Source: https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1185567_10151530388195807_1920337113_n.jpg

May you guess what the little thing in the picture is?

The little creature in the middle of the photo, who looks like a cat with a monkey face, is called Chase. Chase had a tragic experience - Chase was a stray cat that was hit by a car at about 3 weeks old. Although she was saved by a Good Samaritan who brought her to a clinic and donated money to help her, she became a clinic cat since the man was not in need of a cat. Then one of the nurses of the clinic became Chase’s mum and took care of her before her master moved away.

This picture is taken by using zoom/close up to focus on the subject clearly. On the picture, we may find that Chase occupied large scale of the picture has some defects which make Chase look terrible. Chase doesn't have nose, eyelids and a back leg owing to the accident. Therefore she cannot smell nor run and also needs eye drops to keep her eyes clear. Now she needs to use artificial eyes, medicines and eye drops to disinfect and to help with her eye lubrication. However, the photographer wants to show her misfortune to raise public’s awareness about animal abuse through the piture.

As expected, lots of people were shocked and frightened by the cat when they firstly met Chase. Everybody think Chase is a cat with a scary face like a monster and so they have not played with it since they try to make friend with the little creature. However, the unconcern and coolness made Chase down at the beginning. Yet, fortunately, Chase is a brave, optimistic cat which attracts more and more people would like to make friend with it.

Now, Chase is happy, well-loved and taken care of. She didn't give up and tried hard to battle with challenges. She spread hopes and joys to others, and let people realize that “True beauty is on the inside” as well as having a different lot looking is not really a matter that affect our living. Nevertheless, Chase is getting more and more friends to support her because of her invincible spirit. She also has a Facebook fan page too, please don’t feel hesitate to support her!


Christina

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=592943114074643&set=pb.349314125104211.-2207520000.1380041802.&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F1234706_592943114074643_262275488_n.jpg&size=460%2C660

The caption of the first photograph is "True Love", while the second one is captioned "Distrust under 'True Love'.  The two pictures focus on the same subject, the same shooting angle, however, they bring different impacts and feelings.

Shots in scene can be used to change a point of view, reveal story information, or establish a mood. The photographer used a close-up shot to take the first photograph, which usually brings the viewer close to the action. On the other hand, the second photograph is shot by using medium shot so that the viewers can see the whole picture - the background and the backs of the couple clearly, especially focusing on the gun is being held by the bride, that points at the bridegroom. Therefore, we can find that using different shots to take the same subject and shooting angle of pictures can bring different impacts.

Moreover, the framing of the photograph directs my attention. Both of the pictures are shot in the same romantic scene- the wedding ceremony. The first picture just like the zoom picture of the second picture, which shows the backs of the young couple, so we can just image that the bridegroom feels very satisfied and excited about his  marriage, "Yes! I DO!" said the bridegroom. Yet the bride is holding a gun and point at her new husband in the second picture,  so we can imagine the bridegroom is afraid to get married with the bride, and says "I...I...do...".


All in all, both pictures bring different views of marriage, the first picture is drawing the ideal side of a marriage - a fairytale true love; the second is giving us the whole picture of the realistic marriage - the mistrust and anxiety between the couple. But actually, the photographer may want to emphasis that no marriage is perfect!


Christina Hui

Source: http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/limiting-free-speech-19-the-great-firewall-of-china/

This political cartoon was drawn by Peter Nicholson on 1st May 2008, which narrates the elaborate system of internet censorship in the People’s Republic of China – the “Great Firewall of China” (GFC), officially called the Golden Shield Project by Chinese government.

Media are extremely important tool for rulers in influencing the way people think or their ideology. For this reason, the Chinese media have always tightly controlled by Chinese government, especially internet. According to MacKinnon, “the Internet simply because it exists in China will not bring democracy to China…So far, the Chinese government has succeeded through censorship and regulation in blocking activities from using the Internet as an effective political toll.” In the cartoon, the main character who is sitting in the middle of Shanghai Internet Café, has been caught by a People’s Liberation Army as he offended the internet censorship.

However, the GFC, “the Net in China”, can block entire sites located abroad and inside China and ingenious technological methods to filter and inhabit searches for keywords considered subversive. Moreover, those keywords are 8964 or 4th June, Tiananmen Incident, equality, revolution, human right and so on. Therefore, we can find that there is a man who is sitting next to the main character said “Uh oh. He searched ‘Human Rights’ one time too many”. Here we can see that, the words in the cartoon help the image a lot. The audience can know better the image through the  words.

In conclusion, the author used a comic tone to highlight a serious issue, which creates a powerful rhetorical impact on readers. People who offend the internet law of China will not be caught immediately which is shown in the cartoon, yet they cannot search the sites that are blocked by government. However, nobody can guarantee that the offender will not be punished at last.