The Truth Revealed

Clip from Psywars: Definition of Psyops (Propoganda).
http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=189112.0

After recently watching the hour long documentary, Psywars, for my communications class, I wonder about the trust I as a citizen put in my country. Should I believe in the idea that our government does what they do for the greater good of this nation? or are they just simply taking advantage of our trust and doing what is best for them (politicians and elites)?

Documentary Film cover
Psywars: Scott Noble
http://metanoia-films.org/psywar/

Propaganda is a way of swaying the publics opinion about a situation or idea. In the documentary, many examples are presented such as the propaganda the Nazi's used to convince the public that what they were doing was good and that the real evil ones were the Jews. Other examples include Rosie the Riveter, Uncle Sam's Army recruiting posters and Ivy Lee's Public relations campaign that were meant to cover up the wrong that the Rockefeller family had committed. With the name of Rockefeller tinted with blood after the Ludlow Massacre, there had to be a way to convince the public that they were humanitarians and what happened was not their fault.

In more recent years we commonly know propaganda as advertisement. Although we perceive propaganda to be a negative way of grasping the attention of the public there are ways that Public Relation companies can use propaganda/ advertisement in a positive manner. examples of positive advertisement are Coca-Cola's global share a Coke with a friend campaign, General Electric's energy efficiency campaign, and currently the number one campaign sweeping the internet worldwide, the ice bucket challenge for ALS awareness.

2014 Coca-Cola "Share a Coke..." promoting happiness
and friendship around the world.
http://www.brandsynario.com/news/cocacola-brings-global-share-a-coke-campaign-to-pakistan-in-ramadan

"Take the challenge, donate and help us create a world without ALS!"
http://www.alsa.org/fight-als/ice-bucket-challenge.html

General Electric's campaign to combine imagination and the ecosystem.
http://globe-net.com/ge-global-ecomagination-innovation-challenge-reduce-ghg-emissions-canadas-oil-sands/

Through Coca-Cola's campaign to promote happiness through drinking their refreshing beverage, they have done much more than sell you their product. They have convinced the public that drinking a Coke can bring the world together in peace in unity. Coca-Cola's efforts have sparked a movement that has been changing the world since their 1971 television ad that introduced the song I'd like to teach the world to sing. Several different share a coke with a friend ideas have been put to the test, from the India/Pakistan small world machine, the Coca-Cola sharing can, the Coke happiness machine placed on a college a campus, to the innovative friendly twist.

The Friendly Twist

Small World Machine

The Happiness Machine

The Sharing Can

As a graphic design major, it will be be my job one day to do the very thing I speak about. It will be my job to grasp the attention of the public and in a clever yet concise way, get you to believe in the product, idea, or person. I believe that as long as "they" control the media they control us, so we have to take control and be cautious of what we allow ourselves to believe true or false. Do the research and listen to both sides, we as humans are fully capable understanding the truth from the lie.

Despite the negatives and the positives propaganda and media are always present.

Technology and Me

Hey everyone! I'm Melissa Martinez. I'm a 20 year old junior at Reinhardt University. I was born and raised in Miami Fl and I attend Virginia Intermont College for my freshman and sophomore year. There I played soccer but when I came to Reinhardt I made the tough decision to not continue it and run Cross Country instead. I made this blog for my class, I hope you all enjoy.
I am a graphic design major, so technology is my life. I would not be able to do what I love without my Mac and the programs I have on there. I sketch out all of my designs but its when I put it on my computer that it really comes to life. That being said I am not the typical 20 year old. I have an iPhone because I like apple products, and yes it has Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. However, I am not addicted to it as many of my peers are. I can go days without checking any of them and not feel like I am missing anything. I use google+ the most, so I can stay informed of news and current events. Specifically I use it to keep up with all things art and design related, since I do like that stuff.
I may not have to check social media every few minutes to be happy, but social media does play a huge role in my life. I have an enormous family and they are spread out all over the world. Literally, I have people in Canada, El Salvador, Spain, and Nicaragua! Through social media I can keep up with all of them. It gives us all an easily accessible, free venue to communicate. Never before in all of history has it been so easy  to communicate.
That being said, I live in Miami! Media and technology is absolutely everywhere. You can't turn a corner without seeing a new ad or a virtual billboard in that city. Bus stops, gas stations, and the downtown area are covered with all types of media and interactive advertising that you access through your phone.
In conclusion I would like to say that technology is important to me. I have grown up in an environment where I am surrounded every day. I like keeping up with current events and I plan to go into a field where I will use technology everyday.