PR 7: Those Winter Sundays

This poem speaks to those people whom have had a person in their life that never received the gratitude that they deserved. Robert Hayden pays tribute to his father and the work he did to keep his family afloat. The author begins by talking about how his father would wake before everyone on winter mornings and make sure that the furnace was refilled with coal to keep the family warm. His father did many things, both manual labor and emotionally, to make sure his family was well. The family was put first and Robert Hayden never realized this as a child. The other aspect of the poem deals with the relationship between Hayden and his father. It was a form of “tough love” and Hayden as a child could not realize that this was the only way his father knew to show he cared.

The admiration that Hayden has for his father has come later than it should have, and he realizes this. Hayden wishes that as a child he could have understood the actions of his father, but now he not only accepts them he also appreciates them. I think that is true in many families. We all think that we are being treated unfairly as children, but as we mature we begin to realize that all of that “tough love” actually benefited us the most. It is a shame; however, that we can’t realize this sooner.

PR 6: The Coming of Wisdom with Time

This poem speaks of the progression of knowledge that is gained with time. Relating life to that of a tree is important aspect of this poem. Youth representing the blooming flowers and budding leaves of the tree show that we as children do whatever we please no matter the consequences, because we do not know the outcome. Our opinions shown and we do not care who hears them or affect it has. As our leaves begin to “wither” and fall off, our knowledge grows. While this means death is nearing, we should still live life to its fullest. Our roots will never leave and that is what keeps us growing. No matter how many leaves we may loose, knowledge sticks with all of us because it is deep in our roots. The tree will always live no matter how many leaves are lost. We hold true to our roots and live due to them. At the end of the poem the author talks about the withering into truth. Here he is analyzing how children learn that the truths they believed are no longer true. We all go through the same phase in life. Reality sinks in and all of us learn that certain things in life are not what they seem to be.

Awakening: End

The ending is definitely a significant one. Her ending her life in the sea shows her completely letting go and being free. However, it is also a selfish act. She has no respect for herself or care about the ones that love her. I feel no sympathy for Edna. Adele’s last words should have stuck in her mind. “Think of the children” is something she did not think about. Mothers would not take their life if they truly loved their children. Edna does not love her children or anyone for that matter.

Putting all of this aside I must comment on the rest of ending prior to this. There is more lusting and sex between Edna and Alcee. However, Robert comes back into the picture. I hate that he comes to back to her. Why can’t he see the writing on the wall that supposedly she loves him, but she is still married and having sex with Alcee. He must be an idiot. Anyway they both confess their love for each other and plan to have a romantic time, but the birth of Adele’s child interrupts them.

While I was indifferent to the book and kind of liked it for a while, I have defined my view on it. Its not that I hate the book, I dislike Edna and everything she stands for in life. I think the book was well written. My concluding thought on this story is that for a fact Edna was mentally insane.

Awakening: 30-34

Enda’s party seems like a big hit with the guests, but yet Edna still finds there is something missing in her life. She once again relies on the comfort of Alcee, the man she continues to experiment with while her husband and Robert are still gone. However, Robert does return and the two lovers of Edna finally meet. It was a very awkward scene. Both men confront each other and there definitely seems to be a tension between the two of them. Robert does the right thing in leaving Enda in this section. He shouldn’t put up with it. However, we see that Alcee has no self-respect and is just in it for the physical attraction.

Another side of this section also covers the reaction by Edna’s husband over her moving. Yes, we can confirm that her husband is a complete jerk. His only true feeling about her moving is that it will ruin his reputation. He even goes as far to put an ad out that says they are remodeling their house, and Edna and him will be vacationing. Leonce would rather spend thousands on renovating a house that doesn’t even need renovating to protect his stature in the society. He truly must not have any feelings for his wife, and they both should agree to split. The rest of the book seems to be a downhill travel for Edna.

Awakening: 25-29

Wow, what a curve ball in the story. I never would have predicted that Edna would have three men in her life. There are many things I could say about Edna, but I would rather keep the class peaceful. While Leonce is off in New York, Edna’s thrill of being alone wears off and she longs for something more. Her actions lead her to another man named Alcee. It is not that Edna has any actual feelings for him, but it is more of a sexual attraction. He is a way for her to release her sexual tensions and physical urges.

This is however not enough for Edna. She decides to write to Leonce and tell him that she is moving. She can’t stand the large house the upkeep it has. Even though she doesn’t do anything with the house. Mainly it’s the fact that the house is a symbol that is holding her back from independence. Edna is willing to risk everything in her life for the opportunity to be a “free” woman. She thinks that she can survive on money from the tracks. A side note is that Robert is to be returning. Edna may be experimenting with Alcee, but her heart is with Robert, and the awakening of Edna is in full swing. I can’t wait for class to see what others have to say.

awakening: 20-24

Major events have happened in this section of reading. More turmoil is added to Edna’s life, and her father, Colonel, is introduced along with her sister Janet. Leonce’s lack of control over Edna is what frustrates the Colonel the most. Leonce sees Edna’s new independence as a mental illness. So, I was stating today, she is going insane according to Leonce. Her husband even goes as far to call in the doctor to assess her behavior, but he can not see anything wrong with her.

Adele and Edna start to separate and their friendship fades, but Edna starts to show more affection to her husband as he prepares to leave for New York. When he does leave, the children are sent off to their grandparents’ house. Edna is left alone and she likes it. She eats alone and reads every night. Edna feels peaceful, and it is a time of relaxation for her. Her mind can reset and things will come into perspective.

This section reengaged me and gained my attention once again. I feel as though this is the calm before the storm. I think that Edna is going to slip and fall. She seems to be trying to come back to reality, but I believe that she will make one mistake and the whole world will come tumbling down. However, I’m not a psychic so I guess we will have to see.

Awakenig: 15-19

Summer has ended, and now everyone is heading home. The biggest shocker was the departure of Robert. He has decided to leave the U.S. and go to Mexico. He has said nothing to Edna about leaving and this frustrates her to no end. The two of them have created this great bond, and he never even hinted to her that he intended to leave. We see here another part of Edna’s awakening. She has started to have deep feelings for someone other than her husband, and she can not explain them.

While life has moved from the summer house to home, it is still the same routine. However, a new sense of self has come over Edna. She no longer tends to her expected duties. She doesn’t stay home and entertain guests or tend to her husband as she did. Edna spends her time drawing. Her husband disapproves of her actions and wants to know why she is not doing her duty. Once again she doesn’t know why.

You wouldn’t expect Edna to end up this way, but she let herself sink deep into an imaginary life. She makes no real progress and she constantly is changing moods while thinking of Robert. This would suggest that she intends to find him or continue to wait for his return. It is like she has stopped herself, but life continues without her. I really wasn’t expecting this all to happen, but I guess it adds a twist.

Awakening: 10-14

Chapters ten through fourteen are a little more eventful, but they are not over exciting. They do show a build up in the relationship between Edna and Robert and the distance being created between Edna and her husband. More and more now, Edna is “frolicking” somewhere with Robert and her husband starts to care less and less. The swimming scene at the beginning of this section shows something once again of Edna’s “awakening”. She doesn’t know how to swim, but yet goes on out and does it. In fact she swims out farther than most women do. This is a daring thing that she does. It shows that is showing no care to limits. She is pushing herself to the edge.

While the swimming expedition may not be a life-threatening challenge, it shows confidence in herself. This new side to Edna will most likely be the reasoning for her to cross the line that she is not supposed to cross. Yes, she is being her own self and not letting others control her life; however, she is undoubtedly going to push herself too far. It is good to be your own person, but it is not good to hurt those whom you love and love you. Edna needs to slow things down before she does something that will be too drastic to correct. I guess we will just have to see what happens and the choice the Edna makes.

the Awakening 2

This section focuses on the relationship between Edna and Robert and Edna and her children. While Edna does love her children, she does not miss their company. When they are out of her possession she feels relief. The process of awakening for Edna begins here. Her interactions with Robert are becoming more prevalent and “lines” are being crossed. Edna knows that Robert is known to be a flirt, and every summer he has a new lust interest. However, she is starting to feel that his feelings are true and he might go through this time and take action. Robert is talked to by his mother and Adele about how a man courting a married woman is looked down upon.

All of these thoughts are cluttering Edna’s head and she knows that she must stay away from Robert, but she doesn’t hold back. In fact the end of the section concludes with the party going for a night swim. Obviously something will happen, because that makes sense. Edna wants to separate herself from Robert, but yet she doesn’t. She knows its wrong, but she wants Robert’s company. I guess we will have to see what happens as we read farther. I imagine that her and Robert will undoubtedly have some sort of relation issues and a massive uproar with result.

PR: 5

This poem caught my eye instantly when I started to look for the right poem. Donnelly, the author, is obviously furious with both Cotton Mather and slavery. She is frustrated with the enslavement of people, but for the time it definitely it not something that was looked down upon. The most interesting thing about the poem is that these people, Cotton Mather and Onesimus, were real. The work that Cotton was developing was a vaccine for small pox. This took place during a Puritan hypocrisy during the early settlement of America. Mather presented the idea as his own when in fact it was his slave’s idea.

It is an intriguing fact, but from Onesimus’ statement it is shown that he was quite educated and had an understanding of medical procedures. Onesimus was a survivor of the small pox epidimic that was present in Boston during the time. This is the reference to Boston in the poem. Thus the need for a cure of smallpox was something that was necessary to insure the survival of the population.

The wisdom of Onesimus and the pursuit inside Cotton shows the powerful impact of this poem. While it does seem bad to the author what Cotton did by stealing Onesiumus’s idea, there would be no way that he could propose his idea. He was a slave and did not have rights. However, this poem is very strong and I liked it.

The Awakening 1

In these first four chapters of the novel we are introduced to Edna, her husband, Leonce, her friend, Adele, Madame Lebrun, and Robert Lebrun. We get a sense of the life that Edna lives. She is very privilegded. Her family retires to summer house in New Orleans where the rich stay and she has servants that will tend to her every need. However, Edna does not feel like she fits well the crowd. All of the people that surround her are creoles and they have very different customs that she does not care to partake. As an average American she feels left out and can find no one to confide in except Robert. Leonce is a man that keeps to himself. He is very much full of himself and he is quite attached to his job. He can’t understand why Edna is not like the rest of the “mother-women”.

To go with these observations, I am wondering how the exercise in class was supposed help me. I kind of feel like I know the ending already and the novel is a little worthless now. However, I am enjoying it and it is a very simple read to me. I look forward to the next chapters.

PR4: To Myself

This poem is the expression of the author’s feelings about something/ someone lost. Merwin shows here that even though the thing or person is gone from one’s life, they never leave you completely. People continue to search for the lost part of their life. Anyone can relate to this poem, because without a doubt everyone has lost something or someone at a time in their life.

Our minds can play tricks on us with these memories and make us think that the lost item or person is still with us. Also in relation to people, with these memories we keep one image related to that lost person and do not alter it to the present. The person most likely has changed, but to us they are the same being that left our lives in the past. The ending of the poem covers this area. People change with time, but to the poem when you are lost nothing changes. The lost person stays the same in your mind as time goes. However, even though the person may be lost in your mind, it does not mean that they are lost in their lives.

I like this poem and how just about everyone can relate in some form to it. This seems to be a pattern with the poems I choose. I think that is a good base to start at when choosing poems to respond. It is more meaningful to choose poems that others can comment on than to choose ones that only a few can understand and relate.

HOD: Last

This final section of the novel is amazing. There is really no other way to put it. Kurtz passes away on the return trip to civilization, and Marlow comes down with an awful illness as well. This is the main push for Marlow to return to Brussels. Kurtz gave Marlow his pamphlet and other papers for keeping prior to his death, and is he is to hold on to them. Marlow is nursed back to health by his aunt upon arriving in Brussels. People take certain papers from Marlow, but they want all of them. Marlow keeps the line “eliminate all the brutes” and gives the rest of the papers to a woman in Brussels (the intended).

While we see that the Darkness has over taken everyone on the ship, it is interesting that is has taken hold of Marlow so greatly. However, the epiphany that Marlow obtains is truly the highlight of the novel. Kurtz had something to say and that is why he was remarkable. Marlow had nothing to say, therefore he would not be remembered as something remarkable. While lying in a dying state Marlow realizes this and decides he needs find something to say. This is a remarkable to see Marlow find a reason to continue living and a purpose.

The ending of this novel is a good one. Narration changes and we observe the relaxed and “meditative” state of Marlow. The ship sails on into the heart of night, the dark night. This ending sums up the novel quite well and creates a place that catches the audience. I’m actually glad I read this novel.

HOD: section 5

This section of the reading is intriguing. We witness shifting in Marlow’s approval and feelings about Kurtz. Also, Kurtz has weakened even more and his days are limited. His time with the natives is coming to a close.

The Russian trader lets Marlow know that Kurtz is the one who ordered the attack on his steamer. Kurtz had hoped that the crew would be too scared to enter the shore, and the manager would think that Kurtz was dead or had died in the attack. Marlow feels indifferent about Kurtz’s decision. He sees it as an attack on him personally, but Marlow keeps his promise to the trader that he will keep Kurtz’s reputation the same as the trader leaves with a small group of natives to avoid the manager. Kurtz is moved so that he can be treated medically, but late in the night he vanishes and Marlow goes to search for him. This is where our section ends.

Marlow alienates himself in this section from the whites. It changes from a black v. white to a white v. black v. Marlow. The backing that Marlow gives Kurtz turns himself against the manager. For some reason Marlow overlooks the issues that lie with Kurtz think of him still as a magical creature. I think farther in the story we are going to see Marlow have face a choice of whether side with his kind or the natives and Kurtz. This will be prove trivial for him in my mind.

HOD: section 4

We start out part 2 with Marlow overhearing a conversation concerning Kurtz. The manager and his uncle are in talking about how Kurtz is hurting them. He is trying to take the manager’s position. His lack of care about the ivory production makes the two of them want to kill him. Another trader that bothers the two men is also discussed and they decide his is to be hanged. This proves that they mean business and Kurtz’s life is in danger. Whether they kill him or his sickness does, Marlow feels the need to take action.

Marlow’s steamer is finally fixed and he rounds up a crew to go and save Kurtz in the Darkness. However, the manager and some pilgrims go with him. The interesting thing here is that the black vs. white theme is confusing. The natives (cannibals) and whites are mixed together as one crew. Marlow seems to actually find a connection with the natives, and through this the black being evil is sort of set aside. I’m not entirely sure where this will lead to, but I imagine that farther in the novel we will see shift in black and white against each other.

There are no real narration changes in this section (except for a bit when Marlow is listening to Uncle and the Manager), and actually there is not that much action happening. I do expect it to become more action filled in the next section as Marlow gets closer to Kurtz.

HOD: section 3

Now that I am more aware of the events taking place in the novel, I can easily read through the book with an understanding. In this section we still are involved in the story of Marlow’s trip to the Congo. His ship has been extremely damaged and he believes it to be on purpose so he can not reach Mr. Kurtz, an ill man who is in the interior. Several months go by while he is fixing his ship.

The white vs. black is very apparent again. Natives are always accused of creating problems. A grass hut is burned and a native is beaten badly for it. The white colonizers are seen as the high and mighty royalty, but in actuality the whites are “evil” and the blacks are good. This differentiation that proceeds through the entire novel seems to compete with itself. No matter how much violence the whites inflict on the natives they still seem to come out “smelling like a rose”, and the natives can seem to do no right.

Chaos is still an issue in the area and darkness is represented by the violence from the chaos and attitudes of those around him. The brickmaker is only "friending" Marlow to obtain information and has no intention of becoming an acquaintance of his. There doesn’t seem to be any “light”. However, the painting of the blind folded woman with the torch has a significance. The torch to me acts as a “light” being brought to the Africans. It is a sense of hope. I may be wrong, but that is my interpretation.

Also, a change in narration does happen. The last couple pages show a shift from Marlow to the Unnamed. Marlow finally takes a break in his story so that his listeners can fully comprehend his story. This is good because the man needs to breathe for once. He must be an amazing story teller or one heck of a talker.

HOD: section 2

The hardest part about this novel is not completely realizing everything that is going on in the story. After only reading three pages yesterday, the discussion today had me lost and so I had to read the 24 pages twice just to understand what exactly was happening. I imagine it will get easier as we go.

This second section of the reading continues the story that we left in the first section. Marlow has been describing his journey in the Congo. There were no narration changes in this section. An interesting point about Marlow is that he is working for the Belgium coalition instead of the British. When Marlow observes the map in the office he can see that the Belgium Empire in Africa is very apparent. They are the main “stock holders” and show this through their vast amounts of wealth and the terror they rain on the natives. Darkness plays a part in this area of the story with the two women that are knitting black wool. They seem to be “guarding” the door to the office while Marlow waits to see if he gets the charter. He mentions that it he feels as though the door they are guarding is darkness. As he passes through the darkness he “sees” light by receiving the job. The black and white theme continues from here to the point where Marlow heads toward Central Station. The natives are terrible, savage like people and whites are preferred.

Other things that need to be pointed out are the state of the Congo and attire. There isn’t really any order to it at this time in his story. A lot of violence and blood shed is occurring. Many lives are lost. As for the clothing, Conrad seems to emphasize alot on the appearance of those whom he meets. Their appearance appears to give him their life story and they are placed in categories of achievement according to this.

PR 3: Lilacs in September

This poem links the life of a lilac to that of person. It was torn and disfigured by the furry of a hurricane. The turmoil reaches all the way to the root of the plant like frustration would reach the heart of human. This lilac faces many challenges through the storm, but in the end it still continues with its life. Nothing is changed in its process even though it is mutilated. We as humans should take this and apply it to our own lives. The storm can relate to anything tragic or of great importance that has affected your life. You need to take this and pick yourself back up. Nothing is too terrible in your life to slow you down and defeat you. We must continue with our lives as the lilac did. Survival is key.

I really like this poem. It really came easily to me. Everyone should be able to relate to this poem and I think that is the main reason I like it so much. The linkage between the lilac and humans is very apparent. No matter the how bad the problems are we face, they are not enough to make us quit. We push forward and conquer the problem. You will be able to continue with your normal life. The storm is never to strong.

Eveline

The theme of Eveline is that the past is not good to hold on to when thinking about the future. This short story is about a girl name Eveline and her tribulations of going away from home and leaving what she has known her whole life. What is Eveline’s lover’s name? What is the father’s feeling about Eveline being with her lover? Has the past ever restricted you from making a decision?

Well I am not sure what to think about this short story. I thought it was a good piece, but I don’t know if I liked or what exactly Joyce was doing at the end. Eveline to me, until the end, seemed like an intelligent girl and knew what she wanted. However, she like shuts off at the end and has no response to her lover, Frank. I guess this deals with the “paralysis” that you, Mrs. Pfan, were talking about. The epiphany that Joyce implements in each of these stories was present as well. Eveline remembers her mother’s last words and knows that she must leave her home and start a new life. However, the paralysis sets in and that is what keeps her from starting this new life with Frank.

Overall this story was very organized and had a good style. Joyce’s writings seem to have a pattern…weird.

Araby

This short story, Araby, is about a boy’s fascination with Mangan’s sister and his quest to live his fantasy. The theme is that childhood creates these fantasies and in the end we must deal with the fact that they are foolish and will end. What is the name of the event the boy goes to? How is the aunt involved in the boy’s life. Do you know of anyone who has been in the same situation as the boy.

I was intrigued by this story and again I kind of liked it. Amazing, I know. However, I do feel the syntax and pace of the story were not in sync. I think that Joyce tries to rush his stories. I’m not saying I couldn’t comprehend the story, it’s just that he doesn’t pause to let his audience become attached to his writing. On the other hand, his style and use of rhetoric really put the story together. I thought his epiphany at the end for the boy was a great place to end the story. It leaves the reader wanting more, but also puts a wrap on the story.

Joyce’s writing is very intellectual and exemplifies a lot of thought. His stories it seems will always pose a lesson to be learned. I look forward to reading more of his writings and discussing them.

Hard to find a Good Man

The theme of this short story is that you should live every moment to its fullest, because you never know when your life will end. This story is about a dysfunctional family and their life-ending trip on their way to Florida. What was the cat’s name? What did east Tennessee represent to the grandmother? Have you ever experienced a tragedy like the one in this story that changed your life?

This story honestly was weird and creepy. I never would have expected the ending nor the reactions of the characters at the end. The dialogue leading up to the suspenseful end was filled with imagery and good word choice. Syntactically they fit well. My feeling is that the story was well organized and didn’t have many flaws. However, I wasn’t a big fan of any of the characters. The children were brats. The mother was odd. The dad was a jerk, and the grandmother was a freak. Only the cat remains, so I guess I liked the cat. The hardest part for me to understand was the mother’s attitude at the end. She actually wanted to be killed. It was either that or she was so oblivious to what was happening that in panic she just wanted to be with her husband.

Aside from the oddities of the story, I felt it was a good read. Syntax, word choice, and imagery were all represented and represented well. The characters actions were very true to their style, and they all exemplified differences that worked for the story. Overall I liked the story and think others should read it too.

Rocking-horse winner

The theme of this short story is that wealth and luck are not the most important things in life. The Rocking-Horse Winner is a story about a boy named Paul and his journey to find the meaning of luck. What was the name of the boy’s Uncle? Why does the boy imagine his house is talking to him? Do gamblers you know rely on luck?

I actually enjoyed this short story. Master Paul seems to be very intelligent for his age. Although it is probably not wise for young boy to already know so much about gambling, it is amazing how his rocking horse gives him the inspiration for his pick. However, I do believe that luck has a lot to do with his winnings.

On a deeper level I don’t think that he wants to keep the horse because it gives him the answer to which horse will win. I think that he won’t let the horse go, because it is the only thing that has been with him his whole life. Both of his parents are not involved in his life and he has been taken care of by a nanny since he was born. It is very unfortunate that he dies in the end, and I think that his mother realizes at the end that she has driven her son to this state. Her remarks about how luck and wealth were everything, killed the boy. He tried so hard to put luck back in his parents’ lives that it killed him.

This story has good syntax and organization built in it. I admired the author’s word choice and the flow he created. I actually felt a connection with the story, and I think that’s why I enjoyed it.

PR 2: 1943

This poem deals with the trials and tribulations of a young soldier in World War II. He is straight out of high school and torn between the life he lives as a soldier and the one he left behind. The transitions the author uses between war life and normal life are very good. Dominick being knocked out in a high school boxing match, and then ten months later dieing in Tarawa is a very clear transition that the author uses.
The narrator shows his longing for home with the description of the milk delivery to his home in Connecticut. It is amazing how something as small as milk being delivered can make a man miss home when he is at war. Being in a war at such a young age can take a major toll on his life. Not only is he lucky to survive the war, but if he does survive his life will be affected forever.
Mainly at the end of the poem, the author wants everyone to realize the cost that war creates. While people at home are continuing their everyday lives, the soldiers are bleeding and working on broken machines. Their bodies are worn, but yet they press on. The comparison to their frost bitten feet to the color of milk was a very nice touch as well.

I stand here ironing

The theme of this story is that motherhood can be tough at times, but it will all work out for the children. This short story describes the life of a girl named Emily through the voice of her mother, the narrator. How old was the narrator when she had Emily? Why is the girl’s story told through the mother? Do you know of someone who was in the same situation as Emily?

I Stand Here Ironing is an intriguing story. Personally, I thought overall it was good and its style was something new. Definitely this was better than the last story we read. The syntax and word choice displayed in this writing were appropriate and fit well with each other. As for characterization of Emily and her mother, there are definite distinctions. Her mother is presented through direct contact and Emily is an indirect presentation. Emily is a dynamic character that is developing throughout the entire story. Her mother is sort of a stock character to me. There are many stories you can look at and recognize her, the young mother that is poor and can not care for her child.

Overall Olsen organized herself and put her thoughts into a decent short story. The play on the iron board at the end was a good choice. However, there are many stories in the world that deal with struggle single mothers and their children (I’m not saying they are bad). I think if she had put the same energy into a different theme, she might have made a more inviting story.

The Lesson response

The Lesson is about one girl’s (the narrator, assuming she is a girl) struggle in poverty and the life she experiences through Miss Moore. How is Miss Moore always dressed? Why does the narrator want to leave the toy store? What do you know about the affects of poverty on children?

Miss Moore is doing great things by acting as a mentor to the young children in the story. By educating them on the benefits of improving their lives she hopes that it will enjoin them to think about their futures. She is their only hope to a better future. Their parents do not care about how their children are educated or even if they are educated. However, the way in which Miss Moore shows them how life could be may not have been the best way. She created a lot of hostility and hatred towards those who have better lives. The trip to F.A.O. Schwartz was a nice trip, but the prices of the toys set the group off. They realize that they will never be able to afford them if they remain in the same place they live now.

I thought that the narrator was a very strong character. She definitely is street smart as well as intelligent, even though her vocabulary does not show it. I especially liked the end of the story where she states that nobody will beat her. The narrator has the determination to improve her life and that is a great start.

This story was ok to me. I didn’t get much from it, and I felt it wasn’t the best-written short story I have read. The voice was good and style was something different. However, overall I didn’t have much connection to it.

joe's thoughts

Joe’s ability to communicate with others around him has actually frustrated him more than it has helped him. His request to be put in the outside world has been crushed and the doctors are against such thing. Joe realizes that these people are afraid. They are afraid of letting people see the future. The future is war, and the people tending to Joe know that war will break out again. When it does the nation will need soldiers, and Joe being seen by the people of the world will result in no one enlisting in the military. Without soldiers our country can not defend itself. At the end Joe is “pointing” the gun in his sedated sleep, because he is getting back at the masters of war. When the common man has a gun put in his hand, he will point at the leaders and he will live.

My wants like Joe's

What Joe wants is not unreasonable. However, it is a situation that I understand why it is against regulations. I would want some of the same things that Joe wants. I would want to have contact with others that I know and love, but I wouldn’t want to be put “on display” as an exhibit. I think that Joe wanting to be a “spokesmen” of sorts for the affects of war is going too far. It is almost like treason against your nation. I definitely would want communication with people around me and to be able to get out of the hospital and outside. Human interaction is the best cure for any illness or injury. It is what we as humans strive for. However, I think if I were in the condition that Joe is in, I would probably rather to have died. His life is nothing that I would want to live.

Joe's wants that he can't have.

Joe has gained a way to communicate with the outside world. The hospital uses Morse code to talk with Joe by tapping on his head. He can encode messages from the taps. The main that Joe wants is to be put back together, but he knows that is impossible. However, he would like to be involved with the outside world. Joe wants to be taken outside of the hospital and a “live” exhibit for people to observe. He could be an educational tool to show the affects of war and what could happen to a soldier. His body would be a reminder to officials that are putting the country in war of what is happening to the men in the battles. The request of Joe is against regulations because the government would be broken down due to him. Generals couldn’t recruit soldiers, and the horrors of war would be released to the entire world. The only thing that Joe can due is live in his hospital bed, lonely and not able to make a difference.

Joe's injuries

The novel, Johnny Got His Gun, is does not even deal with a man named Johnny. In fact the man in the book and narrator is named Joe. Joe was a soldier in the front lines during World War I. While he was under attack, an explosive shell blew up near him and he lost all of his limbs and sustained major damage to his face. This restricts him to move, hear, talk, and see. Joe has been dealt a terrible hand, but he continues to live. The issues that Joe faces do not hinder his ability to recall the memories of his life. Nightmares do occur rarely, but Joe sticks to stories of human interaction. I think that the injuries that Jack has experienced do affect the novel, but they do not affect the way in which he tells the different stories.

Musical E.C.

Once Upon a Mattress was a very nice show. Everyone in the cast did a great job. The basic outline of the tail involves a quest to find the most suitable princess for Prince Dauntless. His overruling mother, the Queen, has other plans for her son’s life, and his father, the King, is a mute due to a curse by a witch. He can talk when the mouse devours the hawk. All of the town’s people are very eager to get the Prince a bride, because then the lover’s in the town will be allowed to marry as well. It took 13 girls to find the bride. Sir Harry was given permission to go and find this 13th girl. He found Princess Winifred in the swamps and marshes far away. Sir Harry is in the greatest hurry to find the Prince’s bride because his girlfriend, Lady Larkin, is pregnant.

The Queen dislikes Princess Winifred right away, because she swam the mote to get to the castle. However, the Prince falls in love with her. The Princess proves to be cable of achieving all the tests, so the Queen decides to test her on sensitivity. The test will be a pea placed under twenty mattresses on which the princess will sleep on. If she can feel the lump on the pea than she is a true princess.

Lady Larkin and Sir Harry have a fall out, but they resolve it in the end. The Princess passes the test and is suitable for the Prince. The Queen still doesn’t think so, but the Prince stands up to her. This sets the King free of his curse, because the mouse, Prince Dauntless, “devoured the hawk, the Queen. The Queen is then silenced and the people of the village life happily ever after with the Prince and Princess.

The plot of this play was very good. My favorite part was R.J. getting chicken slapped. Hilarious. You can learn that you must stand up for what you believe from this musical. Again, congratulations to the cast.

Wolfson #2

Wolfson’s decision to make a clear definition of what marriage is to him is a good way to begin his article. The reason for doing this is to state up front his position on what marriage actually entails so that he can base his argument from the definition. His definition states that marriage is a “relationship of love and dedication to another person”. This definition does not mention the sexes, race, or beliefs of each person. I believe his definition is fair and simple, but in my opinion he leaves an important part. I do believe marriage is between a man and a woman. However, I am not saying that against two people having feelings for each other. This is just my personal opinion and according my beliefs. Nothing says that I am more correct than the other, but this is my belief. So, I feel that Wolfson was a bit vague with his definition.

Plane A vs. Plane B

The comparison of Dr. Horn is very good in my opinion. Each plane has good potential, but the plane representing the mother and father in a healthy marriage has the greater odds. He is not saying that single parents are terrible or don’t have the ability to be good parents. However, he is saying that the child raised in that environment has greater risk of “crashing” in society or becoming a criminal. You must not take from this opinion by Doctor Horn that all children raised in the single parent environment are going to fail in their community and society. The reason this comparison is a good representation for the facts and figures presented is because it shows that you have the choice to go on either plane A or plane B. Plane A is the more comfortable choice, and you have the greater guarantee of making it to the destination. That destination being the overall health and well-being of your children.

Vazquez reading

The reading by Vazquez is quite an eye opener. After explaining the events that have happened to men in Castro, she tells us readers that the victims were in fact straight, and one of the victims even had girlfriend with him. I think the reason she waits to tell us is because it shows that people assume too quickly about one’s sexual orientation, and they base it off the way people look and dress. The stereotypes that have come accustomed with gay people are what we look for in trying to identify that type of person. This text proves why stereotypes are wrong. The reason she tells us that the men are actually straight is to show the problems with the stereotypes and how quickly people are to judge. I don’t think that the violence is different whether or not the person is gay. I think that the violence is equal no matter who it is committed against. The felons should be punished for their crime, and sexual orientation should not be a factor in the sentencing.

Ex. 7- Boy

Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty; be tough about it; cussing in front of women is not good; hard times will come, but you will get through them; stop crying, real men don’t do that; never be afraid to fight for what you believe in; treat others how you want to be treated; always measure twice before you cut; pick the cookie from the cookie jar when you shoot; another day will come and the sun will rise tomorrow; be thankful for what you have; love your mother and father; respect your elders; do what you love; enjoy the life you are given, because you only have one chance at it; walk slow; keep her head up; winning isn’t everything, but man it feels good; life’s to short to sweat the small stuff and it’s mostly small stuff; be proud of who you are.

"Manliness"

The “manly” man and the “sensitive” man are in fact complete opposites and can not be blended. The fact that the manly man stands up for his country and “offers gallantry to women” doesn’t have the same role in life as the sensitive man who sympathizes with women and is a copy of women’s emotions and interests. I feel that most men are more manly than sensitive, and I think is the way men should be. That is why there are two different sexes. Men and women balance out each other with the differences they have between them. If we had the same feelings and interests, then there would be a very plain world. However, there is nothing wrong with understanding one and other. A balanced society is good for the survival of it.

Eustace Conway

The life of Eustace Conway is definitely an example of how I imagine a true American to live it. Its not so much how he acts personally, but it deals more with the way he lives in a teepee, survives of the land, and uses little resources of the modern times. When Gilbert says that Eustace is “the last American man” of course the first thing that comes to your mind is just his way of life and the “outdoorsmanship” he possesses. However, the other thing you can get from this novel is the ability that Eustace has to survive in the life he created. Many other people have come to Eustace in hopes of living this same, but they failed. Their failure is what proves that Eustace only “true” American man left. Turtle Island is his frontier and the “proving grounds” for people to test themselves. Until another person can copy the exact lifestyle of Eustace Conway in the way that lives off Turtle, he will continue to be the last American man.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Alexis de Tocqueville’s thoughts on gender in the United States are interesting. His statements and thoughts on America about the roles of men and women are very clear. Tocqueville believes that in Europe, men and women are equal. Some even think that men and women are like creatures. All positions and functions are equal to both sexes, and if one sex were to be put at a higher level than the other, then it would result in “chaos”. However, it is the opposite in the U.S. In fact, Tocqueville thinks that “in no other country has such constant care been taken as in America to trace two clearly distinct lines of action for the two sexes…”

According to Tocqueville, American democracy is enabling women to become more equal to men through the judicial area of the government. The honor of women is held up with great honor. A man depriving her of her independence against her will is dealt with severely. More importantly, women and men are respect each other’s part in the world, and “consider both of them [sexes] as beings of equal value. The U.S. is raising women “morally and intellectually to the level of man”.

Pecos Bill: Toughest Cowboy to ever Live

When I was young I was told the stories about Davey Crockett, Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe, and John Henry. However, the one guy I remember the most was Pecos Bill. He was toughest and meanest cowboy to ever live. From an early age he had “super-human” powers. The story I can recall the best is the one where he road a tornado from Kansas to Texas to California. This wasn’t any ordinary tornado that he rode either. It was the meanest and fiercest tornado ever. Pecos Bill could ride any horse and tornados as well. The stories of Pecos Bill made me want to be the toughest guy around. It taught me that men were supposed to be rough and tough when they grew up and have a great understanding about nature. It taught me to not be afraid of anything.

http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/ks2.html

Emerson and Nature

The two sentences I found very interesting to me were these two: “The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child. The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood.” As we mature in our lives, we loose that childhood sense of nature and the world around us. Adults are no longer capable of using their “infant” imagination, and they don’t appreciate what nature is doing for them. Only the adults that carry that same sense of nature from the time of their childhood can be fully aware and thankful of nature. This speaks to me really well. A lot of people tend to leave those things behind from their childhood. Although we grow up, we need to retain those childhood loves and appreciations. If do not do this, then we are doomed to not relish in all the beauty that nature presents.

Freedom Tower

The art that really moved me was the Freedom Tower in New York City. This is the structure that will replace the pre-existing World Trade Center Towers. The memorial has great meaning to not only the Nation, but to the World. Building the Freedom helps to remember those lives that were lost on September 11, 2001. However, there is something more that the tower will stand for to the world. By building a structure like one of the old towers, and making it taller, shows that the United States will not be threatened. Our Nation can recover from a massive tragedy and excel past the expectations. We are showing that we are not afraid of the enemy. We will stand strong and rise to challenges that the enemy throws at us. The Freedom tower will show off exactly what its name says, Freedom.

Realization at the End

The Realization that Wright comes to at the end of the novel is that no matter what race you are, everyone has the same struggle and is dealing with the same problem. All people need to conform with one another. If this does not happen then everyone is doomed to go down the same “drain”. Wright’s ambition is to write in a way that will cater to all and be understood by everyone. The same thoughts that Wright is thinking now are the same ones from when he was trying to have the Communist party appeal to everyone and show off the better characteristics of the party. This unity created by Wright will prevent the decline of the human race. The Communist party, his friends, and the ones he trusted have shunned Richard. I think Richard is now back on track with how he is going to finish out his life.

artists vs. politicians

I believe that Wright has a great point in this passage, and I agree with him. Artists and politicians have differences in their outlook on life and how they act towards it. The artist can benefit the politician, but the politician may not always be benefited and that is what turns them away from each other. However, if you look into what Wright says, you will see that both the politician and the artist are after the same “vision” and headed in the same direction. The opposite poles that these two groups stand at may not be that far off. Both of them may be in this problem with each other and locked in a battle, but it is more than they wanted. Wright has a good understanding of what is happening around him, and how both sides of the spectrum have a common goal, but they don’t know how to cooperate with one another.

Richard's Parentheses

In Part two of the novel you see these blocks of paragraphs that are in parentheses. These parentheses only include the thoughts of Richard Wright, like most of the book, but they possess something more in them. The passages in parentheses show Wright in a more sophisticated and thoughtful way. He analyzes race and the differences between whites and blacks. His comments on the life of blacks shows how he feels about the struggles they go through, and he finds a reason for these struggles. For example on page two hundred and seventy-two & seventy-three, Wright talks about the white girls that work with him, and how they could never really understand the life of a Negro. Wright comments on how even though they (whites and blacks) may have the same tongue, blacks spoke a different language. In the parentheses Richard shows great knowledge and sophistication while he expresses his position on the meaning of life between whites and blacks.

Positive Decision by Richard

At the end of part one, I feel that Richard Wright is making a great choice. This was a positive decision for him to leave Memphis and go to Chicago. Yes, Wright did have a good job and life set for him in Memphis, but Richard wanted more and he had the hunger for writing and a better life. The South would have restrained him from accomplishing his goals. However, the white men that Wright works with do not feel he is making the right choice. They discourage him to leave and tell him that he won’t like it in the North. Mostly they are afraid Richard will achieve greater things than they ever will. To them it’s not good for a black man to become successful above a white man. I support Richard in his decision, and I believe it will be for the better.

Wright and Stealing

Richard Wright is preparing to leave the South for the North. He feels that needs to get out of the South in order for him to succeed to the point that he wants to. He continues to look for jobs so that he can earn money to leave. School has started again, but it is impossible for Wright to go. The biggest job he has was at the hotel that Bob had worked at prior to being killed. Richard would learn that stealing was second nature to most blacks around him. He came to the realization that whites would rather have a black person who steals then one that “knew the worth of their humanity”.

Wright first began to steal when he was promoted to bellboy. He learned that the majority of the money that the bellboys earned came from bootlegging liquor. He fell into this cycle quickly and continued to do so until he quit the hotel. From there he took a job at a movie theater. He joined the stealing there as well. The scheme consisted of reselling tickets. Richard made fifty dollars in his first week. He then stole fruit from the Negro College and a gun from his neighbor, which he pawned off.

I believe Wright was justified in what he did. There was nothing to lose in his life, and he stated that. The white people expected it out of him, not matter how much he was against stealing. Also, Wright is taking the advice from Griggs. Wright living how he is supposed in the South. Wright did he what he needed to get out of the South, and I justify his actions.

How to act in the South

Wright in this chapter is now looking for a solid job that he make good money at. He has had some issues with keeping the jobs that he attains. His friend Griggs has a talk with Richard and the way he acts around white people. Wright expresses himself too much in the presence of white folks. Griggs tells him that he needs to “learn how to live in the South”. The meaning behind Griggs’ words is that Richard needs to act more “black” and change his attitude when he is near or around whites. In the South a black man could be killed for forgetting to say “sir” to a white man or for trying to act smarter than white person thinks a black man is. In order for Wright to sustain the jobs he has, he needs to know how to “play the game”. He obviously doesn’t like this idea, but he knows that he needs to do whatever is needed to earn the money.

Richard's Speech

In chapter eight Richard is chosen as his class’ valedictorian. Richard has earned this achievement for his great intelligence and wit. The tradition of this award is that the recipient reads a speech at graduation. Wright has prepared his speech, but the Principal has made one himself for Wright to read. The Principal requires Richard to read his speech because white people will be in attendance as well as the Superintendent. Richard’s speech would not have appealed to the whites or impressed the Superintendent. Wright refuses to say the speech. I believe he is justified in taking this stance. It is an award given to Richard not the Principal. When you are told that a person is to going to give a speech, you expect it will be there own writing. Also, Richard has the right to speak his own my mind and express the feelings that he possesses. No matter who is in the audience at the banquet, Richard still has his right to recite his speech.

Richard's anger at his Uncle

Richard is this chapter is trying to get a part time job to earn some money. He finds a couple jobs with families, but they turn out to not be what he was looking. The places that he is at treat him in a way that he does not approve of. The white families automatically think that Wright is beneath them and has no reason to succeed in life. They think he stills and has an attitude just because he is black. However, the bigger part of this chapter is the fight between his Uncle Tom and him. Uncle Tom in the early morning asks Richard for the time. Richards responds with the time and his uncle feels that Richard is being “sassy” and rude. Uncle Tom threatens to teach him a lesson. However, as we know Wright does not take kind to people who want to beat him. Richard is mad that his Uncle is trying to shape him into something that he doesn’t want to be, and his uncle is trying to do this by using force. Richard’s anger in my mind is legit, and he had the right to challenge his Uncle.

Wright's Writing

In Chapter four Wright is pressured by his family to become more religious and accept Christ as his savior. However, Richard has a different idea about religion and how much it should affect his life. His grandmother and Aunt Addie are very harsh with him about his choices with religion. He is also resisting the punishments that they choose to inflict upon him. However, the main issue of this blog is about Richard and his writing. While killing time during a prayed, Wright decided to write a story on an Indian girl. The girl died in the story. The writing had no real plot or anything, but yet Wright was still amazed and proud. It was his own and he had created it. His gratification came from the fact he had expressed himself, and there was nothing the woman could really do to him. It was his right to be creative and create whatever story he wanted. That sense of owning something made him feel happy beyond a reasonable cause.

Mother's Stroke

The trauma that Wright suffers from the sudden stroke his mother suffers was quite painful. However, Richard responds to the tragedy in way that I believe most children would. This becomes the point in his life where he is forced to mature and grow up almost immediately. After his mother’s first stroke, Richard tends to his mother and acts like an adult until his grandmother and family arrive. His courage here shows that he is a strong man and he now has a sense of what life really is. The second stroke that his mother has brings things more clearly into reality. The events of his mother show him what his life is really all about. At the age of twelve his future life is shaped and molded by the issues he faces with his mom’s life. From that moment on he has decided to ask questions constantly, and then take those questions and find the core of them that explains all the answers.

Wright and the Jews

Richard Wright’s has been very complicated and troublesome up to this point. He is learning many things about his culture and the reasons why he has the life that he does. Wright is very curious, and he asks a lot of questions. His hatred towards Jews is not learned. It is taught. Jews killed Jesus and that makes all Jews today evil. His religious upbringing forces this upon him. Wright mocks the Jews in his neighborhood by yelling racial chants. Experiences that Richard is accustomed to are the different places that are designated for whites and blacks. For example at the train station there are different lines for blacks and whites. He also feels the same hatred as the Jews. Whites look down on him and treat him differently. He is pushed down in society as well because of the past (slavery). Life treats him unfair, but he is not doing any good by degrading others.

Wright's hunger

Wright is a child that is dealing with the struggles that life in poverty will give you. Moving to Memphis after burning down his own house made life even worse for Wright. His dad had a night job and could barely make enough money to support his family. Then, Wright’s father walked out on his family. His mother was left to take care of his brother and him with no job. She does find work, but it doesn’t pay much and the children begin to starve. The main reason for Richard’s hunger is the poverty inflicted on him by racism he lives in. Richard’s mother cooks for a white family. He goes with her sometimes and he becomes angry because the food she is preparing can not be eaten by him. Wright doesn’t quite understand the differences in whites and blacks yet, but he is on his way to comprehending them. Until this point he has not seen why people cared about skin color, and how it changes things when different races are involved with eachother.

Against School

Mr. Gatto has some great points on the school system that we have today. His position is quite clear. He feels that the education is good and necessary, but the school in general has a bad affect on the children. School does mature us. It allows for us to grow up, but we turn out to be old “children”. I agree that we don’t need school to tell us how we should think or how we should live our lives. I think that schools need to teach us the necessities we need to achieve the profession we choose. I know that my work ethic, attitude, and way of life were taught to me by my parents. Schools did not teach me any of those. The “un-educational” aspects of school don’t have any real baring on my life, because I know who I am and the school can’t really change that.

nonacademic education

Yes, I do value my nonacademic education that I am receiving. The two types that I felt were very intriguing were moral and political education. The moral education aspect is not necessarily academic, but it is very useful. People need to be socially well off. Moral education is the core of all social existence. Our parents raised us to know what is wrong and what is right. From there we have developed the acceptances of society and how to act around different groups of people. Your upbringing decides how you will fit into the community around you and the rest of the World. The other main part of nonacademic education is the political side. We must know how the government is ran and why it is ran that way. The candidates who run also have a background that needs to be revealed. This education allows for you to recognize who you are politically and from that you can choose who is the best person to be in control of the government.
Not all education needs to be book bound. To me the best education is the education you get just from living.

Rhetoric Presentations II

Today was again filled with some great presentations of rhetoric on the town. Everyone I think did a great job in finding their pictures and explaining them. The picture I liked the most came from Alex today. I liked the one of Anne Coulter. Now it has nothing to do with her Republican background nor is it directly related to the meaning of the title. However, it was that title that caught my eye as well as the way she dressed. If the cover had said, “Republicans are stupid” I still would have noticed it. The cover has that “shock” appeal, and it should make everyone double take. I really like the shock factor with rhetoric. I think it does the most to appeal to the audience, and it has great influence in rhetoric.

Town Rhetoric 1

I thought that all of the presentations today were really good, and they expressed a lot of rhetoric. The one example I liked was the one Jordan had of the storefront. The name of the store was Indigonation. In her picture there were three manikins displaying three different brands of jeans. The brands were Citizen of humanity, True Religion, and Rock Republic. All three names have great Rhetoric to them, but the True Religion brand is the one that caught my eye. Why wouldn’t you want a pair of jeans that are “true religion”? Compared to Levi’s or Wranglers, True Religion gives off more of an appeal to consumers. Anybody would see this name and think they need a pair. Citizen of humanity was also a good use of rhetoric. I also need to give props to Christina for her photo of pick-up line book. The way in which the author used the Bible as a reference for his cover was outstanding. You automatically recognize this book, because of its amazing resemblance to the Bible.

Ad Presentations

The presentations today were all direct to the point they were trying to accomplish. Every group used a different style of getting that point across and they were effective. At first when I saw everyone else’s Ads I thought our commercial wasn’t going to be that great. However, after reviewing the responses it turns out we did pretty well. I think Jordan’s, Tony’s, Eli’s, and Christina’s group was very funny and their commercial definitely got everyone’s attention. Their use of the “crazy, over-energized salesman” worked well for their selling of hats. I wasn’t quite sure how hats really targeted our class, since most people don’t wear them to school. However, after watching their Ad I would say that many people would probably buy a hat from them. Its all about the “Wow” factor. If people are shocked or think something is stupid that person is doing, then they will pay attention. Their group proved this. Overall I compliment everyone on his or her commercials. They truly were great.

Pottery Barn Style

The article was pretty good in my mind. Pottery Barn seems to be doing very well, and it is booming with great strides. I personally have never been in a Pottery Barn store. I’m not sure if we even have one. We could and I just don’t know it. Celia Tejada, Pottery Barn’s Senior VP, seems to have the company figured out to a “T”. She talked about how with all of their products the board sits down to discuss them, and if they wouldn’t buy the product or give it to their best friend, the product is dismissed right away. Tejada is dedicated her job and the people who work there. She believes her co-workers should not become “workaholics”. They need to have a life.
Pottery Barn’s main competitor is Target. Tejada admitted they can not compete with Target’s prices, but they can compete with style and showing customers the total look of a product. Pottery Barn takes great pride in their customer service. They attribute a majority of their success to that.

Target layout.

Stores do use many tactics to keep people in the store as long as possible and to coerce them to not leave without buying something. I have noticed this in many places. The store I go to a lot would be Target. Like most stores the temperature is just right and usually no matter the weather, you want to stay in the store because its better than outside. The main persuasion in the environment is the customer service and all of the deals. Saving the all mighty dollar is the bottom line, and if you need assistance you don’t want to wait. Another big deal is the layout. Target for example keeps everything that is related together in sections. This makes things easy to find and builds on the customer service part. They also know that electronics are the hot items of today. That is why they are in the front of the store right as you walk in. Stores aren’t stupid. They will do what it takes to make sure you buy something while you are there.

Super Bowl ads

Godaddy.com produced the first commercial I watched. It showed people watching the Super Bowl and talking to a guy about why he doesn’t watch the game anymore. He says he used to watch it for the commercials, but since they wouldn’t let Go daddy air theirs he doesn’t care anymore. The commercial then proceeds to tell you to go to their website to see Danica Patrick exposed. Of course people are going to flock to their website, because sex sells. Guys are like, “Yes I wanna see that”. I in fact went to the website, and I can see why they wouldn’t allow it. It was kind of crude with the references to “beaver”, but it got attention. Go daddy appealed to the audience through sexual appeal and they got people to go to their website because of it. They accomplished their goal greatly. The other commercial I liked was the one produced by SoBe Life water. A girl is walking out provocatively, and a lizard is following her. The girl drinks Life water and the lizard catches a drop of it. “Thriller” a popular song by Michael Jackson starts to play, and a bunch of lizards start to do the dance of song with the girl. It appeals to the audience not only by using a well-known song, but also like the first commercial it uses sexual appeal. The way the girl is dressed catches your eye.

Class discussion on sex sells

The discussion in class Wednesday was very good I thought. My opinion on the whole topic is that yes women are demoralized by ads, and men do seek the dominant power, and yes women are in more violence related to sex then men, but I do not think that a commercial can affect the minds of men so greatly that they will react to the way the commercial wants them to behave. I am still sticking to my belief that people do not do what the commercial says. Although, I really liked Tony’s statement that society has to be shocked by the ad for them to pay attention to it. People will remember the commercial about Snickers and the two guys kissing compared to infomercials that just repeat a slogan over and over again. I do see how the women in the class are offended by the different ads presented in the article we read, but they must also realize those women chose to be in those ads. It is a job, and they must not have felt exploited by them. I believe that if it weren’t for this article we read, the majority of people would/do not talk about this on a daily basis.

Sex in the media

While reading this excerpt about advertising and sexuality, I tended to agree with Kilbourne’s argument. Sex does sell, and it is very useful when trying to promote a product. Men do seek power and domination. However, I wouldn’t say that the majority of males want to go out and just have sex with every girl they can. Advertising may say this or promote it, but not everyone listens. I personally never watch commercials. I am a channel surfer. So, last night was kind of hard for me to sit and watch just one channel for half an hour. The commercials to me are boring and full of crap.
I do agree with Kilbourne that women are portrayed as the “prey” or accomplishment of a challenge. Women are exposed in these ads, but the women that are modeling chose this. Men are exposed in the media as well. The use of sex goes both ways, but I do think that women are targeted more. I personally think that it is wrong, but honestly its just a commercial or ad. Most people don’t pay attention. If people took everything they saw on television seriously, our world would be full of lunatics.

Commercials

The commercial that I found very appealing to rhetoric was aired at about 7:30 Monday night. It was on Comedy Central and I was watching Scrubs. It is a television show about young doctors and the lives they live. The shows appeals to younger adults and teens. This is what made the commercial right for the crowd. It started just like a Scooby-Doo cartoon. There was a man sitting in a chair with a mask. The whole Mystery gang stood around him and took off the mask. The “bad guy” turned out to be the cable man. DirecTv was the company that made it. The creators were smart by using this cartoon. It catered to the audience of the show. The audience will remember the crime fighting comrades and relate to them as the “Heroes”. If the Mystery gang catches the bad guy, and he is the cable man then cable must be bad. I give props to the creators for their ingenuity and their appeal to the audience. I would compare this commercial to the one we watched in class about coke. It did the same thing by using the Grand Theft Auto scene.