Sunday, April 7, 2013
Assignment 9
I intend to relate to an audience of all ages, all professions, and all generations so that my interpretation is understandable to everyone-all pleasing. That way I can appeal to most and when other writers are writing toward a specific audience, I have the advantage to be writing to a larger crowd. I try to be unique and write general applications yet speak to everyone individually. I will revise my writing by reading other drafts, figure out what I like about them, find out why I like what I like, and make that a priority in my own paper. If it stood out to me, it has a chance of standing out to others
Assignment 10
Just some questions about Stein's essay...
- With so many examples to choose from, how did Stein decide to choose from The Terminator, The Wizard Of Oz, Blade Runner, with there being so many movies made for the era (Feminist movement, technology turn, etc..)
Stein's essay discusses the rise of Macintosh way back in the 80's and how it overturned IBM, the best computer system that was out at the time. She talks about how Mac started at the bottom with its bulky size let alone the expense, and finally rose to the top with its more modern slick look and the ability to use it as a personal computer. Back when IBM was more popular, users were just proud to have them around at work because at the time, personal computers were not in mind. Now as time has evolved, so has technology. Stein expresses how the 1984 Macintosh commercial is a representation of revolution for technology as well as women; ironically the Feminist Movement was going on at the same time. This was all symbolized in one commercial.
My understanding of the text was that Stein wrote this essay to readdress a commercial that was seen by most of America, but not recognized for what it was. Based on her detailed description with examples from related movies included, she must have assumed that viewers had seen the commercial for just that- a commercial. Instead, she allows us to see all the many aspects of what she had which was not just a random advertisement, but a new robot that would change our lives forever.
My understanding of the text was that Stein wrote this essay to readdress a commercial that was seen by most of America, but not recognized for what it was. Based on her detailed description with examples from related movies included, she must have assumed that viewers had seen the commercial for just that- a commercial. Instead, she allows us to see all the many aspects of what she had which was not just a random advertisement, but a new robot that would change our lives forever.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Assignement 11
3.
4. If you don't include your audience by stepping on the outside to look inward at your writing as if you were readung someone else's writing, you are not making your paper relatable and you have already lost a great value of your paper by excluding that perspective importance. If you rant in your paper randomly without establishing the purpose right away, you leave the reader lost about what they are actually suppose to feel/seek out while reading. Discussing a broad topic is more important than one may think. If you assume too much instead of using examples of worldwide common situations, once again, you leave readers lost [Don't want to be too common, though]. You cannot just act the part, you have to be the part. That means you can't sound like you know what you're talking about by using false facts and big words. Do some research on the time period you are writing about to back up actual facts. Is the piece of writing appealing to all cultures, professions, ages, and races? Are considering more than just your outlook? Is the writing too dramatic, too personal, not personal enough? Although it is hard to find a medium, it must be found! And finally, what is going on in the world now that was also happening at the time period your writing is about?
- What does the composer assume the audience knows or believes?
- Is the composer respectful of the audience, treating them as intelligent, thoughtful people?
- Why might the composer start with particular exampes or evidence? To what will these draw the audience's attention?
4. If you don't include your audience by stepping on the outside to look inward at your writing as if you were readung someone else's writing, you are not making your paper relatable and you have already lost a great value of your paper by excluding that perspective importance. If you rant in your paper randomly without establishing the purpose right away, you leave the reader lost about what they are actually suppose to feel/seek out while reading. Discussing a broad topic is more important than one may think. If you assume too much instead of using examples of worldwide common situations, once again, you leave readers lost [Don't want to be too common, though]. You cannot just act the part, you have to be the part. That means you can't sound like you know what you're talking about by using false facts and big words. Do some research on the time period you are writing about to back up actual facts. Is the piece of writing appealing to all cultures, professions, ages, and races? Are considering more than just your outlook? Is the writing too dramatic, too personal, not personal enough? Although it is hard to find a medium, it must be found! And finally, what is going on in the world now that was also happening at the time period your writing is about?
[Group Work] Reflection
2. During group work, we all worked together as a group of three. The best thing about group work is that there are more opinions combined. Every individual has their own mindset and when you exchange your own unique thoughts with those of someone else, it becomes its own idea that we as a group have now created. The most difficult thing about group work is honest opinions. When asked to guve input, you will always have that group member who is too honest and too narrow minded that their opinion is dominant rather than equal in a group project. On another polar extreme, you have the group's mouse that does have much of any influence on the group's work therefore their opinion is not reflected within the activity.
3. The group that had Theoretical Framework did a wonderful job on their question. Their question is a perfect representation of what Stein may have meant when she said "right technology" and "wrong technology". The turn of Apple could have been a brainwashing act of techno-geeks that produce robotic electronic equipment in order to represent the power of submission of human beings OR it could have been a savior from old clunky equipment that was keeping the world stuck in the past in dire need for a refresher. This also happens to be throughout the Feminist Movement time period which could mean freedom for women.
I also admired the one-pager of the Conclusion group because it is extremely relevant. Stein did not really represent her thought on the entire "technology revolution". Rather, she described in detail all of the many reasons that this happened in the first place. One thing that does reflect is her opinion of Steve Jobs. She speaks about him as if he was an old classmate that she never too much cared for. Now he is one of the wealthiest (is that a word) dead men still living (if you catch my drift). I found it interesting that they put the word salvation in red because the Salvation Army is plastered in red on all of their buildings. Maybe because red is such a rebellious color, very vibrant and alive.
4. One another aspect that I will have to consider that I had not before I read some else's one-pager is what exactly is Stein's outlook on this entire article that she wrote?
5.The mid 70's through the end of the 80's was clearly a memorable time period for Sarah Stein. Not only she know so much about the transition of IBM to Apple and what it took to get there, she also seeks out to let readers know why this technological transition is so important to us still today.
3. The group that had Theoretical Framework did a wonderful job on their question. Their question is a perfect representation of what Stein may have meant when she said "right technology" and "wrong technology". The turn of Apple could have been a brainwashing act of techno-geeks that produce robotic electronic equipment in order to represent the power of submission of human beings OR it could have been a savior from old clunky equipment that was keeping the world stuck in the past in dire need for a refresher. This also happens to be throughout the Feminist Movement time period which could mean freedom for women.
I also admired the one-pager of the Conclusion group because it is extremely relevant. Stein did not really represent her thought on the entire "technology revolution". Rather, she described in detail all of the many reasons that this happened in the first place. One thing that does reflect is her opinion of Steve Jobs. She speaks about him as if he was an old classmate that she never too much cared for. Now he is one of the wealthiest (is that a word) dead men still living (if you catch my drift). I found it interesting that they put the word salvation in red because the Salvation Army is plastered in red on all of their buildings. Maybe because red is such a rebellious color, very vibrant and alive.
4. One another aspect that I will have to consider that I had not before I read some else's one-pager is what exactly is Stein's outlook on this entire article that she wrote?
5.The mid 70's through the end of the 80's was clearly a memorable time period for Sarah Stein. Not only she know so much about the transition of IBM to Apple and what it took to get there, she also seeks out to let readers know why this technological transition is so important to us still today.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Assignment 8
I was glad to find that many of my classmates had a variety of their understanding of "Lifelike." It definitely adds more controversy to class discussions that makes for better papers after hearing so many different takes on what others may have found. There were some who kept their same opinions as before reading the article, which is that taxidermy fills them with disgust. Then there were some students like me who expected the text to be weird once we discovered it would be about taxidermy, then after reading, recognized it as the profession that it is. After reading up on several perspectives, I will incorporate all of these ideas along with the "golden 6" that we use in class.
In my first essay, I made my audience generally specific meaning I was specific to my audience, yet it was pertinent to the human race in general because everyone finds something in someone else that they may not like whether they know the people or not. My essays are different from my class in that they are not cliche and start off with intro and conclusion templates. They are also always filled with emotion from my personal feeling after reading. With this type of essay, it is more controversial because yes everyone is judgmental at some point like in "Standing By" but with taxidermy, there are many animal lovers who simply can't relate to it no matter what. The role for my essay about "Lifelike" is to get animal lovers to think like those who are willing to compromise with the idea of taxidermy. Although taxidermy may not be widely accepted, there will still be taxidermist. It would be hypocritical to wish for respect of animals if you cannot even respect another human being by demeaning what they consider a profession.
In my first essay, I made my audience generally specific meaning I was specific to my audience, yet it was pertinent to the human race in general because everyone finds something in someone else that they may not like whether they know the people or not. My essays are different from my class in that they are not cliche and start off with intro and conclusion templates. They are also always filled with emotion from my personal feeling after reading. With this type of essay, it is more controversial because yes everyone is judgmental at some point like in "Standing By" but with taxidermy, there are many animal lovers who simply can't relate to it no matter what. The role for my essay about "Lifelike" is to get animal lovers to think like those who are willing to compromise with the idea of taxidermy. Although taxidermy may not be widely accepted, there will still be taxidermist. It would be hypocritical to wish for respect of animals if you cannot even respect another human being by demeaning what they consider a profession.
Assignment 7
1.) Why do you think Orlean references the Bible at the end of the story, or at all?
2.) Why do you think Orlean was so graphic in her writing?
1.) The very last sentence of "Likelike" is really separated from the rest of the text. "Otherwise, the room was Biblically tranquil, the lion at last lying down with the Corsican lamb, the family of jackdaws in everlasting, unrequited pursuit of a big green beetle, and the stillborn Bengal-tiger cub magically revived, its face in an eternal snarl, alive-looking although it had never lived." Susan Orlean talks about the slaughter of animals throughout the entire text, then refers to the Bible suddenly. This was a great way to make sure the reader was paying attention from the beginning to the very end. One will wonder 'how can you make a biblical reference about using deceased animals as an art form?' Orlean does a good job of breaking down how taxidermists justify it.
2.) Orlean was very straight forward about how serious taxidermy is to those who are involved and even got down to the fine details of making dead animals look real; from their heads, and for those who did full bodies, down to their toenails. A couple of taxidermists literally had a conversation about the toenails on an animal: "What did you do for toenails, Ken?" someone asked.
"I left the black bear's toenails in," he said. "They looked pretty good."
Someone like myself who is far from an expert on taxidermy would that it simply consists of stuffing a dead animal. In reality, they order parts, bleach them, mix them to create other species and so on. Orlean did a wonderful job of getting into great detail about how much work is put into the profession, no holds barred.
2.) Why do you think Orlean was so graphic in her writing?
1.) The very last sentence of "Likelike" is really separated from the rest of the text. "Otherwise, the room was Biblically tranquil, the lion at last lying down with the Corsican lamb, the family of jackdaws in everlasting, unrequited pursuit of a big green beetle, and the stillborn Bengal-tiger cub magically revived, its face in an eternal snarl, alive-looking although it had never lived." Susan Orlean talks about the slaughter of animals throughout the entire text, then refers to the Bible suddenly. This was a great way to make sure the reader was paying attention from the beginning to the very end. One will wonder 'how can you make a biblical reference about using deceased animals as an art form?' Orlean does a good job of breaking down how taxidermists justify it.
2.) Orlean was very straight forward about how serious taxidermy is to those who are involved and even got down to the fine details of making dead animals look real; from their heads, and for those who did full bodies, down to their toenails. A couple of taxidermists literally had a conversation about the toenails on an animal: "What did you do for toenails, Ken?" someone asked.
"I left the black bear's toenails in," he said. "They looked pretty good."
Someone like myself who is far from an expert on taxidermy would that it simply consists of stuffing a dead animal. In reality, they order parts, bleach them, mix them to create other species and so on. Orlean did a wonderful job of getting into great detail about how much work is put into the profession, no holds barred.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Assignment 6: Choices
"As soon as the 2003 World Taxidermy Championships opened, the heads came rolling in the door."
Susan Orlean wrote "Lifelike", an article about her interpretation on how taxidermists perceive their job. Her readers should appreciate the way she introduces the article as I did because it doesn't get up slow; it gets straight to what the entire article will be about. It seems that Orlean does so to snag the readers' attention immediately rather than allowing them to read a boring introduction that in turn gives readers more of a reason to not want to continue reading. The introducing is so important because that determines the rest of a read. If it does not reflect what the rest of the writing will be about, and very quickly, readers are already confused at the start which leads to further frustration as the reading continues.
Throughout the article, Orlean uses an inconsistency of paragraph styles which adds interest to the reader's eyes. The very first paragraph seems to be the perfect size-not too long, not too short. After that, there is another good sized paragraph, then a few quotes listed in separated lines followed by heftier paragraphs. This way, the reader does not get overwhelmed with several large paragraphs back to back. Instead they are surprised with quotes here and there singled out to stand out in their minds as to what they could mean to the people saying them, in this case, taxidermy. This was a good writerly choice Orlean used rather than allowing important quotes to get lost in the more beefy paragraphs:
"Acetone rubbed on a squirrel tail will fluff it right back up."
"My feeling is that it's quite tough to do a good tongue."
"The toes on a real competitive piece are very important. I think Bondo works nicely, and so does Super Glue."
"I knew a fellow with cattle, and I told him,'If you ever have one stillborn, I'd really like to have it.' I thought it would make a really nice mount."
Susan Orlean wrote "Lifelike", an article about her interpretation on how taxidermists perceive their job. Her readers should appreciate the way she introduces the article as I did because it doesn't get up slow; it gets straight to what the entire article will be about. It seems that Orlean does so to snag the readers' attention immediately rather than allowing them to read a boring introduction that in turn gives readers more of a reason to not want to continue reading. The introducing is so important because that determines the rest of a read. If it does not reflect what the rest of the writing will be about, and very quickly, readers are already confused at the start which leads to further frustration as the reading continues.
Throughout the article, Orlean uses an inconsistency of paragraph styles which adds interest to the reader's eyes. The very first paragraph seems to be the perfect size-not too long, not too short. After that, there is another good sized paragraph, then a few quotes listed in separated lines followed by heftier paragraphs. This way, the reader does not get overwhelmed with several large paragraphs back to back. Instead they are surprised with quotes here and there singled out to stand out in their minds as to what they could mean to the people saying them, in this case, taxidermy. This was a good writerly choice Orlean used rather than allowing important quotes to get lost in the more beefy paragraphs:
"Acetone rubbed on a squirrel tail will fluff it right back up."
"My feeling is that it's quite tough to do a good tongue."
"The toes on a real competitive piece are very important. I think Bondo works nicely, and so does Super Glue."
"I knew a fellow with cattle, and I told him,'If you ever have one stillborn, I'd really like to have it.' I thought it would make a really nice mount."
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