#derek allison

[vizrhet2014]

WAR: What is it really good for?

Final Revision of my presentation.

I realized that some people in the class did not pick up on the topic of my presentation. So, I added some contextual clues to what each picture is supposed to be telling us. This presentation is intended to educate veterans of war on how the American public is told how to feel about military conflicts overseas through photojournalism. 

[vizrhet2014]

Michael Jackson - Thriller

In the spirit of Halloween I chose one of the most classic videos ever made. It is shown on a loop this time of year and IT NEVER GETS OLD. Even though we have seen it a million times, we can't help but watch it again because no other artist has ever matched its overall quality.

The cinematic quality and detailed story took music videos to a whole other level that had never been seen before 1983. The director used techniques that had only ever been used on the big screen with dramatic jump cuts and shot, reverse shots to define the dramatic axis. They also upped the production value by utilizing large piece of equipment such as tracking and cranes to make it feel like a movie.

By going beyond the standard music video, Michael Jackson's team was able to push him into the next echelon of superstardom. He was able to connect with both horror film fans and general moviegoers alike, which only bolstered is ever-growing audience. The music video, which acts more like a short film, allowed MJ to showcase all of his talents; sing, dancing and acting.

What makes this music video feel even more like a horror film is its ambiguous ending. Was it a dream or was the entire nightmarish world real? The audience is left wondering if there is more to the story, even after the credits roll.  

[vizrhet2014]

Annotated Bibliography

“Isis Fast Facts.” CNN.com. Demand Media, 9 Oct. 2014. Web.  19 Oct. 2014.

  CNN.com compiles a detailed breakdown of how ISIS as progressed since 2004. From its early formations as AQI, or Al Qaeda in Iraq, to their swift advances to form a caliphate between Syria and Iraq, they cite each individual event. They even include the ever-changing estimates of troops and displaced citizens in Iraq.

  “Iraq Profile.” BBC.com. Demand Media, 16 Sept. 2013. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.

  BBC.com does a great job of creating a timeline of events all the way back to the formation of the Ottoman Empire in 1534. They cover Iraq in even more detail than CNN.com with casualty statistics attached to each act of violence. The timeline is broken down into sections to better understand the overlying issue that is affected by each individual event.

  Arabiya, Al. “How ISIS stormed Iraq: a chronology of the militant offensive.” Alaraabiya.net. Demand Media, 16 Jun. 2014. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.

  Al Arabiya provides a detailed report on the events that lead to the early attacks by ISIS in both Iraq and Syria.  There is insight to the motivation behind their advances and the government forces struggle to hold onto important cities.

  Barrabi, Thomas. “US Airstrikes In Syria: Timeline of Events That Led Obama to Target Islamic State.” Ibitimes.com. Demand Media, 23 Sept. 2014. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.

  Thomas Barrabi highlights major events that lead up to the United States becoming involved in the fight against ISIS. He provides quick summaries and even details the beheadings of two international journalists.