What if...?

...Kane Enterprises Co. had a Twitter account?!

#1: Kane & Co. presents: What makes students drink? (Link)
#2: Are YOU prepared for the consequences?! (Link)
#3: Kane & Co. presents: "MIPs are NOT for me!" (Link)
#4: What do YOU think? WE WANT YOU to take our quick and life-fulfilling survey here...! (Link)
#5: Kane & Co. presents: Mind blowing revelations! (Link)

Testing "Just Us Girls" On My Roommate

    Rachel's reactions to this paper both confirmed my prior suspicions about this paper and raised new ideas: the story is more interesting than the way it was written, and, according to her, is more hype than music journalism. Here is a summary of what she told me throughout and after the reading.

    When asked to summarize her experience, she was first confused but complied. "I was enjoying [the reading], and Katie kept telling me to talk. So I did to make her quiet. Through talking, I really understood most of the article by saying it aloud." The fact that she did not grasp most of this article until forced to by an unnatural (to the reading process) interruption is troubling; however, people are asked to summarize these kinds of articles to their friends all the time. To Rachel, this article was about "the journey of Owens and his journey from a cult to using music to adapt and find his place in the world"; however she noted that she wished to hear more about this personal transition that was in the article.

    When asked to reply to the article in general, Rachel stated that the author (who she wrongly assumed was a male) was "kind of right and kind of wrong": "he" was right because the background story of Girls is the force behind the music, but it seemed forced, biased, and strayed too far from the actual music. She noted - rightly so, I believe - that there "could be better bands with less interesting backgrounds".

    A few particular quotes from Owens were what resonated with Rachel, as noted below:

    "'It's like, everybody has a band... It's this thing people do because they think they're supposed to do it... It's not about that for me... It's about finding a reason to be alive.'" Rachel stated: "I agree with him completely."

    The lyrics to "Lust For Life", sampled in the article, also interested Rachel: "the disarming, ingenuous lyrics ('I wish I had a father... I wish I had a pizza and a bottle of wine') backed by a bright guitar strum and doo-wop harmonies, set the tone for the dozen songs he... produced". She said it made her realize she'd heard this song (which I've played multiple times in our room quite loudly) and gave a new dimension to the lyrics she already knew.

   My theory that the subject of the article is the only reason it's interesting is proven here: nearly everything she liked was quoted from Owens himself and not the narration. Though she claims that she enjoyed the article, her idea of hype and bias is right on the money for this article. It almost makes an interesting read but fails to reach beyond the big, bad hype machine.

Just Us Girls: Spin Magazine, October 2009

In my search for a more text-based piece to work on, which took place primarily through the internet, I found myself distracted by every possible website or article within my reach: I wasted time on social sites (naughty), researched the long-term effects of caffeine (horrific), and skimmed music blogs for what I liked (sad). However, while I was subscribing to one of, in my opinion, the best music magazines published today, Spin Magazine, it struck me that it might be useful to choose projects that I was actually interested in for this class. I was going to do one of their articles on the Strokes back in 2006 on a personal preference but it wasn't available online; once I was done shouting at my computer, I decided to upload the latest issue of Spin and look for something that looked good.

The result, my choice, is a feature on highly-hyped California band Girls and the disturbing life story of its creator Christopher Owens, which is linked below:

Click images for a larger view

Generally, this is a good article in the usual music journalism format: it tells the tale of the band through a brief interview experience while praising the album and giving the dirty gossip about the artists. Spin Magazine is usually honest to the music it covers, however, so it's less harsh (see: NME Magazine, any article, probably) on Girls in this issue.

Moment By Moment, Section By Section

The front picture is captivating: the bandmates pictures, Owens and White, hold a certain stoicism in their expressions that pull me as a reader to this article. The title, "Just Us Girls", lies in direct contrast to the photograph and is never actually referred to in the article's text. It does, however, resonate with me and sticks in my mind for a very long time. Along with the subtitle, which mentions Owens's struggle with a "religious cult and years of druggy disarray", the front to this story is intriguing and well managed.

The text runs in the following order: a brief quote and memory from the interview, along with a brief description of Owens and his tortured past, make up the introduction; the body text speaks of his childhood, musical influences, friendly influences, drug years, and musical ambition; the conclusion again recalls the interview with another memorable quote. This format is common in this type of journalism and quite effective - however, it lacks innovation and originality. It reads like a dry biography to someone who is used to reading music magazines - which, ideally, a subscriber would be. Otherwise this is a good article with memorable, colorful descriptions and quotes, such as the following examples.

Mostly attractive are the quotes from Owens instead of the writer of the article:

Owens:

• “[Music is] about finding a reason to be alive’.”
• Owens on escaping the cult he was raised in: “You literally grow up in a bubble... It’s a total mystery.”
• “I want to be like John Lennon--an important songwriter.”
• “Yeah, life sucks, but there’s an alternative... Hang out with your friends. Have a good time."

Everdell, the writer:

• The song descriptions are kind and rich: “‘Hellhole Ratrace’, the doleful, slow-building, heartbreakingly honest paean to simple pleasures”; “the disarming, ingenuous lyrics [of “Lust for Life”].
• “When he speaks passionately, you believe every word.”

The subject of the article is what makes this piece, not the writing; visually, the pictures are great and nostalgic, and the text is reasonably arranged. If I were to rate this article on a scale of one to ten, I would give it a six and a half.

Reader Response

(CLICK IMAGES BELOW TO VIEW)

Front:

Back:

1. This is a flyer for the "Dimensions" art show that's taking over the LookOut! Gallery all month. Its purpose is to attract RCAH students - to whom I'm guessing these ads were somewhat exclusively distributed - to this art show, which featured the work of both instructors and students.

2. The format of the front side is simple and catchy: the show title is sandwiched between two representations of comic art and ceramic sculpture, which are both featured in the show. On the back is a brief description of the show, when it's displayed and where it's at. (There's also my roommate's mailing address, which I decided to leave on for fun.) The flyer is printed on a card stock type of paper, which serves better than paper and the sturdier, more common card type (this is thinner). The size is perfect for the amount of information related - it's as wide as regular paper but as tall as one's thumb - and does not waste the reader's space or time. It is also in black and white, which serves as a basic and uncomplicated visual; however, a colored title or image on the front side would make the ad more grabbing. Also an issue is the title on the front - "dimensions" in a low-tech font with wide spacing and no capitalization. If a clearer, smoother font were chosen and possibly made bold or in color, it would be easier to the eye; the way it is presented is thin and almost awkward in format.

3. This text, among many, many other texts and advertisements and flyers was placed into my mailbox by the front desk. There is no postage so I'm assuming that they do this as a favor to the RCAH; this also means that possibly all Snyder/Phillips residents got this, not just RCAH. This is a wide advantage for those who have it, as it reaches an entire complex of students who are most likely very interested in the arts (and, yes, humanities). Unfortunately this also means that it has a ninety-nine-point-nine percent chance of being discarded as junk mail, because we students get so much of it that there's not a lot of tolerance for that sort anymore. Ultimately, though, I'd say it's more advantageous than not - the more you reach, the more likely you won't be thrown away.

4. As a whole I think this is a successful promotion for a local event and was probably pretty responsible for notifying the building of it. My center of gravity is no crap advertising: after all the flair and trickery of the busy, ill-designed ads constantly being shoved up my nose every day, an ad that is in black and white and just tells me what I need to know is so welcome that I might actually go to this event (hint: I already have). I am by no means obsessed with advertisements, flyers and promotions - though this class might push me in that direction - but I find myself unexpectedly angry at stupid, cheap or flashy advertisements that I see much too often around here. Remember that Pizza Hut flyer from last week? Either I have a growing anger control issue or this is a strong indicator that the average reader is sick of reading ads and something simple - something like this particular flyer - is what's going to work.

Again, the only qualms I have with this promotional flyer is the title font on the front and, I suppose, the font on the rest of the document (which is the same). This is a Courier-New-like font and is not appealing or easy to read at all. It repels me slightly; if I weren't required to tolerate it, I just might skim it and throw it away. One must keep in mind, however, that not all readers are as temperamental as myself when it comes to annoying advertising.

5. My moment to moment encounter with this text was as follows:

I checked the mail with my roommate and this was, along with some other stupid and pointless flyer, the only thing in it. There was of course a copy for both my roommate and I - which was quite the waste, might I add - and the first thing I did was scoff and throw both ads out. (Someone in this situation forgot all about her writing class. Whoops.) Rachel rolled her eyes at me for what was probably the fiftieth time that day and said after a quick skim that she was going to attend the event; I rolled my eyes back (but better) and said that I wasn't. A week or two later, I got this assignment and scrambled for a flyer; this one caught my eye and I actually ended up checking it out, accompanied by actual, mind-churning, action-inducing interest. I hope that my (now discarded!) attitude toward all ads is rare.

6. Assuming that the front is viewed first, the eye goes immediately to the small pictures on the left and right; the text in the middle is secondary, which is all right if the goal is to catch attention instead of interest. This flyer is unique in its double-sided format, which is a huge risk: if the reader is not interested, they will not flip over the ad and read the important information. Hopefully they are, hopefully they do! The opposite side is a bit more awkward in placement: the eye is drawn first to the RCAH logo in the bottom right corner and then to the mailing tag above it (ego always wins!); then, if interest is still intact, one will read the rest of the information from top to bottom, skipping around to the bold names and then absorbing the rest.

7. The key idea of this text is to attract and inform the reader very quickly: there is an art show at the LookOut! Gallery featuring comic and ceramic art, among other presentations; it runs for the majority of September at the annotated dates and is hosted by the RCAH. It is all put simply and effectively - too many ads lose their readers in flashy graphics and distracting, unnecessary text.

8. The usual questions a reader would have - what, where, when - are answered immediately on the back side. I honestly can't think of any other questions that might arise - the flyer takes care of them all!

9. My only expectation of this flyer was that it told me what I needed to know and did not waste my time with the annoying, all-too-common riff-raff that most ads drown in: my expectation was fulfilled. A reader might expect some kind of explanation of the show if they are unfamiliar with this type of event - for example, why it's showing and what it's like. Since most of this ad's readers are RCAH-ers, however, this is not that great a concern.

10. As stated before, this text assumes that the reader knows the general format of an art show; it also requires awareness of the location of this gallery. Again, as this flyer was probably handed out to mostly Snyder/Phillips residents, this will not be a problem. Personally, I had no issues with this information at all.

11. This flyer is so brief and straightforward that one does not really imagine a writer or voice unless they really try to. When forced, I suppose it was someone working for the RCAH - possibly a student, a faculty member or one of the leading artists themselves. The text itself has absolutely no personality - it is just facts and information and nothing else. This impersonal take might not attract certain parties, but again the simplicity is what the focus is upon and therefore it is not that big of a harm.

12. I imagine that the writer views the reader as a student who probably does not need flash in the format; it is not close but rather at a safe distance, leaving all interest up to the reader. Though it is good with the simple format, this may not catch as many readers as other ads might.

13. On the front side, the pictures on each side are in the foreground and the text between them is somewhat fuzzy and very much part of the background. The back side leaves a lot of white space, which is very strange for the center of the text. It draws the eye to the four corners of the ad, a clever and effective method for readers. There is no distraction or background on this side - it is all information and no fluff.

Altogether this is a very effective advertisement: it did not annoy this reader but kept things brief and casual. I'm going to keep this one for future reference.

Reader Response Sheet

Speech & Debate Volunteer Flyer

^ Click to view


1. The purpose of this document is to inform interested parties about the need for volunteers in the Lansing school system's debate program as well as the benefits and details of involvement. Its goal is also to interest the reader to the point of action, the best being intrigue and the worst being mild curiosity. Presented in plain text format with a single graphic in the upper left corner, it is straightforward and targeted for the reader whose attention is already fixated on the subject. It is a casual flyer targeted at those with prior interest in debate and speech activities and makes little deviation from this topic, suggesting that it is intended for serious inquiries only.

2. The flyer's format is simple and direct: black text in common font lays on regular white paper; the text is arranged by "what", "why", "what's involved", and "contact", save for a brief description under the title, which is in larger font; a brightly colored cartoon is at the top as an aesthetic supplement.

This format is ideal for the concerned, educated individual because it presents the facts with little distraction or graphic representation. Since most debaters are quite used to large masses of text, this truly is the most effective way to reach such an audience. However, since other parties should and are targeted, this can be a disastrous disadvantage as well. Those unacquainted with debate and speech or not initially interested in the topic will not be as willing to read the somewhat uninteresting mass of uncolored, unaesthetic text. It fails to grab the attention of the passing reader but is sufficient to inform those who are the most likely to participate; its exclusivity is more of a hindrance than a help, in my opinion.

3. This flyer was handed to me at the RCAH resource fair by Professor Batt, the organizer of this effort. This was a positive addition to the flyer because, again, having prior interest and and debate education, the one-on-one conversation with Prof. Batt was the most captivating part of the experience. Conversing with him and getting a broader description of the program was better than the flyer itself, though the details are explained more thoroughly with it.

4. My overall impression of this flyer was that it interested me personally by bringing attention with something I have a relationship with, debate and speech. The only reason I read it was because I was slightly interested in this opportunity; I signed up before reading the flyer but the information was essential to my participation. Besides this interest in debate, I particularly enjoyed the gold cartoon in the corner - it is attractive but not distracting. The flyer's format is exhausting in its length and dry material, even for an interested reader.

5. Here is my moment-to-moment thought process:

I'd skimmed it but until working on this I had not sat down and read it closely. When I did, I thought: "I just love that little gold guy... The title is too long. I like the what-why-how format. There are some grammatical issues in this, but it's a casual flyer, so it's fine. The personal style of writing is a nice touch - it seems like Shawn Batt really wants to interact with volunteers and do some good in the community. The voice sounds honest and open. This is pretty long, though. Only people who want to read this are going to read it..." At this point, I skimmed it again, judged it, and began this assignment.

6. My eye first went to the gold cartoon, then to the what-why-how-contact subtitles. At that point I forced my attention to the title and description at the top and worked my way downward.

7. The basic message of this text is that there is a program for speech in debate in the Lansing school system and there's a need for volunteers in the program. Basically, one would work with students in the greater Lansing area by attending, coaching or judging debate tournaments. It explains the benefits this will provide to the students in their quest for higher education and how RCAH students can take a credited class for this. There is contact information at the bottom to express any interest in the program.

8. My main question was how to contact Prof. Batt if I was interested. This was answered at the bottom under "Contact".

9. I expected to be informed in more detail about this program, such as what exactly I would be doing and where it would happen. This was partially answered throughout each section, but it never said in what setting or with whom. It did not specify how I would go to wherever I had to go and how many hours I would have to contribute.

10. The text assumes that the reader is interested in the topic already; this is obvious because it does not try to captivate an unwilling audience. One would have to understand what debate and speech entail to know enough to want to join.

11. The personality in this flyer comes off as casual and personal, as though the author is happy to help volunteers and those interested. There are phrases that indicate this ("it IS fun"; "even if you are starting..."; "if you are interested..."; etc.) and the way it was distributed (personally) forms an open and inviting experience.

12. The writer is very inviting throughout - especially at the end when contact information is displayed and also when he speaks of knowledge and communication. It gives off a sense of helpfulness and warmth, and the opportunity seems welcoming.

13. The text is the unattractive center of the 'shot': it is the most important and necessary visual but is definitely not alluring at all. The writer seems to move in under the 'why' section, which is passionate and honest in its structure. The rest is a bit fuzzy and broad, though very informative. The golden cartoon is definitely in the foreground, which, depending on the writer's goal, could be a positive or negative effect.

Michael Jackson article on Slate

I was checking Slate.com for articles (shortly before I realized that I have enough to read) and saw the following - I guess you'd call it a headline - that caught my eye. It's simple and snags the reader, so I'll post it here:

(Sorry for the size, I'm trying to fix it. It reads:

"I TRIED PROPOFOL

And I think I know why Michael Jackson was really taking it.")

Hello - Introduction Time!

Hello - I suppose reading top to bottom you might have guessed who I am, but in the case that you're strange, my name is Katie Kane.

I'm from Cadillac, a small community two hours north of here that, surprisingly, has its own Wikipedia page. The city's population is almost one fourth of that of Michigan State University: there are no bus stops, parking meters or normal-looking taxis there. Actually, the only thing that has ever happened there was the famous (to some) visit from popular folk group "KISS" in the '70s:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a place like Cadillac springs thought, creativity, superfluous sarcasm, and general insanity. Here are my interests: I like to listen to music, I love to sleep, and I love Diet Coke. It's difficult to say much more than that because we've all changed our lifestyles completely in the past month. And, hopefully I am not alone in this - I, personally, have a lot of soul-searching to do while I'm here. Not the cheesy Barry Manilow kind - more, hopefully, of a dignified species.

Writing/Technological Experience

My background in writing is less defined in extracurriculars than some, but I can safely admit that English was by far my strongest subject in high school. I took three years of honors english, an AP course and received a 4 on the exam. This doesn't say much, though - but I'm not sure how else to describe it! I loved english class, and hope that this writing class will be no different.

As for technology, I have a working knowledge of both Macs and PCs, as well as a few blogging websites (this included) and other user-operated sites around the internet. My prowess ends at HTML and programming, though, so I doubt I'd be much use there.

What else should you know?

Until this year I played violin in several community orchestras and was an active participant in the Cadillac String Association. Also, the one thing I obsess about more than anything else on the planet is a band called The Strokes:

If you're feeling curious, would like to know their entire discography or middle names, please contact me. I consider myself an expert.

That's all for now! It's nice to join the RCAH blogosphere!