Free

The topic that I think I'm going to write my Junior Theme on is why things are free these days. I will be reading a book entitled Free, by Chris Anderson. I've only just started but it is already quite interesting to me. In it he talks about how the most effective price is often no price at all. From services like Flickr, and Animoto who give the basic package away for free but charge for the premium version, to companies that offer free services and installations like Comcast then charge monthly. The examples go on and on, from free trials for videogames to free samples for food, the concept of no price is boundless. Many people say "there is no such thing as a free lunch", but Anderson argues that it is in fact a very important marketing tactic. He also talks about how the concept of free stretches far back into history. It is an interesting topic that I'm looking forward to writing about it. What do you think about the concept and marketing strategy of 'free'?

Ads- Audi is Rewriting the Rule Book

All the talk of commercials and advertisements in class today reminded me of a commercial I saw last week, while watching TV. It is a new Audi commercial, and it caught my attention. Audi claims they are "breaking the spell", and beating their main rivals (Lexus, Mercedes- Benz, and BMW) at their own stereotypes. They claim they are growing faster than any of their competitors, as well. The commercial depicts a kid looking at a ferrari poster, saying "I've been told to desire a red Italian sports car", a suburban mom standing next to a Lexus RX, two businessmen getting into their Mercedes Benzes, an old man and his wife at a golf course standing next to their Lexus GS, and a short guy and his wife standing in front  of their enormous house with a red convertible BMW. However, it ends with an Audi R8, (their esteemed supercar which they are quite proud of) roaring its massive V8 engine as it pulls up outside the boy from the first scene's house. I actually think this is quite an effective ad, in that it tries to separate itself from its competitors, which are truthfully associated with stereotypes. But I don't necesarily agree with the whole 'lets attack our competitors' stance that Audi is taking. What do you think about thsi commercial, and the direction that Audi is seemingly headed in?

Sly Fox - Nas

A couple weeks ago, when Doc Oc and I were discussing rap music, (as we often do), he mentioned a song to me, called Sly Fox by Nas. I looked it up a few days later, and was surprised by what I heard. I thought it would be your run of the mill rap song, but it was far from that. Nas makes a statement in his song that is essentially completely against Fox news, about how the network has a "secret agenda", and is "always watching". Fox is often referred to as highly liberal and Republican, and some think they often work to help the Republican party in their campaigns and such. Regardless of what you think of Nas, or of Fox news, he is making a very bold statement, and putting himself out there in a way. He is sayingwhat he believes, and is trying to expose Fox news to an audience that might not be completely familiar with their political bias. One verse in particular strikes me as very true:

"They say I'm all about murder-murder and kill-kill

But what about Grindhouse and Kill Bill?

What about Cheney and Halliburton? (Halliburton?)

The backdoor deals

On oil fields

How's NaS the most violent person?"

I like the point he makes is that many people often blame rappers for promoting violence in the youth of America, but Nas says that despite what anyone says, violent in the more mainstream media is worse. Fox produces motion pictures such as Grindhouse and Kill Bill, and that is in some ways, worse damage than anything a rapper could do.

The End of Gatsby

I'm not afraid to admit that The Great Gatsby is one of few books I've read in school that I've greatly and genuinely enjoyed (Slaughterhouse Five, and The Odysey come to mind). Gatsby has so many deep and thoughtful themes running through it, and some of the quotes in the last chapter are mind- bendingly thought provoking. It reminds us that no matter how powerful, rich, or happy we are- we are mortal, and the sad thing is- a bullet can change everything. Jay Gatsby lived life at the top, and he came crashing down. Some think that the novel illustrates the death of the American Dream, and that Gatsby's death represents this downfall. I think this a rather narcicistic way to view the novel, and that the message Fitzgerald wants to tell is that everyone has a "green light" as Gatsby does. And that everyone, no matter how mysterious or powerful has a simple, human side. After the first chapter, I thought that Jay Gatsby was going to be a larger than life character, but he turns out to be a simple man trying to find the love he lost so long ago. And when Nick says, "I realize this has been a story of the West, after all..." (176), I think Fitzgerald is trying to show that there is a place in the world for everyone. I don't think Fitzgerald was trying to illustrate the death of the American Dream, but perhaps the non-existence of the American Dream as it has been idolized and built up as an image. Fitzgerald's view of the American dream is that everyone should find something to drive for, and you will find somewhere to fit in.

The Hurt Locker

I'm going to try my best to make this not sound like a promo for the Hurt Locker, but after our discussion in class I felt the need to blog about it. Personally, I can't think of a movie that deserves best picture more than the Hurt Locker. I saw it quite a while ago, over the summer, so I don't remember everything, but it is a film that does everything nearly perfectly. It avoids any political statements, the sound and explosions are sweet, the characters are deep and real, and the plot is complex while being easy to follow. It opens with the quote "War is a drug", as said by former Iraq war reporter Chris Hedges. Now, Mr. O'Connor said in class today that the flim follows the arc of many vietnam war era films, but I think the Hurt Locker does them all one better. It makes you feel the emotions that the characters are feeling, and it gives you a take on our current conflict you don't often see. It is all summed up by the very last shot, which I thought was incredible. I won't ruin it for those of you who haven't seen it, because you absolutely should. I think that it will be a movie that will stay as a classic, and be regarded in the American "cannon" as one of the greatest movies of all time.