Assignment 1.6
Annie Dillard Essay “Total Eclipse” focuses on Language, communication, or expression and how to link ideas and thoughts to the reader. Dillard’s essay was able to draw in the reader though personal experience that produce emotion. Her essay was purposeful, strong and abstract. I never recognized the importance of communication until I read the Annie Dillard essay. I concluded the importance of language: If there no (in depth) understanding of the language system it would be very easy to miscommuicate one’s idea. The main purpose of “Total Eclipse” was to communicate an important life event. The essay includes ideas about life in general - growing as an individual: and how life can change one’s perspective. The most important purpose is how to communicate those experiences to others, which mean conveying expression through language.
Dillard shares an experience as she travels to witness a total eclipse in 1979. On route, though the Mountains of Washington state as she observes the cirro-stratus clouds surrounding Mount Adams. She also marvels at the scenery of Yakima Valley layer with slopes and slopes of orchards. Dillard’s observes every detail of this trip. She documents much of what seen on route to an event that changes her perspective of life. During the eclipse, she realized life is unmeasureable.
The audience of Annie Dillard essay includes those who have some life experience. More than not, most people have had some experience of life. Be it, those of specific trades: professors, firefighters, homemakers, students, etc. Even various nationalities can relate to life experiences.
Strategies used in “Total Eclipse” are non-traditional in structure. The method she used does not appear to go with the usual rhetorical analysis. Dillard’s strategies include Parallel ideas for example: The clown head represents the insignificant things we remember. The words and objects chosen are there to help in delivering her message to the reader. The object chosen usually is general in nature. Something many people can relate too. This method used to soften the message and allow Dillard more expression to communication. In appointing the strategies, in this essay, Dillard carefully chose ideas and pared it with an object that has the same or similar meaning and goes in the same direction. The object and idea have the same or are parallel in meaning. Dillard possibly chose this paring of objects to ideas to express more meaning or depth within the essay. Therefore, leading the reader to a better understanding of the message she wants to communicate. Dillard’s strategy of design and structure of this essay accredits to understanding the English language.
Another strategy is Symbolism for example: The coal miner’s condition was a symbol of things that require change. Here, Dillard is describing what happen if certain conditions in life do not change. She equates, without change then there are possibilities that terrible things may happen. It goes further in Dillard’s essay, without change then death will take place. Death does not mean a physical death of one’s person but the undevelopment of personal growth. Undeveloped personal growth is a condition that should changed. In Dillard’s essay, the condition of the coal miner’s can be change to save their lives. She states, “In South Africa, in India, and in South Dakota, the gold miners extend so deeply into the earth’s crust that they are hot. The rock walls burn the miners’ hands. The companies have to air-condition the mines; if the air-conditioners break, the miners die” (161-162). This passage in the essay “Total Eclipse” demonstrates conveying a message about individual change and personal growth. Dillard choice of expression gives an example of symbolism. Here, Dillard did not use one particular word but an idea that suggest a condition.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Investigating Barry's Text
Assignment 2.4
Cartoonist Lynda Barry creates “Today’s Demon: Common Scents” to relay a message about the demons of American society. The comic strip gives a message of stereotype place on various ethnicities. Living in a multi-culture society the demon of intolerance continues to manipulate the greater good of society. Just like most monsters, it ugly, curial, and it wants to destroy all that it encounter. Intolerance is a monster that wants to destroy, divide, and reduce humanity to nothing.
Barry’s argument in this comic strip is to point out the intolerance monster is still a matter that must be dealt with before America society can grow and see the big picture of humanity. This monster has stopped the growth of the economy, stop the growth of invention, stop the growth of innovation. Why? Is it insecurity? Intolerance wants to destroy all that it encounters.
In Barry’s comic strip “Today’s Demon: Common Scents” she didn’t realized her heritage was also different from her neighbors. Barry represented as a young child in the comic strip made no judgment of the difference in her neighbor house. She visited one neighbor then the next neighbor noticing scents of their houses and how each had a unique viewpoint. Barry notices there were things she would not understand about people. She refers this to the mysteries, some were bad mysteries and some were good mysteries. (panel 53). One of the biggest mysteries for Barry was her own smells. She didn’t quite notice her own scents. It was something she got use to and the scents of her house weren’t strange but quite normal. The scents of Barry house were from her heritage, like fried smelt, garlic, and onions; or like pig’s blood stew. It’s funny how we notice everyone else but don’t quite notice our own scents, bias, or intolerance.
Cartoonist Lynda Barry creates “Today’s Demon: Common Scents” to relay a message about the demons of American society. The comic strip gives a message of stereotype place on various ethnicities. Living in a multi-culture society the demon of intolerance continues to manipulate the greater good of society. Just like most monsters, it ugly, curial, and it wants to destroy all that it encounter. Intolerance is a monster that wants to destroy, divide, and reduce humanity to nothing.
Barry’s argument in this comic strip is to point out the intolerance monster is still a matter that must be dealt with before America society can grow and see the big picture of humanity. This monster has stopped the growth of the economy, stop the growth of invention, stop the growth of innovation. Why? Is it insecurity? Intolerance wants to destroy all that it encounters.
In Barry’s comic strip “Today’s Demon: Common Scents” she didn’t realized her heritage was also different from her neighbors. Barry represented as a young child in the comic strip made no judgment of the difference in her neighbor house. She visited one neighbor then the next neighbor noticing scents of their houses and how each had a unique viewpoint. Barry notices there were things she would not understand about people. She refers this to the mysteries, some were bad mysteries and some were good mysteries. (panel 53). One of the biggest mysteries for Barry was her own smells. She didn’t quite notice her own scents. It was something she got use to and the scents of her house weren’t strange but quite normal. The scents of Barry house were from her heritage, like fried smelt, garlic, and onions; or like pig’s blood stew. It’s funny how we notice everyone else but don’t quite notice our own scents, bias, or intolerance.
Interpreting Barry using Smith Text
Assignment 2.2
Lynda Barry comic strip “Today’s Demon: Common Scents” gives a message of tolerance. The essay opens the door to societal intolerance of difference. The way we talk, the way we look, or the cultural difference makes ethnicity special. One heritage gives an individual a sense of belonging and pride. Heritage is special. Unhealthy pride causes intolerance. I believe Barry’s main purpose of the comic strip is to show that all cultures have distinctions, therefore tolerance, empathy, and understanding , are needed to commune peacefully as a society. Barry’s topic in “Today’s Demon: Common Scents” is an uncomfortable subject for those who want to stand with the politically correct crowd. It is un-nerving for some who have not decided to follow the alliance of injustice. Society has dealt with intolerance, bigotry, and bias for centuries. Yet instill, culture indifference still exist. Barry’s comic strip demonstrates the intolerances of difference in un-simular cultures. The author writes this comic strip for society as a whole. It can reach by the masses. Easy accessibility of a newspaper or news articles on the web help in delivering information. Comic strips are a part of society’s daily media. In addition, the majority understands the format of the message written in comic strips. Barry’s message of tolerance can be talked about at the dinner table; it can be viewed at the office; and most important the message is delivered. Strategies Barry uses to rely the message in “Today’s Demon: Common Scents” is shown as a comic strip. The comic strip is a method that communicates fun but important ideas. Comic strips are used in politics, news, and the media, just as a friendly reminder “this situation” is still over our head but that needs to be dealt with. It gives a more relaxed message for serious situations.
Another strategy Barry uses is displaying herself as a young child. Most children are usually unbiased and are free from judgment. Children don’t see color, heritage, or pride. Displaying herself as a young child also lightens up communicating the message.
Is it time (for all) to unite as a multi-culture society and allow each culture difference to increase humanity growth into a new society? Can this be done?
Is this possible?
Barry as a young child in the comic strip “Today’s Demon: Common Scents” welcomed the variety of different smells:
I have always noticed the smell of other people’s houses, but when I was a kid, I was fascinated by it. No two houses ever smelled alike, even if the people used the same air fresher.
Barry comments: what’s that kind again?
Neighbor comments: fresh evergreen glen
Barry comments: Yeah. At the bidman’s they got the same kind but here it smells like a fresh, um, bus bathroom.
Some of the smells were uncomplicated, like the cat pee smell of the house next door. The lady had 14 cats. It was hard to stay and visit. She sometimes burned incense with also smelled like cat pee.
Barry action: breathing through my mouth
Neighbor 2: have some peanut brittle, dear. Just pick the fur off if you’re fussy, but it won’t hurt you none. (Panel 52)
The variety peaked Barry’s interest, not only the smell but also the people behind the smell. She became more interested in her neighbors. Visiting all the houses in the neighborhood she learned more and more about the people she lived with. Barry as a young child began to learn flexibility. Flexibility is the ability of being bent, usually without breaking. Barry does not make any judgment about her neighbors she just looks and listen as she realizes the differences.
Learning this skill of tolerance allowed Barry to have an open mind, learn about other cultures while adding more knowledge to her own heritage. It appears doing this one action seemed to be a positive attribute. In most cases, it can only benefit. By opening this door, society can too enhance benefits as a whole to increase or add to one’s own personal knowledge. Now the lack of synthesis in society has shown factual truths of discord.
Lynda Barry comic strip “Today’s Demon: Common Scents” gives a message of tolerance. The essay opens the door to societal intolerance of difference. The way we talk, the way we look, or the cultural difference makes ethnicity special. One heritage gives an individual a sense of belonging and pride. Heritage is special. Unhealthy pride causes intolerance. I believe Barry’s main purpose of the comic strip is to show that all cultures have distinctions, therefore tolerance, empathy, and understanding , are needed to commune peacefully as a society. Barry’s topic in “Today’s Demon: Common Scents” is an uncomfortable subject for those who want to stand with the politically correct crowd. It is un-nerving for some who have not decided to follow the alliance of injustice. Society has dealt with intolerance, bigotry, and bias for centuries. Yet instill, culture indifference still exist. Barry’s comic strip demonstrates the intolerances of difference in un-simular cultures. The author writes this comic strip for society as a whole. It can reach by the masses. Easy accessibility of a newspaper or news articles on the web help in delivering information. Comic strips are a part of society’s daily media. In addition, the majority understands the format of the message written in comic strips. Barry’s message of tolerance can be talked about at the dinner table; it can be viewed at the office; and most important the message is delivered. Strategies Barry uses to rely the message in “Today’s Demon: Common Scents” is shown as a comic strip. The comic strip is a method that communicates fun but important ideas. Comic strips are used in politics, news, and the media, just as a friendly reminder “this situation” is still over our head but that needs to be dealt with. It gives a more relaxed message for serious situations.
Another strategy Barry uses is displaying herself as a young child. Most children are usually unbiased and are free from judgment. Children don’t see color, heritage, or pride. Displaying herself as a young child also lightens up communicating the message.
Is it time (for all) to unite as a multi-culture society and allow each culture difference to increase humanity growth into a new society? Can this be done?
Is this possible?
Barry as a young child in the comic strip “Today’s Demon: Common Scents” welcomed the variety of different smells:
I have always noticed the smell of other people’s houses, but when I was a kid, I was fascinated by it. No two houses ever smelled alike, even if the people used the same air fresher.
Barry comments: what’s that kind again?
Neighbor comments: fresh evergreen glen
Barry comments: Yeah. At the bidman’s they got the same kind but here it smells like a fresh, um, bus bathroom.
Some of the smells were uncomplicated, like the cat pee smell of the house next door. The lady had 14 cats. It was hard to stay and visit. She sometimes burned incense with also smelled like cat pee.
Barry action: breathing through my mouth
Neighbor 2: have some peanut brittle, dear. Just pick the fur off if you’re fussy, but it won’t hurt you none. (Panel 52)
The variety peaked Barry’s interest, not only the smell but also the people behind the smell. She became more interested in her neighbors. Visiting all the houses in the neighborhood she learned more and more about the people she lived with. Barry as a young child began to learn flexibility. Flexibility is the ability of being bent, usually without breaking. Barry does not make any judgment about her neighbors she just looks and listen as she realizes the differences.
Learning this skill of tolerance allowed Barry to have an open mind, learn about other cultures while adding more knowledge to her own heritage. It appears doing this one action seemed to be a positive attribute. In most cases, it can only benefit. By opening this door, society can too enhance benefits as a whole to increase or add to one’s own personal knowledge. Now the lack of synthesis in society has shown factual truths of discord.
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