A bad time for senioritis.

Although my case of high school senioritis was about as bad as it gets--especially considering I only had four classes and then a "work study" babysitting the three cutest children alive--my college case started quite early.  I think it hit the fourth week of this semester, which is quite unfortunate considering this is my hardest semester of college yet.  I decided to take 18 credits this semester so that I only had to take 14 my final semester here.  I also decided to finish all of my requirements this semester so that next semester would be even easier.  Basically, I made this semester kind of difficult for myself.  But despite this semester's difficulty, I've managed to be a little lazy.  Don't get me wrong, I still get all of my work done--both on time and to the highest standards--but I just can't stay as focused as I have the past three years. 

I don't really know why it is either.  Granted, I'm definitely itching to get out of college but I also have become very accustomed to the safe little bubble of college.  It just seems that there is always something better on TV or one of my friends is doing something more interesting than sitting down and studying.  For example, I planned on having a hardcore study sesh when I got home fromm work last night but instead I found myself watching Sydney White (a awfully good Amanda Bynes movie that I have already seen...twice) and then going to bed at about 9:30.  I also generally spend my slow Sunday's at work flipping through my Art History flashcards, but today I bought InTouch and read up on my celebrity gossip.  It truly is horrible.  

So now my first exam is in less than 24 hours and I have LOTS of studying to do.  But then again, I calculated my grade and there is no chance that i can get below an AB.  So is it worth it for me to cram tonight to get that A?....because I did see that John Tucker Must Die was on TV...

 I just keep telling myself that I just need to get through my three exams this week and then it's off to sunny Mexico but it still seems like years from now!  

And then, what am I supposed to do next semester?  Luckily, I only have 5 classes--two of which I get to take pass/fail, one is with my favorite professor, and another is on my favorite topic (20th century European art).  Either way, I have no doubt that senioritis will kick in even harder next semester, especially since I packed all five classes in on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

Even though I am very excited to graduate, I have a feeling (and my mom keeps telling me!) that I will be very sad to leave. 

...maybe I'll try to fail a class next semester and stay a little longer. 

...unfortunately, I don't think I could fail a class if I tried.

15 Minutes to Go

“Ok, I’ve been here for four hours and 45 minutes…ugh, I have to make it to five hours, at least. Oh, but I want to go home and eat something unhealthy as a reward for doing my work. No, stay here for a bit longer, go home and run for a half hour, then eat cookie dough with the roommates. Then do a bit of studying in my room…maybe.”
This is a typical dialogue that my conscience has while I’m holding my mind and body hostage in the library for extended amounts of time. Though by now I’ve found my favorite spots around campus and move from one to another quite frequently, there is only so much my mind can take. If I start by doing a bit of Spanish homework at my apartment, then go to Grainger to find an empty room for some English writing, followed by poli sci reading in Memorial Library, and a bit more ILS reading on the second floor of Memorial Union, while signing choir songs inbetween, I can usually catch my body’s movements up with my mind’s. But, when I’m sitting here, in the same chair, allowing myself one bathroom break, I get a little crazy.
Now, I’m not saying this as if my brain pain is unique. We are all students at a Big 10 University, and let’s face it: high school homework didn’t quite compare us for this. I’m just writing this as a release for my current state of “Please studying, get in my brain and let me go home!”ness. But, home holds so many distractions, especially for a mind that is looking to procrastinate.
This semester’s Finals Week is actually being pretty nice to me. The week and a half before were a bit rough, but now that’s done. Though I do catch myself thinking that I should read that certain article again, I quickly and happily remember that class is over and if I haven’t reviewed things by now, it’ll be of no use, because I already took that test and did that paper! Sorry, rambling: a common feature of the last week of the semester.
I’ve only been at this particular library for a little over two and a half hours, but for this study stretch I’m aiming for three hours, and then it’s time for a change. It’s strange because as the semester progressed I felt more and more in my college grove; that studying and tests and papers and projects were just the normal thing. But, as finals drew closer, my body decided to let all my late nights catch up with me. Boo that! But there is sleep in sight, for in less than a week I’ll be sleeping in my own big bed and waking up to my mom asking me if I want pancakes or waffles and fruit for breakfast. Ah, the first days home.
But, what about after college? I guess when I’m in the ‘real world’ there won’t be big tests at the end of a 15 week stint of work, and I won’t have a month long break to do absolutely nothing related to my full-time profession, with is currently the statutes of student. Well, I just won’t think about those days too much, because as hard as being a Badger sometimes is, there are so many more advantages of being here with so many crazy cool people. Oh, and will you look at that; I’ve been here for three hours. Cookie dough, here I come!

my favorites of film and television

I love television and film. But I do not like reality shows, because they take away from the art of creation (plus, I don't enjoy seeing the most despicable, idiotic, and ignorant that humanity has to offer). But here is a list of my favorite shows and movies, as well as some descriptions and quotes.

Television
Friends - A unique dynamic of six different personalities made this show as popular as it was. I find that the rewatchability is high, especially with ten seasons to choose from. - "You have to stop the Q-Tip when there's resistance. "

How I Met Your Mother - This is an amazing show. It has some very stereotypical sitcom aspects, but the uniqueness of the dialogue really sets it apart. - "Suit Up!"

Seinfeld - A show about nothing, but one that somehow mixed the ridiculous with the ordinary. - "It's a Festivus miracle!"

The Simpsons - A show that is way past its prime (Its glory days were seasons 3-9). I haven't watched a new episode in two years, but I still regularly watch those from the aforementioned glory days. The show is a beautiful parody of the family sitcom and satire of television in general. - "I've said it before and I'll say it again: Democracy simply doesn't work."

Futurama - This is basically what The Simpsons would be if it didn't have to be grounded in reality. It is sad that this show was cancelled, but the new feature length movies are great. Plus, since it ended in its prime, it wont have a chance to go past its prime. - "Fly the white flag of war."

Honorable mentions - Arrested Development, Entourage, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Lost, The Office, The Venture Bros.


Movies
The Princess Bride - I watched this movie more than any other when I was young and I like it even more now that I am older. But I will let the tagline say the rest: Heroes. Giants. Villains. Wizards. True Love. - Not just your basic, average, everyday, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, ho-hum fairy tale. - "Have fun storming the castle!"

The Big Lebowski - One of the funniest movies that I have ever seen. Not only is this due to the vision of the Coen Brothers, but also because of great performances by Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi. - "Hell, I can get you a toe by 3 o'clock this afternoon, with nail polish."

Signs - I am always interested in exploring the mysteries of extra-terrestrials. The movie has a good mix of suspense and comedy, and an interesting take on faith and coincidence. Plus, unlike The Sixth Sense, I enjoy the movie more each time I watch it. - "Everybody in this family needs to just calm down and eat some fruit or something."

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou - This is a movie that can simply make you laugh with one viewing and pull at your heartstrings with another viewing. Bill Murray is amazing, it has the music of David Bowie (sometimes sung by Bowie and sometimes translated into Portuguese), and Wes Anderson's unique style of direction. I just cannot think of anything bad to say about it. - "I'm going to fight it, but I'll let it live. What about my dynamite?"

The Dark Knight - I am somewhat apprehensive of putting such a recent movie on this list, but this one was too magnificent to leave out. I love the Batman universe. That aside, this movie blew me away with its great script, attention to detail, and oscar-caliber acting. I honestly think that it will be a travesty if Heath Ledger does not win an Academy Award. On the surface it is a blockbuster comic book movie, but it makes some compelling statements about good and evil and human nature in a society of chaos and fear. - "See, I'm not a monster, I'm just ahead of the curve. "

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - Without a doubt my favorite movie of all time. It has a good amount of action, a superb score, Sean Connery, and just the right amount of silliness. It is not trying to be the greatest movie of all time, it is just trying to entertain. Plus, Nazis are the ultimate villains. - "You call this archaeology?"

Honorable Mentions -
As Good as it Gets - "People who talk in metaphors oughta shampoo my crotch"
Die Hard - "Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker"
Ferris Bueller's Day Off - "Bueller?... Bueller?... Bueller? "
Jurassic Park - "Hold on to your butts."
Vanilla Sky - "Without the bitter, baby, the sweet just ain't as sweet."
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - "It happens every time: they all become blueberries."

Tell Us What You Thought!

A bit about Fair Trade, organic/local produce, and eco-friendly take-out containers.

the butterfly.

In 1942, Pavel Friedman wrote “The Butterfly” from Terezin Concentration camp. The power of this twenty-one year old Jewish man’s words exemplifies the juxtaposition of hope and horror that the victims of the Holocaust experienced. I was exposed to this poem as a young girl when my Dad brought home “I Never Saw Another Butterfly”—a collection of children’s poems and drawings from Terezin between 1942-1944. His words moved me instantly: “The last, the very last, / so richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.” It wasn’t until my elementary school choir sang the words to music, however, that I fully realized the beauty and sadness in Friedman’s verses.
The kairos in which the poem was written makes it even more compelling. If these words were written by someone who did not experience a ghetto or concentration camp first-hand, they would not have the same powerful effect. The fact that Friedman was “penned up inside this ghetto” while he wrote these words also increases their effect. The combination of optimism and fear in his verses creates an extremely emotional dynamic which she wrote as a personal mantra—possibly not even meant to be read by anyone, let alone millions.
The genre of these words—a personal exploration of hope within captivity—allows the reader to have this very intimate view of a young man’s experience. This intimacy we get from Friedman enhances the power of his spiritual words. The form of a poem also helps develop her words since I believe that a different format would not evoke the same simple naivety and wisdom as her brief verses. His four verses vary in length and do not seem to follow any pattern but their rhythm is undeniable. His words undulate between hope and sadness creating a very emotional dynamic.
There is something about poetry that has the ability to emit such emotion in such a short work and that is definitely the case in “The Butterfly”. The first two verses vaguely describe the beauty of a butterfly but still manage to capture the reader’s attention. The third verse allows the reader to have a glimpse into the hope Pavel has within the ghetto and ends by telling the reader that the beauty he is speaking of is in fact, a butterfly. The final verse sadly kills all hope by stating that “That butterfly was the last one. / Butterflies don’t live here, in the ghetto”. The ending of this poem is so powerful since it confirms that Friedman’s world is truly void of any beauty and therefore void of any hope. Although he claims he sees the beauty in a dandelion—which symbolizes the same yellow of the butterfly—one must ultimately remember that it is a weed.
Friedman’s poem evokes the sadness of the Holocaust to the reader. He is clearly able to do this because of the form of his words. The symbolism of hope and beauty that he uses would not be as affective in another form like prose. The brevity of the work leaves the reader with chills and uncertainty—a similar emotion that Friedman undoubtedly felt.

I am My Woman

“It's in the reach of my arms the span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips. I'm a woman.”
These lines in the first section of Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman” are recognizable to most. We read the rhymes in high school English class and interpreted them with guidance from the teacher. But, that is the exact opposite of what this poem represents. It is about individual beauty that is known but not vain.
I first read this poem with a new understanding during my first few months here at UW as a freshman. I realized that Ms. Angelou was talking for herself yes, but she was becoming the voice that many disillusioned girls didn’t use. We are taught as young girls not to get dirty in the mud with the boys because it’s not lady-like. We are clothed with modesty that accentuates our femininity. We are squeezed into Society’s ‘average’ size two jeans. No, not this woman.
Maya Angelou is a sturdy, curvy, beautiful woman, and she knows it. And imagine, with all she had to go through as a child, to still be able to recognize herself as stunning! When she wrote this poem I like to imagine that she stood in front of a full length mirror, completely bare to be scrutinized, and saw what she really was: “sunshine” and “fire” and “joy.” She did not see the abusive childhood, or the quiet rapes. She saw herself.
This is what we each need to see in the mirror; ourselves. Not the athlete some might judge us as, not the skinny shy girl, not the big hipped booty mama of criticism. We should present ourselves as we truly see our own image.
The men Angelou speaks of can’t see what we see, because they are them and we are us, just like we can’t see who they are from their perspective. This Phenomenal Woman’s “mystery” and “flash of teeth” will never offer her secret confidence to her suitors. That confidence is hers because she birthed it, bares it, and breathes it.
This is a defiant piece of writing that makes me want to share my dimples, lengthen my stride, crave my curves. This is me, as I see myself. No matter how I am compared to magazine models or my friends. This is me, with every sparkle of my eyes, swing of my hips, and song of my laugh, this is me. Me.

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/phenomenal-woman/

The Change We Need

“Obama has 297 electoral votes. He’s won.” My roommate sent me this text, and I almost dropped my phone. I was in the silent section of the library, painfully trying to contain my ecstasy.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!
That’s what my mind was screaming, what my knees were bouncing, what my fingers were tapping. Oh my gosh, thank you. thank you Thank You THANK YOU U.S.A.! Maybe the U.S. can finally regain both dignity abroad and support at home.
I know a lot of politicians make many promises when they are campaigning and once in office only implement the policies that will retain them the most support, not necessarily what is the best for the country, the environment, or abroad. But, this time it seems different. This time it appears to me that the changes needed are supported by the majority. This might be because this was the first presidential election I was old enough to participate in. Maybe because I’m in Madison, WI, so the liberal seems like the majority. Or maybe it was the inspiration of the candidate, the times, and the volunteers. Some people took this semester off all over the country in order to entirely devote their time to the Obama campaign. Others sacrificed their homework time in order to Get Out the Vote. And others simply voted; something they had never done before, either because of choice or law. But for whatever the reason, Obama and Biden have brought this nation together at the level 9/11 did, but this time in tears of happiness.
Obama will be inaugurated with a fairly stable mandate which he deserves. He acknowledges those who he has yet to win approval, but he also openly stated in his victory speech that he is EVERYONE’S president. The bumper stickers that read “Not My President” are not the symbols he wants to project. He has made many promises of change, and I believe he will do all he can to follow through. Of course people will criticize him and point out all his mistakes, but I trust that more good will come than bad. I believe with my entire being that this is the Change we all needed. Everyone. I can’t wait to be part of the next four years of U.S. politics. Obama!

We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier

In John F. Kennedy’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in 1960 he said that it was “a time for change.” These words are just as true today as they were forty-eight years ago. Kennedy was well aware of the suffering across the nation: “The old people without medical care, the families without a decent home, the parents of children without a decent school.” And in our time, we are going through an economic crisis that is costing people their homes and their jobs. Meanwhile, exit polls showed that over seventy percent of voters fear a terrorist attack. Kennedy knew of the same threats in 1960 when he said “The world has been close to war before, but now man, who’s survived all previous threats to his existence, has taken into his mortal hands the power to exterminate his species seven times over.” We live in a state of fear and we face the threat of domestic hardships as well as attacks from abroad. That is why Kennedy’s words remain true, that “Today our concern must be with the future.” And that “it is time…for a new generation of leadership.” In the past we have been a nation split by our fears and our prejudices, by our beliefs and our greed. We still see much of that split, but it is waning. Almost half a century ago Kennedy understood that “A peaceful revolution for human rights, demanding an end to racial discrimination … strained at the leashes imposed by timid executive leadership.” But we just elected a man who would not have stood the slightest chance to become President in 1960. That shows hope for this country, but we still have a long way to go. On the same day that Barack Obama was elected President, there were also three states that banned same-sex marriages. We still have many problems facing our nation. Our prejudices may be waning, but they are not gone. And the threats and problems that we face will not go away if we do nothing. Those threats will grow if they are ignored. We cannot be lulled into a belief that there is nothing left to overcome. Kennedy said “the problems are not all solved and the battles are not all won; and we stand today on the edge of a New Frontier…the frontier of unknown opportunities and perils, the frontier of unfilled hopes and unfilled threats.” As January 20, 2009 draws closer, we too stand on the edge of a new frontier. But “the New Frontier…is not a set of promises. It is a set of challenges.” Because “The New Frontier is here whether we seek it or not.” We must stand up and accept these challenges. We can stand up against discrimination based on race, gender, religious beliefs, and sexual orientation. We can stand up against those who threaten our peace and the peace of a free world. We can stand up against those who are overcome with greed and threaten the foundations of our economy. “For courage, not complacency, is our need today; leadership, not salesmanship.” That is why we had the courage to elect a new leader that shows us that there is still hope in a weary nation. And even though it was an historic event because of the color of his skin, the importance of his being elected is beyond color. It is about opportunity; opportunity to move beyond the limitations of the past and look to the possibilities of the future. “That is the question of the New Frontier. That is the choice our nation must make…between national greatness and nation decline, between the fresh air of progress and the stale, dank atmosphere of ‘normalcy’, between dedication or mediocrity.” The fight for freedom is an ongoing battle that we cannot retreat from. And this election showed that even when we are scared and our backs are against the wall, we still believe that this is a battle worth fighting.

the start of something great.

Yesterday was truly a historical day for our country—Barack Obama was elected as the 44th president of the United States of America.
I tend not to be the biggest fan of politics as I feel that Republican or Democrat, no candidate shares my liberal ideals. This year though, a candidate gave me a glimpse of hope that seemed just a tad more to the left than others. For the first time I became engaged in politics which luckily corresponded with the first year I could vote in a Presidential election.
The primaries came and the battle between Hillary and Barack was on (creating a slight rift in my family). And after too many months, Obama came out victorious and my hopes for a change in this country seemed that much closer. The only thing in its way: John McCain and his wisely-chosen vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. And for three more months, the battles continued, growing harsher each day. My optimism, however, could not be shattered. I refused to believe that this country would accept another conservative reign. Living in this little liberal bubble of Madison also did not help my naivety that people would actually vote for McCain.
After what seemed like years of bickering, bashing, and campaigning, November 4th finally came yesterday. I voted on Monday, so I was slightly removed from the spirit of the actual Election Day but when 5 p.m. approached my friend Maeve and I sat impatiently in our Material Culture class watching boring presentations. When class ended at 6:30 (I cannot believe they kept us the whole 2 ½ hours!), I ran home and turned on CNN and MSNBC. Not much had happened yet, but Obama was winning by a few. Over the next three hours, my roommates—both of whom are insane Obama maniacs—watched the coverage and got increasingly more excited as the projected winnings kept coming in as blue.
At about 9:30, we decided to get off our couch and head over to Brats to meet all of our friends to watch this possibly historic moment. We got to the door a little after 10 p.m. and my roommates rushed in quickly but I, unfortunately, was badgered by the bouncer who claimed that my legitimate Wisconsin “over 21 years old” ID was not me. As he finally let me in, the whole bar erupted in cheers. I ran up to my group of friends—the majority in tears—and realized that Barack Obama was CNN’s projected president elect. I truly do not have the words to describe my excitement at the moment. The remainder of the night was amazing. McCain’s concession speech and Obama’s acceptance speech were both overwhelmingly powerful and the whole bar sat in quite awe as they were delivered. Thousands of young adults ran around State Street singing praises for change, for hope, for our future.
When I woke up this morning, it truly felt like the dawn of a new age—as corny or cliché as that sounds—and for the first time in a very long time, I was actually proud to call myself an American.

The Rand Corporation with the help of Reverse Vampires

Every research project that I have ever done (up to this point) has been a solo project. For each one, I would try to find a topic that was of some interest to me and trudge through literature on that topic. They were always slow, boring, unrewarding endeavors that turned into me struggling just to put something on paper and turn it in. But last week was the first time I sat down to meet with a group and plan out a collaborative research project. In almost no time at all, we were throwing out ideas and having more success as a group than one could have alone. With each mind came a new modification to the original idea that allowed us to hone our plan into something that we were not only happy with, but also eager to put into action. I guess I had never thought about it before, because I am usually one to do things on my own, but two heads really are better than one (or in this case three are better than one). A short time later, our brainstorming session came to a close as a complete success. And with that short meeting, a project that could be overwhelming if done alone, seems much easier to handle with the addition of just a few more people.

Project of Passion

After our slight difficulty rounding everyone up for a meeting, we all had some ideas about our research project. It is quite difficult for three varying minds to converge and agree on the same idea and presentation. But surprisingly, after leaning on a table in the natural light of Lakefront on Langdon for no more than a half hour, we had both our subject of research and the style of presentation agreed upon. The idea sprang from one chair, with each seat feeding to the river of thoughts.“Oh, that’s a good idea, and how bout we………..”“Yeah, I like that, and after we have our information we could add…………..”“I really like the pamphlet idea. And it can be colorful!”“The community will be able to use this, so we’re working for something more than just the grade.” Then within a few more minutes our proposal was written and the work was divide up. We all agreed on the objective and were looking forward to the work (strange, I know!). When we first sat down, we just sort of tossed around ideas but no one caught one we really wanted to work on. So, for the first five or so minutes it was random thinking, but once decided on a topic of research it was nothing but strikes.I left our meeting feeling a bit of anticipation for the project. I know, it is for school, but in this particular case it is something of interest, not just an assigned generic topic. It will be a lot of work, but in the end it will be completely worth it because we ourselves will be better consumers and we will have also supplied others with the means of being globally conscience when they go out for their morning coffee or business lunch. This little pamphlet could affect those in other places, farmers we will never know, simply by boosting the demand for their organic or fairly traded products. Alright economics, let’s get to it!

planning this project.

Each member of our group came to the meeting with a few ideas we were interested in researching. After we each proposed a few topics, we began talking about a few other possibilities when Helen brought up the idea of fair trade and from there it was a breeze. We had already settled on creating a pamphlet before we had decided on a topic and luckily, the idea of fair trade fit perfectly into this form. As we began to elaborate on the topic a bit, we decided it would be very cool if we created a fair trade and environmentally conscious "map" of restaurants and cafes in the downtown area. At this point, we were all very excited about our idea and the ideas just kept on flowing.

We had no disagreements while trying to create our proposal and I think all three of us are very satisfied and excited about this project. I am actually surprised that it ended up being so simple to decide on a topic and idea since I often find it difficult to decide on something as easy as where I going to dinner with my best friend. All three of us seem to be passionate about the idea of fair trade and using local or organic items. Thus, we are curious to find out which restaurants in the downtown area share this passion. Ultimately, we wish to actually distribute this pamphlet since we believe that there is a large population in Madison that would also be interested in this issue. All in all, I am very excited to begin this project as I think it will be beneficial to our group and the greater Madison and UW population.

Political Pageant

In today’s society, some of the most famous celebrities are famous simply for being rich and famous. Socialites and pop stars, like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, have become famous based on their drunken antics, fabulous wardrobes, and pretty faces—and not much else. Thus, it is absurd for Senator John McCain to compare Senator Barack Obama to these ridiculous celebrities. Although one cannot compare a hardworking politician to frivolous twenty-something celebrities, politics cannot be separated from our pop culture.
Pop culture has an influence on politics, but at the same time politics is in and of itself a form of pop culture. And sadly in our society, it’s all a game of how pretty you are.
Before televised debates, politicians were solely evaluated based on what they said and not on how they looked. However in 1960, when John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon ran for the presidency, Americans began to realize how importance one’s physical appearance actuall was. Most Americans would agree that visually, John F. Kennedy was the more appealing candidate. He looked young, suave, and promising. Since this inundation of the visual media, it is hard to separate one’s thoughts from his/her appearance. Unfortunately, it is not always one’s thoughts that become the selling point.
Sarah Palin is a paramount example of this: she is under qualified, yet a conventionally attractive person. Her physical appearance ultimately makes her an “attractive” candidate but not necessarily in a positive way. Politics should not be a beauty pageant but has recently become more similar to one. Take a look at the four women involved in the presidential campaign: Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, Sarah Palin and Cindy McCain. Their physical appearance has become just as important as anything they say. Their outfits cost hundreds of dollars. Their hair is perfectly coiffed. They are simply on display in order to benefit the presidential candidate whom they are backing.
In pop culture, a celebrity’s appearance is a large part of the package and it is acceptable since we like them or dislike them based on that persona. However in politics, it is scary to think that so much can be based on a candidate’s appearance since we are supposed to support him/her based on his/her ideals and NOT on appearance. Although Hollywood has become little more than a beauty pageant, we must make sure that Washington does not follow.

PopPoliCulture

The convergence of popular culture and politics seemed inevitable as politicians are now categorized as celebrities. When Bill Clinton was running for president in 1992 he was featured on a tonight show playing a jazz saxophone and answering the question of whether he wore boxers or briefs (he wears briefs, by the way). That put him in the same television screen as Arsenio Hall and in the magazines with movie stars. Politics became popular culture. This can be seen both positively and negatively. Since popular culture is just that, popular, it can make anything categorized in it fashionable and widespread. After the 2000 election, and especially the 2004 upset, I found myself impassioned for politics. As I toured colleges my senior year of high school I was told that political science was recently one of the most popular majors. With the increased publicity of Capitol Hill more people became interested and began to participate, thus broadening the range of people who were elected to office, producing better representation. Though increased media can be positive, it can also have damaging effects on personal lives. For example, we’ll go back to President Clinton. His sex scandal was a long and drawn out process that was highly publicized, and that is the first thing you think of when he comes up in conversation. Not his foreign policy, not his domestic provisions that aided the U.S. economy, but his nights of adulterated passion. Now, compare this will John F. Kennedy’s alleged affair with Marilyn Monroe. It was barely make public and Kennedy’s legacy is lead by his politics, not his penis. I’m not saying that I condone Clinton’s actions, because deceiving both your country and your family is a terrible action that he’ll never fully be forgiven for. But, what legislation didn’t get passed in Congress or the UN because of his personal life? Media now mixes business with pleasure. Can this mix remain democratic? What is the line between free speech and private information? Celebrities (real ones, that is) have an immense power in contemporary politics. They may have logos to share, but they are relying on pathos to persuade their audience to agree with the right candidate, the right legislation, the right cause. But, do celebrities make political videos to boost their own images or to increase the popularity of the person they support? I prefer to be trusting rather than skeptical, so I’ll side with them using their power of persuasion. I just hope this doesn’t lead me into a political war under false pretenses. Democracy can be sustained throughout popular culture as long as we the public can distinguish between what is in style and what is actual reality.

On Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical analysis is useful because it allows us to see more than just words. If someone is trying to persuade us, then rhetorical analysis allows us dissect that person’s argument. This dissection allows us to see through bullshit and get to the roots of that argument. We are in a better place to make a decision if we understand their argument and attempt at persuasion. We will not, necessarily, be fooled by some sort of fallacy that they commit while trying to persuade us. For example: your boss has a meeting with you and your co-workers to talk about the importance of compassion, customer service and not making excuses. He gives examples of his own outstanding customer service and makes valid arguments for the importance of hard work and compassion. He was very persuasive and his speech seemed to stem from the heart and you trust him because of the compassion and enthusiasm that he showed while giving that speech. But later you employed rhetorical analysis and found out that most of his examples of his own customer service were fabrications and that whenever you asked him to aid you in providing good, compassionate customer service he made excuses for why such things could not be done then you would be skeptical. You would realize that he tried to persuade you to trust a false authority (him). If you were a quality employee then you would probably see that it is important to have good customer service skills and to not just provide excuses, but to provide answers and results, but by analyzing your bosses argument and his character you would realize that he is not someone that you can simply trust, or take his word as true. You would realize that you will have to examine any argument that he makes to make sure that he is not just stating fiction as fact to get his way. By using rhetorical analysis, you would be a person that is more conscious of the things happening around you, and you would be better equipped to find the truth behind the fluff.
Rhetorical analysis will also allow us to better understand and appreciate the versatility of language and the vast beauty in the possible modifications that can be made to that language. By analyzing multiple persuasive (and non-persuasive) arguments we see how there are many ways to make a point, or express a desire, or say anything. With wordplay, and pun, and alliteration, and the plethora of other devices that can be used while trying to convince a piece of art can emerge. These devices of language can be employed just as lighting and perspective and allusion could be used in painting. Rhetorical analysis allows us to appreciate the beauty that comes with the customization of a language and the uniqueness that each author provides while attempting to form a persuasive argument.

Analyzing Rhetoric.

I believe that analyzing a rhetorical argument allows one to either make a stronger counter argument or to be more justified in his/her agreement. Rash decisions and opinions are often made when one does not take the time to scrutinize an argument. A person can be easily persuaded by an argument that seems legitimate simply based on their personal beliefs. However, even if the person agrees with the overall statement, the argument could be flawed and then the listener ends up with false information and generally passes it on to others. On the other hand, if the listener disagrees with the argument, a rhetorical analysis gives him/her the ability to counter the statement by pointing out its fallacies and weak points. Ultimately, rhetorical analysis allows for one to become a better debater and helps to prevent false information from circulating.
In the case of last week’s vice presidential debates, I would be curious to analyze both Biden’s and Palin’s arguments. Being a liberal myself, I favored Biden in the debate overall and generally dismissed all of Palin’s claims. However, if I actually spent the time to go over the text of the debate I would probably be surprised to find that many of Biden’s arguments were faulty while many of Palin’s were legitimate—although I would rather not admit it.
My Dad has always told me that I am quick to debate and unfortunately have the tendency to not fully listen to my opponent’s argument (I always tell him that I get it from him!). As I’ve grown older I have purposely made the effort to carefully listen to my opponents in order to form more solid, convincing counter arguments. Although I am not doing formal rhetorical analyses, the purpose is similar in that I am finding the strong and weak points of my opponent’s claims which, ultimately, allows for me to win the debate or prove my point.
Although a formal rhetorical analysis can be tedious, the end result is worthwhile. If one fallacy is disproved with each analysis done, everyone benefits.

Analysis of an argument against banning smoking in public

In his argument, Charlie Bradley gives 3 reasons why smoking should not be banned in public places. He does admit upfront that he is a smoker and that what he says may be biased. He makes some valid points why smoking should not need to be banned, but he also commits some logical fallacies in his argument. He says that the biggest complaint against smoking is the health risk from secondhand smoke and he tries to provide solutions for both sides of the issue. His first reason not to ban smoking in public is because of designated smoking areas. As long as these areas are separated enough from the buildings that they belong to then there will not be a risk of secondhand smoke or cigarette smell on non-smoker’s clothes. This reason seems valid because it addresses the main concern of the opposition to smoking in public. He implies that if designated smoking areas were located and used properly then there would not be a problem of secondhand smoke unless a non-smoker was in that designated area.

The fallacy in his argument arises with the second reason that he provides. He says that most employees that smoke do so because of stressful situations at work which cause them to need a cigarette to calm down. He continues by saying that a “no smoking” policy would lead to less productivity or employees sneaking off to go smoke. This argument begs the question: Is it true that most people who smoke do so because they are stressed out? and, If they are stressed out is it because of a work-related situation? There are some people that smoke simply out of habit and stress does not factor into it. There are some people that smoke for the enjoyment of the tobacco, just the same as a person who drinks coffee because they like the flavor. That is not to say that there are not smokers that smoke because it calms them down (or coffee drinkers that do so for the caffeine), but it is not safe to assume that most smokers fit into any one category. And using work related stress as a reason to be able to smoke does not seem to be effective. There are plenty of people that are stressed because of work that do not smoke nor have they had the need to smoke to calm down. And if stress in the workplace is that big of a problem then maybe the specific causes of that stress need to be addressed in order to prevent those types of situations. He then says that smoking does not display an unprofessional image, but it is the sneaking away to smoke that looks unprofessional. The problem here is that he provides no proof to his claim of what is and what is not a professional image. If he had the results of surveys that asked the whether or not smoking gave off an unprofessional image or something of that nature then he could make his claim, but he provides nothing of the sort.

His third reason that says that smokers have rights is valid. If they want to smoke then they should be able to smoke. He brings up the secondhand smoke rebuttal and goes on to say that secondhand smoke should not be a problem as long as proper procedures are being properly followed when it comes to designated smoking areas. This is a good argument because freedom is what this country is based on. As long as smokers are not harming others (something that should be prevented with the use of proper designated smoking areas) then they have the right to smoke.

Pathos of Logos

Colonization can be a wonderful broadening of boundaries, or it can be a crippling defeat of society. Both sides can make a factual and persuading argument, but it is up to the audience to decide who is morally and justly correct. With the constant presence of British rule in India, both sides were fighting for attention; the Indians for freedom and the British for the retention of their rule. Siding with the unfairly crippled, I am amazed at the patience, will power, and peacefulness of Mahatma Ghandi.
"We do not want to remain frogs in a well. We are aiming at world federation. It can only come through non-violence. Disarmament is possible only if you use the matchless weapon of non-violence." On August 7th, 1942, these words were heard in Bombay. Ears listened and hearts felt that freedom was finally attainable. But why not fight for it! No, Ghandi said, no. He had learned through studies of other revolutions that non-violence and civil disobedience was the best way to achieve and sustain sovereignty. Now, he just had to convince the people.
Since he knew British and Indian people would be hearing this speech, Ghandi chose words that would inspire some and not offend others. No one wants to be a frog stuck in a well (especially if there isn’t a princess around looking for a kiss). At the same time, though, he is telling the ruling British that physical harm will not occur to them. He is inspiring people into positive action while also telling those that are the ‘enemies’ that their rule is coming to an end in a peaceful way.
Also, his idea of a “world federation” is a major statement of his vision of the impact this individual revolt could have on the rest of the oppressed world. His choice of the word ‘disarmament’ is also very strong and exact. It is a use of logos but mostly pathos, since he knows the power of his influence. It also tells the Indians that they will carry no weapons, but most importantly it lets the British know two things: 1. The Indian people will not attack with arms but with logic and unionization, and, 2. The British themselves are going to be disarmed. Again, their reign will be through.
Ghandi completely believed in the truth that actions speak louder than words. Their ‘matchless weapons’ are, indeed, inferior to bullets, because with every bullet the British fire, the more their presence in India will be seen by the international world as not needed and, more so, morally unjust and inhumane. Change was needed. Change was happening. The frogs were about to spring free as the well fell away.
http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1942/420807a.html

tall buildings shake.

“…tall buildings shake/voices escape singing sad, sad songs…”

When Jeff Tweedy wrote Wilco’s powerful song “Jesus, Etc.” in early 2001 for his band’s album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (ironically scheduled for release on September 11, 2001) the lyrics were nothing more than poetic. By the time the album was actually released on April 23, 2002, the meaning of Tweedy’s lyrics had drastically changed.

“skyscrapers are scraping together…”

Seven years ago, this image was poetic. Today, it is the haunting reality of the tragedy of 9/11. I remember the first time I listened to the song, being shocked by Tweedy’s blatant reference, especially so soon after the event and not knowing that it was in fact not a reference but a coincidence.

The tragedy of 9/11 has shaped our culture drastically over the past seven years. It has changed our idea of patriotism—if you’re not with us, you’re against us. It has changed our ideas on Arab nations and unfortunately for many, Muslims as a whole. It has changed our perception of war, that maybe we are not safe here on American soil. It has changed our sense of security—which is now based on bringing nothing larger than a three ounce bottle onto an airplane. It has changed our vocabulary. It has changed our politics. It has changed our freedoms. The list goes on, but ultimately, it has changed our lives.

9/11 has united us as a country but divided us at the same time. The idea of “America” is much stronger and we are all, in turn, much more patriotic but our ideas, our politics, our dreams have been separated.
So when it comes down to it, the message of Tweedy’s lyrics, in which he unknowingly foreshadowed a horrific tragedy, is that we all need to come together whether it be in the face of tragedy or in the face of freedom.

“don’t cry/ you can rely on me honey…our love is all we have…”

911 9/11 911

911. This sequence of numbers could be for 9 1 1 the police, 9 1 1 the hospital, or 9 1 1 the fire station. But just put a single slash, a little diagonal line in the sequence and our minds are jolted with imagery and memories of all the possible 911s combined. 9/11. One day, four planes, and hundreds of deaths are all part of that number. 9/11.
Even speaking or writing the date is questionable in some situations. Personally, I do not know anyone who did not get to say goodbye to someone that day, but I am from a farming community in Central Wisconsin. Here at UW it is far more likely to be with people who have personal stories that include eye-witness accounts. So, if in conversation the topic is brought up, will someone’s eyes fill with tears as the sky filled with ash that day?
Entertainment, as raunchy as it tends to be, has not crossed that line of indecency. For instance, an episode of The Simpsons, in which the setting was the World Trade Center, is no longer aired out of respect and also awareness that audiences do not want to see those two towers in a comical situation. The movie industry waited several years to make a documentary on the events and I didn’t even watch a film that mentioned the incident until the 2007 production of Reign on Me. Earlier, Fahrenheit 911 had been released in 2004, but that was politically motivated to time with the presidential election that year, whereas Reign on Me was for entertainment purposes.
Our language has also been changed as a result of 9/11. “Terrorism” was not a common word in 2000, as least not for us Westerners. In my part of the Midwest the word didn’t really bear much meaning. It was just an adjective to describe something that didn’t happen ‘around here’. But now we all understand this word of hate. We were a united nation of anger and sadness. That unity of anger, though, is declining I must say. It has been used to pursue other interests, used as a veil. Now, I am not belittling the acts of terrorism, I am just saying that we as citizens have been led into war based on the acts of that tragic day and the feelings it created. But how far can these feelings take us?
Media has changed, language has changed, and the feeling of nationalism has changed, among many other things. As U.S. citizens we are far more conscience of the use of certain words like bomb, terrorist, and domestic attack. This unexpected tragedy happened and it changed all of us, not just those under the Stars and Stripes, but the entire developed world. And that change is going to continue until we have a reason to stop it. But that will never happen, for there will always be a new catastrophe, another dictator on the rise, a new crisis. We need to remember that day of sorrow and death and let it change us for the better.