PCU and the City

"These, Tom, are the Causeheads. They find a world-threatening issue and stick with it for about a week. "

This remark from the witty, main character, Droz, is an example of "poisoning the well." As Droz gives a campus tour he points out the group of students who similate the cause-driven hippies of the 1970's. By making such a caustic remark, he is warning the guy not to be like them or apart of their group because they are lame and he would be wasting his time.

Into the Wild: Life, According to Christoper McCandless

Is McCandless’s story so sensational/controversial because it doesn’t match the stereotype we usually see for college students?

Christopher McCandless’s story is one similar to Henry David Thoreau, Jack London, and a personal favorite of Candless’s, Leo Tolstoy. All were great American wanders. They were men who had great educations, stemmed from decent families but longed to All who found themselves by separating from society and assimilating into nature. However the major difference between Christopher McCandless and his nomadic predecessors is that they had not died in their prime. Thoreau, London and Tolstoy had passed away when they were older, while Christopher McCandless had many more years left in his gifted soul. Christopher McCandless was a candid young man, who was full of questions and had a sprightly urge to answer all of the earthly enigmas that consumed him.

Christopher McCandless was born in Washington D.C. and graduated from Emory University in Atlanta in 1990. Christopher McCandless was a intelligent and determined individual. According to his family and friends, he frequently pushed himself and the people with whom he was close to extreme physical and mental limits. After completing college and finishing his studies, Christopher McCandless seemed to simply disappear, and started wandering across the United States of America with no clear idea of where he was going. It was clear to his friends and family that life on the edge has always appealed to Christopher. He prided himself for frequently surviving on little more than his intellect. McCandless rarely maintained consistent contact with his family. The more they worried about him, the less he called. He did not think they had any reason to worry. When he was on the road and working trivial jobs he kept books written by Jack London and Leo Tolstoy. He met many people who admired him for his courage and strength. However, in 1992, at the age of twenty four hitched into the Alaskan wilderness with a meager amount of supplies, a surfeit of knowledge and the intent to die.

The story of Christopher McCandless is one that is filled with valor, courage, aptitude, stride, mystery and eventually sorrow. Christopher McCandless’s story is so fascinating because he was a recent college graduate. However, Christopher McCandless’s story was not one of keg parties or wild road trips, typical of twenty somethings. His life short and seemingly fulfilling without the typical college stereotypes. Christopher McCandless was able to conquer what other his age or even older wish they could have accomplished.

Christopher McCandless, according to modern ideology, is not a typical college student, which is why his story is so sensational. He had a different mindset, compared to the typical college student. The world was amazed by Christopher McCandless because he was not like the rowdy, rebellious and often times lazy college students depicted on television and movies. College is seen as a place where teenagers live out there last four years as adolescence. It is the place where they can be free to live wildly before they have to start making serious career choices.

United Colors of Benetton’s Philosophy on Advertising

According to the United Colors of Benetton’s campaign history, their ads are based on the idea that “communication should not be commissioned from outside the company, but conceived from within its heart.” United Colors of Benetton wants to suspend their customer’s obsession with the actual clothes and make them aware of what is important in the world. They feel that by using controversial images such as AIDs activist David Kirby on his death bed or a new born baby (umbilical cord and all) or a sea of condoms, they can appeal to their clients emotionally. United Colors of Benetton tries to appeal to the younger generation by relating to current events.

If you are a loyal customer then you will always buy their clothes. If you are a customer that keeps up with current events, then United Colors of Benetton not only appeals to your fashion sense but also your conscience. The point of their controversial ads is to demonstrate that they have the same values as their customers. The fact that the United Colors of Benetton wants to relate to their consumers on a personal level is amenable. The United Colors of Benetton claims that “by addressing an individual rather than a customer” the company can have a better relationship with their clients. Their clients can refer to the company as an understanding friend rather than a giant, faceless corporation who only wants their money. Ideally, the United Colors of Benetton’s ads are more compassionate and thought provoking than a regular ad with perfect models in rigid poses.


This specific ad of David Kirby is disturbing, emotional and thought provoking, all at once. This ad does not appeal to the consumers commercial needs. It does not reveal the latest trends in jeans or the United Colors of Benetton’s assortment of colorful sweaters, but it is an image of a man dying with AIDs. Depending upon the mentality of the viewer, this ad can be very appealing or not appealing at all. If the viewer is open minded they can see that the image is not to persuade them to buy their clothes, but to trust and appreciate the United Colors of Benetton. They use images such as these to say to the customer “hey! I’m on your side! You see what’s going on in the world! And I see it too!” This makes the company more heroic and endearing.

Conversely, today’s viewer may not see the image of a feeble Kirby as appealing in any way, shape or form. To younger viewers it is a picture of a dying man, no message, nor advertising. I, myself was confused and taken aback by the image; but after researching the campaign history of the United Colors of Benetton, I was able to understand the message. Be that as it may, viewing this image with “2008 eyes” as Ms. Irving calls it, is strange. I understand the message that the image is suppose to relay, but looking at such a disturbing image does not appeal to any of my senses. People who are my age are not used to looking to clothing companies to provide a significant message about the world, with the except of the Gap and the (red) campaign. Nonetheless, the message is still there, it just takes a little more thought.