Saturday, September 11, 2010
Abundance: Pink's Purpose
Abundance, from Pink’s A Whole New Mind, takes on a jesting, yet slightly astonished tone as he delves into the mind of the average human and attempts to unveil America’s obsession with all things material and the inability to actually be fulfilled by those possessions. An outlandish amount of space is dedicated to holding meaningless objects that will soon be owned by the public. Staples, “a 20,000-square foot box”, while huge, has nothing on Best Buy, which happens to be larger than an entire neighborhood block. It seems outlandish that such space could be needed for a simple store, but apparently Americans not only need items from these places, but they need a choice of twenty different brands of said items. Pink’s choice of words to describe these stores, especially the phrase “arms race” to describe the selection of TVs at Best Buy, intrigued me, and led me to agree with his slightly taunting manner as he expressed the preposterousness of today’s demand for product. Better yet to express humor, even wastebaskets and toilet brushes can now be purchased designer! The extraordinary abundance spread through the country has led to desire for the aesthetically pleasing, simply because the greater supply there is and the more money people have, the more they look to appearance rather than function. In fact, beauty has become so important that even candles, which serve no actual purpose now that electricity is the “norm”, bring in a whopping $2.4 billion annually. But unfortunately these eye-catching knick-knacks carry little significance, because even as the population has acquired a great number of possessions, “pursuit of purpose and meaning has become an integral part of life.” We long to know our purpose, why exactly we were put here, but alas, even as we buy out the entire country, our questions are never answered.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Can I Please Get Some Scotch Tape?
This 1944 ad displays a woman dropping her lunch all over a crowded bus. There is a solution to her problem: a small strip of scotch tape to hold the package together. But because of World War II, the woman will not be getting her tape anytime soon.
The advertisement is presenting to the citizens of America that Scotch tape is currently unavailable to the common household, because all that is produced is being sent to production lines for the war, or to seal ration packages for soldiers. The ad is not promoting consumerism so much as it is promoting patriotism and support for the men fighting overseas. In bringing out these powerful emotions, the ad shows instances of the three main types of rhetoric persuasion: logos, ethos, and pathos.
In prime example of logos, while the ad tells the people that they are not going to be buying any Scotch tape soon, the creators of the ad managed to slyly mention the different types and practical uses of the tape. They use the ad not only to apologize to consumers, but to promote their product for the future. By reading the ad, it can be learned that Scotch tape creates a variety of tapes-"sealing, holding, identifying, masking"- and is good for "mending torn book pages, sealing packages, and doing a hundred and one other jobs quickly, easily." The ad also talks of the soldiers' use of Scotch tape, and many people would decide that if the government trusts the tape enough to use it, that it would be logical to assume it is good tape, and they would buy it too.
The credibility of the product being advertised is very quickly established in the ad because it is used by American soldiers. The use by soldiers can be interpreted as both logos and ethos. If a product is good enough for the government, it is good enough for the people. Later in the ad, a wide variety of uses and places that the product is used is mentioned. By mentioning that the tape is used in homes, offices, and stores, it is shown that the tape can be used in all settings, and not just for common, everyday, easy jobs. Therefore, the tape becomes more trustworthy. At the bottom of the ad, the manufacturer is mentioned. In advertising, even the name of the company producing a product can greatly influence the buyers opinion, so if the producer is a well-known and highly trusted company, the product may sell infinitely better than if the company is not well-known.
The ad is very strongly oriented around the technique of pathos, as many different examples of this persuasion is used throughout the ad. The desire of the American people to do their part in the war was overwhelmingly huge, with women beginning to enter the workforce, men going to fight, and countless people buying war bonds. Everyone was eager and happy to be able to do whatever they were able to in a time of dire need. Companies across the country sent supplies to soldiers, Scotch tape being one of them, and the action would immediately cause citizens of America to approve of the product, simply because the company producing it is doing their part to help in the war, and therefore doing their part to save the lives of the many men fighting for freedom. Family members and close friends would appreciate the gesture that Scotch made when they decided to stop selling to Americans so that they could give their resources to a very important cause. Not only did Scotch donate supplies, they also used their own money, when they were not profiting very much, to create an ad apologizing to their customers. The politeness and consideration of the action would touch millions of people, and would cause people to place the company in a warm place in their hearts. The words "invest in victory, buy war bonds" would bring up a swell of emotions in anyone who had sent someone they loved into the heart of the war. The ad basically says that if the citizens buy war bonds, that they are helping to win the war. A victory would be sought out by all citizens, and they would be overjoyed to find a way to contribute to a victory.
I found the use of color in the ad to be very symbolic. When the ad was printed in 1944, the magazine it was in would not have been full color. In the forties, only select areas of print were colored, so the editors had to make significant choices as to which areas were to be outstanding. The red of the woman's suit highlights the conflict of the ad, immediately bringing people's attention to the fact that if she had tape, she would still have her lunch. The red manages to capture attention and focus in on the heart of the ad. Not only does it center attention, but the color choice, in collaboration with the subject of the ad, can bring about a strong sense of pride in the country of America. Setting in motion the feeling of patriotism would be a key objective of the ad, because it is not only saying that Scotch is used by the soldiers, but also promoting the sell of war bonds.
More often than not, ethos, pathos, and logos are used in collaboration with one another instead of individually. This 1944 ad promoting Scotch tape manages to fit in examples of all three, promoting the product from emotional and logical standpoints, and establishing the credibility of the now world-renowned Scotch tape.
The advertisement is presenting to the citizens of America that Scotch tape is currently unavailable to the common household, because all that is produced is being sent to production lines for the war, or to seal ration packages for soldiers. The ad is not promoting consumerism so much as it is promoting patriotism and support for the men fighting overseas. In bringing out these powerful emotions, the ad shows instances of the three main types of rhetoric persuasion: logos, ethos, and pathos.
In prime example of logos, while the ad tells the people that they are not going to be buying any Scotch tape soon, the creators of the ad managed to slyly mention the different types and practical uses of the tape. They use the ad not only to apologize to consumers, but to promote their product for the future. By reading the ad, it can be learned that Scotch tape creates a variety of tapes-"sealing, holding, identifying, masking"- and is good for "mending torn book pages, sealing packages, and doing a hundred and one other jobs quickly, easily." The ad also talks of the soldiers' use of Scotch tape, and many people would decide that if the government trusts the tape enough to use it, that it would be logical to assume it is good tape, and they would buy it too.
The credibility of the product being advertised is very quickly established in the ad because it is used by American soldiers. The use by soldiers can be interpreted as both logos and ethos. If a product is good enough for the government, it is good enough for the people. Later in the ad, a wide variety of uses and places that the product is used is mentioned. By mentioning that the tape is used in homes, offices, and stores, it is shown that the tape can be used in all settings, and not just for common, everyday, easy jobs. Therefore, the tape becomes more trustworthy. At the bottom of the ad, the manufacturer is mentioned. In advertising, even the name of the company producing a product can greatly influence the buyers opinion, so if the producer is a well-known and highly trusted company, the product may sell infinitely better than if the company is not well-known.
The ad is very strongly oriented around the technique of pathos, as many different examples of this persuasion is used throughout the ad. The desire of the American people to do their part in the war was overwhelmingly huge, with women beginning to enter the workforce, men going to fight, and countless people buying war bonds. Everyone was eager and happy to be able to do whatever they were able to in a time of dire need. Companies across the country sent supplies to soldiers, Scotch tape being one of them, and the action would immediately cause citizens of America to approve of the product, simply because the company producing it is doing their part to help in the war, and therefore doing their part to save the lives of the many men fighting for freedom. Family members and close friends would appreciate the gesture that Scotch made when they decided to stop selling to Americans so that they could give their resources to a very important cause. Not only did Scotch donate supplies, they also used their own money, when they were not profiting very much, to create an ad apologizing to their customers. The politeness and consideration of the action would touch millions of people, and would cause people to place the company in a warm place in their hearts. The words "invest in victory, buy war bonds" would bring up a swell of emotions in anyone who had sent someone they loved into the heart of the war. The ad basically says that if the citizens buy war bonds, that they are helping to win the war. A victory would be sought out by all citizens, and they would be overjoyed to find a way to contribute to a victory.
I found the use of color in the ad to be very symbolic. When the ad was printed in 1944, the magazine it was in would not have been full color. In the forties, only select areas of print were colored, so the editors had to make significant choices as to which areas were to be outstanding. The red of the woman's suit highlights the conflict of the ad, immediately bringing people's attention to the fact that if she had tape, she would still have her lunch. The red manages to capture attention and focus in on the heart of the ad. Not only does it center attention, but the color choice, in collaboration with the subject of the ad, can bring about a strong sense of pride in the country of America. Setting in motion the feeling of patriotism would be a key objective of the ad, because it is not only saying that Scotch is used by the soldiers, but also promoting the sell of war bonds.
More often than not, ethos, pathos, and logos are used in collaboration with one another instead of individually. This 1944 ad promoting Scotch tape manages to fit in examples of all three, promoting the product from emotional and logical standpoints, and establishing the credibility of the now world-renowned Scotch tape.
Friday, August 6, 2010
We Should All Be a Bridge
While browsing through some old newspaper articles online, I discovered “Woman, 22, Sacrifices Her Life to Save Her Friend in a Hit and Run.” Upon reading the title, I was automatically intrigued. The woman’s selflessness and love stood out in a world full of hate and crime, selfishness and greed, and so of course I read the article.
The article dives right into a heart-touching subject, asking how far an individual would “go to save a friend.” For New York City resident Erinn Phelan, the answer was as far as need be. Phelan pushed her friend out of the way of an oncoming car, taking the hit for herself. The friend survived with little injury, while Phelan was left brain dead, and her family had to make the unbearable decision to disconnect life support.
If laying down her life was not enough by itself, Phelan also had wishes to be an organ donor. Before life support was removed, arrangements were made for donation. This young woman’s generosity was not only present in her last moments, but was shown throughout her life. Phelan was a member of City Corps, a smaller, more local version of the Peace Corps.
This article reminded me of an old Simon and Garfunkel song “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The song basically conveys the message that the singer would be willing to help out a friend whenever, wherever, with whatever. My favorite lyric of the song is “I'll take your part when darkness comes, and pain is all around. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.”
It is comforting to think that I have friends and family who love me enough that they would help share my burden in times of darkness, that they would willingly take some of my pain to make me feel better. After all, they know I would do the same for them, because regardless of who we are, we all need a bridge over troubled water even if just to “ease our mind.”
The article dives right into a heart-touching subject, asking how far an individual would “go to save a friend.” For New York City resident Erinn Phelan, the answer was as far as need be. Phelan pushed her friend out of the way of an oncoming car, taking the hit for herself. The friend survived with little injury, while Phelan was left brain dead, and her family had to make the unbearable decision to disconnect life support.
If laying down her life was not enough by itself, Phelan also had wishes to be an organ donor. Before life support was removed, arrangements were made for donation. This young woman’s generosity was not only present in her last moments, but was shown throughout her life. Phelan was a member of City Corps, a smaller, more local version of the Peace Corps.
This article reminded me of an old Simon and Garfunkel song “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The song basically conveys the message that the singer would be willing to help out a friend whenever, wherever, with whatever. My favorite lyric of the song is “I'll take your part when darkness comes, and pain is all around. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.”
It is comforting to think that I have friends and family who love me enough that they would help share my burden in times of darkness, that they would willingly take some of my pain to make me feel better. After all, they know I would do the same for them, because regardless of who we are, we all need a bridge over troubled water even if just to “ease our mind.”
Monday, July 19, 2010
Modestly Proposing Controversy
During my slow days of summer vacation I found myself antsy for something to read, and I stumbled across the essay “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathon Swift while half-heartedly looking at The Shelf.
I began the essay and immediately felt deep sympathy for the poor population of eighteenth century Ireland and, in turn, respect for the author who expressed concern and desire for a solution to the common problem of poverty. I read and awaited his proposal that he claimed would put an end to the starving children and mothers begging on the street, to the lack of food for all classes of the population, and to the thieving that was being performed every day with no indication of a scruple on the thief’s behalf. I literally felt my jaw drop and my breath stop as I comprehended what exactly the author was suggesting as he stated that “a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled.”
I apprehensively continued, and was soon comforted after realizing that his essay was satirical and he did not intend to seriously propose cannibalism as a source of food. The most indicative phrases of satire were those which spoke of the treatment of landlords to their tenants, which through later research, I learned was a comparison to the treatment and actions of the British government. His support of the subject also seemed undermined, and his willingness to contribute to the food supply seemed slight by his closing statement of “I have no children, by which I can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past child-bearing.”
During the introduction of the essay, I thought of the state of our nation’s economy and the resulting increase of unemployed and homeless Americans, who have turned to begging on the streets or any other means by which to gain some money. The controversy of cannibalism also got me thinking about the big controversial concepts of the present generation. Abortion was even mentioned in the essay, which to this day, remains a constant struggle between the political parties of America, mostly based on morals, ethics, and foremost, religion.
Swift’s satirical and unexpected approach to solving the problem most likely captured the attention of the public better than a direct observation to the struggles of the city and the author’s actual ideas of help for the situation. Swift’s outright sarcasm in the essay even compelled me to wonder how many other pieces I have read with a similar style: saying one thing but in reality meaning something quite different.
I began the essay and immediately felt deep sympathy for the poor population of eighteenth century Ireland and, in turn, respect for the author who expressed concern and desire for a solution to the common problem of poverty. I read and awaited his proposal that he claimed would put an end to the starving children and mothers begging on the street, to the lack of food for all classes of the population, and to the thieving that was being performed every day with no indication of a scruple on the thief’s behalf. I literally felt my jaw drop and my breath stop as I comprehended what exactly the author was suggesting as he stated that “a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled.”
I apprehensively continued, and was soon comforted after realizing that his essay was satirical and he did not intend to seriously propose cannibalism as a source of food. The most indicative phrases of satire were those which spoke of the treatment of landlords to their tenants, which through later research, I learned was a comparison to the treatment and actions of the British government. His support of the subject also seemed undermined, and his willingness to contribute to the food supply seemed slight by his closing statement of “I have no children, by which I can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past child-bearing.”
During the introduction of the essay, I thought of the state of our nation’s economy and the resulting increase of unemployed and homeless Americans, who have turned to begging on the streets or any other means by which to gain some money. The controversy of cannibalism also got me thinking about the big controversial concepts of the present generation. Abortion was even mentioned in the essay, which to this day, remains a constant struggle between the political parties of America, mostly based on morals, ethics, and foremost, religion.
Swift’s satirical and unexpected approach to solving the problem most likely captured the attention of the public better than a direct observation to the struggles of the city and the author’s actual ideas of help for the situation. Swift’s outright sarcasm in the essay even compelled me to wonder how many other pieces I have read with a similar style: saying one thing but in reality meaning something quite different.
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Lasting Effects of Pain and Suffering
Sarah Dessen’s novel The Truth About Forever reveals the entire world of grief and suffering. Macy finds herself drawing into her shell after her father dies right in front of her. She wants nothing more than to be able to grieve for him, but knows she must let no one see her in her “weak” state. Grief is one of the strongest emotions that humans feel, and when we grieve, the core of our being is never the same again.
Macy seems to be a symbol of the very idea of grief, of how to deal when someone dear is lost. Her actions and feelings tell the world how people react to loss, and her internal struggles represent those who are less open of their feelings. Macy’s life is eventually changed drastically by her grief, and she knows she can never go back to who she used to be.
I was able to relate to this book greatly, because I too lost my father. I knew exactly how the protagonist would feel as she sat through the funeral, organized her dad’s possessions, and slowly began to understand that she would never see him again. In many ways, I could almost see the book as a story about my life, instead of a fictional character’s, because I too was irreversibly changed by what I felt.
The theme of grief in the book also reminded me of another text: the poem “The Grief of a Girl’s Heart.” While the grief of this poem may not be over such an extreme matter as death, it is no less real, as the suffering is clearly painted throughout the work.
This story not only taught me much about emotional pain, but also how to face it. The book helped me realize that I had my own problems to work through, and with some of the events in the book, even gave me ideas that could work for me. I know I will never be the same again, but at least I can be a better version of the new me.
Macy seems to be a symbol of the very idea of grief, of how to deal when someone dear is lost. Her actions and feelings tell the world how people react to loss, and her internal struggles represent those who are less open of their feelings. Macy’s life is eventually changed drastically by her grief, and she knows she can never go back to who she used to be.
I was able to relate to this book greatly, because I too lost my father. I knew exactly how the protagonist would feel as she sat through the funeral, organized her dad’s possessions, and slowly began to understand that she would never see him again. In many ways, I could almost see the book as a story about my life, instead of a fictional character’s, because I too was irreversibly changed by what I felt.
The theme of grief in the book also reminded me of another text: the poem “The Grief of a Girl’s Heart.” While the grief of this poem may not be over such an extreme matter as death, it is no less real, as the suffering is clearly painted throughout the work.
This story not only taught me much about emotional pain, but also how to face it. The book helped me realize that I had my own problems to work through, and with some of the events in the book, even gave me ideas that could work for me. I know I will never be the same again, but at least I can be a better version of the new me.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Of Mice and Men
Detail Analysis
In his novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses parallels in his first paragraph to help outline the main characters and their actions throughout the story. His incredible use of foreshadowing helps us to know the characters before we have even met them.
"the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green." The area is green, representing the idea of being young and new. The river is deep, showing its strength and the dependence placed on it. Lennie is the green character, acting like a young child and seeing everything as new. George could be represented as being "deep," because his thoughts run deeper and have more meaning, and Lennie is dependent on him.
"slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains." The mountains are "strong" and will always be there. The rocks are, in a sense, an extension of the mountains. Lennie is physically very strong and will help George, and George could be said to be an "extension" of Lennie, always staying with him and helping him through life.
"a path beaten hard by boys coming down from the ranches to swim in the deep pool, and beaten hard by tramps who come wearily down from the highway." The path is beaten and worn, constantly walked on and relied on by people to get from one place to another. Both George and Lennie are beaten down and worn. Lennie is constantly walked on because he is not very bright and does whatever his is told. George is worn down by taking care of Lennie for his whole life. Lennie always relies on George to help him travel, to get him from one place to another.
Tone Analysis
In Of Mice and Men, the tones of helplessness and obligation convey the dependence of Lennie and George's dedication to him. Several quotes throughout the novel support the tone words.
"I forgot again." Lennie's memory is constantly a hindrance to him and George. He forgot almost everything that happened, and had to repeat things several times to remember them. George would always repeat his instructions to Lennie to be positive that he would not forget them. "Oh, so ya forgot that too, did ya? Well, I ain't gonna remind ya, fear ya do it again." George made sure to never remind Lennie of bad things he had done in the past, in fear that he would repeat his mistakes. Lennie though, did not understand why the things he did were bad. He had to be told whether his actions were right or wrong. "I ain't sayin' he's bright. He ain't." "He's my...cousin. I told his lady I'd take care of him. He got kicked in the head by a horse when he was a kid." George constantly told lies to protect and help Lennie. He lied to the boss of the ranch they went to work at so that he could secure a job for Lennie, and help him to make a living. Without George to speak for him, Lennie would not be able to get a job, and therefore would have no money for food, clothes, and other necessities.
George obviously feels some sort of obligation to Lennie if he is willing to lie to the ranch boss about him. He cared more about getting Lennie a job than getting caught lying to the man. Lennie: "I can go away any time." George: "No--look! I was jus' foolin', Lennie. 'Cause I want you to stay with me." George thought that he had to help Lennie, and would not let Lennie run away to live alone in the woods. George wanted Lennie to stay around, and George felt as though he needed to help Lennie. Also, George stayed with Lennie, never abandoning him, even though George understood that leaving Lennie behind would be the easiest path to take. "We're gonna go in an' see the boss. Now look--I'll give him the work tickets, but you ain't gonna say a word. You jus' stand there and don't say nothing." George thought he should help Lennie secure a job and make a living, going far enough to talk for Lennie and create a charade of Lennie's real past.
Theme Analysis
I believe that the theme of this book is that, in some small way at least, we are responsible for helping to look after humankind. I would agree, in a sense, with the statement "I am my brother's keeper." The tones represented in the novel give support to the theme. George's feelings of obligation towards Lennie parallel the theme, showing that many people do feel as though they need to help others, and take care of their fellow humans. Lennie's being helpless shows that everyone needs some help at some point, and when they are weak or feeling down, they need someone to lean on who is willing to be nice and offer a hand.
In his novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses parallels in his first paragraph to help outline the main characters and their actions throughout the story. His incredible use of foreshadowing helps us to know the characters before we have even met them.
"the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green." The area is green, representing the idea of being young and new. The river is deep, showing its strength and the dependence placed on it. Lennie is the green character, acting like a young child and seeing everything as new. George could be represented as being "deep," because his thoughts run deeper and have more meaning, and Lennie is dependent on him.
"slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains." The mountains are "strong" and will always be there. The rocks are, in a sense, an extension of the mountains. Lennie is physically very strong and will help George, and George could be said to be an "extension" of Lennie, always staying with him and helping him through life.
"a path beaten hard by boys coming down from the ranches to swim in the deep pool, and beaten hard by tramps who come wearily down from the highway." The path is beaten and worn, constantly walked on and relied on by people to get from one place to another. Both George and Lennie are beaten down and worn. Lennie is constantly walked on because he is not very bright and does whatever his is told. George is worn down by taking care of Lennie for his whole life. Lennie always relies on George to help him travel, to get him from one place to another.
Tone Analysis
In Of Mice and Men, the tones of helplessness and obligation convey the dependence of Lennie and George's dedication to him. Several quotes throughout the novel support the tone words.
"I forgot again." Lennie's memory is constantly a hindrance to him and George. He forgot almost everything that happened, and had to repeat things several times to remember them. George would always repeat his instructions to Lennie to be positive that he would not forget them. "Oh, so ya forgot that too, did ya? Well, I ain't gonna remind ya, fear ya do it again." George made sure to never remind Lennie of bad things he had done in the past, in fear that he would repeat his mistakes. Lennie though, did not understand why the things he did were bad. He had to be told whether his actions were right or wrong. "I ain't sayin' he's bright. He ain't." "He's my...cousin. I told his lady I'd take care of him. He got kicked in the head by a horse when he was a kid." George constantly told lies to protect and help Lennie. He lied to the boss of the ranch they went to work at so that he could secure a job for Lennie, and help him to make a living. Without George to speak for him, Lennie would not be able to get a job, and therefore would have no money for food, clothes, and other necessities.
George obviously feels some sort of obligation to Lennie if he is willing to lie to the ranch boss about him. He cared more about getting Lennie a job than getting caught lying to the man. Lennie: "I can go away any time." George: "No--look! I was jus' foolin', Lennie. 'Cause I want you to stay with me." George thought that he had to help Lennie, and would not let Lennie run away to live alone in the woods. George wanted Lennie to stay around, and George felt as though he needed to help Lennie. Also, George stayed with Lennie, never abandoning him, even though George understood that leaving Lennie behind would be the easiest path to take. "We're gonna go in an' see the boss. Now look--I'll give him the work tickets, but you ain't gonna say a word. You jus' stand there and don't say nothing." George thought he should help Lennie secure a job and make a living, going far enough to talk for Lennie and create a charade of Lennie's real past.
Theme Analysis
I believe that the theme of this book is that, in some small way at least, we are responsible for helping to look after humankind. I would agree, in a sense, with the statement "I am my brother's keeper." The tones represented in the novel give support to the theme. George's feelings of obligation towards Lennie parallel the theme, showing that many people do feel as though they need to help others, and take care of their fellow humans. Lennie's being helpless shows that everyone needs some help at some point, and when they are weak or feeling down, they need someone to lean on who is willing to be nice and offer a hand.
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