In a time of celebration for his presidency, President Kennedy brings up making a change in our country. He highlights the importance of making relations with other countries in the world as well as the United States’ role in the world. He utilizes anaphora to establish his opinion on the changes America should make in the upcoming presidency in order to make the world a better place for all.
He begins his speech by addressing how America should help fellow nations--he begins each paragraph with “to” to show a list, emphasizing how many areas are in need of our help and how we as a country can help them. The audience therefore understands how large-scale and prevalent problems around the world and outside of our country are. With the help from the United States, it is not only making another country better, but making a “sister” or “brother” better.
Kennedy continues to use anaphora when discussing the left and right wing conflicts within the United States. He uses “let both sides” in the beginning of both sentence to once again emphasize the compromises and amends both sides have to make in order to keep a unified and continuously patriotic country. By utilizing anaphora, he not only allows the audience to make the logical connection, but he also touches the audience’s hearts, for he shows the American people the greater, more unified place they could all live in as long as these compromises are made.
Although the previous years leading up to Kennedy’s presidency were not ideal, Kennedy switched around to a more positive perspective during his inaugural address, giving hope to all Americans to the future in his presidency. He uses anaphora in order for the audience to understand and take to heart his message of bringing not only the American people, but the whole world together to make the a better place.
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Monday, January 16, 2017
TOW #15 | Visual - Global Warming
These days, many people question or are skeptical about the concept of climate change, otherwise known as “global warming.” Despite scientific evidence showing that climate change is real, people still refuse to accept the issue as a problem growing in our world. The artist in the visual text, “Global Warming” utilizes an hourglass and detailed drawing of the Earth in an effort to portray the severity of climate change and how people should act upon it through preserving the environment.
The concept of time can be portrayed in a multitude of ways. Clocks, timers, and watches are all examples of things that are used to keep time. However, the artist chose to portray time passing with an hourglass to show that as time passes, the Earth will be flooded due to climate change. Instead of sand, the hourglass uses water instead to portray the melted ice caps as a result of global warming. The drop of water about to drop onto the “world” which is shown on the bottom of the hourglass is the artist’s effort in showing how close our world is to being directly affected by climate change.
The “world” in the visual text is extremely detailed to emphasize the actions that humans take to speed up the process of climate change and destroy the environment. The tree and tree stumps portray deforestation. Deforestation is one example of many that the artist draws to show the things people do to further destroy the Earth. Other details such as roads, the gas sign, and the great number of cars are drawn for the same purpose.
Through the imagery the artist gives the audience, the artist attempts to inform and warn the audience of the dangers that come with destroying the Earth and its environment. Although cutting down one tree or burning fuel in one car does not seem like it would affect the environment much, with many people making the same careless actions, global warming and its dreadful effects are right at the fingertips of people and may drip on them at any moment.
The concept of time can be portrayed in a multitude of ways. Clocks, timers, and watches are all examples of things that are used to keep time. However, the artist chose to portray time passing with an hourglass to show that as time passes, the Earth will be flooded due to climate change. Instead of sand, the hourglass uses water instead to portray the melted ice caps as a result of global warming. The drop of water about to drop onto the “world” which is shown on the bottom of the hourglass is the artist’s effort in showing how close our world is to being directly affected by climate change.
The “world” in the visual text is extremely detailed to emphasize the actions that humans take to speed up the process of climate change and destroy the environment. The tree and tree stumps portray deforestation. Deforestation is one example of many that the artist draws to show the things people do to further destroy the Earth. Other details such as roads, the gas sign, and the great number of cars are drawn for the same purpose.
Through the imagery the artist gives the audience, the artist attempts to inform and warn the audience of the dangers that come with destroying the Earth and its environment. Although cutting down one tree or burning fuel in one car does not seem like it would affect the environment much, with many people making the same careless actions, global warming and its dreadful effects are right at the fingertips of people and may drip on them at any moment.
Sunday, January 8, 2017
TOW #14 | IRB - Civilization and its Discontents
In one of Freud’s most famous texts, Civilization and its Discontents, Freud analyzes the factors that push the creation and development of a civilization. From sexual desires to a craving for power, he compares the relationships between civilized and savage humans in an effort to portray the true meaning of a civilization. Freud utilizes counterarguments and allusions to Christianity and God to highlight the effects of human nature and function on the creation of a civilization.
Freud begins his essay by describing how all religion is based off an “oceanic” feeling that unlike Rolland, is not a human urge to feel united with the outside world, but rather an “infantile helplessness” (21). By using this method of bringing up a common misconception of humanity and their nature, analyzing it, and utilizing his views to show how it is a misconception, he portrays the true, savage nature of human beings that masked their true selves in an effort to form a civilization.
Later in the text, Freud states how "'little children do not like it' when there is talk of the inborn human inclination to 'badness', to aggressiveness and destructiveness, and so to cruelty as well. God has made them in the image of His own perfection" (79). Though Christianity shows how humans are born with original sin but also in the image of God, many disregard the negative, evil aspects of humanity in their religion and only focus on the Godly part that makes them seem like they are “civilized” human beings. In fact, Freud uses this allusion to highlight how people try to mask the savage parts of humanity with the civil parts, just as how Christians ignore their original evilness and sin.
As one of the most influential and famous psychoanalysts of all time, Freud brought up themes in Civilization and its Discontents that no one considered before. Through his use of counterarguments and allusions to Christianity, Freud truly reveals the dark nature behind humans and their “civil” societies.
Freud begins his essay by describing how all religion is based off an “oceanic” feeling that unlike Rolland, is not a human urge to feel united with the outside world, but rather an “infantile helplessness” (21). By using this method of bringing up a common misconception of humanity and their nature, analyzing it, and utilizing his views to show how it is a misconception, he portrays the true, savage nature of human beings that masked their true selves in an effort to form a civilization.
Later in the text, Freud states how "'little children do not like it' when there is talk of the inborn human inclination to 'badness', to aggressiveness and destructiveness, and so to cruelty as well. God has made them in the image of His own perfection" (79). Though Christianity shows how humans are born with original sin but also in the image of God, many disregard the negative, evil aspects of humanity in their religion and only focus on the Godly part that makes them seem like they are “civilized” human beings. In fact, Freud uses this allusion to highlight how people try to mask the savage parts of humanity with the civil parts, just as how Christians ignore their original evilness and sin.
As one of the most influential and famous psychoanalysts of all time, Freud brought up themes in Civilization and its Discontents that no one considered before. Through his use of counterarguments and allusions to Christianity, Freud truly reveals the dark nature behind humans and their “civil” societies.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
TOW #13 | Written - FDR’s “Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation”
Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a powerful speech that expressed the shock, anger, and fear the nation had after the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The nation, originally against involvement in World War II, took a different turn after the infamous “Attack on Pearl Harbor” incident. FDR utilizes anaphora and patriotic diction to address the issue at hand and declare war against the Japanese.
When describing the attacks that occurred the night earlier, Roosevelt uses a large amount of repetition to emphasize that it was not only our country that got attacked. He begins every sentence with “Last night, Japanese forces attacked,” followed by a location, such as Hong Kong or Wake Island. The anaphora is used to highlight the several attacks that the Japanese performed the night before. It seems as if he is listing the several different areas to emphasize how many other places were attacked along with Pearl Harbor. This allows for the audience to gain understanding that Japanese attacks are not a small issue: their attacks on other areas outside the United States are killing thousands of innocent civilians. Roosevelt takes this understanding from the civilians as a rationale to declare war against the Japanese and take involvement in World War II.
While many see the United States’ involvement in World War II a natural reaction to Pearl Harbor, there were certain measures to be taken and many factors to be considered before stepping into another world war that could potentially lead America down like the first one. Franklin D. Roosevelt appeals to both the frustrated audience that wishes revenge against the Japanese as well as the politicians that are fearful for America’s future if they choose to take entry in World War II through his speech, “Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation.”
When describing the attacks that occurred the night earlier, Roosevelt uses a large amount of repetition to emphasize that it was not only our country that got attacked. He begins every sentence with “Last night, Japanese forces attacked,” followed by a location, such as Hong Kong or Wake Island. The anaphora is used to highlight the several attacks that the Japanese performed the night before. It seems as if he is listing the several different areas to emphasize how many other places were attacked along with Pearl Harbor. This allows for the audience to gain understanding that Japanese attacks are not a small issue: their attacks on other areas outside the United States are killing thousands of innocent civilians. Roosevelt takes this understanding from the civilians as a rationale to declare war against the Japanese and take involvement in World War II.
While many see the United States’ involvement in World War II a natural reaction to Pearl Harbor, there were certain measures to be taken and many factors to be considered before stepping into another world war that could potentially lead America down like the first one. Franklin D. Roosevelt appeals to both the frustrated audience that wishes revenge against the Japanese as well as the politicians that are fearful for America’s future if they choose to take entry in World War II through his speech, “Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation.”
Sunday, December 11, 2016
TOW #12 | Visual - EBOLA!
America is the country known to supersize everything--from drinks to people to even rumors. Most of the times, these “supersized” rumors and epidemics cause such a great deal in the United States that many begin to forget the abhorrent consequences to supersizing other things as well. The Sacramento Bee decides to address and bring awareness to this fact in their visual text, “EBOLA!” portraying the people’s ignorance to other health issues due to the prioritization of health concerns popularized by media.
The most prominent device the Sacramento Bee employs in their visual text is the utilization of words. “EBOLA!!!” is written in large font inside of a thinking bubble above the man’s head. By making the word “ebola” in a large font, the author is able to portray to their audience how important the man in the text considers the issue of ebola to be, so much that it trumps over all of the other problems he is encountering, such as obesity, smoking, and drinking. This creative use of wording continues throughout the text as the author writes “super” and “big” on the french fries to emphasize the large amounts of food that Americans consume and how that adds to one of the many overlooked health issues in the United States. The author also writes statistics in the empty spaces next to the man of the amount of deaths related to obesity, smoking, and drinking. Adding statistics to the cartoon allows the audience to understand how large-scale these health issues are and how many deaths they can cause, unlike media-popularized health epidemics like ebola.
Although the American public may not be aware, the next “big issue” will be taking over their nerves, brainwashing them to avoid a certain disease and once again steering their eyes away from the true issues that cause so many health-related deaths. The Sacramento Bee takes this issue and creates a unique cartoon that both highlights the overshadowed issue and criticizes the American public.
Sunday, December 4, 2016
TOW #11 | Written - Chief Seattle's "Oration of 1854"
The 1850s were a difficult time for most Native Americans. By that time, European immigrants had taken over the majority of the United States, knocking over the Native Americans’ natural culture and history for a more modernized one. In response to such catastrophes occurring, Chief Seattle raises his voice in his “Oration of 1854,” proclaiming that their natural reserves should be conserved. Through figurative language such as similes, Chief Seattle proposes a treaty in an effort to persuade Governor Stevens to conserve the Washington territory for the Native Americans.
In the midst of an analogy between weather and the current situation of the Native Americans, Chief Seattle describes that his “words are like the stars that never set” (1). Utilizing such an analogy places an emphasis on the fact that his words are unchanging, suggesting that the following proposition he is to make will not be swayed by differing opinions. This emphasis helps to portray to the audience, Governor Stevens, that he is firm in his stance and is not willing to budge. Stevens’s gained understanding that Chief Seattle is firm in his proposition shows Stevens that Chief Seattle is serious about the proposal, and is determined to pass the treaty. Furthermore, Chief Seattle appeals to his audience’s sense of guilt through similes, comparing the white men as “grass that covers the grass prairies” and the Native Americans as “scattering trees of a storm-swept plain” (2). Through the juxtaposition of a positive illustration of white men and a negative illustration of the Native Americans, Chief Seattle is highlighting that white men are plentiful and considered higher than the less populated, lower Native Americans. Holding him and his men at such a low level evokes a sense of guilt from the audience; Governor Stevens now most likely views the Native Americans as not well treated due to him and his white people. This guilt could result in swaying him into not buying more land and instead negotiating with Chief Seattle and make a treaty.
Although by this time period, Europeans have already dominated the majority of the United States, a select few people, like Chief Seattle, believed that more could be done to conserve Native American culture and territory. He expresses his determination through tear-jerking figurative language that sets both his purpose in stone and blossoms a flower of guilt in his audience. Will those blossoms, however, be enough to change the “grass prairies” of white men into meadows of Native Americans?
In the midst of an analogy between weather and the current situation of the Native Americans, Chief Seattle describes that his “words are like the stars that never set” (1). Utilizing such an analogy places an emphasis on the fact that his words are unchanging, suggesting that the following proposition he is to make will not be swayed by differing opinions. This emphasis helps to portray to the audience, Governor Stevens, that he is firm in his stance and is not willing to budge. Stevens’s gained understanding that Chief Seattle is firm in his proposition shows Stevens that Chief Seattle is serious about the proposal, and is determined to pass the treaty. Furthermore, Chief Seattle appeals to his audience’s sense of guilt through similes, comparing the white men as “grass that covers the grass prairies” and the Native Americans as “scattering trees of a storm-swept plain” (2). Through the juxtaposition of a positive illustration of white men and a negative illustration of the Native Americans, Chief Seattle is highlighting that white men are plentiful and considered higher than the less populated, lower Native Americans. Holding him and his men at such a low level evokes a sense of guilt from the audience; Governor Stevens now most likely views the Native Americans as not well treated due to him and his white people. This guilt could result in swaying him into not buying more land and instead negotiating with Chief Seattle and make a treaty.
Although by this time period, Europeans have already dominated the majority of the United States, a select few people, like Chief Seattle, believed that more could be done to conserve Native American culture and territory. He expresses his determination through tear-jerking figurative language that sets both his purpose in stone and blossoms a flower of guilt in his audience. Will those blossoms, however, be enough to change the “grass prairies” of white men into meadows of Native Americans?
Sunday, November 20, 2016
TOW #10 | Written - Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"
One of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s most famous texts, "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," was written during his time in prison after leading a non-violent civil rights riot in Birmingham, Alabama. He writes this letter to the clergymen in an attempt to bring awareness of how badly African-Americans at the time were being treated at that there needs to be change. Through references to expert testimony, Martin Luther King Jr. defines what a “just right” is to portray that the African-American community is not receiving the opportunities, facilities, and lifestyles that they deserve.
In order to concretely define between a just and unjust right, Martin Luther King Jr. references St. Thomas Aquinas, who defines an unjust right as, “a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law.” St. Thomas Aquinas, a philosopher and theologian, helps the audience find credence in King’s argument. Unlike King, who is simply a pastor with no experience in philosophy, Aquinas is a philosopher, validating the statements that he makes about the definition of an unjust right. Not only does King reference one person--he goes on to reference two more men: Michael Buber, Jewish philosopher; and Paul Tillich, one of the most well-known philosophers and Lutheran theologians. Referencing two other philosophers, King establishes the fact that segregation is “a sin” and falls under the category of an “unjust” right. By allowing his audience to find credence in his claims, King is able to gain trust from the audience, building up his credibility throughout the text.
Although many other people at the time feared the government and clergymen, Martin Luther King Jr. stepped up and fought for his people’s rights by writing such a letter while contained in prison. He used references to expert testimony to establish his credibility as he protests for just rights for African-Americans.
In order to concretely define between a just and unjust right, Martin Luther King Jr. references St. Thomas Aquinas, who defines an unjust right as, “a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law.” St. Thomas Aquinas, a philosopher and theologian, helps the audience find credence in King’s argument. Unlike King, who is simply a pastor with no experience in philosophy, Aquinas is a philosopher, validating the statements that he makes about the definition of an unjust right. Not only does King reference one person--he goes on to reference two more men: Michael Buber, Jewish philosopher; and Paul Tillich, one of the most well-known philosophers and Lutheran theologians. Referencing two other philosophers, King establishes the fact that segregation is “a sin” and falls under the category of an “unjust” right. By allowing his audience to find credence in his claims, King is able to gain trust from the audience, building up his credibility throughout the text.
Although many other people at the time feared the government and clergymen, Martin Luther King Jr. stepped up and fought for his people’s rights by writing such a letter while contained in prison. He used references to expert testimony to establish his credibility as he protests for just rights for African-Americans.
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