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Prompt 1: Research the GPDR online privacy regulations that went into effect last Friday. Link to an official government communication from the EU or another governmental body about these new technological restrictions. Then, find an example of art or advertising in the the city you’re in (not online) that deals with similar issues of privacy or surveillance.

The link I found for a description of the GDPR privacy regulations is the website made specifically for it.  The website describes the regulation, overviews key changes and the process of getting there, as well as frequently asked questions. An example of this found in Berlin are the cameras at Berlin Südkreuz station.  After extensive googling and translating, I figured out that they are facial recognition cameras that monitor the faces going into the station. This was a very controversial topic amongst people in the area and across Germany, and many felt that it was an abuse of power.  Others argued it was for safety, and that was ultimately why they were placed there.  

GDPR Link: https://www.eugdpr.org

Südkreuz Camera Article: https://www.thelocal.de/20170802/berlin-launches-controversial-test-of-facial-recognition-cameras-at-train-station

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COMM 3070 Week 4

Prompt 3: Dimeo, Hunt & Horbury, “The Individual and the State: A Social Historical Analysis of the East German ‘Doping System’” explores a governmental scandal about a sports/medical technology. Compare this to a contemporary sports scandal of your choice, using at least two quotes from the reading. Take a local photo to illustrate the East German doping scandal in some way, and another photo to illustrate the scandal you choose.

After reading Dimeo et. al (2011), the scandal that came to mind was the Lance Armstrong doping scandal.  After denying for almost a decade the claims of doping against him, Armstrong finally came clean and gave up his secret.  He was stripped of titles and banned for a certain amount of time, also giving up his spot in his Livestrong foundation.

The first quote that I immediately connected to Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal, was from Dimeo et. al (2011) saying, “It has been claimed that the GDR cheated its way to success, damaged the health of numerous athletes and left a legacy of cynicism around elite international sport (p. 220).” The same could be said for Armstrong, who cheated his way to multiple titles and left people cynical of the sport and the integrity of it’s riders.  The second quote I felt that helped connect the Armstrong doping scandal was in Dimeo et. al (2011), saying ‘the unmatched success of East German athletes in international competitions was built on the systematic doping of athletes with anabolic steroids (p. 220).”  Lance Armstrong was a leader and innovator of sorts amongst bikers, only to be from the fact that he did blood dope to gain a competitive edge.

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COMM 3550 Week 4

Prompt 3: At Teufelsberg this week you will see a lot of graffiti. It's a cultural phenomenon here - highly skilled artists have been allowed to paint the walls of this defunct spy station. Some murals have lasted years, while others are painted over from one week to the next. As Ledingham tells us, “Public relations is best defined and practiced as the active attempt to restore and maintain a sense of community.” How is this graffiti a function of community building/maintenance? How might this space be different in the U.S.? Would the owners of this property or the federal government be likely to allow this long-term graffiti haven to continue untouched by anyone who isn't part of the community? Post a selection of murals to illustrate your post. 

The graffiti at Teufelsberg is unlike any other I have ever seen.  Some of the best graffiti artists in the world have exhibited their work within the walls of Teufelsberg, making it an off-brand art gallery of sorts.  It functions as community building and maintenance in multiple ways.  Firstly, it has been reclaimed by the people.  Nothing draws people together more than a community effort, and the re-creation of a space that was once walled off and secretive, now reclaimed to allow all people to enjoy it is a special experience.  It also functions as community building and maintenance by allowing people to artistically express themselves and others to enjoy it.  I believe that if not for volunteers who found meaning and promise within Teufelsberg, the entire area would have been condemned long ago.

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COMM 3070 Week 4

Prompt 2: Museum Communication meets Metropolis: At the museum, look for two examples of science or technology to relate to the film: 1 - Find an exhibit that suggests the film was accurate in communicating the future. 2 - Find an exhibit that suggests the film was inaccurate in its vision of the future.

The first exhibit I found suggesting an accurate depiction of the future as from Metropolis was the robots in the center of the building.  Clearly this is a perfect example, considering the most evil Maria was a robot in disguise.  We don’t even need to connect the film’s depiction of the future, because robots and AI are the fear of people today.  The idea that they could one day take over the world is a thought that has permeated the minds of many Americans.  

The exhibit I found that was inaccurate in it’s vision of the future was the exhibit about the different languages around the world.  It asked “Where is the future?” and got people to think about the past of languages and how they will be affected in the future. With Metropolis, there were the people who lived in the city above, and who lived in the depths below.  My take on this exhibit being an inaccurate depiction of their future is because language connects all of us.  

If you know the same language as someone you have an instant connection with them, and we have seen this time and time again in Germany when we have met Americans.  No matter what race, creed, ethnicity, sexuality, origin, if we can communicate with someone, we have that connection.  We take it for granted in America, seeing as that we are not normally forced out of our English comfort zone, and we lack the curriculum to change that.   But, if we could all grow and expand our linguistic capacity, I believe that we would grow as people and connect with more, creating a more unified vision for the future.  

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COMM 3550 Week 4

Prompt 2: You have now seen the Mercedes-Benz arena & museum, the BMW Motorcycle Factory, and the VW Autostadt. How are these various locations similar in terms of stakeholder engagement? In what ways are they different? As a tourist viewing these locations (rather than as a local fan, a native German, or a customer), which was more effective in creating a compelling experience for you? Think about the Ramshaw reading as you answer, and include specific examples.

In terms of stakeholder engagement, the Mercedes-Benz Arena and Museum, BMW Motorrad and the VW Autostadt all allow their stakeholders, also known as their customers, to experience the creation and lifestyle of their products.  They allow people to form a personal connection past just going through the motions of buying or enjoying their products and services.  Why do these entities do this? Creating not just products but experiences allows the stakeholders to feel involved in the decision-making process and connect in ways unable before.  These personal connections foster relationship development and help to manage it simultaneously.  

 Starting with differences, Mercedes Arena was a fan experience, which is far different than a customer experience.  They were engaging with the community in a different way because they are not selling their product to the masses but backing a fan experience, creating name recognition and association.  There is large discussion in sports communication and scholarly articles of fan experiences and interaction with teams and how they are unlike any other. Although little is understood by it, Mercedes attaching itself to a sports team, especially a city’s most popular team, creates a trifecta of association and engagement.  The attachment to the city, the sport, and the recognition of Mercedes as a leading brand in the area creates a plethora of personal experience within the stadium and manages a number of stakeholder relationships.  It engages with stakeholders by allowing them to experience the arena from a new side: that of the players.  Because it is such an exclusive experience, it creates a special bond with the stakeholder and the arena/team.  Speaking from my experience on the tour, I am now more engaged with Stuttgart as a team and found the experience of touring the locker room and running onto the field to not only be exciting, but a way to feel more connected to their organization.   

The Mercedes Benz museum was different from all others because of the major historical component.  All of the places we visited gave us a brief history of their company, but the museum was different.  It gave not only the history of Daimler-Benz AG and Mercedes as a brand, but situational context from around the world, painting a broad picture of the times and how their brand was affected by them or responded to them.  By giving stakeholders the chance to see old restored cars, learn about their history and see what they are working towards in the future, Mercedes gave its’ stakeholders the option to feel present for all of it’s work and understand more about and the interesting things they do and have done.  

 The BMW Motorrad was the most different of all experiences because it was mainly about the science, technology and manufacturing behind their motorcycles.  While there were discussions of brand history and identity, it revolved a lot around the manufacturing process and the attention each bike got.  The level of engagement was different here because it was a lot of concepts that are difficult to communicate to people in layman’s terms.  Our tour guide had the responsibility of not only explaining what was happening to us, but explaining the information in a way that we as the average stakeholder could understand and retain. The tour was probably my least favorite because while I do feel that those concepts were communicated well, it was more for people who want to own or own a motorbike and understand the creation and technology behind it.  Prior knowledge was necessary to fully grasp the concepts being communicated.

The VW Autostadt was the most collective stakeholder engagement experience.  Instead of just creating a brand experience, they created a lifestyle experience for the different brands within the park.  From the Ritz-Carlton on campus and varying restaurant options, all the way down to the architecture of the buildings and set up of the land created a curated experience for the stakeholder. A curated experience means giving people the chance to create it themselves, and the Autostadt does exactly that.  The brands under the VW umbrella are so different in terms of identity and target customer, and because of that VW needed a way to cater to each stakeholder and their lifestyle.  A person who comes to the Autostadt for a Sköda family car is not the same person coming to buy a new Bugatti, and VW recognizes that, giving people the choice to create the experience they most agree with, but regardless, keeping their brand at the center of it.  

Quoting Ramshaw et. al (2013), it states “…tangible entities are only ‘heritage’ because of the intangible meanings and values constructed about them (p. 18).”  All of these companies create amazing products, but maintain relationships and create new ones by attaching personal experiences with their brand. The history and heritage means nothing to a product if the abstract and ‘intangible’ are not communicated.  There a product and brand finds it’s meaning within a stakeholder’s life, and all of these tours created that.  

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Prompt 1: Capture an advertisement that you think would be ineffective in the U.S. Tell me why it would be ineffective, and then describe how you might do it differently for a U.S. market. Post a photo of the advertisement so that your classmates and I can see what you're referring to. (Note: You cannot post something in German and say "it would be ineffective because it isn't in English" or something similar. Think in terms of the intended message, intended audience, and how both are communicated - would the spirit of the message be ineffective? Why?) Make a connection to at least one of our readings from the program.

The ad I chose to write about was an EasyJet ad near the hotel.  It stated “If you look sober, you look good.” and then advertised flights to Mallorca from Berlin Tegel for around 40 Euro.  I chose this ad because honestly it does not make sense to me.  After asking my peers, they felt the same too. Clearly something was lost in translation, or there is a connection that we as Americans are missing that Germans must understand differently or better.  Mallorca is known as a popular place for holiday in Europe and people may enjoy themselves too much there, but the connection between that and the words are hard to draw.  

In our G&M readings in Chapter 14, it discusses the challenges of coping with cross-cultural communication. The wording of the ad, to me, suggests a discussion of sober consent, not reasonable airline fare.  In America, something like this could easily be used as a governmental advert about consent and rape culture and would be understood. Currently, with that being a hot topic in the USA, I believe that people would see this ad and be unsure of it’s motives and meaning.  If EasyJet were to put this ad in America, I believe that in the process of translating the phrase it would become unclear and lack significance with Americans, as well as possibly offend or draw discussions on EasyJet’s intent with it.  

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COMM 3070 Week 3

Prompt 3: Find an example in Berlin (not TV, online, etc.) of communication from a regional, city, or national governmental body about a particular technology. Drawing on Habermas, examine it first from a public sphere perspective: What information is needed about this technology for citizens of a democracy to have informed civic debate and deliberation about it? Then, drawing on Jaganathan et al, examine it from a rhetoric of advertising perspective: What persuasive arguments might a manufacturer or distributor of the same technology want to make to the public?

The ad above translates to “Milk. Your Natural Fitness Program.”, and in the corner in red says “Switerland, Naturally”.  This ad was put out by the Swiss government to encourage milk consumption, stating that it is a great way to be healthy.  The technology behind milk production, though, could lead some to feel otherwise.  

This ad does not get into the specifics of it, but from machines that pump the milk from the udders of the female cows to the pasteurization process, people could find issue within those.  An ad like this could strike up not only discussion about the technology associated with milk production, but the science behind milk consumption, and whether dairy is truly healthy for you.  For instance, public sphere would come into play with this when individuals who were vegans felt dislike towards this ad and discussed with their peers, possibly participating in forms of protest against it.  Habermas (1964), while discussing the matter of private individuals forming a public body, states: “Only organized individuals could effectively participate in the process of public communication (p. 55).” If one person who felt disdain towards milk production and consumption said something, the chances of it being taken seriously, much more being heard, are astronomically low.  But with a group, the chances are higher and better. 

Jaganathan et. al discusses the language and rhetoric used in specifically automobile advertising, but it’s points could still be used here.  It discussed how BMW and Mercedes harped on their technological superiority, and VW on affordability.  The Swiss through this ad are communicating to the viewers that they produce a natural product because they are a country who believes in nature and adheres to natural ways of living. Throughout Switzerland I have seen this to be true.  Today we went to a Naturbad, which is a natural pool.  They pull water from a river that is already pretty fresh and filter it, not with harsh chemicals, but with reeds and plants, giving a fun pool experience that comes without the use of additives that are potentially harmful to humans.  This is just another example of the Swiss’s communication of their values ritualistically.  

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COMM 3550 Week 3

Prompt 3: Luke Lalor from AlphaPool Content Marketing is coming to talk with us about his firm and what they do. For this post, you need to take careful notes during Luke's talk so that you can go out this week and find an example of something he discusses. Specifically, you need to identify a concept he discusses, then find an example of that practice (1) done well, and (2) done poorly.

When Luke Lalor came to talk, he discussed a lot about proactive and reactive brand management strategies. Proactive brand management is maintaining relationships with current stakeholders or creating ones with new stakeholders through multiple avenues, with Alpha Pool mainly focusing on created content.  Reactive, on the other hand, is essentially fixing or trying to maintain relationships with stakeholders after a crisis.  Alpha Pool specializes in both, and Luke estimated that their work is about half and half.  

Both proactive and reactive maintain similar strategies and are essentially the same kind of content. The differences between the two, though, are that reactive brand management strategies have to be created and implemented within a short timespan.  A great example of proactive brand management for a company or organization was Coca Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign.  Coke originally started it in the USA, printing bottles with the most popular millennial names on them.  It brought Coke so much exposure online and through the media that they created an international campaign, launching it in countries all over the world.  The campaign was successful in creating impressions for the brand and creating a stronger image internationally for Coke using their time-honored slogan “Share a Coke”.  An example of reactive brand management is the JetBlue Valentine’s Day Crisis.  Due to winter storms arising in the area, all but 17 of the almost 200 JetBlue flights scheduled for the day were put on hold, causing an almost 7-day setback of flights for the airline.  JetBlue, after compensating those affected, enacted a “Customer Bill of Rights”, a compensation plan and written guidelines for what happens in cancellations, etc. The news media immediately took ahold of it.   So in enacting their bill of rights, they ultimately turned the news coverage of their company from negative to positive.

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COMM 3550 Week 3

Prompt 2: Capture an image from the portion of the BMW Motorcycle factory where we’re allowed to have photos – anything you like (something cool, obviously). Discuss the concept of communicating/connecting with internal & external stakeholders, and how this tour accomplishes both of those things (refer to the entire tour and to things we learn from the tour guide and the promo videos). Draw specific connections to the Zerfass reading - quotes w/ page numbers are a good way to do this.

The image I chose was the wall that was on display in the Welcome Center.  “Make Life a Ride” is a great description of BMW’s brand and what it believes in.  Throughout the tour, our guide was constantly commenting on how customer satisfaction was their utmost priority, and that they had bikes for every lifestyle.  BMW’s plan for it’s consumers is to create a lifestyle through their technology, whether it is with a car or a motorcycle.  

The tour communicates well with their stakeholders by emphasizing the time and effort put into each bike.  The tour is also a way of reaching all consumers, not just a certain culture.  Regardless of the differences in bike preference or cultural norms, the tour gives people a chance to see directly into the operation and take it how they may.  In Zerfass (2015), it was found that European CCO’s find international communication to be the most important for their organization (p.787).  That would make sense with BMW’s creation of the factory tour, because it caters to the international market and allows people to connect with the process in a new way.  

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COMM 3070 Week 3

Prompt #2:

Compare and contrast an example from each museum that talks about, shows, or otherwise presents a science or technology used in sports. Embed a music video of one song you would choose to play along with each sport (one for each, two songs total). Use supporting quotes from McLeod that explain why you chose the songs.

The examples I chose to include in this prompt from the DDR Museum and the Computerspiel Museum are at best incredibly different. This is so because of the roots in which they have used to anchor themselves. The DDR was not about fun or enjoyment; it was about everyone being on an equal playing field. Enjoyment had to be shared or taken away altogether, much like everything else within the communist-ruled country. The Computerspiel Museum is about the enjoyment of technology in different ways.  Whether for leisure or sport, there is a lighter sense about it and greater impression of gratification within.  

The example I found at the DDR Museum was that of The Society for Sport and Technology.  The society was created as a way to introduce young boys to the physical and technological elements of war. The activities consisted of parachuting, diving, gliding, marksmanship and more.  The technologies of war were highlighted in a fun way, because the society was meant to actively engage boys in these activities and not so inadvertently help “prepare” the DDR for any threats come their way. Quoted in our readings, McLeod says “Public spectacles, whether sporting, musical, artistic, or other, have been used throughout history to affirm power and prestige” (McLeod, 2006, p. 534).  These sporting events the DDR held were most assuredly to affirm power and establish a dominance among the new generation.  The music video I chose to embed was “We Are the Champions” by Queen. I chose this because that is the image the DDR wanted to present to the rest of the world: that they were the champions, and everyone else were the losers.  

In the Computerspiel Museum, the game that I drew most to was Dance Dance Revolution.  Dance across all cultures, much like music, is something to bring people together.  Dance Dance Revolution used the technologies of computer and touch-screen capabilities to create a game that people could enjoy in fun competition with themselves or other. With Dance Dance Revolution there are no ulterior motives or ideology stuck within the moves; only fun and enjoyment. For this I chose the song “Everything is Awesome” by Tegan and Sara from The Lego Movie.  It has a fun beat and quick pace, making it not only a great Dance Dance Revolution song, but a great song to describe the atmosphere that Dance Dance Revolution creates and fosters.  Gropes (2001) talks about the women pop stars that contributed to the sports-music confluence directed towards younger girls and women (McLeod, 2006, p. 540).  Some would argue that Tegan and Sara could have a similar effect as P!nk or Gwen Stefani because of their more androgynous appearances and edgier styles of music. 

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COMM 3070 Week 3

Prompt 1: Find the community gardens at Tempelhofer Feld. Compare how they communicate sciences and/or technologies of health (such as nutrition, sustainability, etc.). What values are expressed? How are they similar? Different? Do you see any miscommunications?

At both of their cores, Tempelhofer and Ecoland communicate the same messages of community.  However, they differ greatly in their communication of science and technology through plant growth.  

Ecoland prided itself on a strong production of safe, quality products.  They were as they were and nothing more or less was added to them. They verbalized and showed through this their commitment to technology that allowed them to maintain the strictest levels of quality without compromising their ethical values.  

Tempelhof Gardens were far different than I imagined.  They consisted of crudely put-together wooden structures that housed the plants within. You could not tell a weed from a veggie in most, and the technology used was not cutting edge, but more ingenious. People used what they had around them to provide irrigation or a stable area to grow.  While some people had real structures built and used state of the art equipment, others chose cruder ways.  This not only communicated lack of knowledge or resources but also the very being of Tempelhof.  It is something that was turned into or made into something entirely different than it’s original purpose, much like the people and the technology they employ within the gardens.  

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COMM 3550 Week 3

Prompt #1 (Extended): Pick a concept from the chapter 14 reading on cross-cultural communication and PR that you have seen exemplified during our time here so far. Perhaps at a cafe you've witnessed differences in how space is used (Proxemics). Maybe on a weekend trip you've seen ways that people from some countries view time differently than we tend to (Chronemics). Or perhaps you've seen a really clever ad that bridges cultural/linguistic boundaries. Post a photo or video, and explain how it captures or illustrates the concept you choose. 

So no, my post is not about food (although I wish it were).  These images were the best way I felt I could convey what I wanted to say about culture, specifically the differences in acculturation in America and Germany.  I decided that taking pictures of people felt a little aggressive so I decided against it, but I figured I could metaphorically explain my points through these.

Acculturation is the blending of cultures.  In our readings through Chapter 14 we learned about acculturation and assimilation, and how they affect cultures or change them.  The reading is quoted on page 435 saying “The more a culture resists outside influences, the more powerful its traditions can become.”  I chose these pictures of food because food is one of the most obvious ways of showing the culture.  While some cultures have done a great job of resisting outside influences, others haven’t.  What I have noticed while in Germany is that while Germany does have a distinct culture, American culture is still pervasive throughout.  The same cannot be said for America, though.  

American culture has dominated the world because of our dominance within it.  English is spoken by many different countries out of necessity, not choice.  Traditionally American foods are found on menus in cities from Berlin to Bangkok. The reason for this is simple: our foothold in the world exists so heavily that it is impossible for countries to completely cut themselves off from American cultural influences.  

Throughout my time here, I have noticed that Germans adopt a wealth of cultures and allow them to pervade their space, while people who live here hold on to their host cultures pretty well.  In America, we almost force people to lose their culture in favor of ours because ours is so dominating and far-reaching.  Instead of allowing these influences to grow within our space and change us, we change the people by forced assimilation.  I’ve seen time and time again here that the same cannot be said for Germany.  They adopt and adapt while we do not.  

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COMM 3070 Week 2

Prompt #3: Briefly describe how the readings by Nebel and Stobbe and Sun relate to one of the types of miscommunication of science and technology we have discussed. Find an example of public communication of science or technology here that also evidenced one of the types of miscommunication and explain how.

Nebel, Stobbe and Sun all come across different forms of miscommunication,  In Nebel, Stobbe and Sun, oversimplification and causation’s inequity to correlation are the culprit of miscommunication about vaccines, SSRI’s and autism.  These are just a few, with others existing.  One I found that I will explain through this post is technopanic among fashion technology.

While sitting in the lobby one day I was bored and reading the magazines on the tables and came across this ad within a Berlin City Guide magazine.  The first things I saw were a fun, colorful background and the word fashion so I was immediately intrigued.  After researching further, I found out it is a conference specifically targeting the fashion industry and focuses on discussions of business and technology with that at it’s helm.  So I did a little bit more research to see what all technology was involved within fashion and I was quite shocked.

There are a small number of companies throughout the world who specialize in fashion tech innovation.  From smart embroidery to solar-powered accessories, people are taking the definition of technology being practical art and applying it to one of the other-most practical forms of art (sometimes not practical, depending upon how tall your heels are).  Fashion has also started using Artificial Intelligence (AI) as well as Facial Recognition (FR) and Augmented Reality (AR).  

So now comes the miscommunication part.  Technological programs fashion uses such as the ones mentioned above are miscommunicated in multiple ways.  AI, for example, has become increasingly prevalent throughout the media.  People are now convinced that all AI is robots who will soon become smart enough to take over the world.  This can be attributed to technopanic, that the media is aggressively reporting on something, leading people to believe it is far more relevant than it is.  In reality, AI can be used in far different ways, and in the fashion sector it is being used as a way to use predictive forecasting to help their business and better assess the data they have collected on shoppers and trends.  

Nebel, Stobbe and Sun all come across different forms of miscommunication, technopanic being one of them.  In Nebel, Stobbe and Sun, oversimplification and causation’s inequity to correlation are the culprit of miscommunication about vaccines, SSRI’s and autism.  

https://www.dhl-in-motion.com/fashion/article/fashion-technology-and-innovation-shape-the-future-of-fashion 

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COMM 3550 Week 2

Prompt 3 (extended): We visited Sachsenhausen this week. The holocaust undeniably was a crisis, and created a series of cascading crises for Germany, Europe, and the world over the following months and years. Thinking about the Guth reading, how does Sachsenhausen function as a response to that crisis? How does the organization utilize Sachsenhausen (and museums/memorials like it) to pursue healing, restoration, and a prospective vision for the future with the various publics affected by the holocaust? Make specific connections to both the Guth reading and the ECC (Effective Crisis Comm) reading - again, quotes are a good way to do this.

The Holocaust is one of the biggest centralized crises, and while it only occurred within various countries in Europe, it affected the entire world and still does. In the ECC reading, it makes the point that now, through technology, a crisis happening an ocean away is now happening in our backyard.  When the Holocaust happened, technology was growing but not at it’s height like right now.   Now, through websites, movies, tv shows, and more, people are able to see the devastation of it and what it truly was. The Holocaust will be a never-ending crisis for the German public and others because it was not a one-time, short situation.  It was systematic, calculated, and drawn out.  It was one of the most aggressive violations of human rights that has ever existed. Some individuals who lived through it still have existing trauma, and some still carry down ideology from that time, good and bad, causing it to truly never be over, just not continuing to exist. 

In Guth (1995), Pauchant and Mitroff are quoted saying that a crisis is “a disruption that physically affects a system as a whole and threatens its basic assumptions, its subjective sense of self, its existential core.” The Holocaust was a major disruption throughout Germany and affected it’s core.  Germans today still feel a lack of pride for their country, almost as though they aren’t allowed to.  While speaking to a friend who is familiar with the culture and is currently living here, he explained that at an event the German National Anthem was played, and that his friends around him who were citizens were noticeably uncomfortable.  They apologized afterwards, saying they felt it was not right.  All these years later and my generation of Germans still feel uncomfortable being prideful about their heritage and home, and if nothing else describes the threatening of an group’s core, I don’t know what does.  

Sachsenhausen functions in multiple ways as a response to the crisis of the Holocaust.  First of all, it functions as a memorial. It allows people to remember the people who were affected and honor their memory.  Secondly, it functions as a historical component. It allows people to see history first-hand, possibly giving a better grasp or understanding when seeing it off the pages of a history book and in real life. Third, it serves as an educational outlet.  If we as a collective people group want to make sure something never happens again, we must educate and make people aware of what happened, and how to not let it happen again.  All of these are roles used to manage the public opinion and cater to specific wants and needs of their stakeholders.  

Sachsenhausen as a whole, while still undeniably sad, is a constant reminder that the Holocaust did end, and the suffering stopped, and that those people affected will never be forgotten.  If it were just a tour of the camp, it would be cold and quite sadistic, but because the camp now serves as a historical memorial, it allows people see AND feel, if they so choose.  They have created an emotional response towards Sachsenhausen and the events of the Holocaust through the memorialization.  They also create a learning element through education of xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, etc., allowing people to understand the root of the problem, how wrong it truly is, and where it can lead.  All of the elements combined create a specific and targeted approach that is keen on learning and healing.    

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COMM 3550 Week #2

Prompt 2

How is the Mercedes-Benz Arena utilized for public relations? Who are the key publics here, how are they engaged, and what types of relationship management strategies are employed to engage with these publics? Again, using information learned on the tour is a good idea.

The Mercedes-Benz Arena tour was an awesome look into a popular sporting area and the in’s and out’s of it all.  After talking with our girl tour guide and asking her how she got the job, I was sort of shocked to learn about how competitive the selection process was, and how big of a deal Stuttgart’s team is.  

Mercedes-Benz utilizes the arena in multiple ways.  First, they have name recognition with their company’s name attached.  The name recognition surrounding Mercedes and it’s brand as well as and it’s ties with the city of Stuttgart are similar to the Bank of America Stadium within Charlotte, as stated in Ramshaw et. al (2012).  Bank of America is a large, well know company within the area that has woven itself into the city’s physical and cultural infrastructure, giving people comfort in a name they resonate with. 

The key publics the arena are engaging with are the soccer fans of the area. The arena engages with them through the sporting events held, and maintains that relationship through the fan club and the special perks people can receive through it.  The hallway within the stadium showing the photos of the “Cannstatter Kurve”, the area of the stadium home to the craziest fans, is a great example of it’s relationship management with it’s public.  

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COMM 3070 Week #2

Prompt 2

Review notes on Futurism. Read “The Furturist Manifesto.” What exhibit at the Mercedes Benz Museum do you think Marinetti would like the most? Why?

In between the brazen adjectives and aggressive tone, Marinetti’s Futurist Manifesto has key points.  He states that history and museums should be torn down, and that advancement should be celebrated.  Technology is the forefront of the future and without it we cannot grow as a society.  He also struck down traditional ideas & pushed for war, violence and sexist behavior.  

Pictured above is the exhibit that struck me as the one Marinetti would find the most interesting.  Essentially, we stood in front of a camera and it recognized our faces, then attached a question to it.  The questions asked above were “Mirror, mirror on the wall…” and “What does mobility mean to me?”.  Other questions had to do with technology, inner thoughts, etc.  

While the exhibit celebrated technology, I do not know if Marinetti would have enjoyed the Mercedes Benz Museum because it was a museum.  He specifically said in his manifesto to put down with mainstays of the past and tradition, and the museum celebrated the history and growth of Daimler Benz AG.  With that being said, it also celebrated growth and technological advancement, something Marinetti would champion in his idea of utopian society. Relatively speaking, Marinetti would have liked this exhibit the most because it was a non-historical part of the museum and encouraged free-thinking and exploration into themselves and the future.  

Another part of the museum that I think Marinetti would have enjoyed is the section describing Daimler Benz’s creation of war-time automotive technology for Hitler and the Nazi powers.  The fundamentals of Hitler’s ideology and Marinetti’s are incredibly similar.  Both believed in war as a way of purging of the past and for forming a new beginning.  Both were aggressive in their beliefs and found solace in constant advancement, believing that the future would always be better if the right steps were taken.  

Ultimately we know that Hitler was wrong, and Marinetti is too.  The future is bright, but not so bright that we pull a scorched earth on all that lives around us.  Ideally, we present a mixture of tradition and advancement, honoring and respecting the history around us, while fervently looking towards the future.  

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COMM 3070 Week #2

Prompt #1: What sciences and technologies are communicated during the tour of Ecoland? Find one example to describe in detail. How effective do you think it is? 

Ecoland was one of the most interesting places I’ve ever been.  They are a leader amongst ethical production in the area and have strong roots within their community.  They employ a lot of cool technology that allows them to keep in line with their mission and their lead nationally and internationally.  

One of Ecoland’s missions is to provide consumers with fresh, real ingredients and products.  In their spice room there hangs lights from the ceiling that emit a blue-ish-green glow.  When asked what they were, our tour guide told us they keep insects from the spices.  This is important for their products because they do not want to treat them with anything unnatural to keep insects away.  It not only communicates that they are striving for a good, clean product, free of pesticides or preservatives, but also says a lot about the choices other companies or cooperatives make.  Many people do not hold themselves to the same standards of Ecoland, which in turn gives them a leg up with their competition.