The concept of love is not one well understood as there are twists and turns that cause stress and frustration. Although this may be true, many may not experience the love mentioned above as there are often times where the cliché that the "sparks flew" can apply. Young love is not always defined as legitimate as immaturity and inexperience surround these assumptions, but that does not necessarily mean that legitimate young lovers do not exist. John Steinbeck, a critically-acclaimed author, wrote a response letter to his 14-year-old in boarding school regarding his young son's first love. Instead of being a critical father analyzing his son's life choices, he resorts to being sympathetic and caring toward this budding relationship.
An aspect of his response letter that effectively represents his purpose in being supportive is his fatherly tone. Steinbeck believes that in a relationship, one should "be very glad and grateful for it." This is important as it shows that many people do not take relationships as seriously as they should. He is advising his son to protect this relationship and even break the stereotype that says that young lovers are not responsible enough to be in a committed relationship. He also says that love "is the best thing that can happen to anyone" and to not "let anyone make it small or light." It is very possible that people will make assumptions and say that being young and in love does not mean anything more than having fun. Because Steinbeck is married and has kids with his wife, he understands the importance of a relationship and how it can positively impact your life greatly. Even if he were to not support this relationship, he is still given quality advice because he is a father and that is what would be expected of him.
His overall purpose in this letter was mainly to tell his son that no matter what other people say, it is important to stick to relationships. I completely understand this as I have experienced relationships that have enriched my life greatly. This lesson can go further than young generations as protecting a relationship can be applied for the rest of your life. Although many relationships may not end perfectly, the experiences that one may gain from a long period of their life makes up for the effort and work that it takes to live in a relationship.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Sunday, December 13, 2015
TOW #12: Running with Scissors (IRB)
A situation that is unfortunately quite common is the concept of single parents feeling forced to give away their child. Running with Scissors, a memoir by Augusten Burroughs, tells the story of how he lived in an unstable house and was given away by his mother to yet another unstable household. This is a rather controversial book as it contains mature content but is also described as being humorous. I found myself being skeptical before reading this book as I am not used to reading a book with such an informal and unique style, but I quickly adapted to it. An aspect that makes it unique is that Augusten's story could not possibly be mad up as it is full of many dramatic and jaw-dropping surprises that are quite unpredictable.
Augusten's unique style is different as his arrangement of his paragraphs differs greatly throughout the book. Burroughs described his experiences: "Not crazy in a let's paint the kitchen bright red! sort of way. But crazy in a gas oven, toothpaste sandwich, I am God sort of way" (Burroughs 28). I kind of had a double-take while reading this as I was not only confused by what he was talking about but also about how he put his thoughts together. Changing to the italics and adding little unique phrases added an even more personal aspect to these sentences. It may seem rather impossible that he could make his memoir even more personal, but this makes him seem a little more human as if he's had many fun experiences revolved around certain kinds of crazies. It also can make the audience ponder the kind of craziness that Burroughs faced during his life besides what he explains in his memoir. It may not seem like a fantastic example of his writing, but it personally impacted me and shows the kind of trust and style that he invested into this book.
I am not quite sure of Augusten's purpose as I have only read half of the book, but I trust Burroughs which will then overall contribute to him achieving his purpose through me.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
TOW #11: America Needs a National Slavery Monument
Unfortunately, the root of oppression in the United States stems from the long history of slavery and the unfair treatment of black Africans-turned-"Americans." Although this issue was "resolved" after the Civil War, modern day still faces the issues of the Confederation and the reminders of the oppression that our country caused. In the article "America Needs a National Slavery Monument" by Blain Roberts, Roberts exemplifies the appeal to ethos in order to effectively convince the audience to that a national slavery monument should exist.
An important aspect of an argument is providing background information in order to inform the audience of the issue. Roberts provides the context of this issue by mentioning Dylann Roof who "murdered nine black worshipers in Charleston, SC." This is an event that touched many hearts and created the urge in many people to protest and bring awareness to the issue of racism. Roberts creates a context to show the catalyst for the protests of this issue to make sure that the audience knows that the entire topic of this essay is not their own. If the topic of the essay was their own, it would not be as trustworthy as it could may have been interpreted as a random thought of a random New York Times writer. This statement may not seem like much, but it is an important part to the entire argument. Roberts looks trustworthy and therefore, their argument is more effective.
Because this is an argument, the purpose is clear as it is to convince the audience that our country, our people, is in need of a national slavery monument. I believe that their purpose was reached as me, being an uninformed reader, was effectively informed and convinced that our country needs a monument. It shows how effective this argument is as I do not have as much of a connection to the issue as other people in our country do. Overall, this article is full of interesting facts and creates a valuable argument that could change our country forever.
An important aspect of an argument is providing background information in order to inform the audience of the issue. Roberts provides the context of this issue by mentioning Dylann Roof who "murdered nine black worshipers in Charleston, SC." This is an event that touched many hearts and created the urge in many people to protest and bring awareness to the issue of racism. Roberts creates a context to show the catalyst for the protests of this issue to make sure that the audience knows that the entire topic of this essay is not their own. If the topic of the essay was their own, it would not be as trustworthy as it could may have been interpreted as a random thought of a random New York Times writer. This statement may not seem like much, but it is an important part to the entire argument. Roberts looks trustworthy and therefore, their argument is more effective.
Because this is an argument, the purpose is clear as it is to convince the audience that our country, our people, is in need of a national slavery monument. I believe that their purpose was reached as me, being an uninformed reader, was effectively informed and convinced that our country needs a monument. It shows how effective this argument is as I do not have as much of a connection to the issue as other people in our country do. Overall, this article is full of interesting facts and creates a valuable argument that could change our country forever.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
TOW #10: Smoking Can Kill Visual Text
Smoking - probably one of most harmful diseases that could be the most underestimated. To those who have never smoked before, the idea of it can be rather revolting but to those who have done it for years, it can be rather appetizing. An advertisement that supports abstaining from smoking created the image of a person using cigarettes as bullets to put into a gun. In order to convince the audience that smoking is not just a harmful substance but also a weapon, the advertisement uses dark colors, symbolism and rhetorical questions that provide a solid argument.
The color that can arguably represent death the most is black. The entire background of this advert is black which can also connect to the color of black ash created after smoking. Also, the use of the gun is a symbol is murder but the difference is that smoking is like committing suicide. The person smoking decided to smoke and decided to harm themselves. Lastly, the question the advert asks is "Smoking kills so why bother?" This is a rather deep question that could very well convince many people to abstain from starting to smoke. It would not make sense to start smoking if it is not possible to live after it.
The entire purpose of this advert is to create an even darker image of smoking other than just saying that it is harmful. People think that smoking is not that bad because many people live for quite a long time while smoking. I think that this advert proved its purpose. It has a powerful image of a gun and can really cut deep into a person's emotions when they think about suicide. A lot of the times, people think of pleasure rather than their own health. This advertisement is definitely highlighting that flaw in human nature.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
TOW #9: Everything Comes to an End
Death can be viewed as a horrible concept as many people have experienced unbearable effects from it. Following the death of a loved one can bring depression, anger and even the desire to see them just one more time. Eva Gabrielsson, the partner of Stieg Larson, got her wish but in a unique way. Stieg Larson, the author of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," passed away on November 9th, 2004 but wrote a letter in 1977 to Gabrielsson when he was 22 years old: just before his trip to Africa. This letter was marked "To be opened only after my death," which is exactly what happened when Eva read it for the first time in front of a crowd at Larson's funeral. In Larson's letter, he uses anaphora and the appeal to logos in order to convince Gabrielsson that death is a natural occurrence and that there is no reason to suffer because he is now gone.
Repetition can be looked at as rather mundane, but Larson uses it in an effective way. He wants to confess his undying love to Gabrielsson by saying, "I want you to know that I love you more than I've ever loved anyone. I want you to know I mean that seriously. I want you to remember me but not grieve for me." The repetition of "I want you" is such an important line in his letter. He is expressing his dying wish and showing that he believes that even though they were in love, there is no reason for his death to completely destroy her life. Also, his appeal to logos can help convince Gabrielsson that death is natural and nothing to be horribly upset about. He introduces the idea by saying, "the stars die, the galaxies die, the planets die. And people die too." By describing the world around him and by explaining that it is completely okay that he died, Gabrielsson is more likely to realize that his death is an ordinary event.
Originally, his letter was directly addressed to his Eva, but this was before Larson become a successful author. If he were to write this later in his life after his book became a best-seller, he would most likely have written to the public because his life would not have been as private. I completely believe that he achieved his purpose because his letter definitely made me realize that even though death can be extremely heart-wrenching, it is just the way of life.
Repetition can be looked at as rather mundane, but Larson uses it in an effective way. He wants to confess his undying love to Gabrielsson by saying, "I want you to know that I love you more than I've ever loved anyone. I want you to know I mean that seriously. I want you to remember me but not grieve for me." The repetition of "I want you" is such an important line in his letter. He is expressing his dying wish and showing that he believes that even though they were in love, there is no reason for his death to completely destroy her life. Also, his appeal to logos can help convince Gabrielsson that death is natural and nothing to be horribly upset about. He introduces the idea by saying, "the stars die, the galaxies die, the planets die. And people die too." By describing the world around him and by explaining that it is completely okay that he died, Gabrielsson is more likely to realize that his death is an ordinary event.
Originally, his letter was directly addressed to his Eva, but this was before Larson become a successful author. If he were to write this later in his life after his book became a best-seller, he would most likely have written to the public because his life would not have been as private. I completely believe that he achieved his purpose because his letter definitely made me realize that even though death can be extremely heart-wrenching, it is just the way of life.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
IRB Intro Post #2
The book that I decided to read this marking period is called "Running with Scissors" by Augusten Burroughs. This book is a New York Times bestseller and is a personal memoir about Augusten growing up in a bizarre household when his mom is no longer fit to take care of him. I chose this book because it was recommended to me by a friend, but I have also read a few strange reviews that interested me. I have heard that this book is for mature readers, so I am excited for the challenge.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
TOW #8: Eat, Pray, Love (IRB #2)
When I finally finished reading Liz Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love," I decided that this has to be one of the most unique and inspiring memoirs that I have ever read. Traveling the world may not seem like a creative topic to reflect on, but once you learn about her experiences, you instantly realize why this book has impacted a numerous amount of people. Gilbert states that probably one of the most important things she learned because of her journey is that you must be focused on finding happiness for yourself. You must "fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it…you have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings." This, I believe, is her purpose.
She was caught in a horrible situation and in order for her to feel better, she did something drastic. She traveled the world, she fell in love, she learned new languages, she meditated, and most of all, she learned that sometimes you need to be selfish. This is something that possibly everyone can relate to, which is why her book has been so successful. It is able to reach everyone. Her audience is so widespread and because of her fantastic writing abilities, she was able to form a fantastic book.
An important aspect of her book is her powerful diction. Her choice of words immediately can change a person's mind, and this also brings the appeal to pathos. She uses words such as "relentlessly" and "fight" as a way to encourage people to find their happy place. This is inspiring, especially when you explore the heartbreak and sacrifice that it took for her to reach this conclusion. Some might say that the only way to enjoy your life is so find happiness and that it shouldn't take a genius to figure that out. Although this could be true, no one ever does it. It takes someone else's life to convince you that you need to take care of yourself. As stated before, this is her purpose and I definitely believe that she achieved it. She forces the reader to reevaluate their life which takes a truly powerful and talented author to do.
She was caught in a horrible situation and in order for her to feel better, she did something drastic. She traveled the world, she fell in love, she learned new languages, she meditated, and most of all, she learned that sometimes you need to be selfish. This is something that possibly everyone can relate to, which is why her book has been so successful. It is able to reach everyone. Her audience is so widespread and because of her fantastic writing abilities, she was able to form a fantastic book.
An important aspect of her book is her powerful diction. Her choice of words immediately can change a person's mind, and this also brings the appeal to pathos. She uses words such as "relentlessly" and "fight" as a way to encourage people to find their happy place. This is inspiring, especially when you explore the heartbreak and sacrifice that it took for her to reach this conclusion. Some might say that the only way to enjoy your life is so find happiness and that it shouldn't take a genius to figure that out. Although this could be true, no one ever does it. It takes someone else's life to convince you that you need to take care of yourself. As stated before, this is her purpose and I definitely believe that she achieved it. She forces the reader to reevaluate their life which takes a truly powerful and talented author to do.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
TOW #7: I Am Very Real
It can be argued that no other profession has received more rejection than those involved in the arts whether it be with literature, entertainment, or physical artwork. Kurt Vonnegut, an American author and prisoner of war during World War II, had certainly felt the rewards of success, but when a school board in a North Dakota public school deemed his book "Slaughterhouse-Five" as being full of "obscene language," he decided to respond with a letter. Through the use of the appeal to pathos and ethos, Vonnegut effectively conveys his disgust and feeling of betrayal toward the school board that burned his book in their now "famous furnace." In October of 1973, a young teacher decided to use "Slaughterhouse-Five" as a teaching aid, but was immediately told to end these lessons because he was told that the book was inappropriate. When Vonnegut heard about this, he wrote to the head of the school board.
The audience of this letter is only the head of the school board because he states to him that "no copies of this letter have been sent to anybody else." This is an important aspect of this letter because Vonnegut had no intention of making this issue public. Even though the news spread, he did not want to make it any bigger and make the school board think that he is taking advantage of the situation to sell more books. When speaking directly to the board, Vonnegut states that "books and writers are very unreal to you people." He adds in through the appeal to pathos by saying that he wants to show "how real I am." This is incredibly sad, especially when you know that his book is about him being a prisoner of war. He is making the board feel guilty because they are making his life and his experiences a joke. They are saying that his "work is evil" which Vonnegut said is "extraordinarily insulting" to him. He worked so hard on this book and he also endured so much pain which is told in this book, but the board did not even pay attention to it.
I think his purpose in this letter was really to show the board that there is a real person behind a book, especially when the book is based on a real experience. He hit the board hard, especially when he explained how qualified he is about him being a veteran and having a Purple Heart while these people in North Dakota or saying that he is inappropriate. Overall, this is, without a doubt, an effective letter that shows sophistication but also courage.
The audience of this letter is only the head of the school board because he states to him that "no copies of this letter have been sent to anybody else." This is an important aspect of this letter because Vonnegut had no intention of making this issue public. Even though the news spread, he did not want to make it any bigger and make the school board think that he is taking advantage of the situation to sell more books. When speaking directly to the board, Vonnegut states that "books and writers are very unreal to you people." He adds in through the appeal to pathos by saying that he wants to show "how real I am." This is incredibly sad, especially when you know that his book is about him being a prisoner of war. He is making the board feel guilty because they are making his life and his experiences a joke. They are saying that his "work is evil" which Vonnegut said is "extraordinarily insulting" to him. He worked so hard on this book and he also endured so much pain which is told in this book, but the board did not even pay attention to it.
I think his purpose in this letter was really to show the board that there is a real person behind a book, especially when the book is based on a real experience. He hit the board hard, especially when he explained how qualified he is about him being a veteran and having a Purple Heart while these people in North Dakota or saying that he is inappropriate. Overall, this is, without a doubt, an effective letter that shows sophistication but also courage.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
TOW #6: Global Warming Visual Text
Global warming as become a worldwide phenomenon that has been labelled on both ends of the spectrum: as a myth and as scientific fact. Usually, an advertisement based on global warming uses a polar bear that is sitting on the top of a sheet of ice that has melted to the point where it can barely hold the bear. Although this can be heart-breaking at first glance, it has been used so often that it no longer has the same effect. A reason why this advertisement is so effective is because it shows an everyday scene. Unfortunately, when walking through an urban area, it is not uncommon to come across a homeless person sleeping on a bench. It has a greater effect because it is realistic and the animal on the bench is innocent.
This advertisement appeals to pathos significantly because the audience sees the innocent animal and realizes that they (human race) are the ones that are the reason for this animal's suffering. Also, it is a extremely sad scene because the animal looks out of place and the colors are dark with the beat up bench along with the black graffiti. Also, this advertisement is definitely credible. On the bottom, it has a logo of a panda that says "WWF" which stands for the World Wide Fund for Nature and the advertisement provides a website that the audience can go to for more information. If this came from a random group that is protesting against global warming, I would not have trusted it. Their purpose would have been more along the lines of gaining followers and also funds for their protest. When it comes from a source that is known worldwide, it makes the advertisement a lot more trustworthy.
The purpose of this advertisement is to make people aware and to create a change in their lives. On the bottom, the advertisement provides an incredibly easy solution which is to turn off your electronics whenever they are not in use. The author uses the appeal to ethos and pathos in order to simply change the minds of the audience.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
TOW #5: The Minimum Wage - How Much Is Too Much?
The federal minimum wage has been a topic surrounded by controversy for years, and ever since the change to $7.25 in 2009, Democratic politicians have been fighting for a change. Alan Krueger, an economist and writer for the New York Times, argued that although the increase of the federal minimum wage can be helpful, increasing the minimum wage too much can have harsh consequences. The topic of the minimum wage requirements is not an easy one to understand, especially if the reader is not involved in politics. An aspect of this article that is unique is how simple it is to understand Krueger's message. He adjusts the subject of his article to accommodate various audiences such as parents with teenagers, adult minimum wage workers, business owners, and the average American.
Kruger effectively conveys his opinion by using ethos, diction and research in order to convince the reader to disagree with the proposed $15.00 minimum wage. Krueger uses ethos by referencing various politicians' opinions that he agrees with and includes that their opinions are "supported by President Obama and Hillary Clinton." No matter the opinion of the reader based on Obama and Clinton, the appeal to ethos is still present because these two people are extremely powerful in America. Also, Krueger changes from formal to informal diction that makes this article a lot more entertaining. Politics can often be described as a rather mundane topic, but Krueger effectively makes what he is saying more interesting to the reader because he does not use highly sophisticated vocabulary. This is more likely to encourage someone to read his article. Lastly, he includes a lot of research which supports his argument. He states that he has been studying "minimum wage for 25 years," so he knows many aspects of this issue. The reader is much more likely to trust him because of his knowledge and education.
In conclusion, Krueger proved his argument and achieved his purpose by creating trust through reliable sources and making this loaded, political argument a lighter subject.
Kruger effectively conveys his opinion by using ethos, diction and research in order to convince the reader to disagree with the proposed $15.00 minimum wage. Krueger uses ethos by referencing various politicians' opinions that he agrees with and includes that their opinions are "supported by President Obama and Hillary Clinton." No matter the opinion of the reader based on Obama and Clinton, the appeal to ethos is still present because these two people are extremely powerful in America. Also, Krueger changes from formal to informal diction that makes this article a lot more entertaining. Politics can often be described as a rather mundane topic, but Krueger effectively makes what he is saying more interesting to the reader because he does not use highly sophisticated vocabulary. This is more likely to encourage someone to read his article. Lastly, he includes a lot of research which supports his argument. He states that he has been studying "minimum wage for 25 years," so he knows many aspects of this issue. The reader is much more likely to trust him because of his knowledge and education.
In conclusion, Krueger proved his argument and achieved his purpose by creating trust through reliable sources and making this loaded, political argument a lighter subject.
Sunday, October 4, 2015
TOW #4: Eat, Pray, Love (IRB)
Some might say that traveling around the world following a divorce may seem a little extreme, but in order for Liz Gilbert to keep her sanity, she felt she had to visit the 3 countries on her bucket list: Italy, India, and Indonesia. In Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love," Liz tells the story of her life as she sets aside one year, for the first time in her life, to enjoy some well deserved "me time."
Although her story could be directed to people who may have been in the same situation as her, I believe that many people could find enjoyment through her work. There is a message in this book of taking care of yourself and always striving to be your best that can relate to everyone. I cannot tell if she achieved her purpose because I have not read about her time in Indonesia, but based on how much I have read, I believe that she will by the time that I reach the conclusion of her narrative.
An important aspect of her writing is her humor. Her story, in the beginning, is filled with depression and loss, but she lightens up the topic by stating that depression is "always the wise guy" and that loneliness is "the more sensitive cop" (Gilbert 47). If her story was filled with such sorrow and sadness, I would not find it as interesting. An important rhetorical strategy that is used by her often is also her ethos. As stated before, the beginning of her story is not a positive one, but she never hesitates to include personal details. She described a time of her life when she "was hiding in the bathroom for something like the forty seventh night... sobbing so hard that a great lake of tears was spreading on the bathroom tiles" (Gilbert 10). This is an aspect of her writing that I enjoy because it expands her credibility. She set out to write a book about her experiences, and she is not afraid to share everything which creates a sense of trust between her and her readers.
Although her story could be directed to people who may have been in the same situation as her, I believe that many people could find enjoyment through her work. There is a message in this book of taking care of yourself and always striving to be your best that can relate to everyone. I cannot tell if she achieved her purpose because I have not read about her time in Indonesia, but based on how much I have read, I believe that she will by the time that I reach the conclusion of her narrative.
An important aspect of her writing is her humor. Her story, in the beginning, is filled with depression and loss, but she lightens up the topic by stating that depression is "always the wise guy" and that loneliness is "the more sensitive cop" (Gilbert 47). If her story was filled with such sorrow and sadness, I would not find it as interesting. An important rhetorical strategy that is used by her often is also her ethos. As stated before, the beginning of her story is not a positive one, but she never hesitates to include personal details. She described a time of her life when she "was hiding in the bathroom for something like the forty seventh night... sobbing so hard that a great lake of tears was spreading on the bathroom tiles" (Gilbert 10). This is an aspect of her writing that I enjoy because it expands her credibility. She set out to write a book about her experiences, and she is not afraid to share everything which creates a sense of trust between her and her readers.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
TOW #3: Smoking Visual Text
Even though smoking can seem like an enticing activity for some people, this advertisement is strictly to show viewers how much damage a cigarette can do. This is an effective advertisement because the viewer can see themselves in this advertisement. They can imagine themselves with the same face that the girl is wearing and immediately their mind can be changed which also describes the appeal to pathos.
This advertisement also provides a number to contact if the viewer is in need of help, but it also provides a little inspirational quote saying, "You have the will. There is a way." This can make the viewer feel confident and more motivated to change their life which is yet another example of the appeal to pathos. Originally, the viewer could feel rather weak because of their addiction, but this provides hope which is another reason why this is effective. There are many advertisements that revolve around smoking, but this separates itself from others because of its audience. A lot of the advertisements share statistics, but that cannot be as effective with young people because that does not seem as important as an actual image of the impact of smoking.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
TOW #2: They All Just Went Away
The essay that I chose to read this week is titled They All Just Went Away by Joyce Carol Oates. In this essay, Oates describes the characteristics of a house and then proceeds to explain how "the house anticipates the home and will very likely survive it... for only where there is life can there be home" (Oates 554). She introduces her home to be "a happy, close-knit, and unextraordinary family" (Oates 555) and continues to describe the Wiedel family: a family with a drunk father who consistently abuses his six children and a mother who consistently stands up for her husband, even though she receives the same treatment. She is telling the story of her growing up next to this family and how it has impacted her up to this day.
This essay really is not about sharing her life and telling the story of the dysfunctional family that she lived alongside of because her audience really isn't toward people who want a story. Her entire essay is really a metaphor for the world. There are very unequal opportunities all around the world with certain people having more freedoms than others. She describes one family that has parents that are both loving and work where the children are happy. Then, she describes one family that has drunk parents who don't really work and have children that are growing up in a horrible environment. This, unfortunately, is the case all around the world. After the family is separated when the father goes to jail, Oates sees one of the Wiedel daughters in school many years later. The daughter is more mature than Oates and expresses very adult-like behavior. This opens up Oates's eyes.
Her audience is able to relate to her because everyone has a place that they can call home. She describes what value a home has and how it shapes you as a person. I believe that she definitely was able to achieve her purpose because of her example with the Wiedel daughter. Their homes were completely opposite and that has forever changed the both of them.
This essay really is not about sharing her life and telling the story of the dysfunctional family that she lived alongside of because her audience really isn't toward people who want a story. Her entire essay is really a metaphor for the world. There are very unequal opportunities all around the world with certain people having more freedoms than others. She describes one family that has parents that are both loving and work where the children are happy. Then, she describes one family that has drunk parents who don't really work and have children that are growing up in a horrible environment. This, unfortunately, is the case all around the world. After the family is separated when the father goes to jail, Oates sees one of the Wiedel daughters in school many years later. The daughter is more mature than Oates and expresses very adult-like behavior. This opens up Oates's eyes.
Her audience is able to relate to her because everyone has a place that they can call home. She describes what value a home has and how it shapes you as a person. I believe that she definitely was able to achieve her purpose because of her example with the Wiedel daughter. Their homes were completely opposite and that has forever changed the both of them.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
TOW #1 - The Way They Were
The article that I decided to read for this week is titled The Way They Were that was posted on The New York Times website. The author, Gabrielle Selz, tells the story of her mother passing away and her father preparing for his literal grave. Selz explains that her "parents each took an approach to the end of life that was indicative of the way they lived their lives." Her mother, being a shy and rather reserved woman, passed away gracefully after a long battle with amnesia. Her father, being "vibrant and ambitious," led an enthusiastic life and continued to do so as he coped with the idea of death. Something that is important to note is that Selz's thoughtful and calm tone remains constant throughout the entire article. At one point, she mentions that her "father [had] been obsessively preparing for his demise for the last 25 years" which is almost kind of joke that she thought that her father was going a little bit over-board. In contrast to this, she mentions that her father was "a force of nature continually hurtling forward" and that he "needed to control and plan even for the time when he would no longer be among [them]." By saying this, I interpreted this as saying that Selz is thankful for his dedication this "end of his life" project. She may have almost made fun of him for being obsessed with it, but deep down, I believe that this really helped her cope with her father's death. Keeping her tone constant while changing what she is saying is what makes Selz a talented author. She can make a serious article more of a joy to read without taking away from its meaning. Her purpose could have been to tell anyone about her story of her parents passing away, but I believe that she directed this toward people who are facing a situation where someone that they care about is soon to pass away. This sheds light on the her opinion that death does not necessarily have to be a bad thing and that preparing for the actual death is not something to be scared about. It is a sad time in a person's life to see someone die; however, Selz effectively explains that it is all up to how the person who is dying is handling it.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/the-way-they-were/?_r=0
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/the-way-they-were/?_r=0
IRB Intro Post #1
The book that I decided to read this marking period is titled Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. This book is about the author when she traveled to Italy, India and Indonesia to climb herself out of depression. Traveling is a hobby that I am interested in, so I am looking forward to reading Gilbert's experiences in different countries. I have been recommended this book quite a few times, but I figured that now is the perfect opportunity to read it.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Graven Images by Saul Bellow
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| Visual Source: Source Enterprises "When you're so out there in the public eye, people are constantly criticizing every aspect about you." -Gwyneth Paltrow |
Being in the public eye is not a concept that many people may be able to relate to, but is something that in today's society, is a goal wanting to be achieved by many. According to Saul Bellow, an author awarded many prizes because of his literary work, cameras have allowed everyone an "opportunity each and every one of them has dreamt of-a shot at eternity" (Bellow 565). In modern day and when this essay was written, there are numerous ways to be shown to the masses of people by just taking a picture.
An important aspect of this essay's argument is that photographers have a way to manipulate their subject. This essay starts with a quote by Harry S. Truman that talks about how photographers controlled him. They told him when to sit up, cross his legs, move his chairs, etc. Soon, it comes to a point where this picture does not even represent its subject anymore and has distorted its features. Bellow shared a personal experience of how he has been photographed and he looked completely different in a negative way.
The audience of this essay is geared toward people who are in more advanced societies that have access to all of this technology and media. He is using this essay as kind of a warning and trying to make the reader think similarly to him. An integral part of this essay is Bellow's tone. It changes often from a humorous and casual tone to a more serious and intimate tone. When describing his grandfather, Bellow is sharing a personal story that allows the reader relate to him which builds a little bit of trust between them. Bellow did not really achieve his purpose. He did bring light to this particular topic, but overall, he probably is not able to change the minds of many people. Nowadays, the goal of many is to become famous, and that goal is not easy to change.
Heaven and Nature by Edward Hoagland
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| Visual Source: mentalhealthy.co.uk "Suicide isn't cowardly. I'll tell you what's cowardly; treating people so badly that they want to end their lives." -Ashley Purdy |
In today's society, suicide has often been perceived as a cowardly act that is never a necessary action in any situation. An aspect in this essay that sets it apart from other works about suicides is that it has a mix of both research and personal experiences of the author, Edward Hoagland. Hoagland is an established author and taught at various universities for over forty years. He has been highly praised by many authors and is known for his nonfiction work. At first, it seems as though a lot of what he is saying is from observing his friends but then, the reader realizes that Hoagland experienced a long period of suicidal thoughts as well.
Suicide has, unfortunately, become a rising issue in society throughout the last few decades. Hoagland explained in this essay that suicide is not just about trying to harm yourself. A lot of the time it is to protect yourself or to protect others and that by dying, you are making someone else's life easier. Suicide is not always because one might be mad with their life at the present time but because one may look back at their life after many decades and feel as though they have failed.
The audience of the essay is not necessarily just to people who may have suicidal thoughts but to people who may have friends going through hard times. This is helpful to start the process of understanding suicide and one's reasons for thinking a certain way. An important part of this essay is the little anecdotes that Hoagland includes. Reading statistics off a page is often not as eye-opening as personal stories that pertain to a specific topic. The reader is more likely to relate to certain experiences than read research that does not even have anything to do with them. Hoagland really wanted to help people through this essay and change people's minds which he definitely did. He talked about a serious topic without making it stereotypical and rather boring. This is an issue that is very apparent and is still relevant to today's society.
The Handicapped by Randolph Bourne
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| Visual Source: University of Lethbridge "I hate the words 'handicapped' and 'disabled'. They imply that you are less than whole." -Aimee Mullins |
The psychological and emotional struggle of someone who is handicapped is often a topic that is ignored or immediately judged. This essay talks a lot about isolation and how much harder the world is when someone must live with a disability. The author, Randolph Bourne, talks about his personal struggles because he was born with a facial deformity and understands what it feels like to sit "a foot lower than the normal" (Bourne 58). While Bourne was writing this, living with any kind of disability was far more difficult than modern day. There was a lot of discrimination and any person who appeared abnormal was thought to be disgusting. Bourne faced a lot of obstacles in his life; however, a lot of them were not directly from his facial deformity. Many of these issues were because of how people treated him because he appeared different.
This essay is geared toward people who think that those who are handicapped are different and are not fit for the world that they live in. The main reason Bourne wrote this essay was to create a difference in the world. He felt like he was being punished for being different, and he did not want others like him to feel the same way. This essay brings a lot of insight to the reader and explores the mind of someone who is handicapped which helps get the point across.
An important aspect of this essay is Bourne's diction. The entire essay is in a formal and rather complex tone that sets the mood early on. If this essay was in a casual tone, Bourne's purpose would not have been achieved. This topic is a very serious issue and unfortunately, a very real issue. The reader must take everything that Bourne says seriously because if they don't, the main point of the essay is lost. He achieved his purpose because he educated those who have not experienced the feeling of being handicapped, and he has changed minds way beyond what he may of thought possible.
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