them and forced to transform their life, learn a new language and give up their culture. Within the letter written to the Queen it does mention briefly how the natives were captured. which came as a huge shock as they offered nothing but hospitality to these new being on their land.
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