I have chosen to analyze this poster, as I wanted to reflect on the ongoing issue of illegal immigration in Italy, my homeland.

The far-right Italian party Lega Nord, which seeks to promote the traditions of a unified Italian populace, publicized this advertisement in 2008. The English translation to this poster’s message is “They underwent immigration. Now they live in reserves. Think about it.” This poster asks the audience, native-born Italians aware of the influx of immigrants from North African countries to Italy, to reflect upon the happenings in the United States of America throughout its period of colonization. Native Americans (being compared to Italians) were invaded by colonists from Europe (being compared to immigrants from Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, etc), who eventually took their lands and confined them in governmental reserves. The subjugation of American tribes by North American settlers shaped the course of history to the extent that Americans would be associated with the Caucasian race, rather than with the original population of American Indians. In summary, the Native American identity perished to give place to a new American identity. With this poster, Lega Nord wants to raise awareness pertaining to the threat against the Italian identity and country. For this reason, this piece of political propaganda aims to create a common purpose among Italians in order to stop unwanted and incessant immigration. The conveying of this message is made powerful due to its solemn tone, expressed by bold, blue characters, a striking image of an American Indian embracing its cultural individuality, and a popping red “Think about it” which contrasts with the green and white party-logo above to symbolize Italian patriotism. In an effort to evoke anger and resentment against illegal immigration through logical historical happenings, Lega Nord, a widely known Italian political party, asks Italians to take action.

After spending a year in Rome, Italy to seek for High Net Worth Individuals interested in immortality, clear his thinking, become familiar with his parents’ European experiences, and be around other people, human beings, Lenny Abramov returns to the new United States of America. In what now seems a decadent New York City, which he still wishes to call his despite its subjugation by a dictator’s army, Lenny decides to visit his work place at the Post Human Services Division of the Staatling Wapachung Corporation. At his arrival, though gladdened by few familiar stimuli and faces, Lenny finds that he is no longer recognized as an employee. In his scrutiny of a now different environment, waiting for his superior Joshie Goldmann, Lenny notices the emphasis that the company has put on being “organic” (healthy).

During his stay, Lenny experiences shifting, progressive ideals that closely resemble those of today’s society. Kelly Nardl, a colleague described as a “nondeodorized animal”, offers Lenny “cruciferous vegetables”, considered as symbols of respect. On the interior walls, Lenny also notices the presence of “five gigantic Solari schedule boards” which indicate the health statistics of the company’s employees. Lenny then confronts with a younger employee who chastises him for being unhealthy and old. Just as in Lenny’s futuristic society, today’s world is shifting to give great value to one’s health. In a food market dominated by genetically modified organisms and hyper-caloric provisions, more people are looking forward to consume safer, organic products. Ultimately, each day, millions of people decide to preserve and improve their fitness upon the notions of what is healthy and unhealthy. For this reason, for example, an overweight woman may feel uncomfortable in her own skin due to the societal perception that beauty is remarked by apparent physical health.

Hence, Super Sad True Love Story implicitly reflects on the gravity of contemporary’s issues such as personal health.

Presented by RADIOLAB, “Eye in the Sky”(a Podcast article) exposes the issue of surveillance as perceived by different populations. While some may protest that surveillance systems can infringe upon the privacy rights of the American citizenry, others may acclaim the use of modern surveillance as necessary toward the reduction of crime, especially in zones afflicted by crime such as Dayton, Ohio and Juarez, Mexico.

In “Eye in the Sky”, a group of citizens speaks against the implementation of a surveillance system capable of tracking object and human movement through a set of cameras implemented on the bottom surface of a police helicopter. This group emphasizes that this powerful surveillance method can be detrimental to the privacy of an individual within his or her property. Today, in the Digital Age, businesses, organizations, and individuals rely on the use of technological devices such as smartphones to communicate with others, complete tasks, make monetary transactions but also to assess crime and healthcare needs. In light of growing technological improvements, however, it is valid to fear that a device or a widely implemented surveillance system may expose one’s identity, whereabouts, and personal communications.

The Podcast article also puts light upon situations where the use of advanced surveillance helped to dismantle gangs or locate war enemies. In a striking example of this occurrence, the aforementioned set of cameras tracked the movements of suspicious vehicles to locate a gang cartel in Juarez, Mexico responsible for 1500 murders. The cameras themselves do not have the capability to zoom in on to someone’s face. On the end of an operator receiving images from the cameras, people and objects are seen as shapes and dots, and one may only track their movements. In the end, the surveillance system proved to be helpful, without unveiling the identity of innocent civilians.