The Amazingly Lame Crocodile

Crocodiles are majestic, powerful, and amazing creatures.The tilt of the crocodile’s head when posed to come out of the water irrefutably trumpets its majestic nature. Historically crocodiles have been associated with royalty; I can almost see the crown that should be sitting atop its smooth head. With the eyes looking confidently out over the surrounding land, the royalty of the crocodile is irrefutable. The crocodile pushes itself out of the clear water using the power of its thick hind legs. The front legs support the massive upper body easily as the crocodile shows its long, sharp teeth. The sharp, scaly spines on its back subtly indicate that nothing can ruffle this crocodile’s proverbial feathers. Without fear, the crocodile displays its beautiful chest to the world, saying once and for all, “I am amazing.” Amazing is a criminally overused adjective in the English language, but there is no better word to describe a crocodile.
Crocodiles are ridiculous looking, silly, and lame creatures. When the crocodile pushes up on its thin scaly legs, it looks like nothing more than a ridiculously oversized, garden lizard sunning itself. It’s like it the crocodile thinks no one can see the struggle it has just holding half of its body up, never mind the rest of the body that just drags along the ground. Its beady eyes sit oddly on top of its funnily-shaped head, looking around the beach for any kind of cowardly retreat. The silly spines on its back do not even help it fight; they are just there to protect its sorry excuse for a cold-blooded body. At any moment, the crocodile is going to flop back onto that soft, carelessly scaled, and nearly translucent belly. This lame crocodile is going to go lay in the sun for hours doing nothing, trying to warm up enough to be able to do something, anything. If I did not know better I would call this crocodile an alligator, and its mouth is already closed as if it has already given up.

Visual Rhetoric: Bread Ad

Picture taken near where I lived in Sarigurren, Pamplona, Spain in front of a Panderia (Bread shop)
Translation of phrase: Always with you

The bread ad offers a persuasive argument for repeat buyers promising to be “always with you”, suggesting that their mission is to offer sincere, reliable service to everyone. Through their non-flashy poster, the ad draws in everyone through the use of white space as a means to be transparent and show that providing you bread is their only concern. Centered in the top of the poster is the word siempre (always) in bold red print emphasizing the continuity and consistency of the company providing the bread. Under the word siempre is the end of the phrase con usted (with you) which is seen in simple black print and also in a simple sans serif font indicating the simplicity and with the simplicity, sincerity of the ad. Under the simple title lies the top of a baguette loaf cut perfectly and sprinkled lightly with flour which informs the casual observer exactly what the ad is for: bread. Without this simple picture, or with more than the simple picture, the ad loses its very nature of being powerful because of its simplicity.

The simple store ad for the small local store contrasts greatly with the large chain stores and their typically flashy and more complex ads, giving the idea that the small family store has a more sincere business compared to the larger chain stores that are in the business only to make the largest profit.

The use of the singular formal you (usted) indicates that the store is committed to you individually and the formal offers a respect that many people in Spain feel is dying out. It is always better, when in doubt, to go with the formal as to not offend when possible. I particularly enjoy investigating other languages, especially romantic languages, because they have two forms of you: formal and informal. To me, being from the US where we only have one form of you (though some people count ya’ll as another form of you) it is difficult for me to understand when to use each of the forms. The one used in this ad (usted) is the formal singular you, which indicates that this ad is really for anyone because the company did not assume any familiarity by using the informal form (tu). The audience of this ad is everyone. Even if you cannot read, the large loaf of bread indicates that this is a bread shop (panderia).

Less is more. There are few bright colors and no louds pictures to draw the passerby to the ad. In today’s ad campaigning it has gotten to the point where we often ignore bright, loud ads because we see them so much. With the white background, 3 words, and simple picture, no study of the ad is needed to understand the message, which is perfect if you are just riding by on the bus or in a car or even jogging by.

I choose this ad for many reasons, but mostly because I spent so much time looking at it. I saw this ad everyday while in Spain. While waiting for the bus, I would stare at this ad across the road. The first day that I saw it I literally laughed out loud. “Always with you” sounded like a creeper ad. But as the days went on, I would contemplate the ad more and more, and then, when I saw this project, it was a great opportunity to investigate the ad further and attempt to figure out why it is effective and what it really means. 

Introduction

 At the beach in San Sebastian, Spain

In front of the Olympic Stadium 1992 in Barcelona, Spain

My name is Grace Arney, and I just got back yesterday from studying in Spain for five weeks where I studied Spanish and Food Science. I was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. I lived in Germany for two years and went to Kindergarten there. Next I moved Raleigh, North Carolina and attended first through fifth grades at a small Montessori school. Then for sixth through twelve grades, I lived in Huntsville, Alabama and went to a small private school (graduating with 63 students). My parents and younger brother still live in Huntsville, Alabama, and that is where I am now and for the rest of the summer.  

At Clemson, I have just finished my freshman year studying Food Science and Technology and I am also working on a Spanish Minor (because I really like Spanish). With my Food Science degree I hope to go into product development, or development of new foods and food products.

I really like Clemson; I loved my first year there and did not want to leave at either break. I am looking forward to going back. There is something fun about living with all your friends less than a 10 minute walk away and without your parents. Other things I like, just off the top of my head, include warm sunny days, the beach (where I will be next week), purple, cooking, watching movies, and hanging out with friends. I really enjoyed the month plus I spent in Spain learning about Spanish and food. Those topics are two of my favorite things to study and I was able to spend five weeks in Spain studying them.

I try not to spend much time thinking about what I hate, mostly because that thought line is very negative. However, there are many things that I hate. A large portion of things I hate include foods, including but not limited to: ground meat, shell fish, catsup, mustard, mayonnaise, boiled white asparagus (a discovery while in Spain), most soup, anise, liquorish, fennel, celery, cumin, pepper, and anything spicy. And on top of my picky eating, I am also gluten intolerant, which is not something I hate, but it definitely limits my food choices. Related to gluten intolerance, I hate when people who know I am gluten intolerance, repeatedly offer me foods with gluten in them. I am never sure if they honestly forgot five times in a row, are being passive aggressive, or even just mean. Also, I hate packing to go home from college, because that means I am leaving college. I was packed and ready to go to college a week early, but I packed to move out the night before.

I hope this post has introduced me well and accurately. I like talking about myself so this post will probably be the easiest for me. I am looking forward to this class online. It is my first online class and I am excited to see how it goes.