Part 1:
In two of the provided websites for this assignment there are interactive, 3-dimensional diagrams of the human brain that offer a copious amount of information. The information included within these diagrams include clear labels of each of the different sections of the brain as well as functions that coincide these sections of the brain.
From simply viewing the anatomy of the brain given these two websites, I do not believe that I have been persuaded in any ways in change my behaviors to improve brain function. Together, the websites offer a great deal of information that informs the readers about disorders or other negative aspects that the brain can endure such as ADHD, Alzheimer’s, autism, bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia as well as potential affects of cancer, physical injuries, skull fractures, and ruptures of blood vessels. Although there is a lot of information about how the brain can be negatively effected, I am not persuaded to change any behaviors to improve brain function because these websites do not seem to supply one with information on how to do so.
Although I had not been persuaded to change any behaviors to improve brain function, the websites given did, however, help me to understand the function of the brain more than I did before. Because of the websites’ great deal of information, especially the Healthline website, I now have a better understanding of specific parts of the brain and their direct relationship to our functions as humans.
I believe quite strongly that the 3-dimensional, interactive diagrams of the brain are a good example of the idea that “the truth can be made visible.” Up until quite recently, interactive diagrams that allow a viewer to to learn in such ways that these websites allow did not exist. Today, being able to clearly see and interact with the human brain online allows us to see the “truth” of who we are.
The two simulations are similar in the ways that they allow the viewer to interact with specific parts of the brain however they are different with the amount of specific information that they offer about the brain. For example, the Healthline website gives specific examples of what functions each part of the brain does.
Part 2:
The pharmaceutical direct-to-consumer advertisement that I chose to analyze is a Lunesta advertisement. This advertisement has a list of symptoms, however not in a checklist format, that interpellate the viewer: “Soothing rest for the mind and body,… peaceful sleep without a struggle,… helping most people fall asleep quickly, and stay asleep all through the night,… approved for long-term use,… feel comfortable taking it night after night.”
The conditions in which the drug intends to treat are insomnia and other conditions that prevent one from sleeping. This advertisement for Lunesta also includes the side effects: “unpleasant taste, headache, drowsiness and dizziness.” This list of side effects, however, is not longer than the list of symptoms. With the image of a man sleeping, appearing relaxed, and the text ensuring a good nights’ sleep, this ad promises the consumer that with using Lunesta, a relaxing, useful nights’ sleep is the inevitable result of using this product.
The theorist that best fits this assignment is Raymond Williams. Williams, a well-known analyst stated that advertising acts as a “‘magic system’ that transforms ordinary, material products into objects that promise a magical transformation” (Sturken & Cartwright, 2009, p.382). William’s analysis of advertisements connects to this assignment because of Lunesta’s almost magical promise to help one sleep peacefully through the night.
Cartwright, L., & Sturken, M. (2009). Practices of looking: an introduction to visual culture. New York, NY: Oxford University Press Inc.
Lunesta [Advertisement]. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2014/07/25/lunesta_ad_enlarge_custom-f19de67297791217d02da0b653520601605b6c6e.jpg