TOW #13- Visual: The Farce Awakens

This week I decided to analyze a political cartoon which honors two of the most interesting current events today, the infamous, Donald Trump and the even more infamous, Star Wars. Created by cartoonist, Dave Granlund, who has been featured in world renowned newspaper companies, the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek, this cartoon pokes fun at the recent campaign, highlighting the consistent false statements made by Donald Trump. The recent release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens has sparked quite an uproar as, contrary to the prequels, it was actually good. George Lucas disappointed mass amounts of Americans with the second trilogy of Star Wars which did not even remotely compare to his first. However, the newest in the series took people everywhere back to their childhood and transported them into a magical world of space, mystical planets and classic battles between good and evil. Granlund is attempting to convey a message to viewers showing the evil and often false nature of Donald Trump and his actions. This cartoon places Trump in the suit of Darth Vader, the leader of the "dark side" in the star wars series. Granlund does this in an effort to tag Trump as an evil being, although very powerful, ultimately wicked at heart. On top of that, Granlund clearly puts a belt around the Vader costume to even further identify this being as Trump as it is labeled "GOP" signifying that he is a republican. This cartoon even holds a satirical flare as Granlund changes the title from "The Force Awakens" to "The Farce Awakens", reminding viewers of the untrue, mockery of Trump and what he says. In adding these details to his cartoon, Dave Granlund creates a funny and powerful cartoon, using the recent release of a popular movie to poke fun at Donald Trump and his illegitimate means of campaigning for presidency.

TOW #12: IRB "The Seven Good Years"

When reading a book which features the tragedies of terrorism in Israel, one can anticipate a dreadful theme, stocked with loss, fear and overall woe. In a country where terrorist attacks become as frequent and expected as Sunday night football games, it's hard to imagine any "good " to write about. However, Etgar Keret manages to craft a masterpiece of humorous, uplifting and mostly undeniably interesting memoirs which bring light to those catastrophic events. In his critically acclaimed book, "The Seven Good Years", he focuses around the time between the birth of his child and the death of his father, the part of his life that was happiest, but this is far from a memoir about Keret. This book strings together numerous unforgettable stories which allow the reader to see the root of violence, pain and love which continue to last even in the eye of a savage war in the Middle East.

What makes Keret such a sophisticated and enjoyable author is his ability to tell stories which truly captivate the reader. Any man trying to survive and raise a family in the middle of a war, inevitably faces disturbing loss and invariable sadness, but Etgar Keret transforms that pain into some of the most insightful and satisfying stories ever told. One way he achieves his purpose is through his ability to focus on what seems like miniscule details and transform them into mind altering entities for the reader. Of course one can expect that Keret would, for a book bonded by terrorism, emphasize on just that, but instead he focuses very little on attacks and violence, pulling the reader closer to the things that people often overlook. At one point in the text, Keret does focus on an experience with a bombing in Tel Aviv, where he, his wife, and his son, Lev, where forced to dive onto the pavement, and take cover anticipating the backlash. He only spent about two pages describing this seemingly horrific experience, going on to describe something as supposedly insignificant as Angry Birds explaining, "Under the adorable surface of the funny animals and their sweet voices, Angry Birds is actually a game in which you are prepared to sacrifice your life just so you can destroy the houses of unarmed enemies and vaporize their wives and children inside" for about five pages. This ability to point out deeper concepts and speculation to the reader creates several full and generous tales. Keret's use of satire also creates a more colorful and passionate piece. In this half of the book Keret at one point describes the birth of his son, Lev, particularly the wait for assistance in the hospital after a recent terrorist attack which highly occupied the aids. With gurneys flying by carrying individuals missing limbs and nurses rushing to their side, Keret and his wife simply wait, almost feeling outshined by this attack, claiming "even the baby feels this whole getting-born this isn't that urgent anymore." When describing something like the birth of someones first child, this is usually supposed to be a moment of great excitement and importance, but the way Keret describes it makes the reader enjoy and empathise for his recurring, coincidental, misfortunes. His description of the baby's emotions also have the same effect. The humor used in a calamity like this makes the topic of terrorism a little less heavy and further establishes the existing light in an environment of great darkness. Etgar Keret is a master storyteller with an unbelievable collection of experiences to share. He speaks to anyone interested in captivating tales of sadness and joy, bravery and fear, gain and loss, successfully producing an inspiring memoir of hope at the center of disaster.

TOW #11- Nonfiction: Bill Clinton's August 17 speech to the American public: Monica Lewinsky

         In 1998 a sex scandal known as the Lewinsky scandal emerged when a sexual relationship was revealed between the president of the United States, Bill Clinton, and a white house employee, Monica Lewinsky. This world wide controversy led to a chain of perjury and eventually an impeachment of the president during his second term. Bill Clinton gave a public speech admitting to his affair to the nation on August 6, 1998. Throughout this speech, Clinton's use of personal anaphora and apologetic diction all contribute toward creating the sincere and humble speech he aimed to deliver as a president who has recently lost the trust of his followers and in grave danger of being impeached.

          Clinton wants to regain the trust of Americans and help them understand that he acknowledges the fault in what he has done. Upon acknowledging the events that took place and what he would like moving forward, Clinton speaks in first person beginning almost every sentence with "I did", "I know", "I can" and so on. By starting with "I", he makes his speech seem more personal when speaking to citizens everywhere. He is also trying to get off of the pedestal he is put on as a president and transform himself into a simple person who has made a mistake. He wants to make the public feel closer to him and feel like they can relate and sympathize for him. This is further achieved through an anaphoric use of the term "you". These terms are extremely effective when Clinton initiates, "I am speaking to you", making the viewer feel a connection to him as a person and not as a president. The president also used a massive amount of apologetic diction in order to show his audience the remorse he feels for his "scandalous" behavior and perjury. Clinton explains to the nation that his affair, "...constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on..." his "...part for which..." he is "...solely and completely responsible." Not only does he admit to what he has done, but he takes complete responsibility for it and damages it caused. In a nation where most people most likely see his as a selfish and greedy man at the moment, he is taking the first step toward attempting to receive their empathy, admission. He refrains from explaining his personal feelings toward Lewinsky or his personal life being exposed, he simply takes responsibility which has a much more positive effect.
          Bill Clinton successfully delivers a speech to the public admitting his faults in having a sexual affair with Monica Lewinsky. Although the nation viewed him as an untrustworthy president, he manages to humble himself and appear apologetic for the what he has done through his use of remorseful diction and personal anaphora. 

TOW #10- Nonfiction:Girls in California Are Latest to Seek to Become Boy Scouts

America today has taken huge leaps and bounds toward becoming more liberal. In a nation where the Supreme court has recently redefined marriage by accepting same-sex couples and has commenced a shift toward unisex bathrooms to accommodate for transgender individuals, it is clear that gender barriers and traditional roles are finally starting to fall. One of the most recent debates over this subject occurred in Saint Rosa, California with a small group of girls, a large dose of courage and a demand to be accepted into the exclusive, male, club, the Boy Scouts. Julie Turkewitz, journalist at the world famous newspaper company, the New York Times, explores this pressing argument highlighting one group of many girls who would simply prefer to spend their time tying knots and camping, than selling cookies as a Girl Scout. Speaking to anyone interested in the fierce debate toward the survival of gender roles in this country, she uses the direct opinions toward concerned parents and legal proof of obstruction to represent the struggles these girls are facing in a journey toward acceptance in this timeless club. While Turkewitz does not represent her own opinion on the topic, she does provide that of a few parents who worry that admitting girls into the Boy Scouts of America is a mistake. One mother of Boy Scouts members claims that the addition of coed camping and concerns her the most. She states "Would I want a girl sleeping in my son's tent? No." While many may have ideas to solve these concerns, the truth is, many share similar concerns and confusion about why these girls can't just focus on changing the Girl Scouts into what they would prefer, rather than becoming a boy scout. By including direct quotes from parents showing their concerns, Turkewitz proves that this is not simply a matter of a group of men keeping girls away from their aspirations, but rather, a legitimate conflict which parents, including mothers are worried about as well. On top of having to fight the power of concerned parents everywhere, these girls demanding acceptance also face legal hurdles. Turkewitz includes a small excerpt of a federal law which "prohibits discrimination by sex", but "carves out an exception for Boy Scouts, allowing them to exclude members based on gender." The Boy Scouts have built a powerful legacy making them one of the nations most prominent values-based organizations, with that, comes advantages and rules which are applied to advance their membership and success. This group of girls is facing such a huge problem that they must not on knock down the barriers placed by common society, but also by the federal law itself. There is no telling whether girls will be able to join the Boy Scouts in the future, but what is certain is the overwhelming hardships females face today when facing as powerful an organization as the Boy Scouts of America.

IRB Intro #2: The Seven Good Years- Etgar Keret

For my next independent reading book, I've chosen the critically acclaimed memoir, 'The Seven Good Years' by the hilarious Etgar Keret. This book was recommended to me by my older sister as she has enjoyed the authors' podcast series. Keret is one of the best known writers in Israel primarily for his brilliant and colorful storytelling, filmwriting and novels. In this text, Keret writes about what he refers to as "the good years", or the years between the birth of his son and the death of his father. His son was born in the middle on a deadly war and a series of terrorists attacks in Tel Aviv. Around the same time his father becomes very ill. In the midst of all of the death and destruction, Keret is still able to tale an inspiring and witty story of a father raising his son, fighting to keep "the good years" alive living in a country driven by disastrous war.

TOW #9: Visual- Pepsi Advertisement

            The infamous Pepsi versus Coke rivalry has existed since the beginning of soda time. Pepsi is a soft drink produced and manufactured by the world renowned, extremely successful company, PepsiCo.  While Pepsi was first created and developed in 1893, it has made huge leaps and bounds since then. In fact, in Pepsi’s road to the top, the beverage has made a number of powerful enemies, specifically the legendary company, Coca-Cola, another leading manufacturer in soda. Though this battle over which beverage reigns superior started ages ago, this ad is an excellent reminder that Pepsi has in no way given in on their claims that Coca Cola is really no competition when it comes to “the joy of Pepsi”.

In one of their famous “Straws” ad, Pepsi attempts to prove to customers that their cola beverage is more desirable than that of other companies. This message is clearly shown through the use of personification, bold logo representation and the presence of their competitions cola can.

 Pepsi wants the consumer to focus on the straws in this advertisement, something fairly easy to do as the straw close to entering the soda that is not Pepsi’s depicts a frightened face and hands

struck out as if it is trying to keep itself from entering the drink. In contrast, the Pepsi can just to that soda’s right is shown with a normal straw, peacefully placed in the beverage. This use of personification is very valuable to the ad as it helps the viewer connect to the image. As a person having to choose between one soda and a Pepsi, one can now see that Pepsi wants them to believe that they are the obvious choice. It draws the viewer toward Pepsi, and away from other colas to avoid the same freight the image suggests one will endure from another soda. Pepsi next uses their logo to draw the consumer in. While they leave the other can without any advertisement at all, it makes it seem bleak and bland, especially compared to the details and astounding colors represented by Pepsi. The simple use of their logo is eye candy to the consumer and makes it appear much more appealing. Finally, Pepsi wants to specifically hone the viewer in on how much they triumph over their immediate enemies. The can with the straw eager to stay away from the drink inside matches the same profile as that of a Coca-Cola can. It is shown with the same colors and pattern as Coca-Cola, only missing a logo. This is to help Pepsi specifically show the viewer that their product is better than Coca-Cola, without blatantly saying it. Now, the customer can see the two most common products, see which is represented with a greater appeal, and translate that choice into a real life selection for cola.

Pepsi’s use of straw representation with human-like qualities, excellent logos and representation of their “enemy” all contribute to their clear and successful advertisement. Their attempt to prove they are the superior soda is successful and attractive to soda consumers everywhere.

TOW #8 - IRB: "A.D. New Orleans After the Deluge" (pt. 2)

What if your entire world was wiped away in less than a day? Precious memories, loved ones, irreplaceable knick knacks, photos and cherished antiques that all piece together who you are. What if all of that was simply washed cleared from existence like a minuscule computer file moved to the trash bin. These are only a few questions Josh Neufeld answers toward the end of his chilling graphic nonfiction, A.D. New Orleans After the Deluge.

The lives of millions were touched as a result of the devastating storm, hurricane Katrina. However, Neufeld eloquently hones in on the lives of a handful of diverse people and groups who reported to him their actual experiences before, during, and after the havoc. While the first half of the book focused on the preceding events of the storm, the second half centers around the storm itself and the shocking aftermath. The ability of the reader to connect to the traumatizing experiences of the characters is most clearly due to Neufeld’s use of distressing diction and accurate facial expressions to match the severity and suffering in the situation at hand.

One of the most catastrophic things about hurricane Katrina was the aftermath and the toll it took on Americans still trapped in New Orleans. For many, it was a long time before rescue ever came, during that waiting period, people were trapped in a disease, death and crime ridden city. Josh Neufeld is able to accurately depict this tragic situation through both visualization and text. When one of the main characters, Denise, is shown at the extremely crowded New Orleans convention center after the storm, the reader is able to connect to her pain and suffering. In a flood of stressed, underfed, seemingly abandoned people, Denise screams out, “They bring us here with no power. No sanitation, no food, no medicine – and they can’t even give us water? It’s like some kinda sick joke!” It is here that Neufeld shows Denise embodying the minds and bodies of so many others is distress after hurricane Katrina. He represents her face is a jagged mix of horror and anger, astonished at how any government, any country, especially America, could leave its citizens stranded in such a way. Sweat is shown beating down her brow, Her mouth is wide open to yell, eyes narrow, nose scrunched, and hands raised in the air as if she if speaking boldly directly to her government. Neufeld does an excellent job, not just by reporting the actually events, but also by letting the reader put themselves in the characters shoes. He adds so much emotion to the story through this that the reader can’t help but feel a certain degree of the pain and loathing that Denise does herself.

Josh Neufeld’s ability to connect the reader to the lives of people who actually experienced hurricane Katrina makes this novel an absolute hit with a clearly achieved purpose of representing the accounts of others during this event. His reoccurring use of distress highlighting anguish and visual representation of the same emotions accurately represent the horrendous events and make for a story readers are forced to relate to in some way.

TOW #7- Non-Fiction: The Law School Debt Crisis

Maxwell Holyoke-Hirsch

In this day in age, money revolves around the world and the world revolves around money. As high schoolers flood into college searching for a prominent career opportunity, many are disappointed to find that the jobs they put so much time into pursuing, in an attempt to either help the world or fill their pockets, are actually putting them deep into debt. Among these careers, the one draining students of their time and money the most is law. In a recent editorial issued by The New York Times, an American daily newspaper with the second highest circulation overall in the United States, the company's editorial board looked into universities and the true cost of students pursuing law. The board speaks predominantly to anyone interested in the pursuit of law in an attempt to unveil the major flaw in U.S. university preparation of students for careers in law through the use of statistics and demonizing diction to prove this ongoing problem striking America. The board is able to successfully achieve their purpose by sticking to the facts. The editorial explains that though students apply for loans covering their full tuition, this application is made with the confidence that the school they are applying to will give them the tools they need to pass their LSAT and go onto a career in law. The problem is that most of these students end up not passing these tests and as of "..2012, the average law graduates debt was $140,000". Students are now unable to pay off their loans, unable to pass the bar exam and most "..students are leaving law school with a degree they can’t use..." These statistics help guide the reader into understanding the rut many students studying to be lawyers face, it helps the message become clear, concise and easily a major problem. As the editorial describes these universities draining student of thousands, they create a menacing villain for what are American universities involved in this. The board claims this application to college and failure receive career in the end is a scam run by the universities, even claiming that many schools "...have been vacuuming up hordes of young people, charging them outrageously high tuition and, after many of the students fail to become lawyers, sticking taxpayers with the tab for their loan defaults." Describing the colleges in this way evokes a certain degree of caution, fear and anger in the reader as it makes them feel like these schools are essentially tricking students into over paying for nothing. This editorial was successful in its attempt to show the reader the horrors behind the current law school system and how to help end it. It not only helps rally the readers concerned, but it also states the horrifying truth existing right beneath American noses costing them a fortune.

TOW #6- Non-fiction Editorial: The New York Times Calls for Marijuana Legalization

For this week’s first non-fiction TOW, I decided that I would analyze the first piece that came up on the New York Times' editorial page. A piece by the editorial board for the New York Times, a world famous, daily newspaper founded in 1851. The purpose of this editorial is fairly clear from the start, the board believes "the federal government should repeal the ban on marijuana". The board would like citizens twenty-one years and older to be allowed to consume marijuana, especially in a day and age like this where there are so many other present substances posing much larger threats. They are able to make their purpose clear to anyone aware of this current debate over the legalization of the drug through the use of statistics comparing and contrasting marijuana with other drugs and analysis of scientific study showing the lack of actual danger behind the illegal substance.

At one point in the editorial, the board steers away from opinion and turns strictly to statistics to back their point. When pointing out the excessive and unreasonable arrests made due to the laws against the use of marijuana the board stated, "There were 658,000 arrests for marijuana possession in 2012, according to F.B.I. figures, compared with 256,000 for cocaine, heroin and their derivatives". They are trying to show that there are so many arrests made due to the possession of marijuana that law enforcers are not focusing enough on arresting those who possess highly dangerous, addictive and often more fatal drugs.  The editorial board next shifts to what health risks may actually be behind this drug, trying to steer the reader toward believing the drug is seemingly harmless. They recognize marijuana does pose a legitimate risk for the development of adolescent brains, but ultimately it has a very small effect on adult minds. The board is essentially trying to show that the "threat of addiction and dependence are relatively minor problems, especially compared with..." the countless other health ricks Americans are struggling to overcome today such as "alcohol and tobacco". This allows the reader to see that this drug really isn’t as life threatening as many make it seem. Just like anything else in this world, as long as it is consumed in moderation, the editorial board wants readers to see that it is almost harmless.  

Although this editorial did make their purpose clear, the argument was not totally solid in my opinion. The board lacked the hard facts, relied too much on their own opinions and borderline bashing of Congress. 

Repeal Prohibition, Again

TOW #5- Liking Isn't Helping

Liking Isn't Helping. Be A Volunteer. Save A Life.

Crisis Relief Singapore is an organization run by Christian disaster relief volunteers. With the help of an ad campaign known as Publicis Singapore, Crisis Relief generates several ads similar to this one presenting destructive floods, wars and earthquakes along with a group of thumbs up signs symbolic for Facebook likes. This advertisement displays a young boy, the victim of an earthquake, missing a limb and surrounded by several hands showing thumbs up signs. Crisis Relief attempts to depict an extremely powerful message through this visual arguing that "liking isn't helping" and that if anyone really want to help those who are suffering, they should become volunteers to go to these countries and assist them. This organization is trying to demonstrate the ineffectiveness in liking a Facebook post, continuing to scroll through a feed and doing nothing more to help those in need. The purpose is compelling and made incredibly clear through the use of dark colors to instill a weary tone, presence of thumbs up signs surrounding the child to display inadequacy and the picturing of the child missing a limb appealing to pathos. The black and white colors throughout the advertisement shed an expression which mirrors that of the child. It makes the viewer feel sad, distraught and disconnected from reality emphasizing the surreal image displayed. The pain in the photo is stressed even further through the use of these colors and it helps the viewer understand the horrors behind what is happening to these children, making a mere Facebook like seem like a minuscule amount of effort put toward aiding this problem. There are several posts on Facebook each day that present pictures similar to this one, they often show suffering children in several parts of the world with captions such as "Click like if you feel bad" or "One like = one punch in the face for whoever is responsible for this". Though many of these posts receive numerous likes from viewers, there is rarely any action actually taken by anyone to help the children in the photos. With a suffering child represented in the center, the Crisis Relief organization surrounds him with several thumbs up signs to mimic the Facebook likes. Now the message becomes extremely clear as the viewer can see the child missing a limb laying there helpless receiving no help from the people watching and "liking" the situation in front of them. This is an accurate description of what people behind their screens liking these posts are actually doing for the suffering children in other countries. Finally there is the effectiveness in this advertisement created by the condition of the child shown. The viewer is immediately drained emotionally by the sight of a young boy, appearing to be no older than four years, missing a leg and wrapped in bloody bandages where it should be. This is ultimately the most powerful appeal to pathos in the advertisement. Not only does it make the viewer feel unsettled and upset, but it promotes a strong feeling inside to want to help the child. No matter what the situation or country, this image leaves a bad taste in the mind of the viewer with one pivital fact on the table, someone needs to do something to help this child. This definitely encourages people to want to become volunteers, by throwing the cold hard facts of life in the face of the viewer, it rapidly stirs emotions and evokes a feeling of moral responsibility.

TOW #4- Half of IRB Book: A.D. New Orleans After the Deluge

Josh Neufeld is a longtime artist whose works have been exhibited in museums and art shows in both the United States and Europe. In 2005, after hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans, Neufeld published his own zine about his work as an American Red Cross volunteer in Mississippi delivering hot meals to those without power. In the summer of 2006, he embarked on a journey to document the remarkable experiences of the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The result was the New York Times bestselling graphic nonfiction book, A.D. New Orleans After the Deluge. Neufeld utilizes his artistic abilities to accurately depict the lives and experiences of real New Orleans residents before and after the storm. He uses sign texts throughout the book to ensure the reader gets a realistic scene of New Orleans. There are certain points throughout the book when specific use of text signs makes a real difference in the readers ability to connect to the story. When Neufeld is introducing all of the characters, he wants the reader to see that these really are average people with normal lives. He shows some of them relaxing with family members wearing jerseys with "Saints" printed across the chest in bold letters showing the pride that so many of them had in their football team, but mostly in their home town. Other people are shown wearing college sweatshirts or in front of their own typical shopping centers, restaurants, or gyms such as "Ten Knuckles Boxing Club". In one way this is extremely useful because it gives the reader something to relate to, ordinary people just like everyone else, and it brings the whole situation into perspective as many of us can picture ourselves in a similar scene. However, he also uses these text signs to compare and further represent the destruction of the storm as later in the book he shows that same boxing club with it's roof in pieces and it's sign torn off. Neufeld introduces these signs in different places strategically to make the reader feel more connected to both the characters and the scene itself. This also appeals to logos as he finds a way to show the reader what to feel, whether it's happy when the characters who love their city find a way to rebuild or sad when what was the most popular restaurant in town ends as a pile of rubble. Neufeld also uses different color schemes which shift depending on the severity of the events. The story begins with a representation of the storm and what it did to New Orleans. He shows several jagged, frightening illustrations of flooded streets, destroyed homes and people in distress all represented in dark, menacing colors. However, once the story jumps to an introduction of each character before the storm hit, the colors are much lighter and more calm. As the book proceeds, the color becomes increasingly dark fitting to the darkness of the situation. When the storm is shown, almost everything is dark grey or black, giving the reader an uneasy, accurate feeling of what hurricane Katrina felt like to a small degree. This ability to change the readers mood toward what they are reading depending on the colors shown is something Neufeld shows throughout the book to help achieve his purpose. It brings the reader closer to the story and helps set the scene. These uses of rhetoric all contribute to Neufeld's success in depicting life for residents of New Orleans who faced the tragic hurricane that swept their worlds away. 

TOW #3- Harvard Accused of Bias Against Asian-Americans

Harvard Accused of Bias Against Asian-Americans is an article written by Douglas Belkin. Belkin is a writer for The Wall Street Journal, the largest newspaper in the United States by circulation, who covers high education and national news. This article focuses around a recent complaint which was filed by a coalition of 64 organizations against Harvard University for discrimination against Asian-Americans applying to the school. Belkin does not make an argument in this article, instead, he uses it as a summation of the dispute between Harvard and those accusing the university. In a day and age when getting into Harvard seems nearly like winning the lottery and "longtime stereotypes of Asian applicants’ being 'not creative enough or risk-taking enough'" exist, he attempts to clearly depict to high school college applicants, parents, and anyone interested in applying to Harvard, the argument of both sides in this battle. Appealing to logos and also representing the points of the accusers, Belkin discusses Cal Tech's record for undergraduate Asian Americans standing at around 40% while Harvard's remains at about 21%. Belkin explains that this was a point presented by the former of the coalition which helps the reader see this isn't his own personal opinion, just the facts. He also appeals to logos when he reveals the coalition's citing of third-party academic research of the SAT exam. This research proved that Asian Americans generally have to score much higher than other races in order to gain acceptance into Harvard University. To keep a fair account of the events going, Belkin then discusses Harvard's point of view as a general council for the school has confirmed that their selection process is well within the perimeters of the law. He reports their claims that they take into account more than just grades and scores, but they also consider extracurricular activities and leadership abilities. The way he formats the article as if it is a back and forth argument without any bias on his behalf allows the reader to decide for themselves what they believe in this situation. The use of facts and quotes from both sides, helps Belkin support his purpose, however, he ends up providing much more information from the accusing side which makes Harvard's defense weak. Because he does not present enough information from Harvard's perspective, his audience is almost left to believer that either the coalition must be right, or Belkin in bias. For this reason, I feel like he accomplished his purpose, but not in the most effective may. 

Tow #2- Is There a Santa Claus?

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus

In the late 1890's, an editor and publisher, Francis Pharcellus Church, wrote an editorial piece for a politically conservative, very well respected, New York newspaper called The Sun. This piece, Is There a Santa Claus?, soon became his most famous editorial as he addressed the simple question of the existence of Santa Cause with a deeper, more philosophical answer. Church starts the editorial with a representation of a letter that a young girl named Virginia O'Hanlon wrote him explaining that she is eight years old, her friends said that Santa Clause does not exist and that her father told her "'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.'" O'Hanlon writes to The Sun with one simple purpose, to find that truth. Starting this editorial with that letter does a number of effective things for Church. It first gives the reader something to relate to as most people can imagine a childhood filled with "Santas", "Easter Bunnies" and "Tooth Fairies". A time filled with imagination and faith, but also filled with evident splashes of doubt. It is easy to remember being a child, believing in something you have never really seen and having people around you tell you it is false. This letter also establishes a certain sense of ethos. The fact that this girl's father told her that if it is in the Sun it must be true shows how much faith and respect people had in this newspaper at the time. Church's purpose in responding to that letter with his editorial is to answer whether Santa Claus exists, but more accurately, explain that anything we believe in does exist as long as we have faith in it. He wants O'Hanlon and anyone else reading the editorial to understand that just because you don't see something does not mean it isn't there. Church very effectively achieves his purpose in many ways. He starts his response by blatantly saying that O'Hanlon's friends are wrong. He uses a metaphor toward the beginning comparing humanity to insects, so small and clueless to the boundless world around it. By doing this, he helps the reader really put things into perspective, to understand that human beings tend to rely on logic and the apparent facts too often. This gives O'Halon and anyone else reading the piece hope that maybe there truly are things that exists beyond the realm of reason. Church also tries to explain that a world without belief in things like Santa Claus is not a world worth having, it is a world filled with dreary facts and a strong lack of emotion. This encourages the reader to believe and continue to hold fast to what others may doubt. Church even uses an analogy to draw parallels between the existence of fairies and Santa Clause. He explains that though you may never see fairies, "that doesn't mean that they are not there". Once again he desperately aims to help the reader understand that no one has the ability to imagine all of the wonders the world holds. In Church's opinion, the world is absolutely nothing without belief in the things beyond our ability to see. Through human faith, love, generosity and imagination, anything exists in reality that one desires.

TOW #1- State Farm® commercial - "Never"

State farm is one the country's leading distributors of insurance and financial service to this day. While the company exceeds in it's business services, it also exceeds in it's advertisement appeal crafting some of the most famous commercials out there. This commercial, entitled "Never" starts with a man, most likely in his mid twenties, at a party. He looks over his shoulder at a girl smiling at him and turns back to his group of friends proclaiming "I am never getting married!" He laughs along with his friends as they nod in agreement, however, the scene suddenly switches to the same man at a later date in a jewelry store purchasing a wedding ring. At this point it is clear that State Farm is trying to show viewers that we often don't expect certain things to happen in life, but they still do. The man continues to contradict himself throughout the commercial. He tells his wife, "we are never having kids" only for the scene to suddenly switch to her giving birth. He says that he will "never move to suburbs" only to be shown moments later on the front lawn of his typical white picketed fence suburban home. State Farm is aiming a powerful message toward everyone that underestimates the possibilities in life on a broad level. However, they are also trying to get a much more specific message across directed toward insurance holders or those who need it. They want these people to understand that you can't possibly predict what will happen to you in life, so it's best to be covered, in this case, by a loyal, reliable insurance company. To even further reiterate their point, State Farm even ends with a bold line, "for all of the 'nevers' in life, State Farm is there". The use of repetition and irony in this advertisement makes the purpose totally clear. The viewer is able to understand that everyone must expect the unexpected and things that that may seem like they will "never" happen are right around the corner. Even though the man depicted in the commercial's "nevers" consisted of children, a wife, a home in the suburbs, etc., State Farm wants people to eliminate the "never" factor in events such as a car crash, a robbery or an unexpected death. Furthermore, they want them to understand that these events occur time and time again, and when they do, State Farm will ensure their protection, safety and preparation.

"Never"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Z91YkPatw

IRB Introduction #1

For my IRB I will be reading the critically acclaimed nonfiction graphic novel, A.D. New Orleans After the Deluge. Josh Neufeld crafts this thought provoking and truly unique depiction of hurricane Katrina through the eyes of real life residents in New Orleans prior to and after the destructive hurricane wreaked havoc on the city in 2005. I decided to read this book because I was really interested in storms like this, the effect they have on places, but most of all, people. I also look forward to analyzing visual rhetoric and seeing how it translates from textual.

How It Feels To Be Colored Me (Zora Neale Hurston) Analysis

In the essay, How It Feels To Be Colored Me by Zora Neale Hurston, the author tells an autobiographical story regarding her realization that her color would make others attempt to make her feel different or less than. Hurston, an American civil rights activist, novelist and Columbia university alumni, writes this piece in hopes of getting people to understand that your race should not define who you are. She describes a younger version of herself growing up in “an exclusively colored” (Hurston 114) community in Florida. It’s here that Hurston’s splendid use of imagery comes in as she paints the perfect picture of her childhood, sitting on her neighborhood gate-post welcoming everyone who passed. While many hid in their homes watching from the creases in their blinds as white people passed, Hurston explains how she saw no difference between whites and colored, she only saw people and welcomed everyone the same. The way she described her neighbors and environment help readers understand the tension and skepticism between these two races during this time. She goes on to explain that when she was thirteen years old she had to move to Jacksonville, Florida and all of a sudden she “was now a little colored girl” (Hurston 115). Hurston uses a unique style of diction that helps the reader connect to her childhood self even further. She even describes her life as “helter-skelter skirmish” (Hurston 115), but refuses to accept that it is any less than anyone else’s simply due to the pigment of her skin. It becomes fairly clear that she is speaking to African Americans as she often brings up that fact that they use their ancestry, the way they are sometimes treated and simply their color to determine their emotions and their ability in life. However, she always corresponds those notions with her own thoughts and motivations convinced that color will not steer her life. Her use of diction, imagery and connections to her personal mindset all contribute to her success in conveying her purpose.

"The Skin You're In"

Image Source: http://www.mylot.com/w/image/2313944.aspx

 

Bop (Langston Hughes) Analysis

The premise of Bop is that human beings are often sculpted by their racial struggles. The essay was crafted by Langston Hughes, a historical poet, novelist and playwright who had a huge impact on people as his writing made him the leading voice of the 1920's Harlem Renaissance. The story takes place in an urban area on the stoop of an apartment as the narrator and another man, Simple, listen to be-bop music and spark a discussion about exactly what it is trying to convey. It was the late 1940’s, a time when be-bop and jazz were generally popular. Hughes uses Simple to explain that be-bop isn’t just a variety of crazy noises and random words, it’s a release of intense emotion black people have kept bottled up about unfair treatment and abuse from whites. Hughes is able to effectively make his point clear by giving the character, Simple, a strong voice on the topic. While the narrator does not understand the difference between “re-bop” and “be-bop”, Simple has no problem distinguishing the two apart. His passion toward the topic is definitely expressed as he explains to the narrator that re-bop is merely a knockoff created by white people, of the true, soulful, intense outbreak of emotion converted into music known as be-bop. The settings and characters really help solidify Hughes point. The way that they speak to one another, causal, but firm on their stances toward the topic, make it feel real and help the reader understand how racial struggles can greatly effect a person’s actions and opinions. This expression is even taken a step further as Hughes allows Simple to put ourselves in his shoes and see what it was like being an African American in that day and age. Simple describes an average situation where he may be in a certain area and run into a few police officers. He explains that they would question him simply due to his race, he would have to answer, and he states “…if my answers to not satisfy them, BOP!” (Hughes 191), trying to express that they would beat him. Hughes successfully conveys his purpose by allowing the characters to speak their minds as well as their experiences and by additionally creating a realistic environment and mindset.

 

 

"Release"
Image Source: Positive Music Imperative

Women and Honor: Some Notes on Lying (Adrienne Rich) Analysis

Adrienne Rich is a world renowned poet, critic and scholar. She is also a feminist who has made huge leaps and bounds for the women's movement. In her famous essay Women and Honor: Some Notes on Lying, she aims to make it clear that the possibilities of a relationship built on truth are endless but often lies are produced to avoid complexity. She speaks mainly to women, who feel their only source of power in their relationships are developed through lying. To convey her message, Rich makes this essay especially enjoyable by depicting exactly why it is women tell lies in certain situations. She describes a feeling of emptiness and nothingness in one’s life called “the void” (Rich 415). She goes on to explain that women are accustomed to lie in order to avoid facing this void and their own feelings of self-mediocrity. This section was very relatable as everyone has lied, and it usually is to avoid facing the fear that one’s “own truths are not good enough” (Rich 415). However, she makes it clear that by throwing more lies into “the void” women are defeating their ability to evolve both themselves and their relationships. They lie about who they are and what they can do instead of telling the truth and encouraging themselves to grow into that person. Rich also delved into the topic of sexuality for women and produced an argument about why lies are usually so embedded in this. She explains that most lesbians are so afraid of heterosexual institution in society labeling them “a pervert, a criminal, a sick or dangerous woman…” (Rich 415), that they turn to lying about it as it seems like “an easy way to avoid conflict or complication” (Rich 415). Rich then connects the struggle to be honest about “erotic feelings toward women” (Rich 415) to her own life stating she has “lived half a lifetime in the lie of that denial” (Rich 415). She conveyed how lies like these to people who we believe have power over us spill over into our relationships with those who don’t and hinder women from having honest, highly developed relationships. The way that Rich sets up her essay in a format which introduces a certain type of lying (romantic relationship, sexuality, personal relationship, etc…), then explains why it is done and how it is ineffective toward the evolution of healthy relationships, successfully gets her point across. She shows that lying is an easy way to escape dealing with a complex situation as the whole point is to “make everything simpler” (Rich 413). However, it ends up only creating a bigger void. She did a stellar job showing her purpose by both connecting the reader to the liar’s thoughts and emotions through relatable examples and sharing personal struggles and triumphs.

"Lying is the quickest way to ruin a beautiful relationship" -Anonymous

Image Source:  www.huffingtonpost.com