Static Image-Green Marketing

Genre, Features, Purpose, and Audience

This image is a photograph that comes from a company called, Norquest Bags, which sells different types of reusable shopping bags. The photograph is in color, but it seems like a digital technique of some kind was applied to make the image appear faded. It has a smaller format because it is located on the home page of the company’s website. There is a little boy’s face in the foreground, and white space in the background. The image is from an up-close perspective. The purpose of the image is to make the viewer feel compassion for the little boy because he looks sad. Written words next to the image suggest what the little boy wants from his viewer. The intended audience is non-expert adults who will spend at least some time examining the image. Initially, non-experts would probably be more drawn to the little boy’s emotions than the technical terms next to him.

Meaning

The faded image of the little boy’s face in combination with the words “green marketing” in a bold font and all capital letters catches the viewer’s attention because of the contrast between the two. Only when the viewer finally stumbles upon the quote, can the big picture can be seen. The little boy plays the role of a green businessman in a sense. Given the genuinely sad and innocent face the average green businessman appears to be sincere, but his marketing efforts will have little impact on sales if there are consumers who are not interested in green products or initiatives. 

http://www.badlani.com/blog/2007/02/21/effective-green-marketing-needs-engagement-not-evangelism/

"Why Businesses Should Commit to Environmental Initiatives"

In my paper, I will try to make the claim that big businesses do have something to gain from using “green” initiatives in their production or distribution processes. While this article is very closely related to my topic, it calls for a “commit[ment]” from businesses and I am simply asking for businesses to consider my stance.

I first found this article as a PDF on Google, and I noticed that all of the authors had some relation to a company called “Tefen”. After doing some research about the company, I realized that this article came from a business management magazine called The Tefen Tribune. The article is lengthy and uses technical terms, but the biggest reason I think it is scholarly is because it uses a visual aid, which is paired with a description, to link a critic’s viewpoint to the viewpoint of the authors.

After the fall of communism in Romania, the country joined the European Union and was expected to quickly comply with strict environmental regulations. The authors explain that it was easier for big businesses (as opposed to small businesses) to implement high environmental standards of protection because they could come up with investments more easily.

The increase in energy costs is encouraging people to invest in manufacturing technologies, so companies get funding for these projects more quickly.

Misrepresentation of products and competitors are two issues in society that can make or break a company.

I think that this article does convey a successful rhetorical message because of the authors’ use of pathos.  The last section of the article emphasizes the words “bond” and “admiration” when discussing employee relationships within a company and a company’s relationship with its consumers. The authors make the reader feel like the use of environmental initiatives is a positive step for big businesses.

http://www.tefen.com/about_tefen/media_center/tefen_tribune/spring_issue_2009/environmental_initiatives.html

Why is the cause for pot legalization continuing to gain momentum in America?

Last November both Colorado and Washington voted to legalize marijuana, and now Rhode Island and six other states are in negotiations to legalize the substance as well. This fast-paced legalization seems ironic because we have been “at war” with drugs for almost 40 years now, but perhaps the biggest irony of all is something that many of us have never even thought about before. That something is: Republican support for the cause.

In College Station, for example, at almost every “house-party” I have been to, I have been offered pot in one form or another. At the same time, Texas A&M is nationally known for its conservative views. We even have a Political Science college called the “Bush School”, named after a former Republican president named George H.W. Bush. While the argument could be made that today’s youth has less traditional and more liberal leaning views, Republicans in Congress are backing marijuana because doing so would cut federal government spending going towards the War on Drugs.

For extremely conservative individuals, such as former president Ronald Reagan, one of the most important economic goals has always been to reduce federal government spending. The more states that legalize marijuana, the less the federal government will be able to tax Americans for the War on Drugs. It seems like many Republicans and Democrats have been able to come to an agreement on this issue, especially in the states, which has resulted in momentum towards legalization. How do you feel about the legalization of marijuana? Can you think of something different that has encouraged legalization?