In the poem “Lost in the shadows”, the author seems to present to us an inside view on his life and the struggles he may face on a day-to-day basis. The author uses phrases that show he may have been in a very powerful position at a point in his life, such as “try to save the world and be blamed, do nothing and be blamed” and also “hopeful I won’t be bashed for trying what no one else could do”. These phrases along with others depict that the writer may have seen himself as some sort of Superhero who believed he was lost and alone in the world. With his use of rhetorical questions and choice of words, he garners interest and draws the attention from readers to get them to step into his shoes and see his struggle, hopeful that he may be accepted into society again. There is also contrasting statements made within the poem where the author sometimes contradicts himself, for example, with the statement “stronger than all but weaker than most”. In that one statement, it shows the contradiction where if he is stronger than all, he can’t be at the same time weaker than them. This statement can also represent the poem and the authors portrayed situation of being hopeless and in a dark place.

Side note: the poem “Lost in the shadows” is one of the imitation poems I did. I pasted it below….

Am I blind to the world,

Or is the world blind to me?

Awakened with such power

And no knowledge about its uses.

Try to save the world and be blamed,

Do nothing and be blamed

What should I do, what should I do

Stronger than all but weaker than most

Am I alone in this world,

or are there people like me?

Guess I may never know

But I’m hopeful.

Hopeful for the best,

Hopeful I’m not alone,

Hopeful that I’m able to touch one’s heart

And be recognised for my effort,

Hopeful I won’t be bashed for trying

What no one else could do.

Step into my world

And see what it’s like

Could you survive a day,

Or would you shrink away and disappear into the sunset?

When am down, build me up

Because when you’re down, I’m always there for you.

Don’t hate, appreciate.

I understand the good I’ve done

May have caused more harm than should

But you won’t understand the pain it feels

To be alone in this world

Even when there are others, countless others out there

Again, don’t hate, appreciate

For without me

we would all vanish.

Am I blind to the world,

Or is the world blind to me?

Awakened with such power

And no knowledge about its uses.

Try to save the world and be blamed,

Do nothing and be blamed

What should I do, what should I do

Stronger than all but weaker than most

Am I alone in this world,

or are there people like me?

Guess I may never know

But I’m hopeful.

Hopeful for the best,

Hopeful I’m not alone,

Hopeful that I’m able to touch one’s heart

And be recognised for my effort,

Hopeful I won’t be bashed for trying

What no one else could do.

Step into my world

And see what it’s like

Could you survive a day,

Or would you shrink away and disappear into the sunset?

When am down, build me up

Because when you’re down, I’m always there for you.

Don’t hate, appreciate.

I understand the good I’ve done

May have caused more harm than should

But you won’t understand the pain it feels

To be alone in this world

Even when there are others, countless others out there

Again, don’t hate, appreciate

For without me

we would all vanish.

Poems are complete bullshit,

They are bullshit that holds denotations

not to be understood with just words.

Things hidden deep within their meanings

That are sometimes meant to be brought

To life with imagination.

Poems are bullshit that wants to give

Details to every little thing that doesn’t need it.

Poems giveth but also taketh,

You are what you eat, so you are what you read

This may be the epitome of bullshit,

So are you an epitome of bullshit?

Don’t sweat it, you’re not alone in this world

We’re in it together

We want poems to enrich our lives

And put a smile on our depressed faces

But what do we have to give to poems for their hard work put forth?

We want a poem to meet our prospects

But do we really know what our prospects are?

Sit back and relax as you re read this poem

Trying to see if there is a hidden message,

Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t

After all, this is a poem,

where you can have your own interpretations.

Goldberg, Michelle. “What Is a Woman? The Dispute Between

Radical Feminism and Transgenderism.” The New Yorker.

Newyorker.com, 04 Aug. 2014. Web. 15 May 2015.

The author Michelle Goldberg utilizes the fallacy of cherry picking to depict the transgender community as one that is being victimized by radical feminist. Goldberg paints a barbaric image of radical feminists by presenting specific feminist groups who have openly expressed their resentment to trans women, thereby coaxing the reader to approach the situation using pathos. One of these groups is the Deep Green Resistance, a feminist group who refuse to “condemn the use of violence in the service of goals it considers just.” (Goldberg, 2) However, Goldberg ignores the fact that the radical feminist position is one that is based on sound logic reasoning consisting of female hardships experienced throughout history.

Poems are bullshit unless they are

Rags to Riches, nothing into something.

From detention. To center of attention

From 9 to 5, to 95 million

We know our job, We did our job

Studying, working, listening, observing

Tired.

Broken and bruised.

Where is the end?

I worked from 9 to 5,

Now where is my 95 million?

Turn on the TV, relax your mind

But how can I relax

I need my 95 million,

Studying, working, listening, observing

“Fuck!” his dad just bought him a new Ferrari

for his 19^th birthday.

Can I at least have 19 million

We want success, and success

For all.

Let the world be successful.

And give all people 95 million

Or 19 million.

During last years NBA basketball season, the folly of former Los Angeles Clippers team owner Donald Sterling was publicly broadcasted, as several tape-recorded conversations highlighted his racist mindset. In the days following, Sterling was banned indefinitely from the NBA and forced to surrender ownership of the team. In his article “Donald Sterling, the Rules of Racism, and White Saviors: Our Words Will Never Be Enough,” Gyasi Ross utilizes the fallacy of Missing the Point to argue that many are celebrating the outcries against Donald Sterling for his racist remarks as a social advancement away from racism, while failing to realize the event ironically justifies the magnitude of racism still present in contemporary society.

Ross initially presents his argument by admitting that there was indeed some upside to the public ridicule of Sterling. “On TV talk shows, in graduation commencement speeches, and at receptions for summer law clerks, enlightened white folks use Donald Sterling as a racist boogieman, a literal punchline, as if he was the bottled-up evil jinn of racism and now the good white people are about to vanquish him,” said Ross who acknowledged the honest intention of these outcries. (Ross, 1)

However, Ross argues that the one instance of Sterling’s ridicule is being used to cover up widespread racism still present in the United States. First, Ross discredits whites for only speaking up against racism when a blatant offense is made public; yet allow it to occur as long as it is out of the public eye. Furthermore, Ross judges that whites are quick to discredit public racist actions in order to divert attention from themselves to avoid addressing the uncomfortable topic. Finally, Ross is critical of the fact that whites undermine the magnitude of racist action, and only feel the need to apologize for the action when the act of racism reaches a viral level.

All together, Ross’ argument is that although the Sterling incident did garner some outcry from whites, it is simply not enough to slow the racism that continue to grow in the United States. He contests that people assuming from this one incident that racism is finally taboo, are failing to realize that it is simply being used as a cover up for the larger issue at hand.

Works Cited:

Ross, Gyasi. “Donald Sterling, the Rules of Racism, and White

           Saviors: Our Word Will Never Be Enough.” The Huffington Post.

           TheHuffingtonPost.com, 06 Apr. 2014. Web. 15 May 2015.

Poems are bullshit unless they are
The warmth of the sun against
My skin, or adrenaline pumping
Through my veins, or the world
Laid out in front of me like a lover
A raging tempest that threatens
To break bones, rip hearts
Leaving bodies broken and battered

The Joker
No one understands
They all laugh
Look at me, with disdain
I am nothing
To them a bug
Inconsequential, ignored
No more
Now you see me
Skin bleached white
Bloody smile, white teeth
My story, scars on my face
Look at what you have wrought
You will know my
Name, scream it from your lips
As you fall
Laughter explodes from me
Why so serious?

In the short story “The Yellow Wall-Paper” by Charlotte Perkins Stetson the author continually uses irony in regards to the narrator and her husband John’s relationship to ultimately depict the extent of John’s ignorance when it comes to ailments of the mind as well as the social structure of a household in the late nineteenth century. “He has no patience with faith, an intense horror of superstition and he scoffs openly at any talk of things not to be felt and seen and put down in figures. John is a physician…perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster” (Gilman 1). In this one quote we can see many of the ironies that are prevalent throughout the short story. First off John is referred to as a physician specifically instead of a doctor which cements the fact that he treats ailments of the physical body, things that can be “felt and seen” as he says and not ailments of the mind which he doesn’t believe in. This quote is a good representation at the hopelessness of this whole scenario, the author uses the irony to help us realize the futility of what is happening.

“Loose Lips Might Sink Ships”

This poster is a World War II propaganda advertisement from the United States Office of War Information, illustrated by Seymour Goff. In big letters, the poster reads “Loose Lips Might Sink Ships.” The advertisement utilizes pathos to persuade viewers not to share war information with anyone, in fear of relaying the information to a spy that can disrupt the war effort.

The phrase “Loose Lips Might Sink Ships” coaxes the viewer to keep war secrets to themselves, in fear that they might cause problems for the country’s war effort. Those reading the poster may become afraid of any potential ridicule they may receive if it is found out that they leaked information. Thus, viewers are more likely to remain secretive in fear of being the subject of hate by fellow Americans.

Additionally, the poster literally presents an image of a ship in the process of sinking. Similar to the first situation, most viewers will briefly imagine if a United States navy ship is sinking knowing that it was the result of their gossip. In turn, this vision would encourage extreme guilt on behalf of the viewer. As a result, viewers become extremely conscious not to share any potentially harmful information.

This advertisement utilizes pathos to influence people’s decisions when discussing information about World War II. The idea of being called a “snitch” by fellow Americans or being responsible for a sunken United States ship is terrifying for viewers, and triggers a guilty conscious; thus the advertisement is successful in persuading viewers to remain silent.

Works Cited:

Goff, Seymour R. Loose Lips Might Sink Ships. Digital image.

             ExecutedToday.com. N.p., 03 Nov. 2009. Web. 15 May 2015.