Sorry for the lateness. Somehow I read your blog post and skimmed the article it linked to without seeing the link to the weekend update. I don't understand how I continually manage to do stuff like that.
With the index poem due Thursday, I figured I might as well do this now, points or no points.
Brainstorming:
Orwell, His Rules, Bitzer, Freewriting, Rhetorical Analysis, Strategies, Logos, Pathos, Ethos, Techniques, Style, Voice, Shitty First Drafts, Massive Revisions, Analysis vs. Summary, Visual Arguments, Cynical Grade Collectors, Humor, Satire, Parody, Lampoon, Everything is An Argument, Audience, Tone, Situation, Purpose, Logical Fallacies, Claims, Reasons, Warrants.
And that's what I have for now.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
SuperFreakonomics
SuperFreakonomics is as close to a perfect copy of Freakonomics that the authors could come up with. While this isn't bad, Freakonomics was a great book, it isn't very good either. SuperFreakonomics continues disproving common knowledge through statistics and anecdotes and has is decently amusing stylistically. It could have been an amazing book, except for one fact: it is horribly repetitive.
Even though the topics in the chapters seem as different as two topics possibly can be, the process the authors take the readers through is constant throughout the book. This caused me to feel like I was just reading the same section over and over again and made a book with good writing and interesting topics really boring. It seemed like every discussion my BLA group had was the same because every chapter was the same. It was one of very few books that made me think of reading as a chore.
Maybe it would have been more enjoyable if I hadn't just read Freakonomics, so I'll give it a 3 out of 5.
Even though the topics in the chapters seem as different as two topics possibly can be, the process the authors take the readers through is constant throughout the book. This caused me to feel like I was just reading the same section over and over again and made a book with good writing and interesting topics really boring. It seemed like every discussion my BLA group had was the same because every chapter was the same. It was one of very few books that made me think of reading as a chore.
Maybe it would have been more enjoyable if I hadn't just read Freakonomics, so I'll give it a 3 out of 5.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Dear Future Me
Right now I have no idea what I want to do with my life. So this letter isn't going to be about hoping you got into a good college or have a job you like. I don't really care about what you're doing so much as what you are thinking.
At whatever time in the future you remember this blog and come back to check this (I have no doubt that you will eventually) I just want you to remember what you used to believe. Now, if some giant life event happened and shattered who you were, I can understand you changing you're thoughts. This letter is just to make sure that changing your ideals was actually an improvement.
Whatever happens in the mysterious future, I hope you still understand that lying and cheating don't lead anywhere good. I hope you still refuse to judge others and hold grudges. I hope you don't take everything to seriously; life shouldn't be wasted. Most of all, I hope you don't think you know better than anyone else, because you don't, not at all. Anyway, if you did you would probably wouldn't give anything in this post any thought because you were so stupidly idealistic when you were in high school.
At whatever time in the future you remember this blog and come back to check this (I have no doubt that you will eventually) I just want you to remember what you used to believe. Now, if some giant life event happened and shattered who you were, I can understand you changing you're thoughts. This letter is just to make sure that changing your ideals was actually an improvement.
Whatever happens in the mysterious future, I hope you still understand that lying and cheating don't lead anywhere good. I hope you still refuse to judge others and hold grudges. I hope you don't take everything to seriously; life shouldn't be wasted. Most of all, I hope you don't think you know better than anyone else, because you don't, not at all. Anyway, if you did you would probably wouldn't give anything in this post any thought because you were so stupidly idealistic when you were in high school.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Works Cited
In order of appearance in video.
1. http://www.design21sdn.com/attachments/0026/1994/bc_02_282_.jpg?1218155612
2. http://www.quebecoislibre.org/phrenology.JPG
3. https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3nVCbCF4t2NjMlftUeMRQP8f_Ucty1fjdIEix7DHEnBzm4z9y
4. https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTQAjLEOoyVOkBXGevo6gmgOjLhVVOAsLQzWXi1hiUILJdLNsoMbA
5. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/data/resources/library/images/20051013PHT01474/20051013PHT01474_original.jpg
6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/freethinking/2007/assets/content/freedom/cartoon.jpg
7. http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/content/2011/1221-kim/11292692-1-eng-US/1221-kim_full_600.jpg
8. http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/587245/587245,1297947208,3/stock-photo-free-thought-censorship-freedom-of-speech-d-concept-human-brain-under-barbwire-over-white-71364373.jpg
9. https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRo7iO9tRj4sNRknsB9h4yTjuG9gs9w-1u4s_xOyTucc9nUDmNOuQ
10. http://lh4.ggpht.com/federicopistono/R4Yc9JmVthI/AAAAAAAAAlU/6K_sgkvw134/s800/beijing2008.png
11. https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTDTiVfMiJp-JxTs-d1Et-RK1Ye4z7dtViHbyPP5vactZSaT3xnlQ
12. https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRvaq-hfI3PlNxOxl0ezcye_bsZNYexjf0t43els1wFkALQ2hmm
13. http://ericanagurneymyblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/propaganda.jpg?w=181&h=300
14. https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRinzekj4x469vpNkR4ND-66aTosovnjs6h7hqEe0ldaL7HFANEhw
15. http://files.coloribus.com/files/adsarchive/part_1028/10281805/file/freedom-of-thought-scissors-small-84653.jpg
1. http://www.design21sdn.com/attachments/0026/1994/bc_02_282_.jpg?1218155612
2. http://www.quebecoislibre.org/phrenology.JPG
3. https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3nVCbCF4t2NjMlftUeMRQP8f_Ucty1fjdIEix7DHEnBzm4z9y
4. https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTQAjLEOoyVOkBXGevo6gmgOjLhVVOAsLQzWXi1hiUILJdLNsoMbA
5. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/data/resources/library/images/20051013PHT01474/20051013PHT01474_original.jpg
6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/freethinking/2007/assets/content/freedom/cartoon.jpg
7. http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/content/2011/1221-kim/11292692-1-eng-US/1221-kim_full_600.jpg
8. http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/587245/587245,1297947208,3/stock-photo-free-thought-censorship-freedom-of-speech-d-concept-human-brain-under-barbwire-over-white-71364373.jpg
9. https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRo7iO9tRj4sNRknsB9h4yTjuG9gs9w-1u4s_xOyTucc9nUDmNOuQ
10. http://lh4.ggpht.com/federicopistono/R4Yc9JmVthI/AAAAAAAAAlU/6K_sgkvw134/s800/beijing2008.png
11. https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTDTiVfMiJp-JxTs-d1Et-RK1Ye4z7dtViHbyPP5vactZSaT3xnlQ
12. https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRvaq-hfI3PlNxOxl0ezcye_bsZNYexjf0t43els1wFkALQ2hmm
13. http://ericanagurneymyblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/propaganda.jpg?w=181&h=300
14. https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRinzekj4x469vpNkR4ND-66aTosovnjs6h7hqEe0ldaL7HFANEhw
15. http://files.coloribus.com/files/adsarchive/part_1028/10281805/file/freedom-of-thought-scissors-small-84653.jpg
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Process Analysis
First, my claim: Freedom of thought is an often repressed freedom, not only in censor and propaganda filled countries like China and North Korea, but everywhere.
My first three pictures serve as a simple introduction to my video. They inform the audience of the topic and use clear black and white coloring that is easy to absorb. The music also starts simply with only a piano playing, no singing. All of the images simplify the brain, the first shows it as a machine, the second as being almost entirely focused on freedom, and the third as a lock. The very first picture introduces the audience the the topic, the second stresses the freedom aspect, and the third shows that mental freedom can sometimes be locked away.
The next two pictures are very connected to each other. The first of these two is two shades of gray and says "Your thoughts are illegal." The colors and statement go together and are gloomy. The next picture is a question mark made of chains. The question mark works to contradict the sad statement and tell the audience that it doesn't make sense, and chains are in many of my pictures and the lyrics of my song; I use chains and barbed wire as symbols to bring my video together.
The next segment starts with the lyrics of the song beginning along with the main part of my argument. The pictures in this segment also grow more complex with my argument. These pictures can be divided into three categories, those about repression of thought in other countries, those about repression of thought in political and corporate America, and those that use symbolism to stress the problem of limiting peoples' thoughts. The pictures with symbolism, the chained thought bubble and barbed wire surrounded brain, use chains and barbed wire as before and are great physical representations of a mental problem. They are around the start of this segment because, while I feel they are necessary, they would detract from my argument at its peak. The pictures that deal more directly with my argument start with those showing other countries repressing freedom of thought and transition into those that show America repressing this same freedom. This is to somewhat surprise the audience, while at first they can watch the video from a safe distance, they later become entwined in its message and realize that they are affected by this problem. This comparison comes to a climax with the second to last picture, which shows the striking similarity between Soviet and American propaganda.
The last picture comes with a message about the importance of having freedom of thought. The somewhat dull color scheme ties back to the start of the video. The last picture also relates to the pictures that symbolize the repression of freedom of thought by having a thought bubble made of rope. This time however, there are scissors, a way to freedom. Because there are people that are working to allow everyone to think clearly and freely.
Song Choice: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free by Nina Simone. This song is all about freedom and breaking chains. It fits my video perfectly.
My first three pictures serve as a simple introduction to my video. They inform the audience of the topic and use clear black and white coloring that is easy to absorb. The music also starts simply with only a piano playing, no singing. All of the images simplify the brain, the first shows it as a machine, the second as being almost entirely focused on freedom, and the third as a lock. The very first picture introduces the audience the the topic, the second stresses the freedom aspect, and the third shows that mental freedom can sometimes be locked away.
The next two pictures are very connected to each other. The first of these two is two shades of gray and says "Your thoughts are illegal." The colors and statement go together and are gloomy. The next picture is a question mark made of chains. The question mark works to contradict the sad statement and tell the audience that it doesn't make sense, and chains are in many of my pictures and the lyrics of my song; I use chains and barbed wire as symbols to bring my video together.
The next segment starts with the lyrics of the song beginning along with the main part of my argument. The pictures in this segment also grow more complex with my argument. These pictures can be divided into three categories, those about repression of thought in other countries, those about repression of thought in political and corporate America, and those that use symbolism to stress the problem of limiting peoples' thoughts. The pictures with symbolism, the chained thought bubble and barbed wire surrounded brain, use chains and barbed wire as before and are great physical representations of a mental problem. They are around the start of this segment because, while I feel they are necessary, they would detract from my argument at its peak. The pictures that deal more directly with my argument start with those showing other countries repressing freedom of thought and transition into those that show America repressing this same freedom. This is to somewhat surprise the audience, while at first they can watch the video from a safe distance, they later become entwined in its message and realize that they are affected by this problem. This comparison comes to a climax with the second to last picture, which shows the striking similarity between Soviet and American propaganda.
The last picture comes with a message about the importance of having freedom of thought. The somewhat dull color scheme ties back to the start of the video. The last picture also relates to the pictures that symbolize the repression of freedom of thought by having a thought bubble made of rope. This time however, there are scissors, a way to freedom. Because there are people that are working to allow everyone to think clearly and freely.
Song Choice: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free by Nina Simone. This song is all about freedom and breaking chains. It fits my video perfectly.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Christmas
My family loves to play games. Every Christmas my mom and my grandma go hunting for the most popular board games of the year to play after opening presents. Out of the five or six games they found this year, there was one obvious hit. It's called Reverse Charades, and turned out to be great for our crazy, loud extended family. The game is basically Charades, but instead of one person acting while the rest of the their team guesses, one person guesses while the rest of the team acts. The reason the game turned out to be so much fun was because of the extreme competitiveness of my family and the way that everyone's actions seemed to be contradictory until the answer was announced.
I was the first guesser of the entire game, and somehow understood that my mom's and grandpa's ridiculous way of strutting around with their eyes closed and hands jabbing up and down was Stevie Wonder playing the piano. The rest of the game was just as hilarious, and included my cousin Sarah doing a perfect silent Donald Trump, and my mom wriggling around on the floor trying to resemble a centipede.
Overall, that game, along with seeing my cousins who spend most of their time at college, made last Christmas one of the best of my life. It didn't hurt that I got a few amazing video games from my parents and a yo-yo from my sister. I guess my sister knows me better than I thought.
I was the first guesser of the entire game, and somehow understood that my mom's and grandpa's ridiculous way of strutting around with their eyes closed and hands jabbing up and down was Stevie Wonder playing the piano. The rest of the game was just as hilarious, and included my cousin Sarah doing a perfect silent Donald Trump, and my mom wriggling around on the floor trying to resemble a centipede.
Overall, that game, along with seeing my cousins who spend most of their time at college, made last Christmas one of the best of my life. It didn't hurt that I got a few amazing video games from my parents and a yo-yo from my sister. I guess my sister knows me better than I thought.
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