The S.C.U.M. Manifesto uses radical language that strengthens the emotional appeal to Valerie Solanas’ audience.  Solanas effectively utilizes ethos by using colloquial terminology and depicting scenarios that women could easily all relate to.  Solanas’ manifesto is like a stream of consciousness, as there is a lot of fragmented thoughts, .  In an almost rant-like structure and flow of consciousness, the radical language manages to be successful in its purpose of provoking thought and questioning the patriarchy.  While this manifesto’s radical scenarios are still relatable, there were times when the suggestions forced me to grimace.  For example, when Solanas mentions that a solution is to remove capitalism from the system, which will hinder progress in all aspects and all directions.  Quite frankly, to those struggling to make capital, that might have just tipped the scale in Solanas’ favor, as they would like to oppose and resist a system that has bounded them down for so long.  In my opinion, some radical expressions are okay, but radically expressing your ridiculously farfetched ideas is not.   While in The S.C.U.M. Manifesto the language is hip, informal and very thought-provoking, The Black Panther Party’s manifesto was formal, structured and contained reasonable suggestions for the conflicts.  The tone of this manifesto is clear, as there are certain problems that black-Americans have a problem with, and there are rather easy fixes that are suggested and left untouched.  The Black Panther Party’s manifesto repeated the phrase “We believe” very often, which stood out to me and showed their unity.  Their agenda is very streamlined and straightforward, with valid reasons for the changes or amendments.  While their language is not as radical, it is more sensible and will be understood and read by more of society, while Solanas’ manifesto is more appealing to certain groups in society and is almost a call to arms for political activism, as it moves you to make progress towards their agenda.

Mr. Akash woke up, ready to persevere against the weather and horrid commute for his prestigious education.  He drank his coffee, checked his email, got changed and brushed, and slammed the door on his way out.  Today was no ordinary day, as Mr. Akash was startled by his neighbor simultaneously leaving, catching both young men off guard.  After sharing a mutual head-nod, the two proceeded down the stairs with their headphones on, only changing pace to make sure Mr. Akash left before his neighbor.  While walking down the street to his train, Akash pulled out a spearmint gum stick and stuffed it in his mouth after peeling the wrapper and began the thwack-thwack of his jaw and the gum.  After reaching the escalator and sliding past people not walking up while riding, Akash faced a new obstacle.  Not only was the bluetooth on his headphone not picking up his phone’s signal, the lady in front of him was not moving, while the rumbling of an approaching train was felt and heard.  After finally getting on the platform, the young man encounters another dilemma.  No train for the direction he was headed in was in sight.  He looked and sighed at his misfortune. Why is the 7 train always late?  Having fixed his music and waited for the train, Mr. Akash sarcastically smiled as he boarded the wet, warm, smelly and crowded train.  The train was packed with people of all ethnicities:  smelly, sweaty, insane, and more.  Akash thought that his morning could not have started off any more absurd, as usually nothing happens before getting to campus.  Akash cringed at what he felt when he slid his hand down the pole a bit, as it was warm and wet, much like the train. What is wrong with people?  Closing his eyes and leaning on the door, Akash pondered about life until he had arrived at his transfer station.  After bustling past other backpackers, he slid right in through the doors as the 6 to Baruch was leaving the station.  That was a close one.  The flavor of the cigarette and the gum really meshed as Akash walked out the 23rd Street station.  On his short walk, he bumped into Vivak and Amber.  Is class cancelled?  Vivak and Amber say they are going to 7/11 and proceed on their way.  The two classmates laughed and walked away. That kid must have no clue what’s going on.  Akash steps on his cigarette, extinguishing the flame and igniting a new one- a passion for education.  He fades into the horizon that is the Baruch VC building.

Quite frankly, I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed my trip to the museum.  On a sweltering afternoon, who would have thought that an unaccompanied tour of the museum by yourself could be entertaining?  Although I went to the museum as an assignment- as a mandatory task, I returned with a newfound interest in art and other people’s work in general, as the artists’ making graffiti art or photography art also had eye-catching and compelling pieces.  Unfortunately, at the museum my attention was drawn to the European works of the great Monet (attached), Picasso, Cezanne, Seurat, Van Gogh and Rousseau.

The one non-European and non-American work of art that boldly stood out was David Alfaro Siqueiros’s 1936 painting “Collective Suicide.”  Similar to Edvard Munch’s “Scream,” much of the colors are distorted and heavily concentrated in areas.  The top half of the painting seems to be an ominous, dark, mountainous terrain, with fire, sunset or the sunrise in the horizon above the mountains.  My attention was immediately drawn to the enormity of the mural-like painting, as there was many contrast in colors, at times making it hard to focus on a specific section.  Reading from the attached sign, I concluded that Siqueiro’s political activism influenced the actions depicted, as the native people are committing suicide via different means or purging themselves in order to resist being conquered.  Siqueiro advances the notion of facing death and dying rather than having your freedom seized.  To be fair, I had to read the other sign that described it as an apocalyptic scene where the Mexicans are depicted killing their children and others, as I had only noticed the people jumping off the cliff.  This strengthens my hypothesis of Siqueiro’s influence, as to kill your children and then yourself is a very literal interpretation of “Give me liberty, or give me death!”