Rhetorical Analysis of Four Modes:

Book: Night by Elie Wiesel

When Elie Wiesel gave a Western Heritage Lecture a few months ago it was impossible not to see the pain in his eyes. The pain that I saw in Elie’s eyes was extremely similar to the pain that John Prendergast spoke about at a CPS event about Darfur. It was because of this that I decided to use Night as my textual support for project three. The book also has many themes and issues that are similar to or the same as those found in Darfur. Night is the firsthand account of Elie’s battle to survive the Holocaust in Germany. The Jewish were herded into concentration camps in which they lived with little supplies and under terrible conditions. People in Darfur are faced with the same issues of starvation and disease as well as daily violence that is captured in Night. Both the genocide in Darfur and the Jewish holocaust through the eyes of Elie Wiesel show the deterioration of humanity and assumption that all people are initially good.
After the Jewish Holocaust people began to see question how it was that it went on for so long without anything being done. You could now ask the same question about the current genocide taking place in Darfur. Will America look back on this act of genocide and wonder why it was not stopped sooner? This textual source relies mainly on the rhetorical appeal of Pathos and the strong emotional feelings it provokes There is also a hint of Ethos in Night because of the closeness the reader feels to Elie Wiesel and the sadness when he personally deteriorates throughout the book.. The appeal of Logos is also evident in Night because it is a witness’s recollection of events that as far as we know are factual. Using Night will be a great way to teach an audience about the genocide in Darfur because of the similarities between the two and the intense emotional value behind both.


Film: The Last King of Scotland

I chose the film The Last King of Scotland because of its relevant place geographically as well as the extreme misuse of power and violence in the movie. The government in both Darfur and The Last King of Scotland misuse their place of high status and power to inflict pain and violence upon the civilians. This source again focuses mostly on the use of Pathos in its ability to invoke strong emotions of sadness, anger, remorse, etc… The film compliments the book nicely because for someone who is visually inclined or doesn’t prefer to read the film touches on many of the same themes. Anyone who is compassionate will feel for the characters in this movie and should therefore feel for the victims of genocide in Darfur. If an audience can generate emotions for actors than they will surely feel for people actually living a nightmare similar to The Last King of Scotland. In choosing this movie I was thinking about something that would compliment Night, have similarities to Darfur, and generate real emotions.


Song: “Orange Sky” by Alexi Murdoch

When John Prendergast spoke at the CPS event he told a story about a woman and her young children who were captured by the devil on horseback. She watched two of her children be killed in front of her as she tried helplessly to protect them. It was with this story in mind that I chose the song “Orange Sky” by Alexi Murdoch as one of my sources. The song talks about the incredible relationship between brothers and sisters and the happiness they bring to each other. The lyrics and title of the song also talk about the “Orange Sky” that brings and image of the sun setting in an African village to my mind. In times under the harshest circumstances the people you turn to are your friends and family. After all is said and done your family will be there for you and provide you with the love and support you need to survive. The song taps into the appeal of Pathos once again and the emotional value of family. Not only is this song quite pleasing to listen to but it provides another dimension to the genocide in Darfur; this being the power of family in a time of ultimate need.


Art: Photographs by Michael Specht

The artwork that I chose by local Saint Petersburg artist, Michael Specht, was incredibly powerful. I came upon one of his photographs in the art show at Eckerd a few weeks ago and right away I was captured by its aesthetic strength. This particular photo portrayed the back of a black man who had his arms stretched above his head. His position made the muscles in his back pronounced and defined and brought thoughts of Black Power to my mind. When I went to Michael Specht’s website I found more photographs similar to this one that all pictured this powerful black man. Thinking about these photographs after having seen them I couldn’t help but to connect them with the idea that the genocide in Darfur is an Africa-Only problem. Although many people in the U.S. think this is the case these photographs had a certain amount of sadness that might help to show people the absurdity in this idea. The black man featured in the photos is strong, resilient, proud, but there can also be found tension and sadness in his figure. These art pieces once again generate appeal of Pathos and have power in the emotions they provoke. For an audience who had not been emotionally moved by any of the other sources these photographs will surely do the job.

Toni Morrison Interview:
Summary:
The interview starts off with Toni Morrison speaking about her book "Love" and the assimilation of blacks into the American culture. They then go on to talk about the lack of black businesses and how people are being pulled into working for larger corporations. Toni talks about the parallel between two characters in her book and the neighborhoods that they live in. Then the conversation switches to "Beloved" and the idea of this work being a masterpiece. Toni doesn't believe it is a masterpiece and she explains it as "less romanticized" than her other works and this is why it appeals to people. "Beloved" appeared to her after she quit her job and felt liberated and free from the constraints. The interview goes on to talk more about her books in depth as well as various other things.

Reflection:
One thing that Toni said that I completely can relate to is the idea that the only thing important to her is writing her books and being a good mother to her children. It was especially interesting to hear her talk about how she created her characters from people she knew and could write well and then she placed them into context. I absolutely loved that she considered all of her characters winners because of their experiences in which they learn something of great value. It is this that makes them a winner and not necessarily the character they are in the book. Her advice about writing and the little things to remember was things that teachers have told me for years but I never actually believed. It was interesting to see her talk about her writer/celebrated self verses the person she knows who is just the writer. She believes she hasn't yet done her best work which is something that is very admirable. I hope that someday I can be so certain that I can do better work than I am doing.

Reaction:
This interview relates in many ways to what I am learning in many of my classes. I have just gotten into African American stories in my short story class and they seem to have similarities to Toni's works. She compares her male and female characters which is what I just finished crafting in a paper. She says that her mind is what makes her interesting and it is not her life. "Her heart, soul, and skill" is what makes her who she is and the great writer she is. This makes me really think about who I am and whether or not it is my life that is interesting or my mind, or neither. Toni Morrison seems like a truly wise woman who you would learn a great deal from. She could read to me for hours...


Questions:
1) Do people always write what they know? Does this create the best works?
2) Does creating characters that are winners make for better stories?
3) Do you think your life is interesting... or is it your mind?

The Simpsons as a Critique of Consumer Culture:
Summary:
This article focuses on the comparison between the FOX sitcom “The Simpsons” and the consumer world of America. Each character in the show stands for a certain idea or symbol in American life and culture. The Simpsons family together is the exact representation of a middle-class American family who is stuck in an inescapable capitalist world. Homer represents the man who is working at a job he hates but has to stay at because of the money it provides for his family. Marge represents the classic house wife who gets little respect or attention from her husband and whose place is in the house. Lisa is the character who represents “rationality” in the Simpson’s world which puts her in the minority group. Bart’s character represents the injustice and cruelty of the American educational system. Along with the different characters all representing certain universal themes in everyday life the episodes are centered on issues like politics, the environment, and capitalism.

Reaction:
The topic of this piece of writing was something that I had never even thought about before, not that I’m an avid “Simpsons” watcher but I have seen the show. I am assuming that while watching it I noticed how Homer treated Marge or how Lisa was always the one with the good ideas but I never put it together that the issues were symbolic. The fact that the show is “not personality driven; it is about the conflict of ideas” is extremely interesting and makes the show unique in its way. I also thought that the portrayal of the two political parties being the “two sides of the same evil coin” was not only clever but had a lot of truth behind it. The candy which is symbolic for any addiction in a society, drugs, food, sex, etc… was an interesting scene especially when Marge argued against the addiction but gave in to Homer in the end. It shows the male dominance over women and the expectation that women do what their husband says to make him happy. Although this assumption is becoming less and less prominent in American culture as women are beginning to focus more on career as opposed to family, it is still extremely evident in households. Lastly, the entire picture that “The Simpson’s” portrays is disappointing and sad because of its truth and reality when it comes to middle class American families.

Reflection:
This reading definitely correlated with last week’s reading of Simone de Beauvoir’s “The Second Sex”. It is evident in reading this text and watching “The Simpsons” that Marge is made to feel like the Other and she fits right into the cast made for American women in today’s society. Her job is within the house, cooking, cleaning, and fulfilling the wishes of her husband. It is so sad to think that most people in the U.S. are of the middle class standing and that this is a reality for them. I know that my dad hates the job he is at right now but he doesn’t have any other choice because he has to make enough money to support his family. He is trapped inside the system of capitalism and nothing short of winning the lottery can get him out of it. I never would have thought that an animated television show would have so much insight into the way things actually work and the lives of millions of middle class Americans.

Questions:
1) Do you agree that Democrats and Republicans are on either side of an evil coin?
2) Can you think of another character from a show, book, movie, etc… that portrays capitalism?
3) Are children in public schools predetermined to fail?

Four Modes For Project #3:



Book: Night by Elie Wiesel


Film: The Last King of Scotland




Song: October Sky by Alexi Murdoch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XymNd2JyS68


Art Piece:

www.michaelspechtphotography.com

Click on Fine Art/Beauty
Click on Male Images
Click Last Three Images on Left Side of Screen

Sometimes friendship is only desired when it is convenient.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt0bKL0rJZM


The seed of mental illness is in the person although the environment can aid in the downfall.
http://lifewithoutbuildings.net/wordpress/lifewithoutbuildings.net/html/2008/06/080617_elmgreen-dragset-1.jpg


College can have an intense impact on a person's life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVTyLqkez6A

Simone de Beauvoir’s “The Second Sex”
Introduction: Woman as Other

Summary:
Simone de Beauvoir starts off this piece of writing by asking the important questions that are at the bottom of understanding women’s role in today’s world. What is a woman? This question is not easily defined; you can say that a woman is a woman because she has ovaries for example but does this really inhibit everything that it means to be a woman? Some women spend their time trying to roll with the men and be considered as an equal to them showing that women are “haunted by a sense of their femininity.” There is also a negative connotation when you refer to yourself as a woman, whereas when you refer to a man it is positive because man represents the entirety of human beings. Simone talks about how the woman is thought of in relation to and as a part of the male form, stemming first from Adam and Eve. Women are also thought of as the “Other” when compared with men who are seen as the “Absolute”, which pushes women outside the normal frame and into the category of the outsider or foreigner. The world is set up in favor of men; it is a man’s world, with everything from legal matters, to higher wages working in favor of men and women being so caught up in this system that they do little to change it. Religion, biology, theology, etc… was used to put up a case against women in showing their inferiority and instability as the lesser sex.

Reaction:
This section of reading was a great change from the Vogler reading because it was on a topic that I have done some studying about and it is a current issue. The idea that women themselves should feel some of the blame for being considered the lesser sex is one that I completely agree with. Although the bible and other early works set women up to be looked on as inferior to men it is women who have allowed this to happen over the years. There is much more unity to be found among the male sex and they consider themselves to be together in their work and in the world; whereas women refer to themselves as ‘women’ and there is little or no collectiveness in their efforts and way of life. Simone de Beauvoir says that women have “gained only what men have been willing to grant; they have taken nothing, they have only received,” and this quote shows perfectly the way I feel on this issue. In not demanding more from the world and from the male sex we have allowed ourselves to be put into the role as “Other” and we are only now realizing the unfairness of our situation. I also agree with de Beauvoir’s idea that in order to actually make any leeway or gain any understanding in this struggle all of the past speculations, ideas, and biases about what a woman is and start over entirely. In doing this it will be much easier to not keep resorting to the same arguments and evidence that people have been using for decades; it will allow for a blank slate which can then be painted with the observed truth about what being a woman actually means.

Reflection:
This reading brought me back to the class we had a few weeks ago in which Trip said something about all women being “at least a little crazy.” Not only did this comment make me quite irritated but it also showed me how even toady men are labeling and pushing women into the “Other” category without any sense of what it means to be a woman. Men take it for granted that they have everything in their favor from the moment they are born, to when they become director of a company, to their death. The world is set up in a fashion that caters to men’s needs, desires, mindset and ways of life; they don’t have to figure out ways to work around the system because it is unjustly set up to work against them or at least not for them in any way. The following quote does give me some hope, however, “In recent debates on the status of women the United Nations has persistently maintained that the equality of the sexes is now becoming a reality, and already some of us have never had to sense in our femininity an inconvenience or an obstacle.” So perhaps what is being done for the justice of women is having some effect on our society and the world we live in… but it is still not even close to being a resolved issue, much like racism.

Questions:

1) To the males of the class… Do you feel like the world is set up to cater towards men? Are women at a disadvantage from the time they are born?

2) What issues can be seen today that support the notion that women are the weaker, inferior sex?

3) To the females of the class… Have you ever felt that your sex ailed you in any way? For example, you didn’t get paid as much as a male, you didn’t get picked because you were female, etc…