TOW #23: Yes, I'm in a Clique!

In the article featured in the New York Times, "Yes, I'm in a clique", Nathan Black describes the dynamics of the high school social scene, particularly cliques. Black was a freshman in high school when this essay was published in 1999 and not only is he incredibly eloquent while making his point, but he also has an in-depth understanding of what really goes on in the social aspects of high school. (For only a freshmen, he had a lot going for him.) To his audience of both high schoolers and parents alike, he essentially states that cliques are not necessarily a bad thing, contrary to popular opinion. Though his use of a blunt tone while describing personal experiences and figurative language, Nathan Black illustrates his firsthand knowledge of the topic and makes the claim that cliques are a natural part of high school social life. While describing the dynamics of a clique, he uses a simile to make a comparison. He says, "Each of these groups is as autonomous as any sovereign nation. The members sit together, eat together, go out together and, in this time of sorrow, often grieve together." This quote illustrates his understanding of the loyalty clique members feel towards one another, much like that of loyal members of a country. He also indicates with the word, "autonomous", that each does their own thing. Nathan utilizes a blunt tone through a majority of the essay, while describing his experience and ideals when it comes to cliques. He says, "That is not to say I think it's right to ridicule the people I think are nerds. While some cliques may go to extremes that border on outright discrimination, by high school most exclusivity is much more subtle; if I don't like someone, I ignore him. That way, he'll never even want to belong to my group because he doesn't know what we're like." This blunt description of the common philosophy held by many high-schoolers indicates that Nathan is incredibly educated on the subject. Through his use of words, like I, he makes his ideals and concepts more tangible for his audience. Overall, I think that Nathan wrote an excellent essay and did a great job achieving his purpose. Through his use of figurative language and a blunt tone, he claims that cliques are not necessarily a bad thing. In "Yes, I am in a clique", Nathan Black explains how cliques are a natural part of the high school social scene his eloquent description is truly one to remember. 

#22: International Womens Day

In honor of International Women's Day, this cartoon was drawn by Victor Ndula from Kenya in 2012. Though it is not extremely recent, it is still incredibly symbolic of the current struggle of women and it was awarded first place in the United Nations political cartoon contest in 2013. I think that while drawing this, Ndula did not was not targeting a specific group of people; this cartoon was intended for everyone's eyes. He is reaching out to women, indicating that various people, including himself, understand their current struggle. But he is also reaching out to men, by illustrating the daily strife of women. Through his use of subdued coloring and various symbols, Victor Ndula attempts to shed light on the lack of equal rights for women, despite their hard work, and that their struggles should be addressed. The entire cartoon is lacking in color and is very dull and monochromatic. This allows the audience to focus more on the subject matter, the working woman, with her various tasks at hand. There are also many important symbols in the cartoon that really stand out. First, the most obvious, is the large female symbol being dragged by the woman. Its sheer size, the symbols indicating its movement, and the small rocks and dirt being moved illustrate that the fight for women's equal rights is significant and not an easy one. However, the women in the picture does not appear to be phased. Her facial expressions appear to be determined while carrying this large issue on her back. The fact that she is also carrying a baby and a bundle of sticks along with her indicate the many jobs of a woman and how on top of all of these tasks, they have a larger one at stake. Ndula does an incredible job of illustrating the willpower and determination that many women all over the world have though picturing just one women, in particular. Overall, I believe that Victor Ndula really did a nice job in attempting to achieve his purpose. It is quite obvious that a lot of thought went into what was going to be pictured, in order to portray his message in the best possible way and he definitely deserved to win the United Nations Political Cartoon Contest. He shed light on an incredibly important issue of our time and did so in a very appropriate and powerful way.

TOW #21: How Should We Eat?

On the opinion pages of the New York Times, Mark Bittman talks of is current issues of the modern food industry. In his essay, How Should We Eat? Not only does he critique food processing companies and those that consume their products, he attacks the modern reports sent out with recommendations based on nutrition and health and the lack of enforcement of these recommendations by Americans. To his audience of Americans, those of the country renown for increasingly shocking food issues, he uses facts and statistics and words like "our" and "we" in an attempt to shed light on the importance of remodeling the food industry and how it majorly affects our country. While reciting various facts found within a report released by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, Bittman said, "At least some of the 117 million Americans who have "preventable, chronic diseases" (the reports number, and phrasing) do so at least because of the failings of recommendations like these." This strategic use of a direct statistic directly from one of these specific reports themselves illustrates the fact that Bittman is incredibly well-informed of this current situation. His implementation of logos increases his credibility, thus supporting and strengthening his overall argument. He also uses words such as "our" and "we". Towards the end of the essay, he says, " At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I think it would help if we had an overarching statement defining "food" and our rights regarding it, something like "All Americans have the right to nutritious, affordable, sustainable and fair food." Bittman's inclusion of such small, seemingly unimportant words have a major impact on his essay. It makes it appear to be less of a lecture and it makes him apart of his own audience. It relates him to his audience and supports the idea that his argument is applicable himself also. This increases his ethos because they serve as a disclaimer. Overall, I thought that this essay was extremely well written and that Bittman did a remarkable job of addressing this increasingly prominent issue. In How Should We Eat?, Mark Bittman sheds light on the issue of the modern food industry, something that all Americans should definitely be concerned with.

#20 - Paris To The Moon #1

In Paris to the Moon, Adam Gopnik compiles various journal entries and short stories from his time of living in Paris. Gopnik, a staff writer for The New Yorker and a Philadelphia Native, had been infatuated with the City of Paris for a majority of his life and finally moved there with his wife and son, Luke in 1995. To his readers, in various instances he uses humor and imagery in order to tell his story of life in Paris and experiencing their culture. His use of humor makes his writing more relatable and enjoyable. On page 20, he writes, "For most of those months in fact, Juppé has probably been the only person more preoccupied with apartments on the left bank more than I was, though he and I approached the matter from opposite ends. I was trying to find one, while he was trying to explain to the French people why he had so many and what all his relatives were doing in them." This strategic use of humor, regarding the French prime minister of the time, Alain Juppé, shows the fact that Gopnik has a lot of knowledge of French Culture and was really involved in what was going on while he lived there. Humor also has the tendency to make writing more enjoyable and its various quips like this that help make his writing more entertaining. Gopnik also uses imagery throughout the book, in order to describe his life in Paris and to seemingly bring the reader along with him. On page 17, he writes, "..when I think of Paris, I think of Them: Martha and Luke in matching fur hats at the Palais Royal; waiting with Luke in the courtyard of our building for Martha to come downstairs; waiting with Martha in the courtyard of an odd building on the boulevard Raspail for Luke to come from his gym class, peering through dirty windows and the cage like grill, one child among many, and then getting a Coca-Cola, five francs from the machine." Throughout this excerpt, he uses imagery in order to provide some examples of experiences he had with his family, while also experiencing French culture. In a sense, it brings the reader with him and helps them truly grasp what happened to him. So far, I think that Gopnik has done an excellent job in attempting to achieve his purpose. There are so many instances that I feel as though I am right there next to him in Paris. Although I am not too far into it, I already love this book and so many of the author's thoughts are similar to mine. In Paris to the Moon, Adam Gopnik does an excellent job describing the true essence of the amazing city of Paris.

TOW #19: The Lives of a Cell By Lewis Thomas

In the essay, The Lives of a Cell, Lewis Thomas discusses the importance of nature and its role in the survival of the human race. An incredibly successful researcher, essayist and teacher, Lewis Thomas relates the importance of cells in humans and also in plants and other various aspects of nature. To the public, he uses asyndeton and scientific jargon, to make a point of how deeply embedded nature is in the world and to attempt to quell the irrational belief that humans are superior to nature and the earth. At various points throughout the essay, Thomas utilizes asyndeton, or the process of eliminating conjunctions between words, phrases or clauses. When talking of the independence of the cells within his own body, he says, " I like to think that they work in my interest, that each breath they draw for me, but perhaps it is they who walk through the local park in the early morning, sensing my senses, listening to my music, thinking my thoughts." This use of asyndeton emphases the possibility of increased individuality of cells within every person, thus showing Thomas's attempt of highlighting the importance of nature within every person. There are also many examples of scientific jargon and vocabulary throughout the essay. He says, " My centrioles, basal bodies, and probably a good many other more obscure tiny beings at work inside my cells, each with its own special genome, are as foreign, and as essential, as aphids in anthills. Thomas's use of intellectual science vocabulary increases his ethos, making him a more credible and believable author. This helps him while presenting his overall argument because it makes him seem more educated about his subject. This strategic use of implementing scientific jargon helps him get his point across of the omniscience of nature in human lives. Overall, I believe that Lewis Thomas did achieve his purpose. At the beginning of his essay, while describing the human belief that they are superior to nature, I knew exactly what he was talking about and I definitely saw his point while describing the importance of cells within the human body. I think that The Lives of A Cell was one of the most fascinating pieces I have ever read and Lewis Thomas is an incredibly talented writer.

TOW #18 - Un Homme et Une Femme

Vogue, one of the most famous magazines in the entire world, is incredibly well known for the models featured on the covers of their sought-after issues. They have developed multiple branches, including Vogue America and Vogue Hommes International and their messages and ideas reach millions of people worldwide. On this particular cover of Vogue Hommes International, from the fall 2012 issue, two models, a man and a women are pictured, along with the title, Un Homme et Une Femme, meaning a man and a women. Using this picture, Vogue sheds light on the serious issue of domestic violence and the dynamics of men and women using black and white coloring and dramatic poses. The photo is in black and white, which increases the serious and drama  of the content. The text used on the cover is printed in white, and the title, Un Homme et Une Femme, is printed in red, to emphasis the subject matter and its importance. The models are also positioned in dramatic poses. The man has his hand wrapped around the women's neck, referencing the issue of domestic violence. This positioning sheds light on the current dynamics of men and women, and the dramatic poses signify the seriousness of the issue. The fact that vogue printed this picture shows how domestic violence is a prevalent issue, and this will reach the masses due to vogue's undeniable popularity. Overall, I believe that the magazine achieved their purpose. They definitely emphasized the modern issue of domestic violence and I felt that they pictured it appropriately, without extremely offending anyone. Through their use of black and white coloring and dramatic poses, Vogue sheds light on the current dynamics of men and women, and the issue of domestic violence.
http://www.thefashionspot.com/runway-news/439187-controversial-vogue-covers-published/
 

IMAGE CREDIT: EBOOK3000.COM VIA TFS FORUMS

TOW #17 - Summer Bummer

In Summer Bummer, an essay that appeared in the New York times, Joe Queenan discusses the treacherous obligation that almost every high schooler faces: summer reading. This piece was similar to the piece, I Know Why the Caged Bird Can’t Read by Francine Prose, due to the fact that they both discuss the pitfalls of what schools are requiring their students to read and how certain students react to such requirements. However, their purposes have slight variations. To both parents and students alike, Joe Queenan emphasizes the importance of summer reading by using personal anecdotes and extremely eloquent diction. He talks much of his son and his experiences with books he was required to read. He says, “Even my son, now a classics major in college, seemed to realize that summer reading was, on balance, a valuable experience. “I hated ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ until I got to the end,” he told me recently. “I wasn’t interested in the characters, and I didn’t believe the history. But then when I got to Sydney Carton up there on the scaffold, I thought, ‘Wow, what a great ending.’ I really liked it the second time I read it.” “You reread ‘A Tale of Two Cities’?” I gasped in disbelief. “Yes,” he replied. “It wasn’t as good as ‘Great Expectations,’ but those last 25 pages were amazing.” This admission impelled me to re-evaluate everything I’d ever believed about summer reading.” Queenan’s experience with his son helped him change his perspective about the overall benefits of summer reading. This use of a personal anecdote emphasizes its importance and how it can really help students. His use of eloquent diction also helps Queenan to achieve his purpose. For as long as anyone can remember, well-meaning pedagogues have been sabotaging summer vacations by forcing high schoolers to read “Lord of the Flies,” “All the King’s Men” and “A Separate Peace.” By using big, complex words like pedagogues, Queenan establishes credibility as an author in order to emphasize the importance of summer reading. I believe that Joe Queenan did an excellent job of achieving his purpose. Through his use of anecdotes and complex diction, I felt much more convinced of summer readings importance. In Summer Bummer, Joe Queenan proves that summer reading is not a bummer and is very beneficial for all students.