The first text was a news article from a news paper named Miami Herald located in the business section, its title being "Squatters take on developers and was published in 2007. It discusses the problems of invasion and exploitation within the Caribbean's through factual information. The second one was an advertisement for " The Great White Fleet in 1922" , a pompous poster promising a pleasant journey around the Caribbean. Both texts fall under the theme of expansion as their topics main concern circles around the Caribbean and its involvement with foreigners. Their concerns, however, lie on different spectrums. The difference in time frame but similarity in audience will thus shape the main elements such as tone mood , structure and style of those texts which will be examined in this essay.
Both texts are addressing similar audiences, however the nearly hundred year difference in time causes the message and aim to carry opposing messages, displaying the change in priorities over the years. The news article is most likely directed at the people located outside Panama , perhaps investors who may not be aware of the impact of their actions (american and european retirees) within the tourism industry. The primary purpose of this text serves to provide the audience with factual information and instigate a call for action. This is done through the linking of Panama with people who reside there and the effects of tourism that they suffer from, such as eviction from their own home. So in effect, Pathos is used to stimulate sympathy within the audience so as to abstain from and rethink their choices about the Caribbean's.
The other given text consisted of an advertisement for the cruise company, “The Great White Fleet” that travels around Central America and the Caribbean. The targeted audience in this case is more specific ; it is directed at wealthy middle class aristocrats who can afford to travel and plan on going on vacation stating that: "Only First class passengers are carried”. Unlike the article , the purpose of this advertisement is to persuade the audience of the quality of the cruise by focusing on the benefits to the passengers that the cruise provides and the exotic beauty of the countries. Considering the advert being during the colonial times, the people who could afford to where still highly encouraged to explore and dominate, not as exposed to the natives and the downsides it would cause for them. The article has moved well beyond that into the post colonial perspective, exhibiting strong opposing views of the exploitation of Caribbean's beauty, neglecting its people.
The message of the content of this article can be described as the act of corporate injustice found within the tourism industry in Panama, wherein hardly earned land is stolen from the natives for the entertainment and enjoyment of wealthy foreign investors and tourists. It provides the current state of Panama and presents a strong opinion on what occurs there. Judging from the name of the title "Squatters take on developers" , within it lies the idea of domination. The Squatters can be defined as individuals that unlawfully occupy land, which in this case is the natives. The developers would be the American entrepreneurs that technically have the right to propel the Caribbean's economy forward for their own benefit. Clearly, the writer of the article addresses the issues that arise for the natives through the market of tourism and development and how they face eviction of their own homes due to that. In doing so, this links to the overall theme of expansion as it discusses colonialism. The advertisement transmits the message of relaxation and privilege through promises of excellent food, great scenery and the title stating "the great white fleet". Great and white being associated with the audience being of european descent and powerful through their wealth , evoking a sense of pride and inclusion within the audience. Also at the time this advertisement was published, America was just experiencing the economic boom which meant that a much greater number of people were now wealthy enough to reach out to other countries in an exploring manner. This further enhances the theme of expansion. The two messages in these texts are quite different as on one side (text 1) the audience is provided with unbiased factual information that asks for reconsideration of what text 2 has created to become the norm: tourism and exploitation of exotic underdeveloped countries.
The news article has a rather serious tone expressed through the factual information that highlights the graveness of the situation for the natives. The writer of this article expresses himself in a moralistic manner wherein he challenges the foreigners right to exploit the Caribbean's. This can be seen here: "For centuries this Caribbean Island has been a beautiful place to be dirt poor. But in recent years , a booming real estate market has brought american entrepreneurs into direct conflict with Afro-Caribbean and indigenous Indians who occupy these once-isolated isles." With continuous accusations the article progresses with a defensive mood. In the advertisement, the tone is rather flattering as can be seen through the word choice here: "Only first class passengers carried". This clearly states that not everyone can take on this exquisite journey ; the passengers must be wealthy. The greatness of the trip is further enhanced through the descriptions of the locations that the passengers will visit, such as Jamaica, Havana and the Panama Canal and how in those specific places the temperature will never rise above 88 degrees, increasing its value. The overall mood of this advertisement could be described as exited with all the grand promises being made.
The style in "Squatters take on developers" is very straight forward as there is no deception or manipulation of any kind evident in the article. The imagery that can be seen is verbal as the article is located in the business section of the newspaper and operates as such. There is some use of Testimonial technique, as the writer incorporates the opinion of executive director Osvaldo Jordan who states: " There is this tremendous lust for the coast line. Developers and speculators will use any means necessary to get the land from the people." So here the writer uses the valued opinion of an individual in order to strengthen his argument and push the audience towards forming the same opinion, under the influence of testimonial. Another technique used is card stacking. The author here is clearly against the developers and this can be seen through the emphasis of the bad done by one side, repressing that side. This can be seen here : " In the past year the conflict has spiralled. Armed private security guards patrol disputed beaches. A powerful union of construction workers has levelled charges of "colonialism" against several developers. Homes have mysteriously burned and been torn to the ground." In the advertisement , unlike in the article, Images are the main attraction as well as strategically placed keywords that support the aim of the advert. The title is pompous and as mentioned earlier there is some symbolic meaning behind it, the word "white" being white on a black background associated with the word "great" right beside it. The image of the map transmits a better idea of where the journey could go and draws in to the text in the middle with all the locations mapped out again. Overall this advert attempts to appeal to its audience through the use of imagery displaying an array of pleased people dressed in expensive clothes, interacting on the ship. This draws in the audience more. There is some Hyperbole as the advert is very focused on the benefits for the tourists and their experience but does not address how this may affect the natives negatively.
Conclusively , it has been established that both texts are based on the same theme of Expansion. However due to the difference in time, the aim and content of those texts was fairly different, varying in persuasive techniques and the ideology of both. The news article was against the exploitation and expansion in the Caribbean's while the advertisement highly encouraged it through presenting it in a different light.
Hi Amina! Your introduction is good but you did add the audience and purpose in this paragraph. There was no mention of a common theme or a thesis so it would be better if you added that into your introduction instead of the audience and purpose. It would beg even better if you added the 'so what?' aspect to your introduction. xxxxx
ReplyDeleteYou provided a really good run down on both of the texts, however your introduction could be even better if it included a clearer initial comparison between the two texts and a more concise 'so what' statement on which to base your thesis.
ReplyDeleteYou established both text types and contexts very well, however you need to state the common theme/topic/concern among the two texts as it will allow you to further focus your analysis. You present both perspectives of the two texts but you need to further establish the ' so what' statement.
ReplyDeleteYour introduction was well written as you established both texts however, you may have focused a bit too much on ideas such as audience that may have been better discussed in a separate paragraph. Other than that you identified the main topics well and your introduction was well written.
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