TOW 14: Rent Original Broadway Promotion Poster

In light of the recent cast list posting and subsequent start of rehearsals, the subject that most interests me for rhetorical analysis this week is Rent, our school’s spring musical for 2014. In the spirit of choosing new and interesting types of text to analyze, I selected to use the musical’s original Broadway promotion poster as my visual text. The poster features eleven solo photographs of the eight lead characters (Mimi, Roger, Collins, Angel, Maureen, and Joanne) in various poses. The photographs are arranged in three columns and four rows revolving around the word “Rent” in the center of the poster. The author of this visual text can be identified as the production team of the original Broadway production of Rent. This includes Jonathon Larson, the writer and composer, and Michael Greif, the original director. As the writer and original director, Mr. Larson and Mr. Greif respectively are the most qualified sources in producing a visual to accurately convey the message of the show. The promotion poster’s target audience at the time of its release was the theater-going community, specifically those who may not have been aware of the new show coming to the Nederlander Theatre. The purpose of the poster, obviously, was to persuade people to come and see Rent.

Juxtaposition is extremely prevalent in this poster. The eleven photographs feature the leads in unique and contrasting positions. Placing these photographs side by side to create one big rectangle displays the differences between the characters, while also showing in a larger sense that they are all interconnected. This message is a preview of many of the themes in the show. This interesting and striking visual work pretty well towards attracting an audience for Rent. I believe that this poster is effective in achieving its purpose of promoting the show Rent and attracting an audience. However, I feel that a few words pertaining to the shows content or an important line from one of the songs would have enhanced the poster and given the viewers a more direct preview of the musical’s content. 

TOW 13: Dance shoe fund benefits young children at Lawrence Arts Center by Nadia Imafidon

Published in a literary journal based in Kansas (Lawrence Journal-World), this article by featured literary contributor Nadia Imafidon covers a topic about that may not be very familiar to the masses of America. People who are not involved with the arts may not realize how time-consuming and costly of an activity that dance is. With a culmination of tuition for weekly lessons, the cost of attire, and the price of the all-important dance shoe, yearly costs for a young dancer normally amount to several thousand dollars. With such a high price, it is a sad truth that young girls who come from less affluent families may have trouble pursuing dreams of a career in dance. For this very reason, foundations have been established to aid aspiring dancers to achieve their dreams. This article describes one such organization, the Candi Baker Shoe Fund, started by the Lawrence Arts Center in Lawrence, Kansas. This foundation primarily collects gently used dance shoes to pass on to girls who are not able to afford them on their own. Additionally, it offers financial aid towards the training of talented young students in need. Reading about this organization is inspirational to the target audience of members of the dance or arts communities, but also to any average member of American society. The fund that is described in this article was given life by an amazing sense of community and desire to support the advancement of talented youth. As the author describes the genesis of the Candi Baker Shoe Fund, she portrays to her audience how wonderfully rewarding the outcome can be from supporting your community and helping others. Ms. Imafidon conveys this theme very effectively, specifically through use of an anecdote. At the very end of the piece, she includes a recollection by the founder of the fund, which describes a young girl who was helped by the fund to pursue a dream that she refused to give up. The girl is now performing a featured role in the arts center’s production of the Nutcracker. This anecdote was very effective in appealing to emotion, especially to a passionate dancer such as myself.

            

TOW #12- Lyceum Theater Liner Notes by Chris Jones

            It’s interesting to realize that, despite widespread notoriety and what can only be described as a cult-like following, much of the music of the Grateful Dead has never officially been released. However, every so often, Grateful Dead Productions officially releases a recording from a certain show or collection of shows. In 2011 three discs were released, combining music from the stint of the Grateful Dead at the Lyceum Theater in England during their legendary Europe ’72 tour. The inside of the packaging is covered with the personal accounts of one Chris Jones, detailing his experiences at three out of four of the exalted Lyceum shows. This week, I chose to analyze these liner notes.

            Jones is a great source for information about the Lyceum shows, being that he attended three out of the four. He begins his accounts by describing his longtime love for the Grateful Dead, before launching into description of the concert venue and his own attempts at taping the concerts. Jones’s purpose in writing a personal and nostalgic account for this official release is clear: to show that the magic of the Dead’s music has endured timelessly over the past 40 years. This text is undoubtedly intended to be read by hardcore Grateful Dead fans. Only devoted fans would truly be able to understand the enduring beauty of the music that is captured in Jones’s accounts.  

            Jones leaned almost exclusively on use of personal anecdotes to convey his purpose. His accounts of his amateur taping attempts are amusing, and then touching, once he tells the reader that he is listening to those very tapes as he writes.

            In my opinion, these liner notes are very effective in giving the reader a sense of the timeless influence that the Grateful Dead’s music has continued to have on listeners, even now, a generation after the height of the band’s success. 

TOW #11: Dark History of Roman Emperors: From Julius Caesar to the Fall of Rome by Michael Kerrigan

For someone who nurtures a great passion for history, Dark History of the Roman Emperors: From Julius Caesar to the Fall of Rome by Michael Kerrigan is an extremely compelling read. The content of the book is essentially covered in its title. Kerrigan covers the life and times of each legendary emperor of Ancient Rome starting from the very beginning and proceeding with great detail. The information that the author uncovers pertaining to the goings-on of Ancient Rome in this book is shocking by any measure. Kerrigan reveals the outrageous mental instability of many fabled rulers and power-seeking ancient families, bred by a longstanding tendency towards incestuous marriages and parental neglect. From a modern-day standpoint, the inner scandals of Ancient Rome seem all the more despicable and often inhumane. Author Michael Kerrigan does a thorough job throughout the first half of this book in his coverage of such storied historical figures as the emperor Caligula and Julius Caesar. Mr. Kerrigan has covered numerous historical periods at great length and is well established as an author, having published more than a dozen books (many exclusively focusing on Ancient Rome).

            After reading roughly half of this book, one recurring theme stands out clearly from all authors. Kerrigan’s purpose in covering the history of Ancient Roman emperors in the manner that he does in this book is to impress upon his audience of modern-day American readers the dangers of having power. Emperors who clearly used every bit of their limitless power such as Caligula and Domitian are portrayed as overwhelmingly sadistic and evil, while more moderate rulers such as Vespasian are shown in a more kind and generous light. The author purposefully includes many short anecdotes detailing a specific and shocking abuse of power, such as the usage of the elderly and handicapped in gladiator battles by Domitian, to appeal to his audience’s emotions. By the end of the first half of the book I would say without hesitation that Kerrigan has been successful so far. The disgusting abuses of power that he details in anecdotes of emperors’ lives have definitely made me consider the extreme responsibility that comes with having power.

TOW 10: Revlon makeup advertisement

            This week I chose to go a new route with my choice of visual text to analyze. Anyone who has browsed on the Internet or watched television for any length of time knows how abundant cosmetic commercials are today. In accordance with this trend, I chose to analyze an online advertisement for Revlon makeup. This particular advertisement is depicting the company’s brand of “skin-matching” foundation. The model for the makeup in the ad is famous actress Jessica Alba. Pictured next to Alba’s image is a photo of the makeup as well as a brief summary of the product.

            The speaker of the advertisement is the Revlon cosmetic company, a globally known and respected corporation. The Revlon brand is recognizable all around the world, and has been trusted by consumers since its formation in the 1930’s. This advertisement is directed at the company’s consumer base, primarily made up of appearance-conscious females.

            The main rhetorical device employed in this advertisement is the usage of Jessica Alba to endorse the product. This celebrity testimonial appeals to the audience in many ways. Endorsement of an idolized celebrity adds an extra layer of credibility to the product. Also, Alba’s beauty appeals to the emotions of the female audience. Revlon knows that female consumers will see someone that they regard as beautiful endorsing a product and consider buying the product with the hope and desire to emulate this beauty themselves. Finally, the slogan “naturally glamorous, never overdone” appeals to the consumers’ sense of reason: if the product creates a perfect balance for the user’s appearance, what could go wrong?

            Although this advertisement has all of the components of an effective advertisement, I do not find it effective. Simply the fact that every major makeup company today produces hundreds of ads yearly that are exactly like this one diminishes its impact on me as a consumer. A makeup advertisement in the industry today would have to do something more extraordinary and unique to capture my attention. 

IRB Intro Post #2

For this marking period, I have chosen to read Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. I first explored the possibility of reading this memoir upon recommendation from a good friend of mine. After doing some research on the book, I discovered that it contains the firsthand account of a young man’s experiences learning from his dying former professor. The premise of the book immediately interested me, as I have always thought that there is something special about the advice of wise, elderly men and women. I hope to be personally affected by the life lessons that Albom describes in his memoir. I believe that everyone can benefit from the retrospective musings of those who have already experienced the vast majority of life. 

TOW #9: A Letter By Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

Upon suggestion of Mr. Yost via twitter, I found an interesting letter to analyze on Letters of Note for this week. This particular letter was written by Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) in Florence, Italy in 1904. Mr. Clemens penned this letter to his fans in response to an outpouring of support following the death of his wife. In the letter, Clemens emphasizes his immense gratitude for all well- wishes received during a very difficult time. Clemens’ purpose in writing this letter is very simple and clear. The author is demonstrating his gratitude for the support of his loyal fans not only during his time of difficulty, but in general. As a well-respected author, Clemens is obviously a credible source on nearly any text he might produce. In the case of a letter pertaining to the death of his wife, Clemens is virtually the only possible source.

Although this letter is very brief, many rhetorical strategies are evident. The shortness of the letter further emphasized the already notable word choice. Throughout the letter Clemens uses deeply emotional words to describe his feelings toward his fans. The most powerful example of this is when he characterizes his gratitude as “unexpressed and inexpressible”. This description is very effective in enabling the reader to feel the author’s sentiments of appreciation. The individual word choices made by the author also establish the persona of Mr. Clemens. When reading his letter, the reader does not interpret the author as being the immortal, legendary writer that he is known as. The persona expressed is that of a vulnerable man dealing with a difficult situation, and simply hoping to express his pure gratitude.

The vulnerable persona that Clemens created as well as the emotionally loaded words he incorporated in this piece definitely accomplished his goal of showing his fans and well- wishers his overwhelming gratefulness for their support in his time of need.  

TOW 8: Searching for the Sound by Phil Lesh (part two)

The second half of Searching for the Sound by Phil Lesh followed the impressive precedent set by the first half and was captivating right through to the very end. In the closing half his story, founding member and bass player for the Grateful Dead Phil Lesh described in detail the decades following the formation and initial establishment of the Dead. While the first half of the autobiography was mainly spent giving accounts of Lesh’s early life leading up through the formation and beginnings of success for the Grateful Dead, the second half covered most of the duration of the band’s existence, ending with band member Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995. The messages conveyed in the second half of Searching for the Sound took on a more serious light than those of the first half. During the early years described in the beginning of the book, youth and love were celebrated and possibilities were endless. As the band matured, sentiments grew slightly more realistic. A downward spiral into hard-drug addiction as well as the passing of band members contributed to these changes of mood. Lesh’s purpose in writing the second half of this book was to encourage his readers (primarily Grateful Dead fans) to cherish the important aspects of their lives.

            One major factor that distinguished the first half of this book from the second was the author’s change in tone from whimsical to serious. The clearest example of this shift came at the very end of book, when Lesh detailed his reaction to longtime friend and fellow band member Jerry Garcia’s death. The reader was really able to feel Lesh’s grief through the remorseful tone. This served as a stunning reminder to us readers to appreciate the truly important people in our lives. I was particularly affected by this message of grief and the subsequently learned lesson. As a lifelong Grateful Dead fan, the pain of Phil over Jerry’s death was heartbreaking to me, and the prompting to cherish those who are important to me was very potent. 

Tow 7: "The Fruit That Really Does Keep the Doctor Away"

Most children have heard the expression “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” repeated by parents and other adults, and have simply rolled their eyes while allowing this cliché saying to go in one ear and out the other. However, according to “The Fruit That Really Does Keep the Doctor Away” by Linda Collier Cool of Yahoo Health Online, multiple recent studies prove that there are numerous reasons to actually abide by this common parental advice.

            This attention-catching article cites reputable sources such as a study published in the British Medical Journal and a novel written by the executive editor of Reader’s Digest to provide evidence for the claim that apples are one of the most health-benefiting foods. According to the long and varying list of health perks provided by Cool, apples seem to in some way assist nearly every aspect of human health. The author’s purpose in writing this article was to inform the general American public of the many widely unknown healing qualities of a very common fruit. By doing so, Cool is implicitly encouraging people to include this food in their diet as much as possible in order to reap these benefits.

            The author was able to communicate her purpose very clearly in this article through use of a list as a structural format. Instead of throwing all of her knowledge on the subject into a few paragraphs, where certain important pieces of information might have been easily missed among a sea of facts, Cool was very careful and clever in her structural organization. By breaking the article up into a list of very short paragraphs, each detailing one specific health benefit of apples, the author was able to effectively hold the reader’s attention for the duration of the article.

            As somebody who personally loves apples, I may have already been inclined to agree with the author from the very offset of my reading this article. Nevertheless, I feel that Cool was very effectual with her presentation of facts, and likely encouraged many readers to include apples as a more regular part of their diet. 

TOW 6: Lenor fabric softener

This creative advertisement was produced by Lenor brand in order to promote their fabric softener product. Lenor is a branch of the Downy fabric softener brand that is available only in Europe and some parts of Asia. This particular advertisement  (along with others of similar content) was produced in April of 2012.

Depicted in this image is a bear, halfway submerged in a pool of liquid that is clearly meant to represent the Lenor fabric softener. The portion of a bear that is above the waterline is live and seemingly vicious, while the underwater bottom half has transformed into that of a fuzzy, cuddly teddy bear. This clever portrayal is conveying the message that Lenor fabric softener can soften even the toughest of materials. This advertisement is primarily directed at adults who might be buying household products, specifically moms, and for children who would go out shopping with their moms and would be attracted to the cute and comical ad.

Juxtaposition was very obvious in this ad. The ferocious top half of the bear pictured adjacent to the cute and cuddly bottom half has the desired effect of showing the reader how life-changing this fabric softener is. The people who devised this image also incorporated humor to great effect. The comical picture of a half live, half stuffed animal bear serves to draw viewers in and make them examine the ad closely. I would definitely say that this ad was partially effective in achieving its purpose of promoting Lenor fabric softener. The humor and juxtaposition that were used definitely drew me in and generated interest in the advertisement; however, the actual product was not truly represented by the image. Although I would definitely remember this advertisement for its entertainment value, I would not necessarily feel compelled to purchase this product.

TOW 5: Reading the world in 196 books

            “Reading the world in 196 books” was written by Ann Morgan, a writer and avid reader who contributed this article to BBC.com. Ms. Morgan’s story began one day when she was eyeing her personal library and came to the realization that the majority of her collection of novels came from British or American authors. In an attempt to change her narrow literary perspective, Morgan set herself the goal of reading one book from each of the world’s 196 recognized countries in one year. In spite of the difficult task of tracking down literature from countries where stories are rarely written down and the trials of sticking to her strict timetable, Morgan’s literary quest ended up teaching her not only about the world around her, but also in helping her to define and understand her place within that vast network.

            The enlightening effect of her “trip around the world” inspired Ann Morgan to write an article detailing her experiences. Morgan’s purpose in writing this article was to inspire her audience of average first-world citizens to do something similar to what she did, and venture into new experiences to learn about the world around themselves in ways that they would not normally. The author effectively utilized anecdotes to achieve her purpose. Using personal stories of her own experiences helped the reader to feel connected to the mission, and also made the accomplishments that she ultimately achieved seem attainable for each individual member of her audience. For me, this article undoubtedly achieved its purpose of inspiring me to involve myself in the greater scope of the world around me by partaking in new experiences. As an avid reader myself, Morgan’s own mission was an attractive option to me. Reading books from all over the globe seems like it would be extremely rewarding investment of time and energy.

TOW #4: "Save the Twinkie" by Nick Anderson

This political cartoon was created by Nick Anderson, the editorial cartoonist for the Houston Chronicle. The cartoon makes a bold response to the public’s outcry at the bankruptcy of Hostess Brands and subsequent termination of production of Twinkies. Depicted in the cartoon is a rabid band of campaigners under a giant banner bearing the words “Save the Twinkie”. Next to this furious and enthused group are two people, standing alone, under a much smaller “Save the Earth” sign.

            Mr. Anderson’s purpose in creating this cartoon was to show the American public that our efforts in standing up for our beliefs are clearly going in a very wrong direction. Anderson does this mainly through usage of juxtaposition. The members of the large gang of “Save the Twinkie” campaigners are portrayed as being almost crazed with enthusiasm for their cause. Directly adjacent to these protestors is a subdued little group consisting of only one man and one woman standing alone under their “Save the Earth” banner. These two people are looking at the Twinkie lovers with little emotion, the man resignedly saying, “We’re doomed”. The comparison between the two groups of protestors is particularly powerful. The two people campaigning to save the planet are alone and un-aided, while the group lobbying to save an unhealthy and unimportant snack food is massive in size and writhing with passion. Mr. Anderson uses the comparison and contrast between these two adjacent images to get the message across to his intended audience, the general American public, that we are not focusing our attention and efforts towards the right causes. Personally, I was really taken aback by the ridiculousness of this comparison. I could relate his depiction of people up in arms over the end of the Twinkie, while remaining completely oblivious to the declining state of our planet’s health, as I have seen these same sentiments among people I know. In this respect, Nick Anderson’s effort to impress upon the American people the consequences of our misguided efforts was achieved. 

TOW #3

            “In cancer drug battle, both sides appeal to ethics”. An article with a title such as this is innately expected to be full of conflicting viewpoints, double-sided arguments, and scientific appeals. Unbiased CNN contributor Michael Hudson delivers all of these aspects in this piece for CNN.com. The story begins with Andrea Sloan, a 45-year-old attorney from Texas who is terminally ill with ovarian cancer. After trying all normal treatment options, Sloan was presented with an interesting truth. Her best and possibly only chance at survival is a new experimental drug called BMN 673, which is produced by a California Pharmaceutical company called BioMarin. However, the drug is still going through clinical trials and is not yet available for Ms. Sloan’s access. In spite of the FDA endorsement for Ms. Sloan’s use of the drug under cause of “compassionate care” and a specialist doctor’s recommendation, BioMarin refuses to release to Ms. Sloan the only drug that may give her a chance at survival.

            Hudson’s purpose in writing this article was simply to get the word out about a major issue that many people are unaware of in the medical field of America today. Experimental drugs, especially regarding cancer treatment, are very controversial, and the question of whether the possible benefits outweigh the possible risks is one that has been largely left up to the individual patients and companies involved up to this point. It is fair to say that much of the general American public has little or no knowledge of the controversies surrounding the release of experimental drugs, so Hudson targeted the general masses in this article to serve the dual purpose of getting the word out about the situation and possibly garnering support for Sloan’s case.

            To help achieve his purpose of spreading awareness, Hudson provided ample background information on the reasons for controversy surrounding experimental treatment drugs and specifically describing Sloan’s case in which the drug may be her only chance of survival. Although this subject- matter is obviously emotional in nature, Hudson actually appealed more to logos than pathos with his usage of facts, figures, and scientific background. I believe that Hudson was very effective in using logical information, rather than emotional distortions, to make the reader aware of medical conflict that increasingly relevant in American society today.

TOW #2

As I complete the first half of my independent reading book, Searching for the Sound by Phil Lesh, I do not hesitate to say is one of the most fascinating and extraordinary books that I’ve ever experienced. Its very nature as a novel written by an original founding member of the Grateful Dead precedes its content in establishing it as a special book. However, the writing of the novel itself is extremely compelling and lives up to the reputation of the author. Within the pages of Searching for the Sound, legendary bass player Phil Lesh describes in unfiltered detail his experiences with the Grateful Dead on and offstage starting from their very inception. As a founding member, Phil Lesh is indisputably one of the most credible sources imaginable to write a piece on the life and times of the Grateful Dead. His legendary musical achievements and devotion to the world of music also qualify him as a prime authority on life as a professional musician. As should be expected in the behind-the-scenes account of a psychedelic band from the 1960’s, there is description of the usage of mind-altering drugs in Mr. Lesh’s accounts. While clearly not safe or sensible in modern-day society, these anecdotes are crucial to the author’s overall message. Phil’s purpose in writing this autobiography was not to encourage or promote the use of psychedelic drugs in any way, though they are an integral part of his story. His purpose was simply to use the creative and intellectually awakening experiences that he had with mind-altering drugs as an example for the reader of the importance of expanding one’s physical and psychological perspective in life. The audience that this novel was written for is primarily Grateful Dead fans. Though any mature audience can easily enjoy it, Grateful Dead fans will likely appreciate it most. The imagery in the piece was particularly effective in appealing to pathos. Phil’s intricate descriptions of the communal love and coming together of people as one during early Dead shows is moving and inspirational. For me personally, the author’s purpose was undoubtedly achieved. After reading of the Grateful Dead’s life-changing musical and spiritual enlightenments, I am motivated to seek out new experiences and broaden my horizons as I go through life. 

TOW #1

“Can Emotional Intelligence Be Taught?” is an article in the New York Times written by University of California, Berkley graduate school journalism professor Jennifer Khan. This recently published article takes the reader through a very interesting and modern take on social and emotional childhood development. The author presents the reader with information on numerous different experiments in social-emotional learning (S.E.L.) that have taken place within the past five years, and offers a variety of reported opinions on the effectiveness of S.E.L. and its possible correlation to a change in behavior and mental capacity in later life. The purpose of Ms. Khan in writing this piece was to raise awareness in the general American public to this new and possibly groundbreaking form of education-enhancement. With developments in the field of S.E.L. being so recent and widely untested as of yet, making this information known to the masses of America in a mainstream source such as the New York Times is crucial for the possibility of growth. One rhetorical strategy that was used particularly well by Khan in this article was ethos. Almost all of the opinions and studies that she presented came from psychologists, neuroscientists, or professors at reputable universities. Using information from credible sources was a wise decision for the author to make in trying to achieve her purpose. The educational theory that she was presenting in this piece is not yet backed by enough testing to be credible in itself, so the advocacy of prestigious sources that she presents to the reader gives the article an overall sense of credibility at least as a theory if not yet as a proven method. I would definitely say that the author accomplished her purpose in writing this piece. The New York Times is an extremely well-known source, and her overview of social-emotional learning will therefore be read by many. Speaking for myself, my eyes were opened to this new educational innovation for the first time in reading “Can Emotional Intelligence Be Taught?”, and I’m very interested to see where S.E.L. goes. 

IRB Intro

For the first marking period I have selected Searching for the Sound by Phil Lesh as my independent reading material. In this novel, author Phil Lesh autobiographically chronicles his experiences as bass player and founding member of the trailblazing psychedelic rock band the Grateful Dead. My interest in reading this autobiography stems from my passion for the Grateful Dead, which I inherited from my dad who is a devoted lifelong “deadhead”. I’ve been listening to the Grateful Dead for as long as I can remember, and knew every lyric to dozens upon dozens of Dead songs by the time I was in elementary school. With the music of this group having been such an integral part of my life to this point, I’m very excited to read the firsthand story of the band written by one of its founding members, and one of the musicians whom I admire most.

"Vanishing Act"

Lost

This photo shows a young, hopeful writer named Barbara Newhall Follett. After very early success, the pressure and expectations of being a prodigy stole this young girl's drive, and ultimately her existence. Barbara's story is the tale of child fame gone terribly wrong.

In “Vanishing Act” by Paul Collins, the reader is introduced to the enigmatic story of literary child prodigy Barbara Follett. After her introduction to the typewriter at age three, Barbara’s astonishing literary talents were unleashed. Miss Follett began working on her first novel at the age of eight, and became a published author shortly after her twelfth birthday. While reading the account of Barbara’s early success, it is logical for the reader to conclude that her extraordinary talent led her to a lifetime of work in the industry. This leads to the next question: why isn’t Barbara known globally today and celebrated as a gifted writer? Paul Collins answers these questions in his essay in conjunction with mentions of other forgotten child masterminds. With a vast majority of American society so engrossed in the world of fame and celebrity, Paul Collins uses young Barbara as an example of why these labels can be toxic. The author’s main purpose in writing this piece is not only to pay homage to a talent that deserves recognition, but also to warn against over-exposure of gifted children to fame. The general American public for whom Collins writes is in need of a reminder that children of celebrity status must be seen as vulnerable individuals to be treated with care, and not toys that can be played with and then discarded. As Paul Collins specializes in covering forgotten historical figures and literature, this essay is an example of his writing in its natural and well- practiced element. The story of a precocious child author turned struggling young adult is one that naturally elicits an emotional response. The pathos that Collins creates with his bleak and unhopeful telling of Barbara Follett’s older life adds to the overall moral of the story: child fame’s destructive consequences. For me as a reader, Collins’ purpose in writing this piece was definitely achieved. I have seen the same detrimental consequences that Barbara Follett experienced occur in prodigious actors and musicians of my own generation, and I believe that Collins is right to warn against the dangers of child prodigy. 

"Killing My Body to Save My Mind"

Effects of Depression

One of the major points that Slater gets across in “Killing My Body to Save My Mind” is that depression is not something to be taken lightly. Depression is an extremely serious affliction, and anything that can be done to relieve it should be done. 

“Killing My Body to Save My Mind” by Lauren Slater is an interesting piece, which gives insight into many issues. Within Ms. Slater’s essay there is information on mental health disorders, physical health, marriage, and parental relationships. Despite the numerous topics touched on by this composition, more than anything else it is a comparison of the importance of the body versus that of the mind. As someone who has struggled with bouts of severe depression throughout her life, Slater’s understanding of mental health issues is highly personal and undeniably credible. Through her own experience with one particular anti-depressant drug, the author was forced to make a decision between the importance of being physically healthy or mentally healthy. Her purpose in the writing of this piece is to reach out to anyone dealing with mental health issues, and help them to see that they should not feel guilty or wrong about doing anything they possibly can to achieve mental health. The pathos that Lauren Slater uses in this piece is incredible. When the author describes her crushing onsets of depression with vivid detail, the reader can practically feel the hopeless despair that she had felt. On the other hand, the joy that she’d experienced after taking Zyprexa is also brought to life. All six senses are engaged in detailing the experiences of being able to admire the world around her. The emotions that Slater evokes with her writing help the reader more than anything else to see why mental clarity is so crucial. Prior to reading this essay, I would not have been able to see why it would be worth it to take a drug that will eventually destroy your body in order to maintain a stable state of mind. As a result of “Killing My Body to Save My Mind”, my opinion has completely changed. I can see now that for anyone, but especially someone who suffers from mental disorders, psychological health is of the utmost importance. The pathos and personal experiences that Slater incorporates into this piece deepen its meaning and achieve its purpose in a major way. 

"Other Women"

A Realistic Approach to Feminism

A take on feminism that is based in the condemnation of men is exactly what Francine Prose was aiming to avoid teaching in "Other Women". The standpoint that Ms. Prose takes on feminism is strong, but far more logical. 

Francine Prose’s “Other Women” approaches a topic that is long overdue for discussion in American society: the truth about feminism. Using experiences from her own life from the feminist movement of the 1970’s, Ms. Prose describes the way that her views have evolved over time, and paints a truthful and informative picture of a highly controversial topic. Having lived through one of the most famous periods of “consciousness-raising” towards feminism and been involved in the women’s advocacy as a member of a feminist group during this time, Ms. Prose is an extremely credible source on this issue. With an wonderfully little amount of bias on the topic, Ms. Prose dispels myths about feminism and ultimately presents the facts. The author wrote this essay primarily for a female audience. However, the intended audience being female is not due to an overly zealous feminist viewpoint or any type of male- criticism within the piece. The purpose of this essay is to help women to better understand feminism, giving themselves a sense of inward empowerment based on the facts, such as gender being irrelevant in intellectual and emotional capacity. The diction of this piece was particularly noteworthy. In a manner that stayed true to her belief in women’s ability to be as stable and emotionally unaffected as men, Prose wrote with complete blunt word choices and an unabashed sense of honesty. What was refreshing about this piece was its lack of romanticized feminist ideals. Supporting gender equality is one thing, while professing men to be evil and women to be superior creatures is quite another. The rational reasoning of women’s rights by Francine Prose, conveyed by her stark and forthright word choices, helped to get across the picture of feminism as something real and logical rather than some radical movement. As a woman reading this piece, I have never been able to connect more to a viewpoint on feminism. With her levelheaded reasoning and strong but not fanatical views, the author achieved her purpose of educating women on the truth about feminism and being able to feel empowered by it. 

"Objects of Affection"

Recognize What You Have

The theme of gratitude is a big one in Ewa Hryniewicz- Yarbrough's "Objects of Affection". As a child who didn't have the same opportunities as most typical American children, Hryniewicz- Yarbrough learned early on to appreciate and be grateful for the possessions that she had. Passing along this sense of gratitude and emotional significance attached to objects is the main purpose of her essay.

(Sondibruner.com)

In “Objects of Affection”, author Ewa Hryniewicz- Yarbrough tells a sentimental and nostalgic story of her relationship with possessions throughout her life. The author illustrates for readers the unparalleled importance of holding onto objects that she experienced during her childhood in Communist Poland, the lessons that she learned from her grandmother’s life, and the way that her relatively deprived childhood has affected her attachment to possessions in later life. Growing up in an environment so different than the free-market consumer haven that Americans are accustomed to, Hryniewicz- Yarbrough offers an interesting perspective to the American public that she targets with this essay. The stories from her own life are meant to give her audience a completely new way of looking at possessions, and a greater sense of appreciation for the things that typical Americans take totally for granted. The structure of this piece is instrumental in achieving the author’s purpose. Hryniewicz- Yarbrough starts out with details about a flea market she frequents in Poland. The mysterious and exciting description that she gives of the objects she finds there immediately starts the reader thinking about objects a different way than they normally would. Now that the reader is open to a new perspective, the author dives into information about her childhood and her grandmother’s life, explaining why objects are so emotionally significant for her. To wrap up her wonderfully fluid and well-constructed essay, the author ends with an anecdote from a literature class that she had taught; this I believe serves as a perfect conclusion to her structure and conveys her purpose flawlessly. While reading a short story in class, her students couldn’t understand why the main character would carry his only remaining possessions with him still when he knew he faced immediate death. In explaining the reasoning behind it to her students, Hryniewicz- Yarbrough conveys both her message and her purpose. Her message is that objects are a reliable and stabilizing force against the chaos of life, and her purpose is to help people, especially the American audience for whom she writes, recognize this importance and learn to treasure it. 

"The Good Short Life"

Death: Life's Greatest Taboo 

This graphic image illustrates the main purpose of Mr. Clendinen's essay "The Good Short Life". The author recognizes death as something that is taboo in society and aims to set his audience on the right track to overcoming this social barrier. 

( kuow.org )

Within the pages “The Good Short Life” by Dudley Clendinen, the reader is privy to the open and candid musings about life and death by a man who has been diagnosed with a degenerative disease and given a maximum of three years to live. It is with brutal honesty that the author shares details of his own condition, and expresses his wish to continue living only while he can maintain a respectable quality of life. Mr. Clendinen goes about describing the painful truths of his illness very frankly in order to reach the general masses of American society, whom he believes should be more comfortable discussing the reality of death and dying. As an accomplished journalist known throughout his life for his honest and controversial work, such as the book he co-wrote in 1999 on the gay rights movement in America, Clendinen is undoubtedly qualified to broach this subject based on his journalistic career. His own personal battle with ALS is all the more reason why his views are so relevant. The tone used in this piece is vital to ultimately achieving the author’s purpose of translating his realistic views on death to the American public. It would have been easy for the reader of a piece written by a man dying of an incurable disease to pity the author. However, Clendinen makes quite sure in “The Good Short Life” that this will absolutely not be the case with his work. He employs a casual and straightforward tone that leaves the reader seeing him as a regular person rather than just a victim of the illness. This allows the reader the room to respect his decisions and his overall message, rather than simply feeling sorry for him. In my opinion, the culmination of journalistic credentials, personal experience, usage of tone, and simple honesty got the author’s purpose across beyond any doubt. As a member of the American general public, Clendinen’s target audience, my eyes were definitely opened to the need for more acceptable and public acknowledgment of death in American society.