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Political Ads: Motherhood

  By Kai Stephenson • October 25, 2016

This ad is clearly targeted towards women, a group that Trump has been having trouble identifying with throughout the election. It focuses on women and their roles in 21st century America. In some ways, this can be taken negatively. For example, the title of the ad is literally “Motherhood” which may turn off some women by suggesting that their only legitimate purpose is to be a loving mother. But in the ad itself, the advertisers use Ivanka Trump the self-proclaimed “mother, wife, and entrepreneur” to represent that women can and should be more than that. Throughout the ad there is a focus on Trump’s reforms that support women in the workforce and in the family.

This is also one of the few Trump ads that isn’t directly attacking Hilary Clinton. In those that do, ominous music, dim lighting, and horror film-esque effects are used to portray her as a terrible person whose sole purpose is to run the country into the ground. In “Motherhood” however, the advertisers employ bright lighting, beaming faces of women and children, and uplifting music to convey a happy and bright new world for women under Trump’s leadership.

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Built Environment Description: Georgia State Capital Building (BED1)

  By Kai Stephenson • September 22, 2016

Located several blocks from the southeast corner of downtown Atlanta, Georgia’s capital building by all means stands out amongst the buildings surrounding it.  Amidst the skyscrapers, highways, and structures, I can always see the bright golden dome from my dorm room on the 11th floor of the GA State University Commons. I picked this building for my built environment description because it was always so interesting to look at from afar and I had never actually gone there even though I’ve lived in Georgia almost my entire life. And now that it is a mere 15 minute walk from my dorm, I had no excuse not to go.

The design of the capital building demands attention. As I came closer and closer to the building, its dominance on the surrounding environment was becoming increasingly clearer. As I got closer and closer it became harder for me to look away from the huge golden dome. I noticed this effect taking place in the eyes of other pedestrians, who either came to a full stop to take pictures, or otherwise couldn’t detach their eyes from the structure.

The area surrounding the building is comprised of large green yards and trees provide a lot of shade. This area is somewhat like a public park and a history museum in one, with statues and other historical artifacts around every corner. I saw one woman taking advantage of this rare area of shade in the city and eating lunch under a huge tree.

The interior of the building is very spacious and defined. Everything I saw inside had a clear cut purpose for being there. The offices of Secretary of State and the Governor’s office were the first offices I saw, right next to the large wooden front door. I suppose this made these two officials seem more easily accessible to the public. The wide open atriums are strictly symmetrical and homogeneous. When I was there, at around 3:00 in the afternoon, most of the light in the building came from the huge windows lining the top of the walls. Thick white columns run from the first floor to the top, and the dark brown wooden doors of offices line the walls of each floor. Countless marble statues, busts and historical artifacts can be found anywhere in the building. Overall, the capital building gave off a sense that it was a place where Georgia’s history is concentrated and positively furthered through the work of the state government.

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Syllabus Quiz

  By Kai Stephenson • August 23, 2016

What are the major projects? In a bulleted list, provide links to the project descriptions for each of them.

How will your final grade be calculated?

We earn points with through completing major projects and extra credit. No points are subtracted. You get the points you earn.

What is the “submission form” and how do you use it? Embed the form below your answer (hint: Google “embed Google form” to find out how).

Where on the course website can you find an overview of what’s due and the readings for each unit?

What is the best way to see an overview of what’s due each week?

Go to Calendar tab and then weekly overview.

What is the attendance policy?

Earn points for coming to class and lose points for unexcused absences. Excused absences are limited to university-sponsored events where you are representing GSU in an official capacity, religious holidays, and legal obligations such as jury duty or military service days. Absences for all other reasons will result in a points deduction as outlined above. In the event of extended illness or family emergency, requests may be considered for individual exemption from the general attendance policy on a case by case basis.

What are the two ways you can lose points?

Unexcused absences and missed class prep assignments.

What are my office hours, and how do you make an appointment to see me outside of  class?

Office Hours: T/Th 9-11 am, and by appointment; by appointment via Skype or Google Hangout if that works better than an in-person conference

Contact: rwharton3@gsu.edu

How do you earn participation credit? Provide a link to the instructions/guidelines for participation.

Syllabus & Course Info

How many points can you earn by participating in or organizing a study group session?

25

How can you be assured of earning an “A” in this course?

Complete all of the major projects, miss no more than four class meetings, and accrue 2,800 points

What are the minimum requirements for earning a passing grade of “C”?

Complete all of the major projects, come to class prepared, and miss only four class meetings

What do you do if you’re not sure how to document your participation in order to earn points?

If you ever have questions about what kind of evidence you need to provide to document your participation and how to submit it, stop by during office hours or ask the question before or after class. You’ll earn points for the office hours visit, asking the question, and for finding a way to make the information available to the rest of your classmates.

What are the Unit 1 readings and which one would you like to annotate for Reading Annotation 1?

Thomas Carter and Elizabeth Collins Cromley, “Introduction,” from Invitation to Vernacular Architecture

James Deetz, “Parting Ways,” from In Small Things Forgotten: An Archaeology of Early American Life

Stephanie Fitzgerald, “The Cultural Work of a Mohegan Painted Basket,” from Early Native Literacies in New England: A Documentary and Critical Anthology