Editorial: Politics, Pizza, and Pessimism

Politically driven NY Times Frank Bruni, columnist since 1995, writes an opinion-editorial about the sharp contrast that exists between the practical needs of this country and the political games currently being played. “Politics, Pizza, and Pessimism”, published on October 29, 2011, utilizes various examples of rhetoric to display Bruni’s purpose that the political “game” and our government is going in the wrong direction.

                Recently, two Republican candidates have released rather childish, even silly political ads and reasoning for their campaigns. Most prominent among them is Cain’s Internet ad, which displays Cain’s political manager smoking and a rather creepy Cain smile. This video has sparked internet fame, and is now the newest political butt of jokes. The irony of this entire situation is that Cain is currently in the leading group for the Republican polls; as Bruni puts it, Cain states that he’d never expect Americans “would actually buy this pizza”.

                In sharp contrast to this are the all too real events surrounding Occupy Wall Street and the nation’s unemployment rate (9.1%). These facts point to a frustration with the government; in fact, a poll shows that citizens currently only have a 9% satisfaction with Congress. As it proceeds to lead to debt talks, citizens prepare themselves for no change, little public involvement, and continued “silly politics”.

                The purpose was certainly achieved for the readers of the NY Times. Bruni wrote this opinion-editorial primarily in a causal context, reacting to the seemingly ridiculous political campaigning that is surrounding the Republican candidates and angrily noting that nothing is being done about real issues. He uses logos when citing several statistics, such as the 9.1% unemployment rate as well as the 9% approval of Congress. His ethos and credibility already established as a NY Times writer, his appeal to pathos is powerful with his sentences, using sarcasm with statements such as “… [Cain] appears in close-up at the end of the commercial, flashing a grin that’s two parts demented to one part demonic.”

 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/opinion/sunday/bruni-politics-pizzas-and-pessimism.html?ref=opinion         

Editorial: The Paradox of the New Elite

                New York Times columnist Alexander Stille writes about in this opinion article about a rapidly rising new elite in the US, and those elites’ affects on a different social and economical America. Stille, a professor of international journalism at Columbia, wrote this on October 22^nd, 2011.

                Although America would like to think of itself as an equal nation, the truth is that there are very undemocratic conditions underlying America’s culture. This “meritocracy” is built upon those who, although certainly deserve their position, dominate today’s higher positions and signals a more inclusive US. Economic resources fall in the hands of the top 1% of the population, with more than 20% of the nation’s net income in their hands. However, while US do not have the economic stability that Europe has, it is far more inclusive than a culturally struggling Europe. Stille accounts certain factors, such as higher education, increase in immigration, and more emphasis on culture rather than class, as reasons for a changing America.

                Stille wrote this article in predominantly a spatial context, as well as a causal well given a certain situation. In terms of history and overall development, there are several references to the past, using historical information to support his editorial. For example, the mentions of the Great Depression as the only time when the top 1% owned more than 25% of the nation’ income adds significant logos to Stille’s argument. Given that he talks about the situation in a present context that is rapidly changing, this causal context is his response to an ongoing situation.

                Stille uses a lot of historical and social juxtaposition to get his purpose of opinionated awareness about the elite through to the readers of the New York Times. Historically, Stille makes constant references to the past, of how what was “elite” then isn’t necessarily “elite” today. He also juxtaposes the different uses of “cultural inclusion”, of how Martin Luther King Jrs.’s argument of equality is ironically used by conservative politicians today.

                Alexander Stille’s purpose is certainly achieved, present through his convincing logic as well as rhetoric use of historical and social juxtaposition.

Essay from "A World of Ideas"- Freud: The Oedipus Complex

                In the anthology “A World of Ideas”, one of the selected pieces is Sigmund Freud’s “The Oedipus Complex”. Sigmund Freud, who lived from 1856-1939, is generally regarded as the father of modern psychiatry. He is famous for use of dream analysis and the unconscious in determining one’s mental state. This carried into the “Oedipus Complex”, a work about the repressed desires of infants.

                Freud begins his discussion by pointing out that the main difference between psychoneurotics and normal people is simply that the minds of psychoneurotics have not progressed beyond what he calls the Oedipus complex. Named after Shakespeare’s Oedipus who kills his own father and then marries his own mother, the Oedipus complex describes the desire that a boy has to have sexual relations with his mother and kill his father. Initially, such a claim would seem absurd and almost certainly mentally insane.

However, Freud explains how by appealing to audience’s innate (but subconscious so unaware) Oedipus complex, Shakespeare’s plays resonate with all. Another parallel is drawn with Hamlet, whose father has been killed by the very same man who is now with Hamlet’s mother. In an analysis of the play, it is suggested by Freud that he does not kill the man according to his father’s ghost as he represents the repressed desires that Hamlet had as a child. Freud describes that the criticism that “we couldn’t even dream” of such a thing is indeed correct; it is so monstrous that our mind does not prepare to defend itself against it.

Written in a spatial context based off of personal thoughts and old plays, “The Oedipus Complex” was written for the general public and perhaps more specifically to those psychoneurotics that he discussed, who were stuck at a sexual development many had when they were only infants. The main purpose was to describe to readers a phenomenon that he claims we are not made aware of, something present in what he calls our “subconscious”.

Freud certainly achieves his purpose through several devices. One of the most prevalent is his use of the royal “we”. This implies primarily that we as human beings are all the same and experience common ideas and moments. In addition, although this might seem generally accepted, his own personal additions to the piece add a lot of credence and insight into this rather complicated and unusual idea. For example, he anticipates the thoughts of readers and then attempts to answer them accordingly. 

Unit 1- Assignment Question Reflection

To be quite honest, there was a great deal of speculation upon arriving into AP English Language and Composition. Particularly when Mr. Gabriele dived into the concept of rhetoric and all seemingly abstract ideas, I am certain I was not the only person who felt apprehensive about the upcoming year. For the first couple days and maybe even weeks, my main confusion and concern surrounded around what exactly rhetoric was. However, I felt that my "saving grace" came with the reading of Tim O'Brien's "How to Tell a True War Story." I felt that it was a powerful piece, but even more so because the certain rhetorical elements and styles of arrangement that Mr. Gabriele had been discussing for a time finally crystallized in my mind. For example, use of specifically short sentences, the arrangement of definition, and the activity surrounding the reading involving the writing of information on those poster sheets really assisted and finally put together my understanding of rhetoric. The climax of this came when the writing of the in-class essay came. Although most students would dislike such assignments, I surprised myself during the process. Because a timed writing forced me to think purely about what I absolutely understood... Describing the differences in rhetoric was a test for myself and a surprise as to what I knew: and I finally understood rhetoric!

Political Advertisement: Rick Perry- Proven Leadership

Video: Rick Perry- Proven Leadership
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EL5Atp_vF0&feature=relmfu

         This video is a political advertisement on September 20th, 2011 titled Proven Leadership. It was released by Rick Perry, current Texas governor, as part of his political campaign to become the Republican candidate and eventually win the presidential election in 2012.
         Perry’s video is split into two parts. The first is a heated attack on current President Barack Obama, accusing him of downgrading America’s economy and creating no. However, the second part of the video turns to a positive and bright outlook for America, for a future nation that will be supposedly made possible by Governor Rick Perry.
        The use of visual rhetoric and rhetoric in general is extremely prevalent in this passionate political advertisement. Several statistics such as “Zero jobs created in August” from CBS News are used (logos). Also, depressing images of a country that’s gone to ruin are shown in a lonely playground, abandoned warehouse, and decaying cities (pathos). This use of imagery is further taken with a symbol of Obama’s failing presidency: a HOPE presidential poster during Obama’s 2008 campaign is shown rotting away on a dirty wall under heavy rain. Also, quotes from Obama’s speeches, such as “I’m just getting started”, are placed in a specific order and time to create the sense that HE is creating and intending for all of these events to happen.
When the video turns to Rick Perry, the juxtaposition is all too noticeable. Scenes of sunny fields, happy workers, and even horses running add to the positive future that Rick Perry promises. Dramatic music fills the background as scenes of patriotism and America’s famous locations are shown. At the center of all of this is Governor Perry, who asserts that “America is the last great hope for mankind”.
         Intended for the general American public, and created in a causal context for the upcoming 2012 presidential elections, Rick Perry certainly achieved his purpose of creating some sort of change amongst Americans. It appeals strongly to pathos and makes use of visual imagery to accomplish simply the fact that Obama is bad, Perry is good.

Me Talk Pretty One Day Presentation Pd 4

IRB: Blink Reading Section 1

Note: I read all the way up to page 72 for this section rather than the previously indicated 48.

            Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink, is a Canadian journalist who writes for The New Yorker. He has published several other social psychology books. He appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List four times.

            In 1983, artists looked at a supposed kouros, or Greek sculpture, and immediately knew it was fake. It took scientists and historians a month to figure out what some experts saw in a split second. Likewise, just by analyzing the details in a couple’s conversation, psychologist Tabares knows whether a couple will still be together. Gladwell points to all of these as examples of the unconscious mind, a part of our brain that allows us to pick out patterns and make snap judgments. In the first part, The Theory of Thin Slices, Gladwell discusses how looking at something for just a few seconds can create far more accurate predictions than, strangely enough, knowing someone or something for a period of time. In his second part, Gladwell talks of a “locked door”; how the unconscious mind cannot be expressed and oftentimes cannot be accessed voluntarily by humans.

            Blink was written in mainly a spatial context. Gladwell mainly talks about things that have happened, and compiles them into one book. He discusses these “snap decisions,” these “thin slices,” from a scientific standpoint not necessarily related to any cause or immediate actions (although ironically enough Blink is about when people react in a temporal context!). It was intended for those who enjoy social psychology (such as myself), and for those who like many have some strange sense of awareness and judgment that they just cannot explain, and want answers.

            The main purpose of this book is for readers to gain an insight into what they before had not known about: the unconscious mind. As Gladwell says, it’s not the one Freud describes, but rather one that dictates HOW we think and gives us unnatural judgment. He describes the different parts and examples of its power, and at the same time, also shows how we as humans can improve ourselves with this knowledge of the “thin slice”.

            By using several rhetorical elements, Gladwell was able to accomplish his purpose. One rhetorical device he uses is directly talking to readers, addressing them in a casual manner as if he were lecturing in a college hall; this gives his tone a clear and easily understood inflection. Gladwell also cites numerous examples, such as tennis coaches, marriage counselors, art experts, and all groups of people who exemplify his ideal of the unconscious mind’s power. He appeals mainly to logos: in an analysis of the potency of speed dating, Gladwell takes a look at a specific group in Columbia and explains their experiences. His ethos is already established as a famous writer and bestseller.