Author: e.weiss

05/5/16

Remix Pitch

In order to best present my argument I think a podcast may be the way to go. In a podcast, I can incorporate the ideas and the statistics that I used in my paper but I also have the freedom to expand on my general topic with more personal recounts that relate to my project as well as to bring others’ opinions in for a different perspective. I think having another individual on the podcast would create an even stronger case as it incorporates more than one point of view into the discussion.

 

Emily Weiss

05.05.2016

03/24/16

Literacy Narrative

I come from a family with two completely different backgrounds. My father grew up in the wealthy town of Chappaqua, NY, and went to private school. His father, who worked his way through college year-round and graduated with a degree at only 18 years old, is a successful accountant. My father and each of his siblings went to college as well, as it was viewed as one of their stepping stones to a good future career. Though my dad did not complete college and instead began working for his father, college was something his parents had encouraged a great deal. They technically had a choice as to whether or not they could go, but they didn’t really know of the other choice. The higher education, my grandparents thought, would provide the family with the means necessary to get the major kinds of jobs they wanted. My mother’s experience, on the other hand, was much the opposite. She grew up in a household that only made enough to just provide food for the family. Since her father could do so, he had a job. He worked his whole life and would not take a day off. He believed wholeheartedly that you earn your place through hard work and dedication and have to do whatever you can to take care of the family. My grandmother was a stay-at-home mom who took care of their four children. Neither of them even thought it was an option to go to college. They never had that kind of money. By the time they were graduating high school, then, too, my mom and her siblings chose the same route as their parents and did not go to college. My grandparents just didn’t really agree with it. They supported the idea that you worked to make money and you’d do it in the trade in which you were skilled or you’d take whatever you can get. They were never lucky enough to know otherwise. My mother did end up obtaining her degree, because she wanted it, but not until she was in her mid-twenties and had been out of their house for many years. When I’ve spoken to one of my uncles about his own decision not to go to college, it is always a touchy subject. He says he regrets it. He has seen how it has limited his opportunities and admits how he wished his parents had pushed him to take the sports scholarship he had been granted for football and furthered his education. It could have taken him on a completely different path. But, he says with a sigh, “it’s too late now.”

As much as I want to refute his statement, as much as I want to go back to my uncle and say “it’s never too late,” I can’t. I know because of his situation right now and after having two kids currently in college themselves that going back to school is not a feasible option for him. And, although he has still had a successful life, I wonder what it would be like now if he had taken that scholarship. Would things be easier for him? Would my mother and her siblings have pursued a completely different paths in life if they had followed high school with a higher education?

I, and no one else, can answer these questions. What I can answer, though, is how these two opposing outlooks from each side of my family have affected my decisions for a future. My parents, though they believe college is important, would support me as long as I make a decision that would support myself. In my own current opinion (which is always open to change) I believe that it is up to the individual whether or not they think college or a trade job would be the right decision for them. I think people know what’s best for themselves and they know their own personality and desires in life enough to choose what they want to do with it. If you want a career that needs a degree, get one. If you don’t, fine. I, however, am always looking to learn. I’ve always known I was going to go to college because I would like to leave myself with as many options as I can as I grow older and I never want to stop being taught. I am a sponge for knowledge in that way. Anyhow, I would never want to end up as an adult, like my uncle, questioning my past decisions and wondering how my life would have ended up if I had done things differently. I am going to do all that I can now to ensure that I have a full and bright ways ahead. I believe with my degree and with the experience I get in college that I, as an individual, would be more successful. I just want to make sure that I will always have a way out, I will always have another choice, whenever things get tough or I have to leave a job.  

Not to repeat myself, but, I don’t believe there is any one answer as to who or when one should go to college. It’s a personal decision that one should make based on their own wants and expectations in life. One thing I will leave off on is that, no matter what, access to an education is an invaluable opportunity that we are given in this country. Don’t ever take lightly a chance to learn more, a chance to study and research more, about the world and all that inhabits. I hope everyone and anyone who wants a higher education has the chance to because I have found it so far to be as great or greater than anything I’ve done in the past. I also am biased because I am able to learn from every experience I go through. Even if not just for the degree, though, college is a great way to meet people, to discover your passion, and to link yourself to opportunities you may have never even known existed otherwise. I wish everyone could at least fully understand all that college can (or can’t) do for a person before they made their decision as to whether or not to enroll. For me, I wouldn’t have done any differently. As my middle school principal said every morning over the loudspeaker, “make it… or not: the choice is yours.”

 

Emily Weiss

03.24.2016

03/23/16

“Mother Tongue” Response

Growing up in a household where English was a second (and difficult) language, Amy Tan witnessed firsthand the effects that her mother’s Chinese background had on her success and opportunity. Ms. Tan saw how her mother’s “broken” English lessened her confidence, created a divide between her and other people around her, and caused a great deal of frustration when just trying to get things done. The fact that she could not speak as well as other people limited the perception others had on her mother’s capabilities. Tan realized that her mother was not given the same thought or respect that she should have been due to her “imperfect” English. She recognized quickly that in society seemed to use one’s English-speaking level as a measure of their intelligence. This is more than unfair.

To prove just how much of an influence one’s English-speaking ability has on people’s view of their intelligence, Amy Tan gives multiple personal and surrounding experiences where one -either her mother or another person in the same situation- had been made to feel inferior because of their proficiency in English. One example that had a huge impact on both Amy AND her mother’s life was the fact that, since her she had so much trouble speaking to people over the phone, Amy had to pretend to be her mom every time she was supposed to be on a phone call. She had much better luck and a better response from whomever was on the other line when she did so. Amy also pointed out how in school Asians in particular scored so much higher on math exams but for the majority did not do so well in English. This doesn’t mean they can’t write! But because it’s not the language spoken at home for many individuals they struggle with the logistics and proper grammar behind it all. She was even discouraged, herself, from pursuing writing because she was told she could not do it. Look at her, now.

“Mother Tongue” is a bit of a play on words, in my perspective. It tells of both one’s native language, and literally of Amy Tan’s mother and the specific manner and way in which she spoke English and how it affected her life.

“Mother Tongue” speaks to those who cannot understand what Amy or her mother are going through. It teaches those who have never known what it’s like to be segregated from society around them because of their struggle with the language. It encourages people to be more understanding, to be a better listener, and to respect those who in this sort of position because although they may not be able to express it in the same way, they are just as smart and capable as anyone else.

The many “Englishes” that Tan writes and speaks with allow her to communicate to a wider audience. It includes more than just those that can speak “proper” English. By writing the way she does, Amy can be understood by people like her mother, people who can completely understand concepts and stories but have a hard time when they are in English. Amy, unlike those in her past, wants to bring people together with her language and stop dividing people by their levels of coherence. No longer will she let her mother feel inadequate or left out.

Although it is my first language, I can somewhat relate with Amy Tan’s described levels of “Englishes”. I can see how I shift my word choice and pressure on grammar depending on my environment. When I am with my friends, I use terms and speak more loosely than I would in more professional scenarios. For the most part, though, I believe I speak the same “English” wherever I am. I do, however, see what Amy is referring to when she writes about the many “Englishes” she speaks.

 

Emily Weiss

03.23.2016

03/15/16

“Acts of Revision”

I am big into the idea of editing, but that hasn’t always been the case. For a while, I believed in some of the “resistances to revision” that Dethier pointed out. In high school I had the idea in my head that the first draft was basically the best and the most raw/original content I was to come up with, not understanding that yes, raw material is the basis of a paper but needs to be built upon to create a stronger structure. I also thought revisions were tedious. I hated taking the time to go back and reread my paper over and over again until I made myself sick. The thing was, I didn’t need to go that far into it. Like this piece shows, editing is supposed to enhance but not recreate something that’s already been created. I was the type of person who worked so hard and so carefully on their first draft, even, that little to no further editing was necessary. That was a lot of pressure, though, trying to write and gather all of my thoughts so beautifully in one shot. It would take me way too long to finish essays because of the fact that I thought it was my one and only chance to get it right. This mentality carried onto the beginning of my first semester at college. I struggled with writing with my own voice as I tried to fit it all in the first time around. But as time has carried on I’ve realized- and as thoughtfully as Dethier put it- just how valuable and important drafts really are. I can get all of my thoughts and ideas out of my head and onto paper without having to worry too much about it because I know I can and will go back to edit through later. A draft provides an easy entryway into writing. And, let me say, after the rhetorical analysis rough draft we just handed in I feel more confident about drafts than ever. I felt free writing what I had to say and every time I go back to take a look at what I’ve got down I know I have the opportunity to add to or take away from any part of it. I don’t need to change the whole piece, just parts of it. I am looking forward to fully editing my paper because I know it has great potential and I know how to work with it.
“If you trust in your ability to make it better later, you may be more willing to lower your standards on the first draft and accept that the draft will be (temporarily) awful. That willingness will keep you from getting hung up and blocked, as often happens to writers who feel that they must start with the perfect first paragraph. Think of how much time you could save, how much stress you could shed, if you could relax and spew forth a first draft, rather than agonize over every movement of the cursor.” This piece has made me better understand how to go about my revisions and I think it has great advice for those unsure about it.

 

Emily Weiss

03.15.2016

03/3/16

“Responding to Other Students’ Writing”

I have a love/hate relationship with editing, and let me explain why. I am a thorough, honest reader and reviewer. When someone gives me their paper and expects help or feedback on it, I put a lot of effort to give them my best advice. So, when I write on my own, I hope for the same amount of work back from those I look to for help. Unfortunately, most experiences I have had with others’ editing my papers has been a bit disappointing, to put it straight.

The whole reason for editing a paper is to improve it, right? It’s used to enhance and polish the organization, the structure, the feel and the sense that the paper makes to its audience. Why, then, do some individuals edit solely grammar or spelling mistakes when they get their hands on an essay? What difference does that make? Of course, these aspects of a paper are highly important for a reader to understand the piece, don’t get me wrong. More importantly, though, I feel that when someone only corrects those little mistakes in a paper, they do not actually read it. They don’t get what is being said by the writer and they don’t look deeper into the ideas or push the writer to do better. They only focus on what’s on the surface. Yes, as Richard Straub stated, it is not the job of the editor to change the words or voice of an essay, because it is not theirs to do so. Such action would take away from the originality of work. But more often than not I receive little to no comments or suggestions from fellow classmates that are asked to edit my work and I find it very unproductive and, really, just pointless.

There needs to be a better way of assigning and handling classroom editing. Too often students don’t take the time to fix or tweak each other’s work when they are told to do so. If you are going to edit, make it meaningful. Show the author that you carefully read their draft and you are there for support and to help them grow and develop as a writer. This will raise connections and spirits within the writing community. Maybe time’s the issue; maybe students need more time for editing their and other people’s papers and maybe then they would put more effort into the job. Whatever the case, though, peer editing is not working, at least it hasn’t for me. I hope this changes.

 

Emily Weiss

03.03.2016

02/29/16

“Shitty First Drafts”

In just five words, Anne Lamott sums up the entire purpose of writing a rough draft: “you need to start somewhere.”

I think one of the biggest things that people struggle with when writing- at least what I have the most trouble with- is feeling that they will not be able to put well into words exactly what they have to say. There’s a frustration that comes about while writing when you have your ideas and the energy and emotion ready to put into your work but you just can’t seem to find the best way to state it. Well, they do say the hardest thing to do is to get over the initial hump of writing and just start.

I recently read this quote that I’ve declared as my new mantra. It said, “done is better than perfect.” Being a perfectionist myself, I know how hard activities and projects are for those who always work towards such a high (and often unrealistic) level of achievement. Simple things become much larger and more difficult than they should be. Assignments take a lot longer to complete compared to the average individual. It’s the job of a perfectionist, to overthink. It seems as though this is a similar experience one goes through when they start writing. A lot of people, when they write, want immediate results. After thinking of a topic, those individuals tend to get so caught up in the finished product and the structure in which their assignment should be exhibited that it’s almost too complicated to find a place to begin. This is where “shitty first drafts” come in.

Lamott, not only a well-acquainted writer but also a regular human being, reminds her readers in this excerpt from “Bird by Bird” that no one is perfect. Not even the best of authors or professionals can produce good work without hard work. They, too, go through the same struggles as the rest of the population does, trying to create a hard copy of all that’s flowing in their minds; so they start with “shitty first drafts.” It’s freeing, in a sense, to get all of your thoughts written down on paper and out of your head. Think of it as a step in the process. As Lamott points out, you may even find a great basis for your paper in one sentence out of the whole nonsense that you’ve whipped up as your draft. Who knows. Just don’t let your angst to finish stop you from writing at all.

 

Emily Weiss

03.01.2016

02/25/16

Rhetorical Analysis Project Pitch

One of my all time favorite movies (and hopefully books, once I finish reading it), “Into The Wild,” recounts the true story about the journey of a young man named Christopher McCandless who sets off to Alaska just some time after graduating from university guided by his goal of enlightenment and finding himself, outside of the tight and restrictive corners of society that he has lived within for his whole 22 years of life. The “biography/true travel essay” documents the major events that happen along his physical and mental escape from his old life into a new one of little worry or obstacle, including those he met and the desperate things he did to get to his destination. What I’d like to analyze out of this piece are plenty, though I am narrowing my options down. Besides the obvious, who did McCandless leave behind? Why would he go in the manner in which he chose? I believe there is so much weight carried within his story that could be (and probably has been) more deeply analyzed. Being the stubborn-minded, intellectual individual that Christopher seemed to be, I believe every decision he made had a purpose or a reasoning behind it and the journey was not meant for him alone, it was meant for a larger and greater audience. I mean, look how it ended up: a best selling story around the world, translated into various different languages and used in educational reading curriculums.

 

Emily Weiss

02.25.2016

02/23/16

Rhetorical Analysis: “A Letter To My Nephew”

As personal and as emotional as James Baldwin’s “A Letter To My Nephew” is, I have been led to believe that this publication was not written solely for his young nephew but for an audience much greater. From the way he speaks to what he actually says, Baldwin makes a grand statement in this piece on the extent to which present-day America (at the time) suffered under the “black and white” divisional mindset and conditions that haunted both sides of society, whether or not the individuals were specifically conscious of it (whites). Made with both heartfelt hope for the future and contempt for the poor fate that seems to loom over the entirety of his race, James Baldwin includes feelings and thoughts pleasing and understood by anyone so as to be read by as large an audience as possible: a plea for effort from all, one less matter of segregation.

At the start of the essay, Baldwin humanizes himself. Though he defines himself as an educated writer he has also made clear his role as the everyday man; a man with a brother, a man with a mother, a man with past experience, a man that virtually all others could connect to. Through his own stories and memories and position to give advice as an uncle writing to his nephew, Baldwin demonstrates his credibility as a black writer and on his ability to speak on such a level, thus proving his ethos. In a world, as he has witnessed, of such shallow hatred towards the whole of the black community, Baldwin preaches the idea that love will suffice for growth and unification of a world meant to work together, not against itself. He brings such confidence in and longing for better days for his young nephew, for the black population, and for humanity as a whole, for “great men have done great things here and will again and we can make America what America must become.” Logos is built within the entirety of the piece, in its message, as each claim Baldwin makes is sensible, reasonable, and has potential in the hands of the right people. To one, to all, take his words and take them strongly, for such a credible and mighty soul, hurt by society, still had the drive to fix it.

 

Emily Weiss

02.23.2016

02/18/16

“A Letter To My Nephew”

“And I remember with pain the tears which my hand or your grandmother’s hand so easily wiped away, but no one’s hand can wipe away those tears he sheds invisibly today which one hears in his laughter and in his speech and in his songs.”

It’s what hits closest to home that we, as humans, wish most to protect. In, “Letter to My Nephew,” by James Baldwin, all of the pain, the hope, the worry, the strength that has built up through his own struggle and experience comes out and works beautifully into a heartfelt piece of advice that Baldwin wanted to pass on to his young, developing, still open-hearted nephew. You can tell solely by his use of words how much thought and emotion is poured into effort. He warns and reminds his nephew of all the trouble he and people alike will always have to go through because of the stigmas and the stereotypes and the fear and whatnot that has built over years and years prior to his birth to bring immediate hatred towards his entire race. Baldwin pleads with his nephew, exclaiming “please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure, does not testify to your inferiority, but to their inhumanity and fear.” He encourages a sense of faith and optimism instead of guilt and revenge against all the bad that could turn him so. What gets me the most is the forgiving nature that Baldwin seems to carry. Despite all he has witnessed and been through, he still believes that the only way to bring the world back to good is to preach love and acceptance. He has a light quality to him, one that can only be known by what he’s been through himself yet he still knows passion and respect and tenderness for the people who have shown him so wrong. I feel it’s this kind of thinking that gets the world moving to a better place. It’s this kind of mentality that keeps us sane while everyone around us may not be, and it’s this kind of heart that knows how to love and be loved in a world that says otherwise. It’s individuals like Baldwin, intelligent, compassionate, still so deeply engrained with warmth in a cold society that can really make a change. He makes me feel this sort of way, and honored to be able to have read his innermost thoughts. It’s really something.

 

Emily Weiss

02.18.2016

02/16/16

Apple’s “1984” Super Bowl Ad

At a time when the internet and such technologies were limited, there were few leading companies that shared most of the power in the computer industry circa 1984. Being that the number of competitors was so low, the strain between the largest corporations was very high: they were always looking to outreach one another. When Apple released their Super Bowl ad “1984” it can somewhat be implied who the attack is meant to be against: one of their rivals, most probably IBM. The exigence of the ad, or the “condition that invited a response,” was Apple’s need to release something substantial in order to maintain their competition against their opposition (mainly IBM). The audience, skillfully chosen, was everyone who tuned in to one of the most popular televised programs of the year, the Super Bowl. This included parents, teachers, entire families, business people, students, and anyone who would potentially be interested in a Mac. They are the targeted audience because they are the consumers and are possible customers for the new Apple product. One significant constraint that the ad had when released was the fact that many people watching the Super Bowl may not pay attention to the commercials that break up the game therefore limiting their audience. It is also extremely expensive to run an ad during the Super Bowl, making cost (and time) a big constraint on how long and inclusive their advertisement can be. The subject of the advertisement is the upcoming Mac, and it’s given “heroic” quality. Apple is emphasizing (and of course exaggerating) an argument in “1984” of how negative the future will turn out as shown if society is follows under their competitor (which is speculated to be IBM). In the ad it is indicated that the Mac will save society from the mindless control that will come with the power of this/these other said company(ies). The whole purpose of the ad is to get the audience to buy the new computer by proving its superiority over others the market. This advertisement aims at convincing people that they should believe Apple and if they don’t they will be contributing to other companies that will take over and dictate the scary dystopian future they showed on screen. The audience should believe the facts (logos) because the future of technology at the time was uncertain and the possibility of such occurrences was indefinite. Why even take the chance? And IBM was a popular company, could it have become a monopoly in the future? The emotional appeal of this ad (pathos) is found within the deep, intense music, background, mood, and colors that are used. They are meant to instill a sense of fear in the audience, fear that can be fixed by Apple’s product. I believe ethos, or trust in the brand and their message, is built behind the fact that the company is already credible and well known by consumers. Apple also did well releasing this ad at the time that they did (kairos). It was only the beginning of soon to be fast developing technology and it was put out during a time where not many people knew much about where it would lead in the future and it was easily brought to people’s attention that the possibility of AI by IBM taking over is there. It also just brought questions into people’s minds about which brand was better, which was more loyal, and which would provide them with the best and safest services, and this public service announcement, shown during the Super Bowl when competition and opposing sides was fresh on viewers minds, made a big statement on that.

 

Emily Weiss

02.16.2016

02/11/16

“What is Rhetoric?”

The first thing that came to my mind after reading “What is Rhetoric” by Thomas Miller was salesperson/businessperson. What Thomas called a “means of persuasion” is exactly the type of mastered skill necessary for an individual in said profession to be successful. Rhetoric is also the type of skill necessary for efficiency as a professor at a university, for anyone delivering a speech, for an activist trying to recruit others to join their movement, and so on. Rhetoric is a lot more involved and valuable asset to personal discussion and interaction than I first realized. For anyone trying to make an argument or to gain followers for a cause, it is important to be able to understand the way the mind works and what will gain people’s trust (ethos), what will make their words most reputable and truthful (logos), and how to best connect with the people they are speaking to (pathos). It’s a lot to think about: more than I’ve realized should be considered in such situations.

 

Emily Weiss

02.11.2016

02/11/16

“Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis”

Throughout “Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis,” Laura Bolin Carroll describes the many aspects of rhetoric and its role in our everyday lives. Rhetoric is a tool used by large companies in advertisements, by friends to plan a get-together, in YouTube videos, and so on for matters of persuasion. In the words of Carroll, “individuals who understand rhetorical analysis and act to make change can have a tremendous influence on their world.” Considering rhetoric can be seen in a large percentage of our surroundings, especially nowadays with the growth of technology, it is important to not only understand the use of rhetoric and be able to break it down to its meaning, to its purpose, and to its inner workings, but it is also critical to be able to take that knowledge and apply it to other cases. Just as described in the Campbell’s Soup Ad example, the small organization “Dads and Daughters,” one that fights against glorification and encouragement of a negative body image amongst young teenage girls, was able to take their knowledge and understanding of a controversial ad and contact the large company with an argument as to why the ad is inappropriate. By taking such action, the few individuals of the organization were able to make a big positive impact by getting the company to pull the ad from the public, thus taking away the danger that such an ad depicting young girls watching their weight may have on its audience. In cases and situations like these, it is important to be able to interpret and analyze rhetoric, and if necessary, as seen in the Campbell’s case and in many previous actions, to take direct action in support of or in act against the rhetoric.

 

Emily Weiss

02.11.2016

02/10/16

“Everybody’s A Critic. And That’s How It Should Be.”

There are many purposes for critique; whether it is to express personal opinion or for improvement of the subject on trial, it is important to be critical. To critique is to question and to question is to improve through debate and a change in perspective. Anyone and everyone who has an opinion can do so, and has. What we think, feel, like or dislike as humans is valid, and can be shared or disputed amongst our peers of similar or of different interest. A.O. Scott, author of “Everybody’s A Critic. And That’s How It Should Be.” shows through multiple examples how critical our world is, and both the positive and negative effects it has on society.

What I liked most about this article was the confused voice through which Scott described his own opinion about “critic.” He goes back and forth, speaking of both the necessity and of the detriment that comes from people being critical. His first argument is against the “Oscars,” where he questions whether or not one singular group of people can determine the “best of the best” for movies. Obviously, everyone has their own preferences and oftentimes the movies that are considered the greatest of all time are not even nominated. Is this fair? But he then goes on to admit, even his own opinion, then, is insignificant. How can we measure the worth of someone’s opinion if all of ours are bias and of little matter? And even then, what is the harm in a bit of criticism?

“To be a critic is to be a soldier in this fight, a defender of the life of art and a champion of the art of living.” When we stop bringing our criticisms to the table is when we stop comparing ideas between individuals, and we stop creative minds. Although criticism often has a negative connotation, it is a valuable aspect of thought and development and, in simplest forms, of just interactions between humans.

 

Emily Weiss

02.10.2016

02/9/16

“A Three-Ring Circus in Finland: Soldiers, ‘Loldiers’ and Asylum Seekers”

NY Times Article, February 9, 2016

“A Three-Ring Circus in Finland: Soldiers, ‘Loldiers’ and Asylum Seekers,” written by Richard Martyn-Hemphill, describes the recent events regarding refugees taking place in areas across Finland. This title plays on two meanings of “three-ring circus”, which, according to Webster Dicitonary, is defined as “1:  a circus with simultaneous performances in three rings” and “2:  something wild, confusing, engrossing, or entertaining.”

According to the New York Times article, the recent asylum-seekers in Finland have been facing dual-ended welcomings upon their entrance into the country. In an attempt at “protection” against the political refugees and the uncertainness that they bring for current inhabitants of Finland, a patrol group of “soldiers” has formed, tracing the more dangerous neighborhoods of their cities and watching out for the safety of their fellow citizens. In response to such a formation has come the rise of another group, calling themselves “Loldiers.” Dancing around in clown costumes and making noise, the members of this group attempt to mock and rile-up their strict counterparts. What a sight this must be!

Both parties go to a bit of an extreme to rest their cases; “the clowns declined to break character to give interviews, though the clown who was arrested at the demonstration said afterward that he had made the police laugh when he was taken to the station,” while, “soldiers emerged… over the past few weeks, playing off resentment of the elite, distrust of the Finnish news media, frustration over growing unemployment and fear prompted by a sudden influx of foreigners — all coming alongside accompanying reports of sexual assaults and terrorist attacks across the Continent in 2015.” I feel it would be interesting to witness how the two opposing groups interact, as it seems so far for each to be their own form of non-violent protest. The specific actions then bring into question the activity of each side. Who has a stronger argument? Which act of protest is more effective? Do the clowns accurately symbolize or portray the ridiculousness of their opponent’s’ extremist action? Are the clowns a bit far-fetched themselves?

The third group, of course, being the asylum-seekers themselves, feel despite the two intense opinions of some Finn extremists, they have “nonetheless been made to feel welcome by volunteers and instances of local hospitality.” Good thing, because, of course, there will always be extreme actions taken by those of strong opinion. It’s just funny to see the actual clowns emerge as the chosen mockery of a formal political protest. As the quirky title suggests, this situation is both pretty crazy and entertaining. Obviously not an actual circus, this title does accurately describe the striking events at hand and the interconnected rings in which the three sides have developed: the soldiers, the loldiers, and the asylum-seekers in one. 

 

Emily Weiss

02.09.2016

02/9/16

“The Egg and the Sperm”

“The Egg and the Sperm,” a powerful publication on the impact of human culture on scientific research and studies, written by Emily Martin, reveals what she believes to be the inescapable influence of gender stereotypes of women and men on, literally, a microscopic level. Martin makes many strong points outwarding the extent to which gender “norms” can be seen in all aspects of our society and our personal lives, even down to the bare cells that create us. Despite popular belief, “The Egg and the Sperm” shows readers how even science, something apparently so deeply rooted in cold hard fact and evidence, can be affected by the way that women and men are considered and depicted as separate and definite beings or personalities.

At first glance, one may consider Martin’s statements to be “hyper-sensitive;” how can anyone go as far as to say that we use stereotypes, not only on people, but their CELLS, too? I will admit, I was a bit skeptical going into this reading. But the strangeness of the issue is what kept me interested as I was going: I wanted to see what Emily Martin had to say, and was I impressed!

Martin immediately describes what drove her to further investigate this issue of gender stereotypes in science, saying, “in the course of my research I realized that the picture of egg and sperm drawn in popular as well as scientific accounts of reproductive biology relies on stereotypes central to our cultural definitions of male and female.” She then goes into detail on specific cases, in the many reports and publications of prominent scientists of this field including Gerald Schatten and Helen Schatten, and how they are written in ways in which the sex cells of each gender follow their given stereotype. It is intellectual; stimulating, each paragraph is well-titled (as can be seen in the clever headings such as “Egg and Sperm: A scientific fairy tale”), and she has ample examples to back up her claims. Even if one doesn’t agree with her findings, they must admit she presents them well.

In an overall statement against sexism, Emily Martin makes her final concluding statement a strong one: “waking up such metaphors, by becoming aware of their implications, will rob them of their power to naturalize our social conventions about gender.” I think Martin sparked a political conversation and hopeful movement towards equality between women and men, starting from even the smallest levels of generalizations. At the very least, she reminded us how prevalent these gender issues still are and will be until people make the conscious decision to work against them. 

 

Emily Weiss

02.09.2016

02/4/16

“Metaphors We Live By”

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, a metaphor is “a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them.” As a student, the only way in which I have learned or analyzed the use of metaphors is in my writing. That is why, whilst reading “Metaphors We Live By” by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson, I was intrigued by the way in which the authors went into detail about how looking deeper into the meaning of metaphors reveals the real weight they carry in our everyday lives and even more so in our ways of thinking and conceptualizing.

In better words, this text describes this seemingly simple figure of speech as, “understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another.” Everything in our lives is connected: we learn on past experiences; we make associations between things we know and don’t know to better understand them. So to think that metaphors are a basis on which people develop their knowledge and on which they think is very sensible.

When I take a step back to reflect, it’s easier to see just how prominent metaphors are in society. An example that was used in Lakoff and Johnson’s text was “argument is war.” Right off the bat, it is easy to refute this statement because we recognize that war is so much greater and so much more destructive in ways than a mere conversational dispute. But in theory, there are many connections between arguments and wars. As Lakoff and Johnson point out, even the way in which we speak about the two ideas is similar. Both arguments and war involve two (or more) parties, a winning side and a losing side, and an issue that caused the fighting to arise. This shows that metaphors influence the way we think, in all types of situations.

The authors also push it further to say that metaphors impact the way we act. Because we associate argument and war, we have similar mannerisms we follow when carrying the two actions out. I really appreciated then how they described it by saying, “imagine a culture where an argument is viewed as a dance, the participants are viewed as performers, and the goal is to perform in a balanced and aesthetically pleasing way.” It is true that we would not consider this situation an argument based on what we think one is. But why do we think that way? I think Lakoff and Johnson described their beliefs in a way that made it easier for the reader to understand their perspective and I enjoyed seeing something so basic as a metaphor in a greater light.

 

Emily Weiss

02.04.2016

02/2/16

Emily Weiss

Hello all, my name is Emily and I am now starting my second semester here at Baruch through MHC. I live in Manhattan (something that’s always been a dream of mine) and I try to take advantage of the city as much as I can! I love meeting new people and going out, and my absolute favorite thing to do is to travel. I am infatuated with thought of trekking to new places and experiencing all that’s out there in the world. I am also really into photography, especially that of nature and scenes whether it’s right here at home or on a trip! I have been to (and taken many pictures) in Spain, Costa Rica, Saint Martin, Mexico, Greece, and all throughout the US. I’m sooo looking forward to this summer where I will be visiting friends and backpacking through Germany, France, Amsterdam, Switzerland, and (hopefully) Poland for 6-8 weeks!

Here’s one pic from a trip to Greece 🙂

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Link to my personal blog: https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/eminenglish/