Assignment 11

What is satire?
Satire is a rhetorical device used to mock something or insult it. Satire is usually sharp tongued and can deal with larger topics. When satire is used, it is usually used to make a greater point. For example, Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal demonstrates great use of satire. It is satirical, but it strives to convey a bigger message than simply being something to laugh at. It draws attention to the plights of the Irish. 

Satire can sometimes deal with sensitive, controversial topics such as this... 

Presidents of the United States have been trying to figure out what to do about this situation for several decades. It is a controversial topic because there is lots of current debate about it, and the views differ so greatly.



How is it different from humor or parody?
Humor or parody is more light hearted than satire. Where satire strives to prove a point, humor or parody simply wants to make the audience laugh and have a good time. They are not usually as personal insulting as satire, and most people wont get offended by humor or a parody. A few great examples of parody are Weird Al's parody of songs. 

 This is his parody of a rap song, "Ridin' Dirty." The original song is very hard and hip-hop and talks about how African-American people drive cool cars. Weird Al's parody is so funny because he makes it about a nerdy white guy riding a motor scooter. 

 

Why would an author choose to communicate through satire? 
 Satire can be very effective if it is used correctly. When used correctly, it can engage the audience and make a message more powerful and memorable. To use the example of A Modest Proposal again, Swift's essay might not have been as famous as it is today if he had written a research paper of possible solutions for Ireland. That would still have been helpful, but it would not have survived through the ages like  A Modest Proposal . Satire can make messages that might not have been so interesting to begin with engaging and interesting.


What are some possible problems with satire as a form of communication? 
 There are many problems satire can cause if it is used inappropriately or incorrectly. It can offend people and hurt their feelings. I learned in AP Language that there are 3 topics you should never make fun of: religion, national tragedies, and mental illnesses. These topics can get very offensive very fast. For example, the video we watched in class about the "brain-dead" teen could be very offensive to someone who knows someone who is actually brain-dead. That's not something very funny to joke about. Political satire can get very offensive, too, because it goes after the person's persoanlity, appearence, and family which can really insult someone.

Satire can also go over someone's head. They might take the satire literally, and then at the end of the message, they are utterly confused. If someone took Swift's piece seriously, they would be astounded that someone would actually throw out the idea of eating babies to solve hunger.   
 

Assignment 10

What do you find funny?

I am a big fan of satire and dry humor. I don't really like "screwball comedy" I guess it's called (I'm not sure if that's actually what it's called). I would describe screwball comedy as people falling down, getting hit on the head, making stupid jokes- the kind of humor that happens in cartoons. I don't like things that are obviously funny; I can appreciate humor that isn't as obvious where it is almost like an inside joke.

I always like humor that plays on what you know. I enjoy things that feed on your experiences. For example, you have to know about the topic to really appreciate the joke.

I think this meme is really funny because it's so true. I've experienced this so many times when you put on socks because you're freezing, but then an hour later, you're sweating while laying in bed. 

I love this because it is so true, too. Americans definitely see Europe that way because many are quite ignorant of what a world map actually looks like. It's the same way with Europeans looking at America.

What is the rhetorical value of humor?


Humor can be very persuasive. If you can get your audience to laugh, you can get them to do almost anything. However, scientific study hasn't really backed this idea up. From my personal experience, though, I've found this to be true. Also, it can get your audience more interested and engaged with your message.

Are there any drawbacks to using humor? 


Humor can be very rhetorically effective, but only if your audience gets it. If your audience understands your humor, they will be automatically engaged with your message and remember it very well. If your audience doesn't get it or doesn't think it's funny, your message will fall flat, and the audience will probably feel awkward. This is way the speaker/author must be very aware of his audience, and that goes back to the idea of always keeping the audience in mind with every piece you create.

Like I talked about in my keywords presentation, if your audience doesn't get humor, your message will fall flat. For example.....

If President Bush would have told this joke at his address to the union after 9/11, his audience would have totally missed the humor in the joke.

Assignment 9

Did I ever read comics as a kid?

I definitely have never read a comic in my life. I was much more into Barbies and Disney princesses to read comics about superheroes. To continue with that, I chose this comic strip. I'm not sure if its technically a comic strip, but I really liked it.

Are the images more realistic or more iconic? What effect does that give them?
The images are very iconic. Most Americans can identify the Disney princesses on sight. It makes this comic strip easily recognizable.


What kind of transitions are used?
The author uses the dates on the princesses to create chronological order and shift you from one time period to the next.

How do the words and images work together?
They work together to create the entire message. Without the words, it would just be a picture of the Disney princesses but with the words, it gets a message across. It conveys the message that the Disney princesses actually teach young girls bad concepts like being pretty is the only thing worth having. The message is relayed well because the text offers some valid arguements.

Assignment 8

What is meant by remix/remediation?


Remediation/remix simply means taking one medium and transforming it into another. An example would be turning a book into a movie or vice versa. In remediation, no acknowledgement is given to the original work. For example, a movie based on  a Jane Austen book would not give credit to the original text in any way. This would be done in the hope that the transition from book to movie was so seamless that the viewer wouldn't notice. Remediation can also be an alternative form of categorizing and discovering information. A photograph might be upload to an online website so more people can view it. A speech given by the President might be sent to YouTube so students can cite it in projects and so on.


How does it affect a text's message?


Depending on the intent, it can alter a text's message or not. The goal of some people might be to remove all traces of the original work to create a new piece that does not reflect the original inspiration. This would alter the text's message because the original text would not even be cited anymore. However, others might want to make adaptations where they acknowledge where the inspiration came from (like a Stephen King novel) but also strive to create their own message. I believe that it all depends on whether the new creators want to keep the original message or not.


Does any of what Bolter and Grusin are saying contradict Walter Benjamin? 


Benjamin argued that changing a medium around leads to the loss of its aura. Bolter and Grusin claim that this can happen and it can also not happen, depending on the situation. Less extreme forms of remediation can capture the original essence of the work while more extreme remediation projects try to make the original work invisible in the viewer's mind. It all depends on the intent of the people remediating. So, Bolter and Grusin are not necessarily contradicting Benjamin but they are saying there's more to the situation that just losing the essence of an original work.

A nice graph that lays it all out

Look, it's Walter Benjamin!

Assignment 7

What is visual rhetoric?


Visual rhetoric is anything that can be seen, such as a painting, photograph, comic strip, or movie, that attempts to persuade the reader. All forms of visual rhetoric, like literary rhetoric, contain a point that is meant to be proven. For example, a movie can be a form of visual rhetoric. The movie "Avatar" is a prime example; through visual appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos, the producers of "Avatar" attempted to demonstrate the idea of advanced civilization vs. native inhabitants and how conquering a native population was morally wrong. The producers and director used pathos in scenes like when the Mother Tree is sad because she is dying and when all the Avatar men and women are running in fear from the human's attack. "Avatar" was definitely a movie in which the prime purpose was to not only make money but convey an environmentalist opinion.


How can an image be a text?


An image can be a text very easily because like a text, it conveys a message. Even though an image does not use words (although it may), the person looking at the image can interpret what it is saying. Painters, movie producers, and photographers take great care into what exactly goes into their image. Every piece is there for a reason, so for the reader, all of what he/she needs to know is in the image. Also, images evoke feelings in people just like texts do. The same feeling you get from a book you can get from an image. You can empathize with the characters in a painting and feel the same way they do, or certain images can incite anger.

How can images and words work together?


When images and words work together, I believe the result can be very powerful. For example, in a  comic strip, words and images work together to create something humorous and satirical. In commercials, the viewer is shown images along with words as a person narrates in the background. Studies have shown that commercials are very effective in making people buy products, so obviously people respond well to images and words mixed together.

Images and words also work well together because they can convey a complicated meaning fairly easily. If an argument was just presented in words, maybe the reader would have a hard time following it and completely lose the meaning. However, when images are added, the reader might suddenly understand the complicated topic.

In this image, the visual rhetoric is very strong. It's purpose is to convince women that the way they can help their men the most and be patriotic is to become a typist for the U.S. It uses positive appeals like convincing women that THEY can help win the war, not just men overseas. This image makes the woman feel important because she thinks, "Wow, I can really do something to help! All I have to do is keep typing!" The coloring of the image is also very effective. It is done in red, white, and blue which emphasizes the patriotic ideas. The message is also conveyed by the woman in the middle; she is pretty and looks so excited to be typing. 

Assignment 6

What does Benjamin mean by "aura"?


I think Benjamin means that art (films and photography) produced before the era of technology has a reality that modern art can't capture. He says that old films and photography had an originality; now everything is a picture of a picture. He bemoans the progress of technology because it has taken away the beauty of the art and replaced everything with machines.


Do you agree that mass-produced products lack an aura?


I definitely agree with this. However, growing up in a time where everything is mass-produced, I've never been able to see anything that was produced in its original form. So, I actually should say, "No, I don't think mass-produced products lack an aura" because I have never seen anything that isn't mass-produced. Nothing seems to be original anymore, and it makes sense when people say that every idea has already been thought. There are no more original creations; everything invented now gets it inspiration from something earlier. Even though I know I've been a victim of mass-orudced products, I still believe that the original works would be captivating. For example, Da Vinci's The Mona Lisa. I've seen pictures of the painting but never the painting itself. To be honest, it's not that impressive in photographs. But I think that if I saw it in person, I would be massively impressed and fascinated by it.

Assignment 5

What is "correct" language?

I believe that the “correct” language for anyone is the language that they identify most with. For example, Gloria Anzaldua says she identifies most with her Chicano language, the language she was born and raised in. Chicano is the language she speaks with her family, and if you asked her who she was, she would say Chicano. Speaking the language that you most identify with has positive effects on a person biologically. Studies show that if a person speaks a language they feel most at home with, they will experience a better immune system, fewer heart problems, and lower risks of depression (I read these facts in my Psychology book senior year of high school, and unfortunately, I can’t find the book anymore.)

However, while I do believes it’s great that people speak languages that make them happy, I do understand why society promotes one standard language. If everyone spoke different languages, no one would be able to understand anything. Everyone would have to become fluent in fifty different languages, which is just impractical and unrealistic. Society accomplishes goals because everyone is able to work together, and a vital part of that is everyone being able to communicate. To conclude, I see the practicality in one common language, but I do not believe that people’s native tongues should be hammered out until they are nonexistent. 

How does audience affect the language you use?

Audience is the entire reason a person writes, so consequently, audience has to be taken into account every time a person writes.  Writers don’t write to have their text ignored; they write so people will read their work. The language a writer uses has to be carefully chosen so it is relevant to an audience. Also, “language” isn’t confined to English, Spanish, French, or German. A “language” can be much more specific. For example, scientists in the laboratory speak their own language. They use terms that relate to their work, and normally, non-scientists would not understand what they were saying. I believe that is the definition of a language.

To continue, the language a writer chooses to write in has to be understood by the audience. A white American missionary wouldn’t write letters to native South American chiefs in formal English; he would have to write to him in the chief’s native tongue, which the missionary would first have to learn. If a kindergarten teacher was creating a worksheet for her class, she would not use complicated syntax and impressive diction; she would write in simple, concise sentences with basic English words.

If the author chooses the wrong language for his audience, his points will go unproven, and his work will be useless. It is safe to say no one would understand him.

Assignment 4

What is literacy?

Literacy can have a traditional definition of "the quality or state of being literate" (Webster's Dictionary.) It can simply mean that you know how to read and write  in any language. However, I think that being fully literate requires a little bit more. To be literate, I believe you need to do something with your skills. You have to desire to learn more and understand more. You can't be simply content with writing simple sentences and reading  "The Cat in the Hat." For example, once Frederick Douglass could read and write the basics, he pursued this further. He read more and more books and wrote every chance he got. He desired to be able to read complicated books and write intelligent papers. Also, being fully literate requires you to understand what you are reading and writing. A caveman could write the alphabet on a wall and not be fully literate. He does not know what he is writing, nor does he know what the symbols even mean. To be fully literate, I think you need to be able to comprehend what you are doing. You can't just read a psychology textbook; you have to be able to understand and interpret the information and form opinions based on it.

So appropriate for our last assignment ^

Assignment 3

What is a text? 

A text is a source of information that is from a firsthand source. In Walter Ong's Orality and Literacy, Ong states, "There is no way directly to refute a text" (78). A text itself can never be proven wrong because it cannot participate in discourse. Like Ong goes on to say, if you ask a text a question, you won't get an answer back. As long as that text is in print, whatever it says cannot be refuted. To refute a text, one must speak with the original author. Only then can proper discourse be made.


How is writing a technology? 

It could be argued that writing was the original technology. Ong said, "It initiated what print and computers only continue" (80). Technology can also be defined as something that benefits and enhances society; writing does this as well. It allows ideas to be shared and read by millions of people. Without writing, details of many important events might have been forgotten. For example, how would we know so much about Christopher Columbus' discovery of America if it weren't for his journals and ship logs? Writing as a technology has benefited our world in so many ways.


How do we experience oral vs. written texts differently?

In written texts, much is left up to the reader. The reader can decide how to interpret something. The reader can create visual images in his own mind of how situations, characters, and events look. The reader can choose what he sees. In contrast, in oral texts, the reader becomes a "viewer." Now, the viewer must accept the text as the speaker gives it to him. The speaker puts the constraints on the text rather than the viewer. For example, when reading Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," a reader can choose how he imagines MLK Jr. to look as he writes that letter. Maybe the reader envisions MLK Jr. stopping every couple of lines to think about what he wants to write next. Maybe the reader imagines him furiously composing the letter as sweat drips off his forehead. However, when watching MLK Jr. giving a speech such as "I Have A Dream," the viewer must accept facts. For example,  the viewer cannot think, "I think MLK Jr. gave his speech with a soft tone of voice and a gentle manner." Obviously, MLK Jr. was very adamant about his subject and had a strong tone of voice that included inflections when he got excited.

Assignment 2

"Toys" by Roland Barthes


Who is the audience?

Barthes' audience is very broad. He could be speaking to French people as a whole- specifically, French people with young children. However, this article is not directly aimed towards only French people. Any American, Chinese, or Mexican parent with a child could read this text and find relevance in it.


What persuasive appeals are used?

Barthes uses ethos and pathos to convey his point. He displays ethos through his complex sentence structure, elevated diction, and numerous examples of toys. His excellent ethos allows the reader to trust him as a speaker and actively listen to his argument. He also uses pathos by attempting to tug on the heartstrings of readers. At the end of the text when he began to discuss wood vs. plastic toys, Barthes seemed to be encouraging readers to think back to when they themselves had toys. Were they wood or plastic? He is saying, "Remember how much fun you had with your wooden toys like blocks? Don't you think children today should have wood toys instead of harsh, chemically made plastic toys?" He uses words like "warmth" and "softness" to make wood seem like man's friend as opposed to plastic which is "gross" and "hygienic."

More than just a piece of wood...

"Salvation" by Langston Hughes

Who is the audience?

Because Langston Hughes was a prominent figure in African-American culture in the early 20th century, his text was most likely aimed at black Americans. Hughes was a hero during the Harlem Renaissance, and many black people looked up to him. During the 1940's when his autobiography was published, most white Americans would not have been reading the autobiography of a black man. Therefore, his intended audience was black Americans.

What persuasive appeals are used?

Hughes uses lots of pathos to tell his narrative. His emotional appeal to his audience is strong and continued throughout the anecdote. The majority of readers can relate to this story in some way; as children, most people were dragged to church (unwillingly) where they were forced to sit and listen to a man talk about nothing they understood. Readers can identify with Hughes' confusion at the events taking place as he sat in his pew. Most readers can remember a similar scene from their childhood: A man began telling all the children in the Sunday School to repent of their sins (what sins?) and come to Jesus (who?). 

More about Langston Hughes and his contributions to African-American culture

"Road Warrior" by Dave Barry

Who is the audience?

Dave Barry is one of my favorite authors, and in my opinion, any person could read his articles and thoroughly enjoy them. Dave Barry is a Miami columnist, so naturally, his audience is the people of Miami. However, "Road Warrior" is a diverse article that could be directed towards any group of people. All people have driven a car at some point in their life and have most likely experienced the rudeness of drivers. Also, anyone with any kind of knowledge about Miami residents would see the truth behind Barry's satire. 

What persuasive appeals are used?

Barry uses a smooth combination of all 3 persuasive appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos. He is a credible author on the subject of road rage because he lives in Miami where drivers are, stereotypically, very rude. His entire article is full of satire and humor, so that appeals to the emotions of his audience. Everyone loves a funny story, right? Finally, he uses logos because he appeals to the intellect of the reader. He provides concrete examples, and he structures his article to flow smoothly from one topic to the next. 

"Why We Crave Horror Movies" by Stephen King


Who is the audience?

King's article can apply to a wide variety of people. People who like horror movies will probably enjoy reading this article because they will see the truth in it. Even people who don't like horror movies can identify with it because King talks about why certain people don't like them.

What persuasive appeals are used?

King uses ethos and pathos to convey his argument. His article is humorous which allows the reader to remember it. Also, Stephen King is the king (no pun intended) of horror movies, so his credibility as an author on the topic of scary movies is off the charts. Any reader is going to believe what Stephan King writes about horror movies because King has created so many great ones in the past. 

Assignment 1

What is rhetoric?

Rhetoric is a mode of persuasion that allows a speaker to sway his audience to agree with him. In Aristotle's time, rhetoric was a true art; today, rhetoric does not have the importance it once did.

What are persuasive appeals?

Persuasive appeals are what orators and writers use to convey their arguments. Aristotle defined them as "ethos, pathos, and logos." In simple terms, these 3 appeals are very easy to understand. Ethos can be defined as the credibility of a speaker. Does the speaker seem to understand what he is talking about? Is he a reliable source for the subject? Pathos is a speaker's appeal to the audience's emotions. For example, if a representative from the Human Society was giving a presentation with the goal to raise money for new shelters, he might show some shocking, horrible pictures of stray animals. This would be his appeal to his audience's emotions. Logos can be defined as the appeal to the audience's logic. Is the speaker's argument organized? Does he speech easily flow from one topic to the next? If these answers are yes, then the speaker is using logic to persuade his audience. All of these persuasive appeals can be used simultaneously, yet independently.

What is a rhetorical situation?

A rhetorical situation is one in which a speaker is persuaded to give a response to a situation. According to Lloyd Bitzer in"The Rhetorical Situation, "rhetorical discourse comes into existence as a response to a situation, in the same sense that an answer comes into existence in response to a question, or a solution in response to a problem."

What is an audience?

An audience is a necessity for rhetoric. Every rhetorician speakers with a particular audience in mind. Without an audience, they would have no need to speak because there would be no one to persuade. An audience will either respond to rhetoric the way the speaker desires them to, or they will not.

For more information on rhetoric, visit The Art of Rhetoric: Ethos, Pathos, Logos