Possible Sources From the Library

While looking for a topic for an article on Philly cheese steaks, I found this one.  It does not focus entirely on the sandwich, rather it does state that you can get one anywhere in the US, which was one of my questions from class.  Why are there always Philly cheese steak restaurants outside of Philadelphia?
http://0-search.proquest.com.bianca.penlib.du.edu/docview/229335858

I thought that this article would help in my research as to why Philly cheese steak sandwiches are so popular.  It shows the importance it has to the city and why the sandwich is so good.
http://0-search.proquest.com.bianca.penlib.du.edu/docview/236826052

Spread P4

Kerry dePenaloza

Mr. Leake

Writ 1133

9 April 2013

P4

In Mary Ann O’Donnell’s article “The Cultural Politics of Eating in Shenzhen” she puts a lot of emphasis on the importance that food played in Communist China, especially for Shenzhen people.  The Shenzhen people are important workers in the Chinese community because they are “college-educated immigrants.”  Food was so important for these people because there were so many sacrifices done by them in order to develop the cities and industrialize towns. 

            In Sandra Cate’s article “Breaking Bread with a Spread” I found it very interesting how big of a role the spread plays in the lives of the prisoners.  The ability to create something for them creates a sense of freedom.  This ability to make the spread is really important for their well being. This freedom allows for prisoners to be calm because they are able to express creativity when creating the spread.  Also, the spread helps to bring prisoners together because they tend to eat the spread together.  Most importantly, without a doubt, the spread is better food then the food that they receive on a regular basis.  If they have the means, they will make the spread as often as they can.

            Sandra Cate and Mary Ann O’Donnell both relate the importance of food to different communities.  Cate shows the importance of spread to the prison community.  Now you may not think of a prison as a community, but it certainly is one.  Spread does so much for them and Cate does a great job of stressing that importance.  Just like Cate, O’Donnell certainly sows the importance of food in the Shenzhen community.  Food for them is something they hold dear to their hearts because it is essential for them.  They work so hard during the day that they need the nourishment that only food can provide. 

            For me, the most interesting and fascinating thing I learned was about the spread in prison.  This class is the only reason I now know spread exists.  The idea of it never really crossed my mind.  I can understand why prisoners enjoy having spread instead of the generic mundane food that is served in prison.  The freedom they get from expressing creativity and enjoying a good meal was really emphasized in Cate’s article.  It wasn’t just the spread that I found most interesting, but it was some of the recipes and how the prisoners go about obtaining the ingredients to concoct the perfect spread. 

Food Advertisements SE2

Kerry dePenaloza

Mr. Leake

Writ 1133

6 April 2013

Food Advertisements SE2

Advertisements are a part of our every day lives.  Whether we see them on TV, in a magazine, or hear them on the radio, you can not escape them.  The thing about these ads is that they are specifically designed for a certain audience, which helps to sell their product.  The advertising industry is a multi billion dollar industry and advertisers study what types of advertising is the most effective in getting their product sold.  These advertisers use ethos, logos, and pathos in order to help appeal to a certain audience.  Most ads use these rhetorical analysis methods in their advertisements.

An advertisement that was done by subway a few years ago shows these rhetorical analysis ideas.  The add shows a couple driving up to a fast food restaurant and ordering things like “thunder thighs” or “blubber” because subway wants to show that their food is healthier for you.  The fast food restaurant in the advertisement is bland, boring, and even the menu looks too simple.  This was done on purpose so as to show that the fast food is nothing special and when subway advertises their product, it is very colorful and happy.  This is a great example of the rhetorical analysis idea of logos simply because of the difference in the food.  Subway shows how healthy their food is when it is compared to fast food companies.

In this same advertisement, subway uses the rhetorical analysis idea of ethos towards the end.  They are advertising subway’s new fresh fit sides and drinks.  They show fresh fruit and milk when talking about this.  Then what makes the idea of ethos really stick out is when they say, “Subway’s new fresh fit meal fit into the American Heart Association’s approach to a healthy lifestyle.”  This simple statement gives the subway and their new fresh fit meals credibility.  Something as simple as this makes subway look so much better when compared to the fast food restaurant at the beginning.  It is clear that the advertising team for subway is reaching out to a person who eats on the go and wants something that is healthier then fast food.  To put it into broader terms, this advertisement is reaching out to the working class. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxqRg2Nohso

Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s are notorious for having advertisements with attractive women.  In the ad for their Memphis BBQ burger, the use of attractive women is obvious.  One thing about advertisement that has worked for a lot of people is the idea that sex sells.  Not only are they using attractive women in their ads, they are also using famous attractive people.  The use of a celebrity in an advertisement is one of the rhetorical analysis ideas.  They are using the idea of ethos and pathos in this particular advertisement.  The ethos comes from the two models that are cooking pork and burgers on a grill.  They get into a slight scuffle and end up combining a cheeseburger and pulled pork, which is the whole idea behind the burger.  Pathos comes in to play during this ad because both the girls in the ad seem to be having fun eating the new Memphis BBQ burger.  Also, two young guys in the background are showed having a good time watching these two women do what they do. 

This Memphis BBQ burger ad is focusing its attention on men for the most part.  They are probably directing the ad to men from the ages of 18-30 or so.  Men this age will easily be drawn to an advertisement with two beautiful women, grilling pork and burgers in skimpy cowgirl clothing.  Again, this ad is using sex to sell their product because it is simply the most effective advertisement tactic to attract the audience they want. 

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1krJqn3smbI

Based upon the appeals of these two advertisements, it is easy to say that food advertisements all play a part in our culture.  These ads are everywhere in our lives.  No matter what they are trying to sell, they have specific ways of reaching their desired audience.  For Hardees’ or Carl’s Jr. they use attractive women to get the attention of their male audience, while Subway uses the idea of healthy food and getting healthy food fast to appeal to their working class audience.  It seems that food companies will do whatever they can possibly to do make their main audience happy.  They value the customer and they value the way they attract their main audience to the point where ads are becoming more and more unique and prevalent. 

Freedman and Jurafsky P3

Kerry dePenaloza

Mr. Leake

Writing 1133

2 April, 2013

Freedman and Jurafsky P3

            In the article by Joshua Feedman and Dan Jurafsky, they explain the importance of food and they type of advertising that is used to sell it.  They focus on three different aspects of advertising categories, language, culture, and food.   While reading the article, it is clear that they believe advertising done with potato chips is directed toward many different socioeconomic classes due to the type of language that is used on the packaging.  One thing they explained was the fact that the nicer chip company used longer phrases on the bag, while the less expensive chip company used shorter, more simple phrases.  Another aspect of advertising that Freedman and Jurafsky focused on with the potato chips was the fact that the more expensive chips were healthier than the less expensive ones. 

            The most interesting thing I thought about this article that I learned was the language that was used by the chip companies.  The fact that I have never noticed the difference between the cheaper chips and the more expensive chips is funny.  After reading this I don’t think I will look at the chips the same way again.  It makes a lot of scene to me that certain chip companies would advertise a certain way.  For example, Lays seems to keep the words short and sweet and focus more on the flavor of the chip. 

            I can imagine this same type of advertising with beer companies.  For example, the cheaper, lighter beers use less words and focus more about the name of the beer, while the more expensive, heavier beers have a lot of words on the can that glorify the type of beer it is.  For example, Bud Light has a lot less words on the bottle, while say a Fat Tire bottle has an entire story on the side of it that explains how great the beer is.  I’m certain that many different things use this same type of advertising because it is such a simple and effective way to get a certain group of people to buy their product. 

SE1 Food

Kerry dePenaloza

Mr. Leake

Writing 1133

29 March 2013

Food is More Than Food

In the lives of many people, food has a major significance.  Food can be personally significant, culturally significant, socially significant, familial significant and ever geographically significant.  For my family and me, food has always played a large role in our every day lives. For one thing, my parents are strong believers in the family table.  We have a family dinner at least five times a week and there we talk about our day and enjoy each other’s company.  Family dinner will forever be a major part of my life because of the way I was raised.  My parents are both one of six and both grew up having family dinners throughout their childhood.  They have instilled in me the importance of having family dinners as often as possible.

            One dish in particular that I feel has played a significant role in my life is known simply as pasta with cream sauce.  This was no ordinary dish I may add.  This is the dish that was made for me when I was a young and picky eater.  My mom decided to add some cream and butter and cheese and make a nice cream sauce to go with pasta and peas.  This was my go to meal when I did not want the food that was prepared when I was little.  I still have it occasionally to this day and every time I do, I am immediately brought back to my younger years at my first home, sitting in on my favorite stool in my kitchen.  I have no doubt in my mind that this dish will continue to be a part of my life and hopefully the lives of my children.

            With Easter fast approaching, I am reminded of the lovely brunch that my family has every Easter after mass.  A delicious poached egg, thinly sliced honey baked ham on an open toasted English muffin, fresh brie cheese and topped with parsley.  It is a special meal that is only served in my house on Christmas and Easter.  It has a large cultural and familial significance for me.  It is such an unbelievable meal.  My mom has perfected the old recipe after watching my grandmother prepare this meal for her family on Christmas and Easter in past years.  This meal has been a part of my family for quite some time now and it will certainly continue to be a large part of Easter and Christmas brunch.  My older brother has begun to perfect the recipe and I too am on my way to perfection. 

            Recently, my grandmother on my mom’s side passed away suddenly.  It was a surprise to the entire family.  My mom’s side of the family is big, there are 3 aunts and 3 uncles and a boatload of cousins.  Having such a large family makes it hard to get everyone together in one place.  In the past, when we were all able to get together, my grandmother would make the best Irish corn beef and cabbage.  After her death, when we gathered together as a family, my mom and aunts made the famous Irish corn beef and cabbage for everyone in memory of my grandmother. Every time I have that meal, I will always be reminded of my loving grandmother.  I will be brought back to easier times and being with my big loving family. 

            Food is something that will never go away.  It will be here as long as we humans are here.  Food has been creating memories and bringing people together for ages.  In my family, food has a significant role in many aspects of our family life.  We have certain dishes to celebrate certain occasions, the old stand by when it come to being a picky eater, and meals that mean a lot to someone we love.  When families come together, food is around.  My family has many food lovers and we all bring something fun and delicious to the table.  I really enjoy and cherish the role that food has played in my life up to this point.  It brings me great joy to go see family members because I know that there will be some delicious meals coming my way.  Food is more then food in my family, its life and a way to stay together.