Introduce myself

(1) an image of Japan that appeals to you .

This is one of the Japanese famous Bridges called Seto Ohashi Bridge . It 's 13.1 kilometre long considered the world's longest combined rail and road bridge . It ' s a beautiful traditional wooden bridge  , And as we know Bridges are very essential In japan and come in all shapes and sizes from traditional to modern .
(2) an image of an art work or some other cultural product that appeals to you.

 This is a picture of a traditional Berber Moroccan carpet which is hand woven by the berber woman from the south of Morocco who struggled against the discrimination and who could produce something simple but unique that identify her and prove her existence in a maley society as an existed active woman .
(3) an image that you took (a photo) or made yourself (for example, a drawing)

This a drawing made by me in a painting club here in the campus at Ursinus College it represent the berber sign that is my origin and my identity . It composed of 3 horizontal bands of the same height with different colors ( blue , green , yellow , and red berber alphabet in the middle ) 
Everything in this drawing is a symbol for something bigger .

·         the blue represent the Mediterranean sea and the Atlentic ocean.

·         the green represent nature and the green mountains 

·         the yellow represent the sands of Sahara Desert 

The red alphabet in the middle  symbolizes the "the free man ", which is the meaning of the berber word amazigh,). It is in  red , the color of  life, and also the colour of resistance .

Self Introduction :

1. Your name (and name you prefer to be called, if different): Fatiha Bilali

2. Your hometown: Morocco

3. Your major(s) and minor(s): BA in English studies 

4. Class of: TA

5. Why are you taking this class?  What do you hope to get out of it? I am taking this class because it sounds interesting to me and i love to know about other cultures . I hope to know more about japan and  it s rich culture .

6. What aspects of Japanese culture are of interest to you? food cloths religion holidays and traditions .

7. What, if any, direct experience of Japan or its culture have you had? 

I never experience a direct experience but i would love to .

This ad is trying to sell the Mcdonald's food precisely the Hamburger , The picture shows a big burger . This advertisement its goal is to bring more customers , Explicitly we can notice the burger and the company name Mcdonald's is very attractive and fancy ,in a way that burger couldn't be how i is shown in this picture in the reality . In this picture it looks bigger and delicious , and the company name as well first that we can see is that big M with fry potatoes is a signifier of the company that  is a connotative that delicious food is Mcdonald's food .Then the price 499 in small writing comparing to how big the burger and the company name is also a connotative of this advertisement it gives the impressions that this burger worth it whatever the price is still look small comparing to what you get .

 This is an  advertisement of Gum . The image shows a mouth with a long tongue on which a young guy is sitting , using it as relaxing chair . The connotative of this is that this gum is for young people and it taste long , and it may make you fell relaxed . And the signifier words" Taste long" and" juicy " is to emphasis  the fact of long tasting and juicy . I t also gives the signified meaning that this gum sweetness tastes long and it s juicy with different taste from the small pictures of fruit that was shown  and in a different color which make costumers feel like they got all options they would like to have in this gum .

This is an advertisement of louis Vuitton . This image simply shows a model in a fashion position where  her hand is in  the top holding a hand bag that have a Louis Vuitton sign on it . So this give the feelings that if you have that hand bag you will look like a model and you will be on the top . the fact that she hold her hand to the top is the connotative that this Mark of hand bag is for the high class and for fashion and models so only certain people can have this bag it s not for everybody .
And from the picture we can understand it s a luxurious bag .

This picture is an American advertisement that has some words signifier , it says " Become a nurse your country needs you " . The subject of nursing is the signified .
The pretty girl wearing nurse uniform with the white hate and here we notice the color of the hate that is the sign of purity and peace , And the those two hands with the symbol of American flag  helping her to fix her hate  is a connotation that America takes good care of who become nurse to help the country .
As well as the choice of the girl is to encourage nursing and give it a beautiful image . When you see this advertisement the thing that will stick at your mind is that beautiful face , So , you may think if you become a nurse then you might look that pretty , From this picture we understand that she is in America's hand , and America takes good care of her , and from her look and smile it seems she is happy .
The advertiser goal is to encourage U.S citizens to become nurses.

The 2nd picture is a Japanese advertisement in which the advertisement is a shampoo . But the first thing I saw is the man who looks attractive with muscles with Tattoos ,Putting his hands at his head , his wet hairs is covered by the foam of the shampoo advertising . In his right the bottle of Shampoo mentioned above it that a signifier N 1 which signified the best quality and the best choice of shampoo .
The purpose of showing the handsome man naked is to attract the attention and to give the feeling that if you use this shampoo you may look attractive like him , So , the adviser is trying to express the connotation that this shampoo is the best .
But i was wandering why this Japanese advertisement did not use the picture of  a japanese man this man look American not Japanese if I am not wrong ?!!!