TOW # 14 "Hey Santa" (article)

Jason Sheean is an author at Philadelphia Magazine, where he wrote his article “Hey Santa.” In this article Sheean tries to use humorous and casual syntax to address parts of the Philadelphia food community that he feels we no longer need.   

Humor is basically the only rhetorical strategy Sheean uses in this essay. Simply by addressing the article “Dear Santa,” in his first sentence, shows how he tries to attract his audience by being funny. However, his “humor” is ineffective and only makes him seem whiny and flippant. Sheean writes, “Rather than asking for things we need, I’m asking for things to go away.” This is his primary thesis statement, one that he undermines multiple times throughout the article. For instance, “I’d like to see some street other than Easy Passyunk attracting our best chefs…” or “would it be asking too much for you to give us one solid, high-end Thai restaurant in town?” here he is consciously asking for something to occur not something to go away. The way Sheean writes is very simple. He does not go into detail about his argument nor does he explain his reasoning for wanting and not wanting certain things. He gives no ethos and no logos to justify his argument, except for the fact that he simply does not like Italian or “crazy cheesesteak” places.

The Philadelphia magazine readers Sheean targets will have to have a lot of background information on the Philadelphia food scene in order for Sheean’s essay to be effective. His humor is ineffective, he undermines his own thesis, and his purpose gets lost and misconstrued as the article develops causing Sheean to seem unfocused or off-topic, and makes his argument unsuccessful.  

TOW # 13 "Interrogation COLOR" Randall Enos (VT)

            In the spirit of Christmas, Randall Enos, an illustrator of 46 years, presents a political cartoon that includes none other then Santa Clause himself. In this visual text Enos uses diction and humor to illustrate the ongoing investigations of the CIA’s illegal interrogation techniques that may or may not have led to the death of Osama Bin Laden.

            Although the first thing a person sees when looking at this drawing is the big red Santa, the diction Enos uses is the most important part of this visual. In big white letters he writes, “Santa’s enhanced interrogation techniques!” Without this text the audience would have no idea what Enos was trying to present. Therefore, his audience must have needed a previous knowledge on the current event. Humor is integrated within the diction when you connect it with the rest of the drawing. By saying “Santa’s” interrogation techniques Enos is comically connecting Santa’s use of such techniques to get little kids to tell them what they want for Christmas, with the illegal interrogation methods of the CIA to obtain information from prisoners. Also, humor in this political cartoon is obvious when Enos drew a huge red and pink Santa along with a crying baby on his lap, and by doing this I believe Enos was trying to show how naïve the world must be to think that extreme measures aren’t sometimes used to obtain necessary information. By using Santa and a crying baby I think Santa definitely represents the CIA, but the baby could represent the prisoners being interrogated as well as the American people.  

            With his use of diction and humor I believe Enos achieved his purpose of highlighting an important current event and expressing his feelings on the subject.

TOW # 12 "Angela's Ashes" (IRB)

In his heartbreaking story Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt shares his horrible childhood experiences with his audience. Through the use of interesting point of view and shocking imagery McCourt is able to captivate his reader’s minds and hearts, while still being able to stay objective and true about his life.

McCourt tells his story through an unusual point of view. He does not write from the point of view of a man looking back at his childhood, but as the boy himself experiencing all of the atrocities for the first time. This type of narration provides a tone of enthusiasm and determination throughout the book; the same enthusiasm that a child has when he or she looks at the world. This allows the book to not seem over concentrated with sadness and disgust. In addition, this type of perspective allows McCourt to explain his relationship with his father, Malachy, objectively. Malachy McCourt Sr. is an alcoholic who spends his family’s money on drinks while his wife and children starve. He is the clear villain of the story, however, through the child-like perspective McCourt is able to depict the misery his father inflicts upon the family, but also the obvious love that Malachy has for his sons. For example, McCourt explains one night when he and his family were trying to sleep when a hoard of fleas started to attack, “Dad poured water and salt into a jam jar and dabbed at our bits. The salt burned but he said we’d feel better soon” (McCourt 70). The simple of act of taking care of and comforting his children shows the love Malachy has for his kids, which can be described due to McCourt’s interesting point of view.    

Imagery is a key component throughout this book. By describing vividly what McCourt went through as a child his audience is able to believe his hardships, but probably most of them won’t understand them. From the same page that Malachy comforts his son, McCourt uses imagery to describe the experience, “We slapped at them and slapped but they hopped from body to body, hopping, biting. We tore at the bites till they bled!” (McCourt 70). Imagery, in this case, helps invoke a feeling of discomfort and disgust within the reader, which was exactly how McCourt’s life was at that time, uncomfortable and disgusting. Imagery throughout the book helps the reader feel what McCourt must have felt, which allows McCourt to connect with his readers.

Although I have only read half of this book, I find it extremely interesting and can say that McCourt achieves his purpose of captivating his readers while still telling a true story, through the use of unusual point of view and shocking imagery. I am very excited to read more.