Reflective Post

1) What information did you find useful in this class?

I found it useful to analyze things in a deeper perspective. I always accepted things for what they were but this class helped me to look beyond the surface and find a deeper meaning of things.

2) What was your favorite part of this class?

I liked the fact that we were able to pick our own artifacts to analyze. I think that made everything that much easier, by looking into something that interested us. I also enjoyed the group work because when we discussed different methods of criticism it became easier hearing other classmates opinions.

3) What do you think was the most challenging aspect of this class?

Some of the methods were hard to understand. It was hard to pick an artifact that would suffice. For example Fantasy Criticism. I could not fully understand it so it was hard for me to pick an artifact to analyze with this method.

4) How might you incorporate the knowledge and experiences gained from this class into your life beyond this classroom?

I learned to look at things critically. I learned to observe things at different views to deeper understand things. I think it will become useful in different aspects of life.

5) Think of a question or issue that is most pressing to you right now. How would you use your knowledge of rhetoric and/or rhetorical criticism to gain perspective on this question or issue?

My friend has a lot on her mind. There is an issue but she didn’t tell me what is wrong. She is giving me hints but not flat out saying what’s wrong with her. I used metaphoric criticism to analyze her and to listen to what she says on a deeper level. I believe this class has helped me to pay attention more, so I can soon help my friends and family if there is something bothering them.

Final Paper Idea

For this last artifact, I decided to choose something personal. I chose a poem that my best friends Camille Rahatt wrote recently. She had gone through a major event this semester that has changed her life forever, and of course I was there since day one to help her try to slowly heal. One of the ways she has been allowing her self to emotionally vent it through her writing. This poem is defiantly very touching for me since I was affected by her loss and have a great amount of love for her.

Camille wrote metaphorically to express her pain and emotions in this poem. I found that it would be easy to analyse this poem using metaphoric criticism. Not only does this topic interest me but it will also be easy to elaborate on since she used many metaphors. I am connected to this poem so my level of interest will also motivate me to continue to write strong.

Fantasy Themed Criticism

The artifact that I decided to analyize was the song Unpretty by TLC. I had trouble with this assignment because choosing an artifact was hard for me. I listened to the song a couple times and tried to break it down using fantasy themed criticism. There are messages in this song that are meant for the listeners to hear and interpret for themselves. In the book on page 98, it stated that the fantasy is the interpretation that is accomplished in communication. It also states that common emotion can be set off by agreed upon cues in the song, which I believe this song has a lot of.

Setting Themes:

Relationships

Everyday life

Homes of people

Character Themes:

Young women

Girls

Young men

Boys

Action Themes:

People wanting to change their appearance to be accepted

Not feeling pretty

Plastic surgery

Not feeling loved not feeling as is the standards were met based on appearance

Learning to love yourself the way you are

trying to change for people you think love you ( relationships)

Unpretty lyrics

I wish could tie you up in my shoes

Make you feel unpretty too

I was told I was beautiful

But what does that mean to you

Look into the mirror who's inside there

The one with the long hair

Same old me again today (yeah)

My outsides look cool

My insides are blue

Everytime I think I'm through

It's because of you

I've tried different ways

But it's all the same

At the end of the day

I have myself to blame

I'm just trippin'

[Chorus:]

You can buy your hair if it won't grow

You can fix your nose if he says so

You can buy all the make up

That M.A.C. can make

But if you can't look inside you

Find out who am I too

Be in the position to make me feel

So damn unpretty

I'll make you feel unpretty too

Never insecure until I met you

Now I'm bein' stupid

I used to be so cute to me

Just a little bit skinny

Why do I look to all these things

To keep you happy

Maybe get rid of you

And then I'll get back to me (hey)

My outsides look cool

My insides are blue

Everytime I think I'm through

It's because of you

I've tried different ways

But it's all the same

At the end of the day

I have myself to blame

I'm just trippin'

[Chorus]

For the assignment I viewed the movie Pride. I chose this movie because I am a big fan of the actors Terrance Howard and Bernie Mac. I was not sure if the movie was going to be a good one or not. I figured if some of my favorite actors are starring in the movie, I would stay connected and interested in the film, which would make this assignment more enjoyable.

This movie is based on a true story, which is also very interesting to me. Jim Elis Jim Ellis, a real-life swim coach, found the Marcus Foster Recreation Center and coached the swim team, which happened to be very talented and successful. This movie displays Ideological criticism in many ways. Since he was turned down by a white job at a high school, finding the run down, junky community center with the pool, ideological criticism is displayed since he was able to follow his hopes and dreams and make something great come out of a time when he had nothing. He found the value in the community center and he made sure that no matter how discouraged his swimmers were, they would be successful and winners.

This was during a time of prejudice and racism, so it was hard for this African American team. Elis and the boys were looked upon with disgust just because they had a different skin color. Also they were not a rich as the other people in the community. Ellis didn’t even have a home; he lived in the community center. These facts did not keep the team from reaching their goals. As long as they had hope and motivation, they could reach their dreams. This is definitely displaying ideological criticism.

The artifact that I decided to analyze with Pentadic Criticism was shelterboxusa.org. I will use the elements of pentad- act, agent, agency, scene, and purpose.

Agency: The organization( Shelter Box Usa)

Act: They respond instantly to natural and/ or manmade disasters by delivering boxes of aid to those who are most in need. Each box has the essential needs of living for a family of ten

Scene: This is happening now. Donations and efforts are contributing world wide for Haiti, Peru, Egypt and more.

Purpose: To help the devastated families of the unfortunate get back on their feet.

Agency: They track the weather to try and pinpoint where disaster may strike before it happens. This allows them to be prepared and to have the equipment ready to shit the boxes. Donations are made worldwide from other organizations, schools, churches etc.

After analyzing this artifact with Pendatic Criticism I've come to realize that this website provides enough information for individuals to learn about the good that they are doing when they make donations. It allows other organizations to learn about shelter box and want to donate or help out. This page is great in my opinion because it allowed viewers like myself to see exactly where my donations are going (to what country), and how it is helping. The pictures are also very persuasive and reinforcing. This page also informed me of other countries that have recently been struck by disaster. Some individuals may be unaware of what other countries may need help, but this web site provides a list of the countries, and the number of people that were effected. This web site is very motivational.

The artifact that I chose to do and ideological analysis of was teen pregnancy and everything that leads up to this; sex, contraceptives, and choosing to be abstinent or not. More and more teenagers are becoming sexually active today. Even more of them are becoming pregnant. I chose this artifact because I believe it is very valuable. When people look at statistics and the reality of what’s going on, there will be debate and people with have different beliefs and beliefs on the topic.

For example, in the movie pregnancy pact, a bunch of high school girlfriends decided that they would all get pregnant at the same time together. One of the mothers, that didn’t believe her child was having sex, voted that contraceptives should not be passed out in school because it will condone the fact that they are having sex. Does contraceptive distribution really encourage teens to have sex or does it make them prepared to protect themselves from STDs and pregnancy? This issue affects both males and females age fifteen to at least twenty plus. All races and classes are included.

Religion can play a role in the teenagers’ actions. If they are very religious and believe that sex before marriage is wrong, they are more likely to be abstinent. If they aren’t as religious, they may feel that sex is okay whenever. That isn’t always the case though. For example, in the TV show The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Grace Bowman is a faithful Christian that decided to have sex, even though her fifteen-year-old classmate Amy Jeregens got pregnant and had a baby. This show as well as tries to reinforce the issue and reveal different opinions, and beliefs pertaining to my artifact. I hope after everyone can now see how abstinence, sex, and pregnancy is linked to ideology.

3 ideas

One artifact that I think I could analyze using the ideological method of criticism is marriage because, it is a topic that can stir debate based on different opinions and beliefs. After talking to young people ages 18-25, many of them have had bad experiences with relationships, which is causing them to not want to get married. Since this audience would be a younger crowd, the critic can used questions such as, what does the artifact want the audience to think about, to actually show them why marriage isn’t evil lol.

I think abstinence would be appropriate for ideological criticism, because it is a topic that is surrounded by many opinions, beliefs, and values. The critic could make the essay interesting by including what the artifact suggests is negative, unacceptable, undesirable etc. This is a great opportunity to list the biblical reasons why abstinence is appropriate and should be practiced, or even STD statistics. If the critic wants to go in the other direction by including why abstinence shouldn’t be practiced, he/she would review the question What values or general conceptions of what is and not good are suggested? This would cover all views of the artifact, both for and against it.

Another artifact that I would be interested in analyzing using the ideological method of criticism is abortion. When reviewing the questions on page 218 of the text, I was able to answer all of the questions listed to help articulate ideology in an artifact. I believe that many people have different beliefs on this topic and will engage in intense debate, or even further research to get new statistics. “ What does the artifact want the audience to think about?” Life and death. What does the artifact ask the audience to believe, understand, feel or think about?