Project Diary 3, Logo

These are some logo experimentations for the project. Done by Allison Papak.

Project Diary 2, Interviews

I asked some of the "quarantined" students, how their experiences were being contained in the Appleton dorm. I pretty much got the same responses all around. 

______________________________________________

Me: I'd like to hear about your experience "having Swine Flu" and how the school reacted?

"S": Getting shoved into Appleton kind of sucked. They expected us to stay in there for 5-6 days, and they never came to check up on us or anything. They just had RA's bring us really shitty food 3 times a day, 2 times a day on weekends. The RAs didnt always wake us up for breakfast either, so sometimes the food would be bad by the time I woke up. I don't even know if I had Swine Flu, the test actually came back negative, but Student Life freaked out when they heard I had a fever and they called my roomate to get to me. :/ I think they were way overreacting.

"M": Yeah I was in there while "S" was in there and she basically summed up the experience. It sucked. My time spent in Appleton was definitely one of the worst times of my life. I felt it was inhumane. Despite the fact that statistics show after 2 days on Tamiflu and fever/cough free you are able to go back to your daily life, Student Life made us stay in there for the full dosage of Tamiflu and 24hrs after that to make sure the fever didn't return. I for one never had a fever and still had to stay for the extra 24hrs. I tested negative for it as well, but the doctor still put me on Tamiflu and felt I probably had it. In my experience, it was just like the regular flu. However, my brother tested positive for Swine Flu, and he was extremely ill. In and out of the ER never being able to keep things down. So I do know in some cases it seems to be worse than the normal flu.

"M2": To begin with I was just sick and had a fever of 99.2. So I was taken to the clinic and there I was tested for the flu and it was negative. But since I had the symptoms of it I was given the medication Tamiflu. When you're on that medication the school automatically places you in Appelton, which is really boring and theres absolutely nothing to do. Your supposed to stay in Appleton for a week. Basically the medication I had had 10 pills, 2 per day and so after day 5 you need to stay in Appleton for another 24hrs to make sure you still don't have a fever and then you can leave. But the doctor has told me that once my temperature goes back to normal one night and the next day its back to normal than that means I'm well enough to be able to go out and such... but the school likes to imply extra additional rules. 

In appleton the rooms are pretty big and empty. You need to bring your own bedsheet and pillowcase and such. The RA's bring you food everyday which sucked because it wasn't that good. They don't get you anything to drink but a cup of water with every meal. Although there was a water fixture thing in the bathroom where you could refill your cup.

One time me and the other girls there requested some games, so the RA brought us some cards and board games, and that was probably the only fun I had.

"C": I mean, people die every year from the normal flu. It's just because no human is immune to this strain that it's a big deal, which of course results in more deaths that normal.
I agree that it's being hyped up, but we are in a "state of emergency" with it. I still think people (especially the school) are overreacting. I never had it, but if I do get sick. I'm NOT going to tell the school. I can handle it myself, getting to a doctor and not going to class and informing my teachers. A doctors note should suffice. Why can't I just stay in my room? The last place I want to be is around people who are as sick or more sick than I am (possibly with different viruses), and being left crappy commons food I gave up on eating long ago (not to mention one of my roommates got Salmonella from eating there).

Project Diary 1

For the AH452 Final Propaganda Campaign, I am doing a satire on Swine Flu/H1N1. Specifically on how Ringling College of Art and Design treats it’s students who may or may not have Swine Flu. Even when the student has a normal flu, Ringling College takes no risks, and puts them in “quarantine” This quarantine is the Appleton Dorm. While in this dorm, the student is not allowed to leave, food from the cafeteria is brought to them, as in, left outside their door to sit there until the “infected student” realizes it’s there, etc. Even with an “a-okay” from the doctor to get back to class, Ringling did not allow these select students to return to their normal dorm/daily routine for a few more days, as an extra precaution. It seems Ringling has authority over doctors. I have asked several of these quarantined students about their experiences, and I got around the same response overall: It was a horrible way to treat the students.

Who is your audience? What is their age level? What kind of knowledge does your audience have?

            The audience would be the Ringling officials that set up this quarantine system, but there is also another audience, the students who have been cooped up in the quarantine dorm. The Ringling official audience would be adults. I understand that they have knowledge of swine flu, and I understand that they are taking precautions, but these precautions might be a bit drastic. The Quarantined Students are college age, with a basic knowledge of swine flu. However, these students have a knowledge that the Ringling Officials do not have, the students know how they feel. They also know what their doctors have said, whether it was that they definitely had H1N1, or that they had the normal flu, and didn’t need to be quarantined.

What do you want your audience to think, learn, or believe? What are the most important issues?

            I want the audience to think of a better way to take precautions against H1N1, or more “student friendly”, compassionate way. I want them to learn the difference between H1N1, and the normal influenza, and how to treat both. I want the Ringling Officials to believe the doctors who have said these students are okay, and allow these students who are not infected to return to their normal lives. The most important issue is for Ringling to allow those who are not infected to go on with their normal routine, and not be confined and “locked away” when they don’t need to be.

What are they most likely to care about? What do they need/want? What do they dislike?

            It’s understandable that Ringling College, it’s officials, and it’s students’ care most about their health and safety. Nobody wants or likes to get sick, especially when the potential risk of H1N1. They need proof that someone has H1N1, or that someone is healthy, or has the regular influenza. The Ringling officials dislike taking risks, risking any sick student to possibly infect other students with H1N1. Quarantined Ringling students dislike being hidden away when some of them feel fine, or were proclaimed H1N1-free by their doctors.

How might you organize your propaganda campaign to take advantage of these desires and/or prejudices?

            A great way to take advantage of these desires and needs is to get testimonials from those who were infected with H1N1, those who were quarantined even though they had influenza, and the Ringling Officials. I believe it’s very important to get everyone’s side. To make sure you hear from everyone before stating an opinion. Knowing where everyone is coming from will give each audience better insight. It will make coming up with a solution easier. If everyone works together to find a common ground, and learn to be sympathetic to each other’s needs, a solution can be made to make the quarantining of those infected with H1N1 less frustrating.

How might you organize your propaganda campaign to overcome possible opposing arguments?

            The propaganda campaign will be sympathetic and understanding to what the Ringling officials are trying to do. We know that they are just taking precautions; they don’t want to risk an outbreak at school. We are simply proposing a stronger trust in the doctors who have diagnosed students H1N1-free, as well as treating the students who do have it in a more friendly manner. We understand that you don’t want their infection spreading, but there must be a way to treat them better besides locking them away, leaving their food outside their door, etc.

What are the best ways to reach this audience?

            I believe that posters are the best way to reach the audiences. Posters can contain powerful visuals. Visual metaphors can really show how demeaning the treatment of these students is. Relating the situation, to a more intimate situation can be very powerful. The same concept can be applied to film as well. Showing a situation very similar to this, but changing around elements, making it hit closer to home for the Ringling officials may make them think about the way they quarantine these students.

Week 10

The 2008, "godzilla-like" movie Cloverfield had a great way of promoting itself through Viral Marketing. The whole movie was to be a big secret until released. Even when they were filming in Manhattan, they told the citizens that it was for an entirely different movie, they didn't leak the real title. Another big (probably the biggest) reason people got hyped up about Cloverfield is because nobody knew what the monster in the movie looked like. Tons of concept art was made from speculation of what the monster could be. There was even some concept art that hyped itself up so much to be authentic concept art of the movie. There were so many other ways Cloverfield used viral marketing to advertise itself, without exposing the gist of the story, and it worked. It targeted teens and young adults, and I feel it worked. I know when I went to the midnight showing it was completely packed.

Week 9

This is the new Levi's Jeans commercial that has been airing on television recently. I feel this commercial is a perfect example of Bandwagon Jumping. Levi's Jeans' are producing several of these "Go Forth" advertisements. The audience is obviously the age group portrayed in this commercial. This age group is also seen in their other "Go Forth" advertisements. To me, Levi's Jeans' is trying to show that they support being progressive and standing up for what you believe in. I don't really understand how buying their jeans will aid you in "going forth" with your goals or whatever you stand for... but obviously they think it'll get people of my age to be their customers.

Week 8

This video has been deemed the "best public service ad for breast cancer ever", due to it's intense Appeal to Desire. This video does a fantastic job of keeping everyone's attention, and the style of this service announcement makes the message/statistic near the end of the video just as memorable. The leading lady in this ad is actually a host on MTV, she produced this video after her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. The target audience for this public service announcement is everyone. I feel that it especially aims at the college age of both genders. Not many people know that breast cancer affects women as young as 20, and that's a big deal. 

Week 7 - World War I

Throughout the entirety of World War I, the Allied powers marked Germany and the other Central powers with offensive and exaggerated images and ideas. Some propaganda relentlessly attacked the German army, saying that even their nurses or nuns were cruel and unfeeling. Much of the propaganda centering around the Germans was exaggerated greatly, but every poster, poem, or lyric had some basis of truth behind it, in that Germany craved power and dictatorship more than any other country during the war. This poster is showing the ruthlessness and cruelty associated with the Germans. A wounded soldier, near death, isn't even allowed a sip of water. That's how cruel the Germans are, and this poster wants everyone to know it.