Chunk #2 (pg.77-150)

Messages in movies have greatly influenced teenagers over the years. Teen movies have centered their focus on the "popular crowd" to increase sales. Because these movies are mainly about the "in" teens, it pressures the teen audience to be like these characters. The biggest influence movies have is that it makes teens want to change their outer appearance. These movies are called the "make-over" films. The films include: how to become popular, what to wear, who to hang out with. It somewhat discourages their audience to just simply be themselves. Now days, teens think a "new" them is changing their outer appearance, such as a new dress, etc. These girls think their becoming their "true" selves, when in reality, their becoming what society wants them to be. The moral of the story isn't to be yourself, but rather someone else. Movies are being such a great influence that now even teenagers are looking to change themselves through surgery. Also they have placed a standard of the way teens bodies should be and their views of body image changes. No longer are teens comfortable with their bodies, but now are longing to become skinnier.

Vocabulary:
divest (pg. 103) - to take away or alienate
rhinoplasty (pg. 119) - plastic surgery of the nose

Rhetorical terms:
imagery- "The nerd, lean with a scraggly mop of blonde hair and buggy eyes," (pg. 78)
irony- "When Elle goes to Harvard Law School, however, she is an outcast -- because of the very qualities that made her so popular at CU." (pg. 79)

Discussion Questions:
Clarification- Do you think by placing brands on video games truly increases sales for those brands? If not, what do you think is a better way to advertise their products?
Application- If you ever came across a girl like Carolyn, (pg.113) what advise would you have for her? How could you help her change her mind about her wanting larger breast?

Quote:"Teenagers now alter their bodies extremely and proudly." (pg. 1150)

Branded pg.1 - 75 (Chunk 1)

In Alissa Quart’s book “Branded", she argues that teenagers of generation Y are easily influenced. Those influences include: magazines, movies, books, catalogs, parents, friends, and the internet. Since teenagers are so easily influenced, corporations advertise to attract which has the affect of people under twenty-five having the highest credit card debt. The author uses evidence such as: statistics, anecdotes, and interviews teenagers. Corporations are using teens for advice on how to advertise their product in order to appeal to other teenagers. These teen are called trend spotters. Magazines are also putting out surveys to use as tips to better their ads. Kids are being used as marketing tools. Teens are so caught up with brands that they view them like celebrities and also fail to see these corporations are using them for sales. If you’re not wearing certain brands your not considered “cool”; that is the mindset of teenagers of this society and time. Usually it’s the “not so pretty” or “not so thin” girls who try to stock up on the brands to feel accepted. Parents are also obsessed with brands and often shop at the same stores as their children. The author’s intent is to let it be known how corrupt the teenage mind is and hopefully finds a solution to help teens realize what is more important. Quart seems to have a teenage audience in mind but she also speaking to the parents and CEO of these corporations.

Vocabulary:
· Exacerbated (pg. 14)- annoyed
· Deputized (pg. 20) – appoint as deputy
· Weaned (pg. 21)- withdraw from a certain habit

Tone:
· serious
· informing

Rhetorical Terms:
· Rhetorical Question- “What do the advertising images of teens, breasts augmented and abs bared, do to teenagers?” (pg.13)
· Simile- “Top brands are like stars,” (pg.20)

Discussion Questions:
· Clarification- Why do you think the author refers to girl teenagers as oppose to the boys in generation Y? Do you think girls are more caught up in materialistic things? Why or why not?
· Application- Does what the author writes reflect you in any way? If yes, how?

Quotation:
“These youth marketers aim to sell their products. And they do so even if it means playing on kids’ fears of being social outcasts or physically unappealing.” (pg. 10)