Poverty. This is an issue that plagues the nation. Enliven Foundation is fighting to give those in poverty a chance to better their lives for themselves and their families. Enliven Foundation is in the business of equipping and empowering parents to achieve personal and academic success by providing practical needs, academic guidance, and emotional support.
In 2010 15.1 percent-46.2 million Americans-lived in poverty. In the last half of the century there came a growing trend that is called the feminization of poverty. Homes that are headed by single women make up over half of all poor families as of 2010. This is over 23 million single mothers fighting to provide a better life for their children; mothers that are in the welfare system and trying to get governmental aid in their attempt to stay afloat in their hard times. The system is set up to help single mothers receive food stamps and cash assistance to help these women and their families stay off the streets. There is, however, a glitch in the system. The people who receive cash assistance, or TANF, have requirements put on them by the system which calls for them to attend 20+ hours a week on certain job searches or job preparation classes. If someone was going to take on a full term credit load and is working a part time job, there is not enough hours in a day to meet the TANF requirements, therefore they are kicked off of cash assistance and left to use all their financial resources and remain in the same state of poverty.
Our vision is to provide a home for these women and their children by purchasing a multi-unit complex that will be rent free while one is attending college, and will also provide educational and emotional guidance while they earn their degree. This is where YOU come in!
Enliven Foundation is having a Texas Hold'em Poker tournament on March 15th at 7:00 pm with registration beginning at 6:00 pm. It is being held at the Lebanon Elks Lodge. We are hosting this tournament in an attempt to raise the funds for the legal fees to pay for the 501(c)3 non-profit organization status needed to begin our foundation. If you are interested in attending this tournament you can per-register on our website at www.enlivenfoundation.org . Here you can also learn more about our vision, goals, and if you feel led, you can also give donations through this website. When you pre-register for the tournament on our website you will be given extra chips on the night of the fundraiser. Please note there is a 5 dollar cover charge for all those who are not playing in the tournament, this charge will cover a free slice of pizza and one free soda. To add to the excitement that evening, we will also be holding a 50/50 raffle. There will be a bar at the Elks Lodge serving drinks that evening as well. We at Enliven Foundation want to thank you in advance for supporting our vision.
APPLE: It’s More Than a Product, It’s a Lifestyle!
iPads, iPods, MacBooks, Apple Computers; this is one of the
hottest brand names in America.We have
all succumb to an Apple nation.We love
the image we carry when we become an Apple user!We love the feeling of seeing these colorful,
freeing ads plastered all over our cities and know that we belong to this
subculture, this ideology to “think different”.It’s amazing the power that apple has in our society, and how well the company
has prospered since they stopped selling computers, and started selling a
lifestyle.
The ad I am going to be discussing was a series that began
in 2003 and was called the silhouette style.This started out as commercials of black silhouettes against a brightly
colored backdrop, the colors depicted was the famous Apple rainbow colors. After this campaigns success, we have seen
billboards, posters, ads in magazines and on the internet of these silhouettes.
I believe this ad campaign completely
changed Apple.This was when the company
tapped into American culture and started selling a new ideology; A new identity
for its consumers.It started selling
the apple lifestyle.
The interesting thing about this ad is its chameleon
tendency when using different styles to reach different customers.There is a bandwagon persuasive technique
that is put into play when you see this ad. You are looking at every other American
that values individuality and purpose.That
is why the silhouettes are so effective. There is no famous person to tag in
these ads, just normal people who all appear to be free from life while
listening to their iPod.And, of course,
if everybody else is doing this, well, you should have an iPod also.However, there is also a very strong snob
appeal.Like I said, Apple is no longer
just a brand, it’s a lifestyle.Apple is
the high end iPod, it’s the expensive, full proof laptop.Apple is not cheap! So it is linked to the “yuppie”
lifestyle.It is amazing that this one
ad covers so much ground as far as its appeal to its consumers.The silhouettes themselves are an effective
use of the association principle, I think.They link the product (iPod), with the idea of freedom and
happiness.Notice none of these
silhouettes seem to be sad or restricted by any social standards. They are the
outline of a young person unhindered by anything.Apple took this ad to every medium, and it
was effective in every area.
Now, when we look at the target audience, it is easy to see
that the silhouettes are not middle aged men and women but rather young
adults.However, the way the silhouettes
were used to depict so many different styles and even races was great.You can tell by looking at the silhouettes
that it is aiming for men and women, sleek and punk, classy and grunge.The silhouettes are so well done, that you can
find yourself in one of them, or at least relate to the image you wished you
carried in one of the silhouettes.And even
though these ads covered many different styles, there is nothing offensive
about any style they are trying to show.Each style is shown as accepted and encouraged as the next.That is what makes this ad campaign stand
out.The target audience is really
anyone who wants to feel as free and content in themselves as these dancing
silhouettes are feeling.This is a whole
new strategy that covers far more than the ads that lead up to this.
This ad is very strong in the way it can target a wide
variety demographics, but some of its weakness could fall in the idea that this
freedom does not sell as well to the older, retired generation.Now, I believe that apple is still popular
among this older generation; I am just saying this ad campaign in particular
may not appeal to that generation.But
the diversity of the black silhouette against the brightly colored backdrop
made this ad stand out and get noticed very easily.There was not a lot for the viewer to take
in.The idea was simply given in two
colors which left little to be digested and gone through.It was a message that was simply put, and
loud and clear.Today, thirteen years
after the first silhouette campaign, most of the population can associate these
ads with Apple products without even thinking.Apple owned its ad, and it is still burned into our memories.
I am a devout Apple consumer.I have the iPhone, the iPad, and once I start
at OSU, I will be the proud owner of a Macbook, so I can bring a biased opinion
to the table.But after doing some research
it was clear that there is a definite split in the market of Apple products.
You either are an Apple user, or you are not.You either own the lifestyle and ideology, or you hate it.I know that my own father despises Apple and
everything they stand for.He tells me I
am selling myself to the yuppie liberals when I buy their products. And isn’t that
the biggest complaint?Apple haters will
tell us all day long how apple monopolizes the market and takes advantage of
its customers by overpricing their products, and they say we are buying the
apple image, not just the product.OF
COURSE WE ARE!That should be a
testament to how well Apple’s ads have been.We want that freedom, we want that ideology, we want to be the yuppie
liberals because that means we are set apart from the mundane. We have our own
identity within the Apple subculture.And
frankly, based on this ad alone, I would buy into the Apple way of life.It has all the appeal with none of the
drawbacks.Not only would I buy it, but
I would recommend it to others.This is
a solid company that has successfully broken into society as brought more than
just a product.And that deserves a
little recognition.
Here are some links I found interesting regarding Apple:
With all of these shows, it seems that every arena
has been covered.But I am interested in
discuss an episode of the overnight success show called “Glee”.This show has taken on part of the
responsibility of re-socializing our upcoming generation by choosing to boldly
take on the subject matter that has been left in the background as far as prime time television.Now, this is, by no means, a political show
that was created to cater to Capitol Hill and its followers; but it has taken
the difficult subjects like spousal abuse, teenage sexuality, teen pregnancy,
stereotypes, and bullying and applied them in a way that the younger generation
can grab a
hold and begin to form their own opinions rather than carrying their
parents or grandparents values and beliefs.
I am going to be discussing an episode of Glee titled
‘The First Time’.
It was aired on
November 8th.This episode confronted a huge “phobia” that
today's society has against gay men.It
confronted not only the idea of a relationship between two gay men, but it actually
depicted a gay couple losing their virginity with one another.This is both ground breaking and
controversial.As much as I would like
to say that the American society has let go of its homophobic nature, it
absolutely has not.This episode, I
believe, was an attempt to portray a normal rite of passage in the life of two
gay teenagers, but more than that, it was an attempt to begin to remove the
stigma that follows gay men around as far as a sexual relationship.Lesbian women do not have this stigma that
follows them around as much as gay men do.It is much safer for a network to air a kiss or sexual experimentation
between two women than it does two men.This was a risky show to air.But
the conformation it gave to the GLBT community far outweighed its negative
reviews.
In this episode, Kurt Hummel, played by Chris Colfer
and his boyfriend Blaine Anderson , played by Darren Criss, lost their
virginity with each other.The plot
followed Kurt and Blaine along with Rachel Berry, played by Lea Michele and her
boyfriend Finn Hudson, played by Cory Monteith, on their road to their first
sexual experience.The episode is primarily
focused around these two couples and followed along as they fought internally
and externally about the idea of losing their virginity.A sub-plot of this episode was about the glee
club getting ready for their play “West Side Story”.Kurt and Blaine were up against the fact that
their relationship had left the initial high and fiery stage, and was going
through a more dull and boring stage.Kurt struggles with the idea that Blaine is thinking he is boring, and
Blaine is making sure Kurt is comfortable and feels like he isn’t being pushed
into anything.
The end of the episode
goes back and forth between the two couples in the midst of their first sexual experience.One of the last scenes it shows Blaine lying
behind Kurt in bed and they are smiling at each other.After that, it shows Rachel lying on top of
Finn.These scenes were letting the
audience now that both couples had had sex.
After analyzing this show and this episode
particularly, I came to see that not only was this show promoting many different
styles and stereotypes, but it is a political platform that is ushering in a
new perspective on very hot topics. It has a character that fits almost every
stereotype imaginable to its target high school audience.There is the jock Finn, the overachiever and
star reacher Rachel, the dumb blonde Brittany, the popular Latino bitch
Santana, the brilliant and pressured Asian, the handicapped, the punk, the fat
girl that nobody likes, etc.It has also
given new portrayals of old stereotypes for teens to identify with.There is the stereotypical gay man who is
into high fashion and fits in better with the ladies, but there is also a “man’s
man” who is gay.A real Frank Sinatra
kind of guy.This is reaching out to the
gay men that don’t identify with Kurt, the more feminine gay man.The show is filmed and on a set in a
controlled environment, but has stepped outside of that to film on location in
New York.By filming on set, they really
capture the drama of the show in the control they have over the lighting and
the shots they are able to get.It adds
to the quality of the show.Glee is the
same as a lot of other shows that are aimed at the 16-24 aged audience, meaning
that it has the cast dressed in latest trends and hairstyles and includes drama
that every day teens would encounter. But it is also different in the sense
that it is trying to change the views that have traditionally been set with the
problems these teens are dealing with.Its
most powerful hook would be the fact that it uses popular songs of today and
past hits and has the cast perform these songs throughout the entire show.It’s a musical that never ends.This is a powerful draw for teens.
This show is a perfect example of how the values of society
or the desired values of society can be mirrored and expressed in the
media.The episode I am referring to,
The First Time is a representation of the ideology that a gay relationship is
no different than that of a man and woman.It shows that there can be just as much love and intimacy in a relationship
between two men as there is within the traditional relationship.This is the opinion of many liberal and
democratic voices in the house. This past June, a new policy came into play in
the government that recognizes marriages between gay and lesbian couples.This was a decision that had been put off and
fought against over and over.Glee used
their ability to reach a young generation of voters to help sway the population
into this new way of thinking.
I read some reviews of this episode by various
critics.What struck me as odd is the
fact that not a lot of people noted this very big moment!Of course the gay and lesbian community were
happy, but the general critics didn’t have much to say.One a website called Monkeys as Critics, Ryan
McGee said, ““The First Time” is less about two couples having sex for the
first time and more about self-acceptance.”I am wondering if this storyline was less of a shock and venture into a
new world of acceptance to critics than average Americans? Another critic named
James Poniewozik said on Times Entertainment’s web page, “Right up front, let
me say that “The First Time” was the best episode, overall, of Glee season three.”He went on to note that the romantic setting
and the music complemented the storyline and the situations perfectly.But like I said, not a lot was said as far as
the images on two men lying in bed together after having sex. It is episodes like this one that leave the viewer’s
talking about what happened in the show for days and months to come.There are weaknesses in some episodes.Sometimes the battle between Sue, the
cheer leading coach, and Will the glee club coach, can be fairly draining and downright
ridiculous.And there are moments when
the songs featured may not fit the overall tone of a particular episode.Where Glee falls short, the fact that it has
inspired young adults to embrace who they are, and that it has become a voice
that could have brought to life the reality in gay and lesbian relationships is
something to congratulate.
In my home, Glee nights are set aside every
week (mostly due to my teenage girls).I
do follow some of the stars of the show on Twitter, and I have pulled up their fan
pages on Facebook.Some may not have
heard, but one of the stars, Cory Monteith, passed away over this last
weekend.I first heard of the news on
Twitter.
Glee became an overnight sensation when it first
aired on May 19th, 2009.There was nothing like it on cable.“The First Time” pushed the envelope even farther, and I applaud the
directors and creator of the show for their bold take on this very controversial
issue!We, as a society, are one step
closer to ending the stigma that surround the intimacy shared between two men
who are in love.
-Advertisements-
The advertising that surrounds Glee on a regular Thursday
evening are specifically geared to the target audience and demographic the creators
and producers of the show were looking to reach.The teenage and young adult population is a
prime audience for selling all kinds of higher end, but not as expensive
products to. I will not be walking
through every ad I saw throughout this episode of Glee.Commercials are not super exciting to watch,
and even less exciting to write about.I
will, however, highlight the trends I noticed when I watched this episode.
COVER GIRL!I
saw a few different Cover Girl ads during this show; not only Cover Girl, but
also Maybelline.If you are not
familiar, these are make-up companies that are geared toward young adult
women.I also noticed that one of the
newest cover girls is Lea Michele, one of the main stars in the show Glee. Cover Girl is an inexpensive make up, but it is very popular among this age
group.
I also noticed a few commercials geared toward men,
and particularly middle aged, middle class men.The commercial that repeated itself twice was for a car rental
company.This portrayed a white, middle
aged male in a business suit that was looking to rent a car on his business
trip.I feel like this was not aimed at
the target audience, but for the parents of the target audience.It’s a clever way to get a consumers
attention.There are Daughters out there
making her parents sit down and watch her favorite show, and the networks accounted
for this by slipping in a Progressive ad, or a Travelocity ad here and
there.
I also would like to
mention that there is some advertising done on the show itself.Sue Sylvester, one of the main characters who
is an older, bitter, cheer leading coach wears her Adidas track suit in EVERY
EPISODE!This is no accident.It’s a clever hook that the character has,
but there is also a contract between Glee and Adidas that keeps that track suit
in the show.There are always small
things you can notice on a television show that is known as “hidden advertisements”.Keep your eyes peeled when watching your
favorite shows.A general rule is, if
the label of something is showing on the show, then it’s an advertisement.
