TOW #11 "A Beauty" (Essay)

A beauty, written by Robert Boyers, a professor and author of multiple books, is an essay that examines beauty as a factor in one’s morality. Boyers wants to show his readers how the beauty of the people around them can effect their own moral compass, causing them to betray what is good because they are blinded by the bright and radiant light of beauty. In order to investigate this abstract idea, Boyers concentrates on how beauty may have poisoned his own morality through an anecdotal narration, but also further explained through the use of allusions.  

“The most beautiful man I ever knew was Charles Newman” (Boyers 52). Boyers tells this story by examining his life with one of his friends Charles Newman. Boyers writes, “In his fifties, when he was married to an obviously devoted and substantial woman, he was going around with a very attractive younger woman in St. Louis” (56). Boyers knew what his friend was doing was wrong but he did not know if he himself had a moral obligation to tell Charlie’s wife. He thinks of how he would feel if Charlie was flirtatious with his own wife, and he realizes that his view of Charlie’s beauty would have been severely compromised, because he could not understand how Charlie could cause so much pain for him and his wife. But Boyers does not tell Charlie’s wife. He knows it is wrong but he mentions how the beauty of Charlie allowed him to do horrible things. Not because it gave him options (with women), but because it almost seemed like a birthright, or natural. Boyers uses this as somewhat an excuse of his actions or more non-actions. Further explaining through the words of Doris Lessig, Boyers alludes to Lessig as she writes about how she feels knowing she stole a man from another woman, and she writes, “I felt it was my right.” This use of allusion helps the author explain how our judgment can be clouded by a deceived notion that beauty gives people leniency when it comes to right and wrong, and the use of anecdote helps the author show that most of us are guilty of believing it.

Although he presents an interesting concept, I do not feel like Robert Boyers achieves his purpose. His use of anecdote and allusions help his argument, but do not diminish counterarguments that can be suggested as well.   

Tow # 10 "The Foul Reign of 'Self-Reliance'" (essay)

In his essay, The Foul Reign of “Self-Reliance”, Benjamin Anastas, teacher and author of several novels, depicts and argues against the original perception of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self Reliance.” Through the use of anecdotes and antagonistic tone Anastas tries but fails to reveal that the original idea of self-reliance from Emerson’s work has turned into self-centeredness.

Anastas begins his essay with an anecdote explaining his first exposure to Emerson’s “Self Reliance.” Sharing that he was introduced to this piece of literature in an English class when he was a teenager. By using this anecdote, Anastas revealed that he formerly blamed his teacher for introducing his class to a lecture of  “self-conceit so intensely intellectual” (Anastas 2), but then realized that his teacher only “fell under the spell, like countless others before him and after, of the most pernicious piece of literature in the American canon” (Anastas 2). By using this anecdote, Anastas is able to clearly state his opinion on this specific piece of literature and describe why he has it. He believes that Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” laid havoc to generations of Americans by praising self-centeredness. However, this is where I believe Anastas discredits himself. By placing sole responsibility on Emerson’s work he leaves room for other interpretations of “Self-Reliance” as well as other reasons for why self-reliance has turned into self-centeredness in our society.

Throughout the text, Anastas uses an antagonistic tone to try and explain his contempt of “Emerson’s tacit endorsement of a radically self-centered worldview” (Anastas 4). Anastas writes, “It’s not like… the sun, the moon, and the stars revolve around our portable reclining chairs, and whatever contradicts our right to harbor misconceptions… is the prattle of the unenlightened majority and can be dismissed out of hand” (Anastas 4). By using such a tone the author tries to evoke his true feelings of American society today by depicting us as always wanting the spotlight. Although this tone is memorable, it is ineffective. It angers the audience for generalizing the American people as one thing when not everyone is the same. Part of why this does not work is because Anastas does not appeal to ethos enough to give him the authority to make such generalizations. It also causes Anastas’s points to seem unorganized, in that it seems his irritation takes over and his thoughts become unclear.

Although this piece of writing is very memorable and interesting I do not feel like Anastas successfully achieves his purpose. Due to his use of anecdotes and antagonistic tone he is unable to show the Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” is the reason for our society’s self-centeredness, in his work The Foul Reign of “Self-Reliance”.

"Angela's Ashes" IRB (intro 2)

For my second independent reading book I chose Angela's Ashes. This book is a memoir of the author Frank McCourt. It tells various stories of McCourt's impoverished childhood, as well as, part of his adulthood living in Brooklyn, New York and Limerick, Ireland. Diving into his life, McCourt includes the struggles he faced with poverty and his father's drinking. I found this book at my house and automatically found it intriguing.  

Tow #9 "Ad Council Public Service Announcement" (Visual Text)

Every nine seconds a woman is abused in the United States; one out of every four women will be abused by their husbands. Through the use of threatening images and bold color font The Ad Council group addresses the frightening truth about spousal abuse in the U.S. and forcing others to see it. 

When you first look at this image the first thing that you see is the woman who looks so sad and helpless. Her running makeup shows she was crying. Her hand is reached out for someone to save her. However, the most threatening image I see in this poster is the man’s shadow. In the background a faceless man is just standing there taunting not only the woman in the picture, but also the audience. The idea that any man can be lurking in the shadows waiting to hurt you sends shivers down my spine, and evokes fear in the audience. That fear is very powerful because it makes the audience want to eradicate this serious social problem, which appeals to pathos. Therefore, The Ad Council’s use of frightening images directly supports their purpose of addressing it and making people want to change it.

In addition, the use of bold letters and bold colors in The Ad Council’s statistic helps achieve their purpose. Within the major message in the center of the poster four words/letters are red. Those words are “Woman abused U.S.” By doing this, the speaker is connecting with their audience by expressing how this issue is happening all throughout both of their countries. The last two words that are highlighted red are at the very bottom of the advertisement, and those words are “respect women.” This phrase directly links to The Ad Council’s singular belief, that woman should be respected. They should not be treated like property or garbage; they should be respected. The use of this bold color font cleverly derives the truth about spousal abuse, and The Ad Council forces their audience to not only see it, but connect with it as well.

   Every nine seconds a woman is abused in the United States; one out of every four women will be abused by their husbands, two sad truths, and two truths The Ad Council tries to address and change in the public service announcement poster through the use of threatening images and bold color font.

TOW # 8 - "The Other Wes Moore" (IRB)

            In the captivating biography The Other Wes Moore, Wes Moore tells his and another man of the same name’s life story. Through the use of visual images and unusual point of view Wes Moore tries to show his audience that one’s upbringing does not determine one’s future.

            Towards the middle and end of the book Moore includes pictures of his and the other Wes’s childhood and present. Photos of family members, childhood home’s, and important events make up these sixteen pages. The use of these photos not only presents a clearer image to the readers of what each character looked like, but it also enlightened the reader of when their lives really began to differ. The photos first show two young boys with school issues and family problems, but then they begin to reveal differences in their paths. The Valley Forge Military Academy was Wes Moore’s savior, allowing him to escape the life he thought was inevitable, whereas the other Wes Moore never truly left the life he was born into. The photos then begin to highlight Wes Moore’s military accomplishments, which are juxtaposed by the other Wes’s criminal activity. The inclusion of these pictures allow the reader to visually see that someone’s life is determined by the attitude and actions a person has towards opportunities that present themselves. 

            Point of view is used in an unusual way throughout the entire book, and was both helpful and unhelpful it achieving Moore’s purpose. It switches from first person to third person omniscient in order to tell the life stories of both Wes Moore’s from an unbiased perspective. At first this type of point of view was helpful in the characterization and character development of both Wes’s. However, the organization made reading the book more difficult. Meaning, because each chapter was a different Wes’s story it was difficult to remember where the last Wes’s story left off. This made the story less cohesive and therefore less enjoyable. Nevertheless, without this odd use of point of view it would have made understanding the other Wes Moore harder. Therefore, it was helpful because without understanding the characters the reader cannot understand the point of this book, which is to show why two people, who had similar upbringings, have such different lives today.

            In the book The Other Wes Moore, Wes Moore uses photographs and unusual point of view to help him achieve his purpose. It was an inspiring story that shows each reader that they can choose which path they want to take in life, and that they are not trapped by the misfortunes of their childhood.