1x.1 White beauty, Asian nightmare

The text "White beauty, Asian nightmare" (SB p. 74) we have read in class reveals that advertising - and the media in general - can shape our view of the world in a very powerful way!

Watch this news report about the Asian craze for a lighter skin complexion and answer the questions below.

1. Why does Uangsuma use a whitening cream?
2. Citra, one of the most important makers of whitening creams in Thailand, has recently organized a contest. What did it consist of?
3. Why did the company pull the contest?
4. According to the reporter, the craze for whitening creams is based on a widespread assumption. Which?
5. Did Uangsuma feel annoyed or offended by the contest organized by Citra?
6. The reporter says at the end of the video: "Some feel companies and ad firms need to learn a lesson - their messages are received well beyond their target market and can take on a completely different colour." What does he mean? Explain.

The text we read in class mentions a cream called White Beauty. Below you can find one of its ads aimed at the Asian market and a TV commercial which was broadcast on Indian TV in 2008.

1. Read the slogan Pond's created to advertise the cream. What words are used to describe fair skin and dark skin? Do they have a positive or a negative connotation?
2. What happens on the video? What subliminal advertising are TV viewers being exposed to?

However, skin-whitening techniques are not exclusive to Asian societies. They are also popular in some African countries and well known celebrities such as Beyoncé or Rihanna have been accused of getting their skins whitened.

 
Wanna learn more about the awesome effects of the media on people's opinions on race? I strongly recommend you watch the following video on the so-called Clark Doll Experiment (1939). It will leave you in shock!

1. This videos shows footage of a real experiment conducted on African-American children. What happens on the video? Do you find it surprising?
2. In your opinion, what factors do you think cause children to make such decisions?

3s.2 Final frontiers: about metorites and asteroids

Watch this video. This happened in Russia last Friday. What can you see? 

Read this piece of news and answer the questions below on the blog: Asteroid zooms safely past Earth (CBBC Newsround)

1. Is this news story about the same event you saw in the video? Why (not)?
2. How fast did the asteroid fly?
3. Who discovered it? When was it observed for the first time?
4. Will this asteroid crash against the Earth soon? Why (not)?
5. Find out about the difference between an asteroid and a meteorite on the internet.

2s.1 Portfolio project 2010-11: "Natural disasters"

The following news stories and videos are part of our portfolio project in English about natural disasters. The special correspondents in these videos are 2nd ESO students from IES S'Arenal in Majorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). We hope you enjoy the videos and give us feedback! We invite you to write your comments at the bottom of this post.

NEWS STORY #1 TSUNAMI DEVASTATES PACIFIC RIM

Special correspondents / Nuria Heres and Amanda Carbonell
On 26th of December 2004 there was a big tsunami in the Pacific Rim. Tsunamis are giant waves and they can destroy costal regions in minutes. This one killed 220.000 people. The International Community sent money and food. The army rebuilt the people's houses and the police helped when the tsunami finished.

NEWS STORY #2 HURRICANE KATRINA REACHES THE US

Special correspondents / Andrea Fernández and Ana Paula Lugo

Hurricane Katrina was the most expensive and deadliest natural disaster in the United States. It happened in 2005 and affected the Gulf Coast from central Florida to Texas. The hurricane caused severe destruction. 1.836 people lost their lives. People lost $81 billion in the natural disaster. The army studied the affected area and they found a solution: they didn't rebuild the dangerous areas and elevated many buildings.

NEWS STORY #3 EARTHQUAKE HITS HAITÍ

Special correspondents / Paula Gual and Nerea Capellà

On 12th January 2010 at 9:52 p.m. there was an earthquake of magnitude 6.9 on the Ritcher scale in Haití. This was the country's strongest earthquake in 200 years. It was near the capital city of Haití, Puerto Príncipe. The death toll was about 300.000 people. The first and second floors of the Presidential Palace collapsed. Later, the Goverment rebuilt its new headquarters about 20 km. away from the city.

NEWS STORY #4 THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT PELÉE

Special correspondents / Jerónimo Rojo and Carlos Sastre

On 12th April 1902, the big Pelée volcano erupted in the rural and beautiful island of Martinique. It killed a lot of people. 30.000 died in this disaster and approximately 100.000 also left their houses and their animals when they escaped. Charities helped these people and sent food and water. People from Martinique asked other countries to help them rebuild the island. Now its inhabitants live farther from the volcano.