As the title of the blog says, I'm just a guy doing whatever it takes. To get a passing grade, that is. I have put in the bare minimum effort required to do so. In many ways I feel terrible about it, but time is a precious commodity and I would have had to spend twice the amount of time I have so far in order to improve my grade. Writing for me has always been a matter of passion, and I was unable to find the passion for many of these assignments. Early on in life my goal was to be a writer, but of fantasy and science fiction. I still like to create stories, but now my main career plan is in programming. Scholarly writing like what is taught in this class really doesn't matter to me. This class was a requirement for my degree (a requirement for every degree, I think) so I took it. Because I am a technological person, I chose the online class. Which led me to this point.
Identity. Community. Tradition. Those were the three main themes we covered in this class. Before I only thought of them as words, with definitions attached. Now I think of them as much more, as representations of complex ideas. Not really. I always have thought about the deeper meanings of words and the entities they represent. My own opinions on each had already been developed. Just living and interacting with others causes thought about these themes every day. The difference is that now I had to put them into words. It is difficult to describe how my views have changed, because any changes have been subtle. The general concepts of them haven't changed for me, if anything many of the readings from the text only reaffirmed my beliefs. Emily White in "High School's Secret Life" described my old high school perfectly, and David Brooks put into words my own thoughts on the diverse communities of America in "Our Sprawling, Supersize Utopia". Some, like Eric Schlosser's "Why McDonald's Fries Taste So Good", I had already read in the original source and woven into my views.
As such, much of my work is really just my own view on each of the topics, with evidence from the text taken just to help support said views, not change them in any way. The pieces I chose all follow that same path, some more so than others. I have a very unique writing style, in that I do whatever I want without regard to what is considered "proper". Sometimes this means run-on sentences, fragments, or sudden shifts in direction. It may make me a terrible writer in some respects, but at the very least I hope it can be found entertaining to some. Even if it doesn't meet all the criteria to get me a good grade.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Piece 1 Intro: Critical Thinking
Critical thinking breaks down into two parts: analysis and synthesis. At least, that is my interpretation of it. When it comes to synthesis, I feel that I do pretty well. Analysis is where I have trouble. Analyzing is breaking something down into its parts and examining each part. My problem is that so often my approach is to step back and view the whole picture, looking at it from every angle. To me, the parts themselves don't matter, but rather the meaning behind how those parts are linked. Instead of analyzing, I constantly synthesis information. One example of this is in my third paragraph:
“I felt safe and secure in that office, but I also felt lonely, and for the first time I definitively identified the source of my unhappiness as being ugly” (70). Grealy was not only hiding away from the boys that were teasing her, but from her own self. Due to others, many people like Grealy are unable to embrace their appearance as part of their identity, and instead do their best to hide who they truly are.This is just one example of how I am always looking at the bigger picture. In many ways I would rather spend my time looking at the bigger picture rather than bother with analyzing the details. Its not that I don't understand how to analyze, but that my brain just isn't built that way. I don't know if I can grow as an analytical writer or even be one when all I do is synthesize, and that is something I just have to accept.
Piece 1: Identity Block
“No man is an island”. That quote, written by John Donne and made famous by the movie About A Boy, is part of a larger quote presenting the idea that every man has an impact on mankind as a whole. We as a people are constantly being influenced by each other. Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out whether or not a person is acting of their own will or somebody else. Even at the core of their identity there is the question as to whether a person is their own self or simply the shadow of another. The greatest obstacle to determining our own individual identities is the influence of others.
Often we allow others to influence us through fear of being the outcast. Some people will go to any extent to fit in, change anything about themselves, even their own name. “It dawned on me that these people would have probably never invited me to their house had they known me as Firoozeh” (Dumas 86). Firoozeh changed her name to Julie so that she would be accepted by her peers. When people think of identity, the first thing that comes to most minds is a name. Taking on a new name would be like taking on a whole new identity. Yet in order to meet expectations and be accepted by others, people do so. Any person going by multiples names now has the added difficulty of determining whether the names are to be considered separate identities or simply parts of a whole. Which parts represent the true identity and which parts represent an act can become unclear even to the actor. Names aren't the only thing that a person may change in order to fit in; it may be something as simple as a clothing style or as far as their own language. “Their conformity is remarkable: in haircuts, necklaces, the way they slouch, they way they use their voices” (White 18). Despite how far humans have risen above animals, we still travel in herds. Those that do not keep up with the herd get left out. Even those who don't want to follow the herd will base themselves on it, by looking at the direction of the herd and simply going the direct opposite way. When it is a choice people get to make, that is part of their identity. But frequently it seems like there is no choice at all.
Whether running with the herd or away from it, society has a strong impact on identity, quite often negative. This most commonly happens at a young age, when people are still unsure of their identities and surrounded by others unaware of the consequences of their actions. School environments like the cafeteria can be far more difficult for children than any environment for an adult. Constant teasing and bullying can even force some to run away and/or change their own opinions about themselves, like Lucy Grealy:“I felt safe and secure in that office, but I also felt lonely, and for the first time I definitively identified the source of my unhappiness as being ugly” (70). Grealy was not only hiding away from the boys that were teasing her, but from her own self. Due to others, many people like Grealy are unable to embrace their appearance as part of their identity, and instead do their best to hide who they truly are. Physical appearance is not the only target of such attacks on identity, either. Language, culture, wealth, and many other attributes that can define a person are subjects of persecution each day. These attributes help to define our identities, but suppression of such attributes due to others can cause a change in outward identity that slowly leaks inward.
Despite how hard some of us try, no man can be an island. It is impossible to avoid all outside influences on our lives. The only thing that can be done is for each person to decide for themselves what represents their own identity and what is simply taken from someone else. Changing ourselves for others may change who we are on the outside, but as long as we never forget who we truly are from the start, ignoring those who would try to change us, our identities can always be found. We should define ourselves by our choices alone, and never allow others to tell us what to do or what kind of person we should be.
Often we allow others to influence us through fear of being the outcast. Some people will go to any extent to fit in, change anything about themselves, even their own name. “It dawned on me that these people would have probably never invited me to their house had they known me as Firoozeh” (Dumas 86). Firoozeh changed her name to Julie so that she would be accepted by her peers. When people think of identity, the first thing that comes to most minds is a name. Taking on a new name would be like taking on a whole new identity. Yet in order to meet expectations and be accepted by others, people do so. Any person going by multiples names now has the added difficulty of determining whether the names are to be considered separate identities or simply parts of a whole. Which parts represent the true identity and which parts represent an act can become unclear even to the actor. Names aren't the only thing that a person may change in order to fit in; it may be something as simple as a clothing style or as far as their own language. “Their conformity is remarkable: in haircuts, necklaces, the way they slouch, they way they use their voices” (White 18). Despite how far humans have risen above animals, we still travel in herds. Those that do not keep up with the herd get left out. Even those who don't want to follow the herd will base themselves on it, by looking at the direction of the herd and simply going the direct opposite way. When it is a choice people get to make, that is part of their identity. But frequently it seems like there is no choice at all.
Whether running with the herd or away from it, society has a strong impact on identity, quite often negative. This most commonly happens at a young age, when people are still unsure of their identities and surrounded by others unaware of the consequences of their actions. School environments like the cafeteria can be far more difficult for children than any environment for an adult. Constant teasing and bullying can even force some to run away and/or change their own opinions about themselves, like Lucy Grealy:“I felt safe and secure in that office, but I also felt lonely, and for the first time I definitively identified the source of my unhappiness as being ugly” (70). Grealy was not only hiding away from the boys that were teasing her, but from her own self. Due to others, many people like Grealy are unable to embrace their appearance as part of their identity, and instead do their best to hide who they truly are. Physical appearance is not the only target of such attacks on identity, either. Language, culture, wealth, and many other attributes that can define a person are subjects of persecution each day. These attributes help to define our identities, but suppression of such attributes due to others can cause a change in outward identity that slowly leaks inward.
Despite how hard some of us try, no man can be an island. It is impossible to avoid all outside influences on our lives. The only thing that can be done is for each person to decide for themselves what represents their own identity and what is simply taken from someone else. Changing ourselves for others may change who we are on the outside, but as long as we never forget who we truly are from the start, ignoring those who would try to change us, our identities can always be found. We should define ourselves by our choices alone, and never allow others to tell us what to do or what kind of person we should be.
Citations
Donne, John. "Meditation XVII." Devotions upon Emergent Occasions. 1624. Print.
Dumas, Firoozeh. "The F Word." ReMix: Reading Composing Culture. By Catherine G. Latterell. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2010. 84-87. Print.
Grealy, Lucy. "Masks." ReMix: Reading Composing Culture. By Catherine G. Latterell. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2010. 66-71. Print.
White, Emily. "High School's Secret Life." ReMix: Reading Composing Culture. By Catherine G. Latterell. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2010. 15-19. Print.
Piece 2 Intro: Revision Required
As soon as I read "could benefit from a rewrite" I knew which piece to choose. The timed writing assignment likely was my most difficult to complete. Normally I put off assignments until the last minute, and only spend an hour on them, so it would seem like such a timed event would be easy for me. Most people I talk to about homework and such think I procrastinate to the extreme. The truth of the matter is that I spend a lot of time contemplating assignments before I even start them. After looking at the assignment from every possible angle, I'll wait until an idea comes to me and then start to lay out the entire paper in my mind. My writing ability is actually fairly high (unless I'm just arrogant) but I have never been able to actually force it. Until I know what the assignment is in detail there is no way for me to properly think about it and direct my writer's instincts.
Having only an hour to write a full paper left me with no time for thought, only work. I started out strong, but as I got closer to the end and the deadline, my writing became less focused and far weaker. There are several parts of the assignment that I ended up leaving out entirely, like referencing the group discussions. In the end I wish I could rewrite this entire paper, with an entirely different approach to it. Unfortunately, I just don't have that kind of time, so I simply edited the final two paragraphs.
Having only an hour to write a full paper left me with no time for thought, only work. I started out strong, but as I got closer to the end and the deadline, my writing became less focused and far weaker. There are several parts of the assignment that I ended up leaving out entirely, like referencing the group discussions. In the end I wish I could rewrite this entire paper, with an entirely different approach to it. Unfortunately, I just don't have that kind of time, so I simply edited the final two paragraphs.
Piece 2: Rabbitproof Fence
An outsider, simply put, is a person who has entered into a group or location from an external source. Outsiders represent the unknown, and therefore are often feared or considered untrustworthy by the insiders. There are many reasons why an outsider might have come in; perhaps they are simply traveling through the area or looking for a new place to settle down. In the case of Molly, Daisy, and Gracie in the movie "Rabbitproof Fence", they have been forced against their will to enter an area as outsiders. Although the experiences of an outsider can vary by a vast amount, one factor that outsiders share in common, that defines them as outsiders, is a feeling of separation from those around them.
"Rabbitproof Fence" is a story of insiders and outsiders, but one that goes against the common pattern of such stories. Most often we see the outsider joining the insiders of his or her own free will, and slowly attempting to fit in and live with the insiders despite their best efforts to keep the outsider out. However, in this story, the insiders (led by A. O. Neville) have brought the outsiders (Molly, Daisy, and Gracie) against their will into the community. It is Neville's belief that doing so will "save [the girls] from themselves". In doing so, he takes the girls from their home and everything they have ever known, to be placed in a foreign environment, Moore River. There, the girls are treated poorly and forced to give up everything from their old lives, even their language. Despite the many girls around them who have been put through the same thing, Molly, Daisy, and Gracie completely alone and separated from the group.
While at Moore River, the girls do their best to avoid any interactions with others, Nina is the only one they are shown speaking to, because without her help the girls would lost as to what they had to do to avoid punishment. Often the girls are shown alone in a corner or separate area. Instead of giving up and attempting to fit in with the rest, the girls escape and run home. Even when they meet other people who are friendly and attempt to help them on their journey, the girls stay silent as often as possible, unless those helping are clearly of their own group, like the hunters they first meet and obtain matches and food from. Whenever possible they rely only on themselves and never ask for help unless it is first offered to them.
This whole set of assignments has been very difficult on my own views of outsiders and insiders. To me, outsider and insiders are based entirely on their situations, and the experiences of each can vary wildly. There are outsiders who may be completely accepted by the insiders, and who completely accepted and feel at home with the insiders, but I would still consider them as outsiders, simply based on the fact that they came from somewhere else. In order to answer these assignments, however, I had to change my view of outsiders to a far more specific range. I still hold to my original views, but as with outsiders themselves, the perspective is what matters. For these assignments, I changed my views of outsiders closer to that of outcasts: people who are not accepted by or do not accept those around them.
Every person has their own opinions and perspectives. This is what often causes such conflict between insiders and outsiders. If those opinions don't match, or are simply unknown, it is far more difficult for people to accept each other. In "Rabbitproof Fence", Neville's misguided perspective that he was helping the girls caused conflicts between his people and the Aboriginals. Conflict, no matter how small, causes a separation between people, which can often just lead to more conflict.
<Taken from Intermission Timed Write>
"Rabbitproof Fence" is a story of insiders and outsiders, but one that goes against the common pattern of such stories. Most often we see the outsider joining the insiders of his or her own free will, and slowly attempting to fit in and live with the insiders despite their best efforts to keep the outsider out. However, in this story, the insiders (led by A. O. Neville) have brought the outsiders (Molly, Daisy, and Gracie) against their will into the community. It is Neville's belief that doing so will "save [the girls] from themselves". In doing so, he takes the girls from their home and everything they have ever known, to be placed in a foreign environment, Moore River. There, the girls are treated poorly and forced to give up everything from their old lives, even their language. Despite the many girls around them who have been put through the same thing, Molly, Daisy, and Gracie completely alone and separated from the group.
While at Moore River, the girls do their best to avoid any interactions with others, Nina is the only one they are shown speaking to, because without her help the girls would lost as to what they had to do to avoid punishment. Often the girls are shown alone in a corner or separate area. Instead of giving up and attempting to fit in with the rest, the girls escape and run home. Even when they meet other people who are friendly and attempt to help them on their journey, the girls stay silent as often as possible, unless those helping are clearly of their own group, like the hunters they first meet and obtain matches and food from. Whenever possible they rely only on themselves and never ask for help unless it is first offered to them.
This whole set of assignments has been very difficult on my own views of outsiders and insiders. To me, outsider and insiders are based entirely on their situations, and the experiences of each can vary wildly. There are outsiders who may be completely accepted by the insiders, and who completely accepted and feel at home with the insiders, but I would still consider them as outsiders, simply based on the fact that they came from somewhere else. In order to answer these assignments, however, I had to change my view of outsiders to a far more specific range. I still hold to my original views, but as with outsiders themselves, the perspective is what matters. For these assignments, I changed my views of outsiders closer to that of outcasts: people who are not accepted by or do not accept those around them.
Every person has their own opinions and perspectives. This is what often causes such conflict between insiders and outsiders. If those opinions don't match, or are simply unknown, it is far more difficult for people to accept each other. In "Rabbitproof Fence", Neville's misguided perspective that he was helping the girls caused conflicts between his people and the Aboriginals. Conflict, no matter how small, causes a separation between people, which can often just lead to more conflict.
<Taken from Intermission Timed Write>
Piece 3 Intro: Audience and Voice
I ran into quite a bit of difficulty selecting this piece. Partly because I chose the pieces for my portfolio backwards, starting with the fourth, which is also the piece which would fit best here. It seems like so many of my posts in the DBs, and just in general for everybody, ended up with only one type of reply. Responses either agreed or disagreed. For this post especially I got a lot of people agreeing with me. In a way it is ironic that for a post on pop culture, I found what would appeal to the masses and put it into words. A number of people gave their own personal experiences and feelings as evidence to how I was right, but there was no real analysis of my ideas or ensuing discussions.
There is an acronym common on the internet: TL;DR. It stands for too long; didn't read. The most important thing to understand about forums and discussion boards online is that people don't like reading big blocks of text all at once. Even if some content has to be left out, keeping posts short ensures that the audience will actually read it, instead of skipping to the end and hoping to find a short conclusion or summary. I did my best to keep my post short and to the point. Posting an essay and then expecting others to post an essay in response is asking far too much of the audience. Reading through all of the posts on the DBs we have worked on just reaffirms that idea. Most responses were kept fairly short, and on average shorter posts ended up with more responses.
There is an acronym common on the internet: TL;DR. It stands for too long; didn't read. The most important thing to understand about forums and discussion boards online is that people don't like reading big blocks of text all at once. Even if some content has to be left out, keeping posts short ensures that the audience will actually read it, instead of skipping to the end and hoping to find a short conclusion or summary. I did my best to keep my post short and to the point. Posting an essay and then expecting others to post an essay in response is asking far too much of the audience. Reading through all of the posts on the DBs we have worked on just reaffirms that idea. Most responses were kept fairly short, and on average shorter posts ended up with more responses.
Piece 3: Pop Culture is Manipulative
Sadly, pop culture is probably the biggest influence in many peoples' lives. Some might view pop culture as something chosen by the people, what is popular at the time. The truth is that pop culture is controlled by corporations purely for profit. Media conglomerates decide what we watch on tv and what movies get produced. Advertisements aren't just found in commercials; almost every piece of media is attempting to sell a product, and all of them are attempting to keep the loyalty of their viewership for future gains. As shown in Havrilesky's "Stalking Celebrities", we are obsessed with those who represent pop culture: actors/actresses, musicians, pro athletes, politicians, etc. We want to see what they do, how they live their lives, so that we can emulate them and hopefully become more popular ourselves. These celebrities are paid to endorse certain products by using them publicly and explaining why others should use that product as well. Pop culture influences what we should buy, the topics we discuss in our conversations, and how we live our lives. Pop culture is manipulative, because that is exactly how the people behind pop culture (corporations) want it to be.
<Taken From Tradition DB #2>
<Taken From Tradition DB #2>
Piece 4 Intro: Writer's Choice
As soon as I finished writing this piece, I knew that is was my best work so far. When writing, I often wait for some key stroke of inspiration before I start. Once I have that inspiration, I just start writing and continue until that inspiration runs out. Usually I end up stopping about halfway through, and then I have to wait for the next flash. Once I've gone through two or three of those writing sessions, I finally look back on what I have done and see what is worth keeping, what needs editing, and what can just be wiped away. In the case of DB entries like this one, I would usually end up erasing everything I had and restarting several times in order to get a single post.
However, on this post I wrote everything in one go and when I finally looked back on it I found no editing to be done at all; it was a finished product. Even sections where I reference the article, like 'The "Paradise Spell", as Brooks calls it, causes us to constantly reach towards utopia' and am merging in Brooks ideas came without hesitation. I didn't even really need to book, after reading the article twice I instantly could remember the sections that mattered to me and that I needed to include. This may not be my best work, but it is the work that I feel best represents my writing skill and not simply hours of editing until I get lucky and find some combination of words that works well.
However, on this post I wrote everything in one go and when I finally looked back on it I found no editing to be done at all; it was a finished product. Even sections where I reference the article, like 'The "Paradise Spell", as Brooks calls it, causes us to constantly reach towards utopia' and am merging in Brooks ideas came without hesitation. I didn't even really need to book, after reading the article twice I instantly could remember the sections that mattered to me and that I needed to include. This may not be my best work, but it is the work that I feel best represents my writing skill and not simply hours of editing until I get lucky and find some combination of words that works well.
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