TOW #14(Article): "The Interview"

           Currently in the United States, there have been many problems with the making of the movie "The Interview". The dictator, Kim Jong II, was threatening to send missiles to the U.S. if they released the movie because of the way it portrays him as a leader. In a recent CNN article, author Josh Levs, uses statistics and an appeal to ethos to inform the current citizens of the U.S. of what is going on. Starting with statistics, Levs uses a unique approach to laying out the facts. He first introduces a bit of background information, then the statistics, then explains how it shows the terrible side of Kim Jong II. By using the statistic as a way to show a biased side, Levs is not only furthering his purpose, but changing the people's perspective to be pro-U.S. (if they weren't already). He writes, " The DPRK has already launched the toughest counteraction. Nothing is more serious miscalculation than guessing that just a single movie production company is the target of this counteraction. Our target is all the citadels of the U.S. imperialists who earned the bitterest grudge of all Koreans" (Levs 1). He shows how the U.S. is handling the problem furthering evidence against North Korea and their terrible deeds. With this, Levs also uses an appeal to ethos. Throughout his paper, he mentions quotes from President Obama and other significant figures to exemplify the magnitude of this problem, and the ways in which it is being solved. He states that Obama calls this situation "an act of cybervandalism", which shows the people how serious this threat is being taken. In fact, they canceled the release of the movie and are guarding the people involved with the movie to make sure nobody gets hurt. This articles shows the measures being taken to stop this threat immediately.

TOW Post #13 (Visual): The New America

  While many may be confused as to why this photo is worthy to be talked about, I find the photo to inspire a change in people's perspective. Recently, many states have been passing laws allowing same sex couples to get married. While many who support the movement or are a part of it celebrate, others despise the thought of this as it is seen as "wrong" or "not appropriate".  However, I feel this photo, due to its style, purpose, and connection to the U.S., rebuttals all of that. Starting with style, the unique combination of love and a soldier, which invoke pathos, gives a respectful vibe to the overall picture. As a human, I have instant respect for someone in the military. They have to endure the pain of war, missing their loved ones, and suffrage all to protect us and make sure no harm comes our way. There is no doubt that most people find such motivation, strength, and respectable qualities in a soldier. Therefore, depicting a topic that is so controversial with something that gives automatic respect begs the question, "why do we make it such a big deal?" Someone who fights for our country and has more bravery than anyone sitting at home making negative comments towards the gay community is enough evidence that being gay is not a bad thing at all. Also, if that isn't enough to convince the audience, the kissing adds an extra "aw" from the public. The added emphasis of love between the two women provoke others to reevaluate their opinion. Plus, the audience is able to understand the difficulty that comes with maintaining a relationship while one person is overseas most of the time. The public doesn't necessarily have to go through that same experience, but they are capable of grasping the pain one can endure. Ultimately, the photograph is effective in inspiring a change in the negative commentary towards the gay community.

TOW #12 (IRB): Bossypants by Tina Fey

   In everyday life, only a few of us see things through a humorous lens. Most of us go about our day in the most simplistic, and least boring way possible. However, for Tina Fey, life was always seen as a series of humorous stories which she has wrote about in her book Bossypants. Throughout the first half of the book, Tina Fey uses a combination of humor and personal anecdotes to tell her life story from the beginning to now. Sprinkled throughout the book, narratives are used quite effectively by Tina as each one illustrates a life lesson that has turned her into the women she is today. In the third chapter, she talks about the struggle she had with growing up in the seventies by mentioning how "when [she] was thirteen [she] spent a weekend at the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey, with [her] teenage cousins Janet and Lori. In the space of thirty-six hours, they taught [her] everything [she] knows about womanhood" (17).  As a child, Tina Fey, having been through that stage, understands body image issues that develop in teens. By her use of personal anecdotes, Fey is able to not only relate to the readers, but also shows them how to take care of a situation like that. In that specific chapter, Fey shows girls that being comfortable in your own skin is the new chic. This adds to her purpose of writing because it shows that even celebrities have gone through the usual self-esteem issues. She is showing herself and that change she has undergone from her childhood to present day.  Along with narratives, Fey's main strategy is humor. She has the readers laughing page after page with the funny filled content that is her life. She adds a certain spark to her stories that keeps the readers wanting to read it more. With the use of humor, Tina Fey is able to keep the audience intrigued without overdoing the funny elements in the story

TOW Post #11 (Article): The Change of Nutrition

            Over the years, America's industries have all undergone incredible change. From producing organic foods to trying to find the cheapest methods to feed cattle, the American food industry is very different from what is was fifty years ago. This article talks about how those changes are resulting in a worser nutrition and health for the younger generations. With the use of humor and statistics, Jill Ettinger is able to show how much food industries have changed. Throughout the essay, Ettinger uses humor. Starting off with the introduction, Ettinger states how grandparents say that "all they had to eat was a plate full of boiled muttons" (1). While this is proven to be a mere exaggeration, it adds a flare to the overall piece. The audience is able to get a laugh out of just the thought of eating boiled muttons. Humor plays a huge effect to the article as it takes such a serious topic and allows it to be seen as more relaxed while still being something that needs to be discussed. Along with humor, the author uses statistics as another strategy to show the undergoing change in food industries. Throughout the article, Ettinger brings up statistics as a way to back up her claim. She states, "more than 100 billion animals (not including fish) will be eating genetically modified feed before being slaughtered" (3). This fact makes her claim about the change in animal feeding stronger. Ettinger, with the use of statistics, is able to persuade the audience to agree with her stance. Without evidence, nobody would agree with her because there is no proof given. Therefore, I find the overall piece to be effective. The purpose of provoking a change in how food is produced is able to be accomplished with the use of statistics and humor.

TOW Post #10 (Article): ISIS Terrorists Strike Again

   Over the past few months, the United States has had many encounters with a terrorist group in Syria known as the ISIS. The first occurrence happened in August as this group was able to kidnap an American journalist. After torturing the innocent man, the terrorists went on to behead him on camera and send the video to the United States government. This same instance has happened again with an aid worker and soldier named Peter Kassig. The ISIS group has struck again by beheading yet another innocent man in Syria. In the article, author Mariano Castillo writes about the remembrance of Peter and future actions taken by the government by appealing to pathos and using an informative tone. Towards the beginning of the article, Castillo writes about the heartbreak experienced by Peter's friends and families. He goes on to say how the family has "asked for prayers for the safe return of other captives" (24). By including this quote by the family, Castillo is pulling at the heartstrings of Americans. He is emphasizing the fact that this is occurring over and over again. The goal of this is to get the Americans against the terrorist group as well. Maybe having the public know the extreme measures of this event can cause for some persuasion towards the government in taking action. Another strategy used by Castillo is his use of an informative tone to help explain to the audience what exactly is going on. He states, "ISIL is another term for the group ISIS, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which calls itself simply the Islamic State" (50). Including key information such as where this is happening and the group responsible, Castillo is able to provide the public with general information. Obviously, most of the stuff is classified, but Castillo still wants the public to have an overall awareness of what is happening. The reason for this is that this can help build a big enough protest against the ISIS for some military action to occur, and the public knows what international incidents are occurring regarding normal American civilians. 

TOW Post #9 (Visual): Day of the Dead

  Recently, the holiday El Dia de Los Muertos, the day of the dead, was celebrated throughout most Spanish-speaking countries. The meaning behind this holiday is to celebrate the lost loved ones who have unfortunately died. However, this holiday is viewed as a celebration; mourning and sadness is actually very offensive to the holiday's meaning. In the above picture, the photographer (unknown but picture was found on CNN) captures the simplistic yet meaningful celebration going on in Spain. The picture gives a tone-down effect to the audience while still maintaining the importance of celebrating the holiday. One of the strategies that allows the audience to feel this way is the simplistic viewpoint. In reality, this is a picture of a very hilly area in Spain with many alters and small establishments created throughout the area. Knowing how simply these people are celebrating while still cherishing their loved ones provides a new perspective for the audience. We are able to see how holidays really aren't all about the expensive décor or fancy events; a holiday can be celebrated simply by the basics. Another strategy that is effective in giving the tone-down effect is the use of small details. With a short glance, the photo looks pretty neutral, as far as colors go. However, the added pop of blue from the stands and yellow from the signs bring the whole picture together. The small addition of vibrant colors definitely helps to make the picture more alive rather than boring. The photographer used the details of the scene with the casual celebration of the holiday to create a piece in which the audience is able to see how simplistic a celebration can be. Looking at other photos from the celebration of El Dia de Los Muertos, they are definitely more towards the flashy décor side. Most of the pictures don't focus on anything serene or calm; it's all decorations, fireworks, gifts, etc. Therefore, aside from giving off such a tone-down effect, the picture also offers a different viewpoint on how the holiday is celebrated and enjoyed.

IRB Intro Post #2

In the second marking period, I will be reading Bossypants by Tina Fey. It is a humorous book that covers Tina Fey's life, starting from her childhood to her success.

TOW #8 Post (IRB): Blink Pt. 2

In the book Blink, towards the end, Malcolm Gladwell, the author, starts to focus on the idea of judgement. He mainly focuses on the brain's method and reactions, and ties that to the reason humans judge. In the chapter, "Seven Seconds in the Bronx", Gladwell uses organization and classification as two of his main strategies to get his purpose across. First, Gladwell sets up the chapter in a very neat way. He talks generally about the topic then starts to list his reasoning using numbers (ex. 1.). Here is where classification now plays a part. Gladwell, then, classifies the rules into categories and explains how each category affects our reasoning behind judging others. Malcolm goes on to say how "the most common -- and the most important -- forms of rapid cognition are the judgements we make and the impressions we form of other people" (Gladwell 194). His usage of classification helps the reader connect all his ideas together. He is breaking down this vast idea of rapid cognition into categories, one being judgement. This strategy allows the reader to understand each individual reason, and connect them back to the big picture: why our brain does what it does and works the way it works. This method is very effective when writing because the reader is aware of the purpose since everything connects back to it. Another effective strategy used mostly towards the end of the book is real- world examples. When categorizing the big ideas, Malcolm would give specific examples to help break it down. For example, when explaining how easily we judge someone, Gladwell says, "when we meet someone new, we often pick up on subtle signals, so that afterward, even though he or she may have talked in a normal and friendly manner, we may say, I don't think he liked me" (Gladwell 194). This method is helpful because it helps the reader understand Malcolm in a perspective they are used to; they understand where he is coming from and what he is saying. Ultimately, the usage of classification, organization, and real world examples really help Gladwell to sell his purpose of informing people the wonders of our brain.

Tow #7 Post (Article): Shouting Ebola on a Plane?

The worldwide panic of Ebola has many people fearing and others scheming. This week, there was a dramatic scene that took place on a flight heading to the United States from the Dominican Republic. A passenger claimed to have Ebola while coughing vigorously in his seat. What could have been a practical joke turned into a two hour session of quarantine on the tarmac, or runway. Passengers were not only complaining about the annoying delay, but were frustrated with the man who's non-humorous joke landed them in that situation. He was escorted off the plane, and was in very serious trouble. In this CNN article, the author, Katia Hetter, uses diction with strong, negative connotation to inform the general public of the serious consequences that come with lying about this disease. In her opening paragraph, Hetter states, "while these agitators are finding zero tolerance for that kind of speech, people's daily lives and travels are being disrupted by the fear and panic surrounding the virus" (Hetter 1). Using the word "agitators" to describe the people orchestrating these jokes shows her sense of disgust, and annoyance. Later on, she also refers to them as "tricksters, hucksters and attention hogs", which also helps to portray her sense of annoyance. By using diction with such negative connotation, Hetter is able to illustrate her mood towards what happened on this flight, which helps to achieve her purpose. She is using her mood as a way to show that joking about such a serious topic is a disturbance that will not be tolerated. She goes on to say how the man was removed from the flight. Instead of using "asked to leave", Hetter uses removed to put emphasize on how it wasn't a choice, and to, again, use the negative connotation of the word to express the man's actions. Because of his failed attempt at being funny, he is being punished. Katia's usage of mood and diction help to really sell her purpose of not treating Ebola as a joke. 

TOW #6 Post (Article): Ebola Outbreak

     In a recent article by CNN, there has been talk about yet another victim, a nurse, who tested positive for Ebola. The woman is the second person inside the United States to get the virus, so citizens have been having panic attacks about how much longer this outbreak could last. The nurse supposedly got contaminated by the virus during her "extensive contact" at a Dallas hospital with a patient who tested positive for the virus. This marks the first known transmission of Ebola in the United States, and the third diagnosis in the country. Other staff members and the CDC are confused about one detail during her contact with the patient: where she went wrong. The woman had on a mask, gloves, and numerous shields to protect her from any contamination. The main concern with this new outbreak is the fact that the virus was caught by a simple preach of protocol. Even the President stated that he "wants federal authorities to immediately take further measures to ensure health care professionals are able to follow protocols for treating Ebola patients" (CNN 1). Also, this worries the public even more because if simple protocol is being broken, then the faster this deadly virus will spread. The main purpose of this article was to definitely warn the public, the intended audience, of the recent outbreaks, and to let them know that they need to be extra cautious. At a time where nurses, who are trained to deal with these kinds of events, are getting the virus, extra procedure needs to be taken. One of the strategies the author, Elizabeth Cohen, uses to communicate her purpose is a very serious tone. She mentions things like "The World Organization estimates more than 8,300 people have contracted Ebola during this year's outbreak" (CNN 1). This appeal to not only tone, but logos. By using logos to appeal to her serious tone, Elizabeth is able to explain to the public the cold hard facts about the virus. People need to be more careful everyday or else more outbreaks could happen causing an even greater risk of getting Ebola. With these two strategies, quotes by the President to represent ethos, and numerous case studies, Cohen is able to communicate her purpose to her audience, the general public, of the new outbreaks of Ebola, and to approach everyday situations cautiously and calmly. 

TOW #5 Post (Visual): Sotomayor

               In today's news, there are many articles dedicated to Justice Sotomayor, an associate justice of the Supreme Court. The articles are covering all sorts of topics including how race is the most important issue to her, how being a minority is the reason for her votes during 2009, and other subjects that are along the same lines. Then, I came along this political cartoon that has grasped the attention of many. The author, written in a blurry manner on the side of the cartoon, was able to include everyone's views on this matter in one picture. The cartoon displays, what I saw as, Barack Obama on the left saying that he throughly checked Sotomayor's background before he picked her to be on the Supreme Court. On the right, is his checklist for Sotomayor, and it only includes four points of qualifications that are seen as the biggest debates when it comes to politics. The viewers, people interested in the news and information about Sotomayor, mostly agreed with the political cartoon saying that the picture represents everything that shouldn't be present in a judge on the Supreme Court. The viewers do sound racist, but Sotomayor did publicly state that race is a huge matter to her. To Americans, it sounds like she has some sort of safe zone for people of color, which is frankly a little scary because she does hold a lot of power. However, as a woman of race, I don't feel threatened by Sotomayor's outburst on people of color. Now, people could argue I am coming from a biased side, but I don't think that an intellectual woman could make such a poor decision. I think that all she meant by it was that race matters to her, but not the extent people are thinking. As a woman of color, nobody expects her to act aggressively to others in her situation, but with her education and skills, she does not seem like the type to favor others.  Ultimately, the purpose of this cartoon was to portray the different viewpoints of Sotomayor and her recent statement of race mattering to her. 

TOW #4 Post (IRB Book): Blink

      Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell, discusses the various ways our minds work. It illustrates the unconscious thinking that happens without us ever realizing. Gladwell, a graduate from the University of Toronto, has been an expertise in this subject matter for years now. His previous books, such as The Tipping Point, cover the same topic of psychological decision-making that occur in our brains. Throughout the book, Malcolm is able to establish ethos by what he is saying.  Backing up his reasoning, of how the brain makes decision unconsciously, with narratives and research proves to his readers that there is a truth to Malcolm’s theory. It makes him credible, which is highly important when the book’s overall subject is about science, specifically psychology. Besides ethos, Malcolm also uses narratives as a way to connect with his readers. People reading this book must have a curiosity for how their minds work and certain functions that goes along with this process. Therefore, his readers are people interested in psychology: especially its connection to the brain. By using stories as a way to highlight the importance of that unconscious section in our brain, Malcolm is able to put a complicated science into simpler terms for his audience. Not only is this an effective strategy, but it also allows readers to really understand his purpose: breaking down the specifics of a newly psychological idea of unconscious decision-making. In fact, you could go even farther and say that in a way, Malcolm is trying to teach the audience how to use that part of their brain advantageously. Besides stories, Gladwell uses a variety of experiments to represent the benefits of knowing about our unconscious side and using it to improve our everyday behavior. For example, when talking about an experiment about deciding if a professor is good or not, Malcolm states, “We believe that we are always better off gathering as much information as possible and spending as much time as possible in deliberation. But there are moments when our snap judgments and first impressions can offer a much better means of making sense of the world” (Gladwell 14). In this quote, Malcolm is summarizing his findings in the experiment by saying that sometimes all the research and getting to know you isn’t needed; usually, our guts tell us our true feelings within the first ten seconds of meeting someone and that is what we should really listen to. Ultimately, Blink is a phenomenal book, so far, that goes into great depths about the wonders of our unconscious side. As for Gladwell, his purpose is clearly stated in each chapter as he continues to break down the psychological reasoning behind this science and along the way, teaches the reader how to use them advantageously with the addition of experiments, research, narratives, and ethos. 

TOW Post #3 (Visual): Gay Marriage Cartoon

           Currently in the United States, a huge controversial topic is gay marriage. While many states, with Pennsylvania being the newest one, have legalized gay marriage, there are still a significant number of states that have not taken any action towards making homosexual marriage legal. In fact, there are thirty-one states that are currently against this legalization of marriage. Therefore, given the influence by recent news, many cartoons illustrate the pain that homosexual people go through. For example, in the visual provided above, a boy is being told by his own mother that she isn't satisfied with his 'decision'. Being told by your own family member that your way of life is strange, and is honestly a little baffling can be hurtful. I mean what happened to the times where people said family is the one place where you aren’t judged, and you always have someone. Then, in the middle picture, the boy has seemed to grow up a bit by the mustache drawing and the height difference visible. However, his own family is telling him, again, how his way of life is still not understandable. As you can see by the boy's face, he isn't angry about this, but there is an obvious feeling of pain shown by his expressions. Also, since there is a significant difference in looks, we can infer that the artist is trying to create a sort of timeline. This shows the readers how it is taking a while for his own family to accept this, and through that time, the guy probably has nobody to confide in. By using pathos, the artist is able to capture a vulnerable picture and express it to his general audience by emphasizing the pain homosexuals go through. In the last picture, we see the man, fully grown, being rejected by a judge now. Meaning, that he does not have the right to get married, settle down, and live his life like the rest of us. The main purpose of this illustration is to show the suffering that homosexuals go through that we, as people, don’t really see. We judge all we want, but we don’t really understand what it is like, and that is where the main message lies in this visual text.