Assignment 11: Rhetorical Analysis and Explaining Choices

1.To what is the composer drawing the audience attention? What might the composer be able to overlook by focusing the audience attention in this way?

I think that Stein is drawing the audience attention towards technology and how it is slowly becoming more human like. This makes it hard to determine whether or not consumers are thinking and acting independently. The composer might be overlooking the impression of consumers as creating the catalysts for making the revolution of technology a reality. Stein makes an allusion to George Orwell's "1984" in order for her audience to see how the production of new technology and the introduction of the MacIntosh is a method  which strongly persuades consumers of the ideals which drives advertising. "The incantations of the voice emanating from the screen recall the Newspeak of the novel, a form of ideological brainwashing that ruthlessly curtailed the words permitted expression in the totalitarian society of 1984" (Stein 292).I think that Stein is illustrating to her readers that Apple will save consumers of IBM and revolutionize the extension os personal computing to the home. I feel that Stein makes the comparison of Apple to that of an authoritarian state in her analysis because it shows readers that the media functions to constrain individuality in which I feel afflicted.

2. What role does the author take toward the audience? Is the composer acting as a lecturer, a parent, a peer, a friend? Is this role appropriate for the purpose?

I think that Stein is acting in the role of a teacher in order to share how advertisements in the media are constructed in such way that changes or gives the audiences a certain perspective or is strongly influenced to have a specific belief about what ever is being shown to the public. I think that this role is appropriate because it allows readers to understand how the media functions to influence everyday decisions that we make. Playing the role of the teacher gives insite to the audience and allows them more opportunity to think as an individual not apart of the controlled masses. In this case, Stein's purpose in writing about the MacIntosh ad is explaining how Apple promises freedom and revolution through new technology in personal computing and how the production of new technology prolongs this cycle of indoctrination. Stein references Benjamin's theory om reenchantment in order for her readers to see how Apple calls on the ideals of freedom and revolution in order to maintain consumer interests in new technology."In 1984, the emergence of a new form of computer that was to revolutionize the consumer market called on new ways of representing reenchantment" (Stein 296). I never really took much thought into the intentions that the media presents to me as a consumer of society. I am bothered that it's almost as if I am being abused and taken advantage of because all of these companies purposefully makes defective products because they know that eventually I will have to buy something in replace of it. Stein uses Benjamin's theory of re-enchantment in an ever evolving technological society which convinced me that we are naive and easily influenced by the way in which things are presented to us.
o 3.What claims, reasons, and warrants are explicit or implied in the text? 
 In the 1984 MacIntosh Ad, the claim that Stein makes is that technology is not what controls he people, but it is the discourses and false impressions for which technology is advertised that calls  on consumer ideals and places them in a state of allure. A writerly choice that Stein makes is the distinction between the ideal of revolution and freedom that is presented to consumers and their ability to think as independents that are spellbound by these ideals. A question that Stein poses says, "Is advertising a reflection of society?" (291). To answer that,"The tensions and ambivalence so often present in dreams of technological salvation and enchantment are strongly evident here: the dehumanized and brainwashed legions of workers, their bodies as broken as their minds are shackled, alienated from their surroundings and each other, mesmerized by the lure and cadence of new technology" (Stein 292). I feel almost as if I am restrained and feel like I am a prisoner to my ideals. I feel like that is what guides making everyday decisions in life. An example would be that if I go to college I will have a better living and make more money. I think that this is an ideal that many are socialized into. In all honesty, this is only part of the reason but more so I am in college so that I can have a career that I actually enjoy doing and have fun with. I feel that Stein identifies humans as agents becoming more mechanized by the formation of new technology because we have to socialize to the ever changing ways of the world or we would not survive.

I think that all of these paragraphs will work together in showing how the emergence of new technology and the ideals that it presents are based on consumer expectations which propels their minds and ability to act individually but at the same time while being prisoners in their own minds. The argument that Stein makes is that Apple is not controlling consumer choices, it is the consumer ideals and expectations that controls the decisions they make, and in this case, it's about technology. Consumers are always developing new expectations for better and more efficient technology in replacement of the old and what they consider to be non-beneficial to one's own life anymore. Society is always developing newer technology and as this development continues, so also does the idea that the answer to problems is new technology. I feel that Stein     defines how the MacIntosh is a mirror image of consumer expectations in which we become prisoners to our own minds.

Group Work Reflection

We were working together pretty well. I felt like we did well working with each others ideas and perhaps seeing how they flow together and make sense of the section that we were focusing on. However, I still felt as though looking back at the essay may have been a little bit overwhelming. The group I was in was a little bit quiet and I did feel as though I had to make the effort into getting others to participate when everyone got silent. I think that working with others' ideas can offer a different view ad help us understand or look at the text in a different way that helps us understand the text and help us write better essays.

One Pager Analyses

1. (Analysis of Ad) 

What interested or grabbed my attention was the fact that they said that workers are becoming more roboticized and that people are materializing their fears. I feel that machines are slowly taking over jobs and other processes that humans do the work for because they rely on that work in order survive and make a living. I see how the media proposes such ideals as a method used to bring in consumers and maintain them with new products once old ones become defective. The fear that machines are becoming more human is real because as technology changes, so does the way we access jobs, people, and etc. It's like people are forced to having to adapt to the new standards and use of technology in order to survive or make a living. I think that Stein uses so many references instead of being blunt in her essay to show different audiences how it relates to them because not everyone necessarily thinks in similar ways about her essay. This groups ideas works with my own groups ideas because Apple is providing a false image that they are going to give freedom and control through personal computing when in actuality consumers are still being brainwashed that the production of new technology in place of the old will solve all problems.

2. (The Rhetorical Context of the 1984 Ad)

What intrigued me is the part of this one pager that said that this new breed of ads is effective in grabbing and keeping the consumer's attention and requiring them to decipher obscure symbols and narratives. I think that Apple has constructed the ad from a consumer perspective that portrays the idea of a major shift in new technology allowing the user to have full control of what they do. A question that I thought of was, are the consumers really making their own decisions in using this new technology or are they still being strongly persuaded/brainwashed into believing the ideals that the MacIntosh Ad is trying to present? The question that this group raised is advertising a reflection of society or is society a reflection of advertising?. I think that Stein includes this quote in order to think about the intentions for which advertisements have towards presenting them to consumers for self-gain. I think that society is a result of advertising because in some way or another they were influenced by an ad or some form of media the ideals that they are presented with will some how change their lives in one way or another. I see this groups ideas working with our groups ideas because the way in which the MacIntosh ad is presented shows that consumers are just an object to which technology is an extension of the underlying forced conditions of technology.

Ideas or Concerns
I am still unsure of Stein's stance on the MacIntosh ad. She talks about the ad and uses so many references that it's hard to see or define exactly how she feels and her purpose in the ad.

How does the reference to Blade Runner relate to the 1984 MacIntosh ad?

An idea that I thought of in analyzing the one pagers is perhaps Apple is wanting to overthrow IBM and become the new "big" company and become the new "IBM"  in which consumers are being brainwashed through false pretenses into using Apple technology.

Tentative Controlling Purpose
I think that advertisements work in order to construct people's thoughts which subjects them to the restraints of the technology.

Assignment 10

1. How does the image of the Running Woman in the MacIntosh ad portray the image of a revolution within the evolving domesticity of personal computing, or does it not?

2. Why or how has the attitude of technophobia changed over the period of time in which the MacIntosh was introduced during the Superbowl?

Summary

In Stein's "1984" MacIntosh Ad, it is a pivotal time during the Super Bowl where many companies have the privilege to have their ads displayed to the public. This commercial which advertises the MacIntosh as the proposed ideal to a revolution within the world of computing in the home. The MacIntosh ad, which aired only one time, portrayed the image of a world filled with brainwashed people who became subject to the control of the popular computer manufacturer at the time IBM. Apple portrays the idea that we will one day be saved from IBM and regain our freedom but is true freedom expressed by being able to do what we want  on the internet? In all actuality, our world is becoming more subject to requiring the internet in order to adapt to the development of new technology and therefore the fear of technology destroying our world arises. I feel that as new technology develops, we are becoming subjects of control as the need to adapt becomes more evident. I think that Stein wrote her essay in order to show how the MacIntosh ad was an instrument used to revolutionize the world of personal computing.

I think that Stein wanted to research this essay to show her readers how the portrayal of products in ads are constructed in such a way that changes the human discourse. This in turn allows the consumers of these products to construct a self identity based on the ideology of what is illustrated as life-changing or revolutionary. As consumers of technology, we sometimes are subject to believe that every new form of technology being produced is essential to our well being. As time passes by, I see that technology is slowly becoming the new source to find answers to anything about the world. This is why I think that the introduction of the MacIntosh has been so revolutionary in the "freedoms" given by use of personal computing. As new technology is being produced and more commonly used, consumers and also people who may not even use technology are being controlled or and forced to adapt to the lifestyle of using technology. Stein's purpose is to show how advertising is always made in a way that pushes consumers into creating a self-identity through the ideological perspectives illustrated in advertisements.

I think that Stein would have hoped that here readers were able to see how companies construct their ads in this ideal way in order for the consumers to develop a want and or need for whatever is being advertised. This is especially true when it comes to technology  such as personal computing in which Stein constructs her essay about. Almost everything that humans normally do and can do is slowly being replaced with the use of machines. As advertisements construct images that show what an ideal future can look like with the production of new technology brainwashes consumers into buying and always replacing old technology with new technology. Stein wants her readers to understand the fear of technology that consumers have as they are forced to adapt to the changing times and how it may affect the human perspective of society and how it is slowly becoming more mechanized.

I got this thought from various moments in the text where Stein provides many points and examples that shows how advertising during an essential time for the advertising market plays an essential role in persuading consumer discourse. "It turned the Super Bowl from a football game into advertising's Super Event of the year" (Stein 279). The fact that all of America got to see the McIntosh ad during the Super Bowl let alone the fact that it only aired one time says a lot. This gives the notion that it is especially important that in advertising through mass  media, one does so during a time where many viewers can see it. The ad aired one time but the image of the Running Woman portrayed the idea that a revolution would occur with the introduction of Apple into the world of personal computing. We, as consumers, would soon come to realize that the freedom that Apple promises to bring and release us from the brainwashing of IBM. I really feel that as a consumer, we are easily persuaded through the ideals portrayed that we always need something. Consumers are then creating a self-identity where they have can do anything with just the click of a mouse. "If the computer is an invention and extension of the human mind, the bodiless head floating on the screen is a reenactment of the human body becoming obsolete" (Stein 292). I really feel that as consumers of technology, we are becoming objects subject to the brainwashing techniques of advertising, therefore being forced to adapt to the constantly changing times. I am scared for the future that if we continue on like this, the computer will be the new human race and there will  be no need for humans to do anymore work.

Assignment 9

I feel that when I write, I am building relationships with those who have similar opinions to myself about certain issues such as that in my most recent paper "Lifelike". I initially took the stance that I thought "Taxidermy was a disgusting hobby to dabble into because one was dealing with dead things" and knowing the messy and gruesome details of the process it takes to do such work. After rereading the "Lifelike" essay, I found out that the essay was being told from the viewpoint of a reporter. Knowing this small but crucial detail helped me to understand the essays purpose and to think about not just my opinion but to submerge myself into the mindset of others in the hopes that my audience will see the other side of things. As I have written in "Lifelike," I took the time the to put myself in the shoes of the Taxidermists to understand from my perspective and see how the art of dealing with dead animals has transformed into recreating the most precious and rare moments in the nature of animal lives.

In my writing, I am building relations with people who are against mistreatment of animals with the hopes that they can see in some way how Taxidermy is a growing art made to show appreciation for animal lives and their contributions to the world. I did a little bit of research on Susan Orlean the author of "Lifelike" to help me understand that she was a journalist who wanted to shed light on the art of Taxidermy. I made connections with my audience by saying that "I was disgusted by the gruesome amount of dead deer that Taxidermists used." I also felt that I made a stronger connection with my audience as I gave descriptions of what was seen as well. “The deer came in herds, on carloads, and on pallets: dozens and dozens of whitetail and roe; half deer and whole deer and deer with deformities.” (Orleans 1). I felt like this description also led into the idea of Taxidermy as an art to acknowledge talent and also the beauty of dead things. "Deer were sneezing and glowering and nuzzling and yawning; chewing apples and bucks nibbling leaves” (Orlean 1)." Understanding and giving background on what the author does and has done is a key part in understanding me as a writer and my purpose for writing.

I think that the ethical dimension of communication to me means the beliefs and values that I regard as essential to the world or what I believe to be write and/or wrong. I think that my work engages in the ethical dimension of communication because I let my readers know how I feel about t what I believed Taxidermy to be as an improper form of using dead animals and seeing how this has transformed into an admirable art form. I allowed myself to visualize and understand that not all people share similar beliefs of Taxidermy and being able to explore this through writing has shown me this to be true. I always thought badly about Taxidermy because of all the stories that I hear of animal poaching, cruelty, and etc. . “It was precise and lovely, almost haunting, since the more you looked at it the more certain you were that the birds would just stop building their nest, spread their wings, and fly away” (Orlean 6). This quote especially has shown me the other side of this art. What I initially saw as creepy and sometimes revolting, I then saw the beauty within this form of the restoration of animal life within time. 

Revising My Paper
- Be more specific and focus on the main idea and writerly choices that support
- Being concise
- Pick good writerly choices and establish the connection that they have in relation to my purpose
- Arranging my text in a way that makes sense and helps the readers understand me as a writer

Assignment 8

What stood out to me is how some of the other student's picked up on the idea that Orlean had subtly through her own opinion about Taxidermy in her essay rather than just making it seem that as a writer and a reporter that she is just a one-sided person. She says "there were animal-mannequins blank faced and brooding, earless and eyeless and utterly bald, ghostly gray duikers and spectral pine martens and black-bellied tree ducks from some other world" (Orlean 1). I get the subtle hint of her opinion that taxidermy pieces are weird and creepy as she uses words such as "blank faced," "ghostly," and "utterly." On the other hand, my attention is still drawn in because I feel like Orlean is presenting interesting details which create mental images of the ducks, deer heads, and many other animals that the Taxidermists at this convention are making. At first I had not noticed that Orlean often played on people's feelings about Taxidermy throughout her text. For example she says "an entire exhibit hall was filled with equipment, all the gear required to bring something dead back to life" (Orlean 1). I think that this quote gives off a feeling of surprise that people who dislike mistreatment of animals could relate to but as a reader they could appreciate reliving or seeing the beauty in dead animals again. I think that other readers may have picked up on this sooner than be myself because they didn't necessarily read the entire text with the opinion that Taxidermy is horrible and nothing can ever change my opinion about that. This shows that reading with an open mind will allow one as a writer to be more credible and to grow and develop good writing skills. I often found myself reading with a one-tracked mind and not necessarily seeing or understanding both sides. In my Assignment 5, I was so hung onto the idea that Taxidermy was disgusting and how against it I was that I didn't really understand the text until I sat back and just thought about it from the point of view of a person who does enjoy Taxidermy not as a sport  but as an admiration for animals. I said that "Not all people of every culture adopt the same or similar values so it is possible to expect that such a controversial act would be seen as an act of great artistry." Knowing this, I reread the text and Orlean's purpose was then becoming clear to me and also some of her writerly choices.I will go about writing my next essay by keeping an open mind to allow me to understand and make clear writerly choices to help the reader understand Orlean's text but to gauge who I am as a writer.


In my first essay, I thought about my audience as people coming into a different environment that they are new to and therefore just want to explore and get to know it. Sometimes. as human beings, when we are exploring new people, situations and environments we often do not hear what we are really saying or doing. One movement of a body part can say a lot about who one truly is when they are taken out of their comfort zone. In my Lifelike essay, I will think about my audience as students who are learning about Taxidermy and it's purpose for being around. I want my audience to feel an appreciation and respect for animals, not because they are dead, but because they are great pieces of art that can express feelings of love and admiration for them. I would describe my tone as surprised but also curious. I myself didn't know much about Taxidermy and I felt like reading Lifelike gave me a knew perspective and understanding of what it really was and the purpose that it served. I think that what sets my essay apart from other people's essay is the different ideas that I may have then other people. It may bring interest to my readers about who I am as I writer and will lead them to read more.

Assignment 7

Choices

Taxidermy Developed Into an Art
1. Why does Orlean choose to play  on her reader's emotion over the controversial art of Taxidermy?

   I personally was confused as Orlean was going back and forth between loving and hating Taxidermy.
"The deer came in heards, in carloads, and on pallets" and "There were millions of eyes, boxes, and bowls; of them some as small as a lentil, and some as big as a poached egg" (Orlean 1). Orlean's tone as she describes what she saw felt like disgust and repulsiveness especially through the discription of those details. She uses words like "carloads" and "pallets" to describe the excessive amount of dead animal carcases and hides that she had witnessed coming into the Taxidermy Convention (Orlean 1). She also uses comparative words like "as small as" and "as big as" in order for her readers to make a connection between the size and details of the body parts that these Taxidermist's used. Also thoroughout the text, Orlean includes a part that showed the growing popularity of Taxidermy as an art and  not for sport. "In 1971, the National Taxidermy Association was formed" (Orlean 2). This quote illustraes Taxidermy as an art and its growing popularity within the common culture. Orlean, throughout this texts also describes the beauty for such winderful pieces of art including two- tree sparrows that were going to stop building their nest and fly away" (6). It is almost inevitable that an individual will assume an art such as Taxidermy as a dark art because of how they percieve it based on what they learned before. Not every person or the same culture oercieves Taxidermy in this way.  Orlean, in her text, has immersed herself in an environment full of Taxidermy to explore  the side of Taxidermy as agrowing art in the popular culure by exploring the different elements and amount of work it takes to create such a lifelike work of art.  I think that Orlean is pulling the attention of the readers who share feelings of disgust for making models with dead animals in order to pull the readers interest back in by persuading them that Taxidermy is an art of admiration for nature.


2. How does Orlean's choice to play on her reader's emotions contributes to her purpose?
   Orlean's choice to play on her reader's emotions is a conscious decision made in order to keep puling their attention back to the text so that they want to know and read more about it. She shared similar feelings of disgust and admiration as she analyzed what she saw while and the conversations she had with some of the Taxidermists at the convention. Taxidermy as an art takes a steady hand and tteious work to produce great pieces of art. It also takes an individual who is willing to get their hands dirty and possibly mess with dead animals that some individuals who dislike the idea of Taxidermy constitute that as a taboo and therefore has a negative implication towards it. "To be good at Taxidermy, you have to be good at sewing, sculpting, painting, and hairdressing and mostly you have to be a little bit of a zoology nerd" (Orlean 2). This quote describes the kind of work that it takes when taking part in an art such as Taxidermy. Orlean is giving the idea, in this quote, that Taxidermy does not necessarily have to be something that you have to like. It shows the similarities, skills, and growing admiartion for what they love to do. Orlean also explains this while using the term nerd. Using the term nerd allows the readers to make that connection they have something that they are really good at and enjoy doing similar to those who love and enjoy taking part in Taxidermy.

3. Why do you think that Orlean includes eccentricity about Taxidermy in the text?
    After reading the first two paragraphs of Orlean's essay "Lifelike," I automatically envisioned the mental image of dead animals killed and carelessly thrown into a pile to make sport with them. "The deer came in heards, in carloads, and on pallets" (Orlean 1). I personally do not agree with killing or even messing with the dead but as I read "Lifelike", my perception of Taxidermy as a taboo began to change. I think that Orlean was trying to persuade her readers that Taxidermy is considered to be an art shown by Taxidermist's love of animals. A quote that I found to be interesting was a woman that said, "I love deer. They're my babies" (Orlean 2). This quote made me think that this woman was crazy and out of her mind. When I read it again, I began to understand the connection that Taxidermists have with animals and creating them into works of art that would be around for a long time. This quote showed the eccentricity that this woman had for animals which I can see develop in many Taxidermists to some degree. One becomes so invested and makes a connection with their pets and other animals that they want something that will constantly give them that memory.

History of Taxidermy

1. How does the history of Taxidermy allow the reader to understand Orlean's essay?
    Being given the context of Taxidermy, it allows the reader to understand how it has grown into an art and perhaps why people have chosen to do it. "Taxidermy has been around and has grown in popoularity sincethe Victorian times"(Orlean 1). "There was a Soiety of American Taxidermists which hekd annual meetings and published scholarly reports" (Orlean 2). This quote alone shows the growth of Taxidermy as it was introduced to the culture at the time. It also shows that the members of that culture began to show a litle bit more acceptance of such a messy and unclean art of Taxidermy. "In 1971, the National Taxidermy Association was formed" (Orlean 2). This quote caught my attention because I think that Orlean is showing her readers how fast the interest pf Taxidermy took root and the amount of attention it has brought to this new and still growing popular form of art. Being given the history of Taxidermy and the growing admiration of what is now considered as an art allows the reader to understand why people do it and also why it has slowly grown away from the negative notions that people who are for animal rights may have.

2. Given the background for the history of Taxidermy, does it allow the reader to better understand Orlean's purpose?
   Given the history of Taxidermy it does allow me, as the reader to understand, Orlean's purpose. Orlean is trying to persuade her readers that Taxidermy is a form of artistry that is essentially reconstructing animals in the image of the Taxidermists in such a lifelike way. I think that Orlean did accomplish her purpose because she gives the context of Taxidermy and makes connections between the Taxidermists and those who detest it. A quote that I believe shows a connection that Orlean was making between the reader and the Taxidermists says "To be good at Taxidermy, you have to be good at sewing, sculpting, painting, and hairdressing and mostly you have to be a little bit of a zoology nerd" (Orlean 2). This quote shows a connection of the similarities between Taxidermists and people who are skilled at different things which most people consider nerds to be. Orleans includes this quote to make the connection that each person are all skilled at one thing or another and it does not have to necessarily be the same thing. Taxidermy takes just as much interest and skill just like any other hobby or subject that one takes pride in and are really good at.

Assignment 6- Choices

The first observation that I had made was seeing Taxidermy as a cultural Taboo and how they evolved into an art. As I read the beginning of the essay I came over 2 quotes, "The deer  came in heards, in carloads, and on pallets" and "There were millions of eyes, boxes, and bowls; of them some as small as a lentil, and some as big as a poached egg" (Orlean 1). I was extremely disgusted by the detail Orlean gives about the amount of dead deer because it sounded as if the deer were being slaughtered for one's own personal gain which I believe is wrong. I think that killing animals for one's own sake is sick and they deserve to rot in jail. I absolutely love animals and to hear such gruesome and careless descriptions of deer hide and animal eyes makes me upset. Orlean also referred Taxidermy as a "black art, and a wholly owned subsidery of witchcraft and voodoo" (2). I think that Orlean was trying to relate how she percieved taxidermy to be an art of the dark side befor she learned of about the rtue purpose that it serves which is to preserve animals in almost a lifelike way. I think that Orlean appealed to us who are learning about the morbid details of Taxidermy in order for us to channel those strong feelings into understanding and appreciating Taxidermy as an art that preserves those sacred moments in nature that one may never be able to witness.

Another choice that Orlean makes is giving some history on how Taxidermy has developed into an art form. "Then in the late nineteen-sixties, a transformation began: the business stearted to seem cleaner and less creepy" (Orlean 2). This confirms that people saw Taxidermy as a very horrifying and messy thing to take part in. She describes it as "morbid" because it was extremely unsanitery to dabble and mess around with animals let alone the dead. I felt weirded out by this idea that people would even dare to make hands on contact with dead animal carcasses. It's kind of sickening and it makes me detes the idea of being something good. "The popular culture also gained respect for this messy and morbid ar" (Orlean 2). As a result, schools began to open, competitions were being held, and word was spreading like wildfire about Taxidermy (Orlean 2).  The art of Taxidermy takes extreme skills and a meticulous eye to master. Orlean gives context in order to persuade her readers that Taxidermy means more than playing with dead animals. It means bringing back those precious momens of the past like the "two tree sparrows who were so lifelike that they looked as if they were going to fly away" (Orlean 6) I think that the background of the development of Taxidermy as an skillfull art was given in order to demonsrate the growing appreciation for animals and the purpose that they serve nature.

I had noticed that Orlean uses eccentricity in her essay in order to portray the overwhelming love that people have for Taxidermy. A quote that caught my eye said, "I love deer. Thay are my babies" (Orlean 2). Reading this quote alone, allowed me to feel that this woman or man was crazy. This person sounds like a complete nut who escaped from a mental institution. When I reread it, I began to feel the extreme amount of admiration tha was felt by this person. Maybe the deer was a pet or an animal that this person cared for all of the animal's life. I definitely understand more and know what it's like to develope such a strong bond with your pet and then lose them. Sometime one may even wish that they would always be with you forever. "You want it to be perfect. You're trying to make something come back to life" (Orlean 6). I feel as if his quote embodies the idea that Orlean is persuading us into considering Taxidermy as not a black art but an art meant to bring life back to the lifeless and make its beauty last forever. I believe that the eccentricity expressed by extreme animal lovers was interepreted throughout this text in order to allow people to express their admiration for animals and to appreciate them.

Assignment 6

Susan Orlean was an animal animal rights acvtivist turned graphic design. In her essay "Lifelike," Orlean is a journalist who is exploring the unnatural art of Taxidermy which some people view as taboo and dark arts and others who view Taxidermy as sort of liberating in restoring nature. When I began to learn about taxidermy, I thought of it as someone just killing animals, mutilating the bodies, and displaying them for sport. While reading "Lifelike," I began to see the other side to those who actually do Taxidermy as an art done out of respect. At the beginning, I read a quote that said " There were foxes, moose, and freeze-dried wild turkeys" and another one that read "The deer came in herds, in carloads, and on pallets" (Orlean 1). This had only confirmed my disgust and loathe for people who take part in Taxidermy. I strongly believe that it is wrong and that the dead should be left to rest in piece. Throughout her essay, Orlean gives many quotes about how seriousness many people take in the art of Taxidermy. More specifically she gives a quote of a woman saying, "I love deer. Those are my babies" (Orlean 2). Another quote an onlooker made about the panda read, "Whew, she made a beautiful mount" (Orlean 4). Orlean purposefully placed these quotes in her text in order to persuade her readers that Taxidermy is an art of bringing the dead back to life. Upon finishing her essay "Lifelike," I felt as if Orlean did just that. She gave context to the background and beginning of Taxidermy and how it was portrayed as a messy and gruesome art and how it has morphed into a popular art form which I now see as a love for the lifeless. I think that "Lifelike" was written in order for the readers to develop an appreciation for the rare moments in nature because it isn't everyday that one can perhaps see animals taking care of their families up close.

Assignment 5

List
-Taboos
- Repetition of Art
- PETA
- Context of the Art of Taxidermy
- Goes from Gallery full of "Art" to rehearsal dinners


This article seemed very confusing to me. I didn't really understand the purpose as to why this essay was written. Something that caught my attention was the taboo of an art that is looked down upon because it is solely used for personal gain and selfish reasons.  I personally believe that messing with the dead, let alone animals, is wrong in every way. The dead should just be left at piece no matter what. If people have absolutely nothing to do with their life, they should go read a book or something. Do not engage in preparing and creating dead sculptures and lifelike displays of the dead for money. How would these people feel if their bodies were disturbed afer death? Those committing such an act would probably will be haunted for their life. More so one will live in a paranoid state as a result of overwhelming guilt. I believe that Susan wants her readers to feel an appreciation for such an art that has and is continuing to grow in popularity in today's world of developing and contributing cultures. I think Orlean purposefully wrote the essay to allow us to see both sides of the story to such a controversial topic and new integration of the art of taxidermy.

Something that I noticed after reading Orleans essay "LifeLike" is the repitition of Taxidermy as Art and an act of clever and very lifelike artistry. Messing with the dead is essentially viewed as taboo or an act of the darkness. Nobody in their right mind, if they're sane, would ever think about doing such an act to  harm anything. Not all people of every culture adopt the same or similar values so it is possible to expect that such a controversial act would be seen as an act of great artistry. I guess what I am trying to express is that the main reason why most, if not all jobs or arts using dead animals, is to make a profit of some kind whether it's by monetary means or just notoriety. I think that his is the most gruesome thing that anyone can encur upon. If anyone was out of a job and had a last resort other than taxidermy, they should take the other route. For me personally, I believe that killing any animal and God forbid a human being is immoral in every aspect of the word. People should really begin to think about there actions and place themselves in the perspective of the animals.

Reading this article definitely made me upset and disgusted. It makes me just look at the people who do Taxidermy differently. It's just baffling and I can't even wrap my head around the idea of wanting to bring something dead back to life. It almost sounds as if this is an art of the dark side. The people who construct wha they percieve to be "works of art" do so like these animals are just puzzles put together piece by piece until the Taxidermists have reached their ultimate goal of being recognized for "creating" something that appears to be so real and lifelike. Looking from the perspective of the Taxidermists, engaging in and creating such lifelike pieces of ar allows us to appreciate nature and everything in it because without it, I world would never have developed into what it is today. Animals do play an important role in the growth of plants and the food chain which is essential to a flourishing life as well as the never ending life cycle.


Questions
1. What do you think Orlean's purpose was in using PETA in her article?

2. How do you feel about Taxidermy being referred to as an art in Orlean's article?

Reflecting on Revisions

The most interesting thing about the writer's paper that I read is that they definitely express how humorous Sedaris is in his essay.  This person says that they "lean more towards the humorous aspect" of Sedaris Essay.He points out that Sedaris uses "gassy quotes" to make the essay a bit humerous. This was interesting to me because I hadn't quite thought that Sedaris essay wasn't that humorous at all. I understood maybe why Sedaris made such remarks about some of the characters and the employees but I think that he did so out of boredom with the long waits and continuous delays. I personally thought thtat Sedaris was subconscioously being rude.

What stood out to me is that this writer often provides a general context for his writerly choices and just for his essay. I really do not see many specific examples from the text that shows why Sedaris essay is humorous. A general statement that this writer makes is 
 "the humor continued at a perfect balance throughout the writing, which helps to read at a great pace."  I believe that if this writer would have included specific examples when they were talking about the writerly choice, this draft would would have been stronger and it would have gave more context to and made Sedaris' purpose more clear.

I went about writing my essay by using writerly choices that not only myself but other readers could definitely relate to. I also decided upon using the writerly choices that I focused on because they were things that I can relate to as well as the feelings that I felt while reading the essay. I decided to compose my essay with an introduction to give background of Sedaris essay to he reader and to pull their attention in by giving an explanation of Sedaris essay in a way that the readers could relate it to their life. 

Some changes that I would make to my paper now is to definite;y include more of my voice to the readers so that they get a sense of who I am. I am so used to writing in the 2nd and third person that I often shy away from using "I" and giving my feelings and how I felt while writing an essay. An example is that "one of the most frustrating things about air traveling is timeliness and altogether the growing impatience of passengers and airline employees who have to deal with that."

I can see that I really want to express myself as a writer and by allowing myself to do so, it allows readers to see who I am as a writer which can help make me a stronger writer.

 

Standing By CP

I think that this affirms how our actions, feelings, and expressions of shared judgements allows our perception of people in the world to be misinterpreted which can contributes to a temperamental environment. 

Jessie Frohwirth- My Weekend

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Assignment 4- Choices

In reading Sedaris "Standing By", I observed that he made a design choice to use the picture of an angry flying airplane (Sedaris 275). Sedaris decision to use a picture of an angry airplane is an expression of how many people feel when they are going into a situation where they are strangers to one another and impatience grows about as fast as you can say one word. I also think that Sedaris chose to use the picture as an overall expression of how people felt during that period of time and the anger that people felt about the careless and hurtful decisions being made. I think that Sedaris choice to use this picture was a good choice which added a little bit of humor to the context. Sedaris might have chosen to do this for his readers to be able to see how the outward influence affect the people of society and how they conduct themselves as a result of the occuring issues at this point in time. This will allow readers to see how their behavior towards people occurs as a result of the outward influences placed upon them.

Another observation that I had noticed was Sedaris use of stereotypes when describing people's appearance. One that I had noticed specifically was his critical and very judgemental description of a young teenage father. He describes he young man's appearance using the words "visually dynamic (Sedaris 276). This young man wore braids with beads at the end, saggy shorts, and a shirt that read " Freaky Mohafocka" all while holding his son and traveling with his family (Sedaris 276). This gives the perception from an onlooker that he does not care much about his responsibilities as a father, that he may be all about living life young, and that he could care less about another human being. May be he was trying to make a statement with his shirt. The point that Sedaris wants his readers to understand is that we are quick to judge others and develop opinions that are contradicting to themselves because of what is heard from others. This may be done subconsciously withou meaning any harm or judgements.

Sedaris makes the conscious decision to reference the tragic terrorist attack made towards the United States 9/11. He uses the words of a flight attendant "pray" and I'll be right back" (Sedaris 275). This was shortly after the attack had happened. The United States was still shaken by this attack and even people in it with the fear of "will I die the next minute by the hands of another person or will I live?". This is a thought that many people would rather not be thinking of  as they are traveling or doing their daily routines but with the unpredictability of the actions of the people around us, you never know what to expect. I believe that this is essentially an idea that people have learned to live with despite the anxiety or distress it may cause. I believe that this horrifying event  contributed to the ignorance of the flight attendance, ticket agents, and the other employees. "Ma'am please step away from the counter" (Sedaris 275). This may appear to be rude being that this is coming from an employee whose job is supposed to make your flying experience more enjoyable. Seeing it from the perspective of the flight attendants, it can also be an unconscious action that was not meant to sound rude or dismissive. These sort of occurences do happen when people are anxious or shaken up by such horrifying events. Sedaris references the tragedy of 9/11 to show how its devastating efffects influence and continue to affect people today.

Something that I had not really thought of but became more aware of after I read Sedaris "Standing By" was the fact that it was written about his experience in an Airport. Why would he write this about an Airport? That is a pretty boring place and nothing exciting happens there. Sedaris chose to write about his experience in an Airport versus a Grocery Store because it is an extremely diverse place. One can see new people almost everytime and still be amazed at others. This can be by their actions, appearance, their close, or anything that seems different aside from what one is used to seeing or being around. As a traveler going into a new place, judgements and thoughts are always being made. This does not have to be said aloud but it is sometimes done in the back of one's mind. "She looks like a georgia peach with that thick tan." "They look like terrorists." "They seem lost and out of place." Sedaris makes a comment on the young father with the cornrows and vulgar shirt reading "Freaky Mothafocka" traveling with his grandparents calling him "Orgasm Donor" and making a statement that "I'm no Gynecologist, but I'm willing to take a look"(Sedaris 276). An Airport in comparison to a grocery store is an extremely diverse place where people have new experiences and are always judging others every time. Sedaris makes this design choice to show that our ideas on how we perceive other people to be or look like is essentially a thought influenced by people, events, and the media surrounding one.

Assignment 4

I believe that the context in which Sedaris wrote "Standing By" was shortly after the Presidential Election of 2008 for which Barack Obama had been elected. This was especially a bit controversial in the sense that it would and had changed many aspects throughout society drastically. One of many changes that has had a negative impact in job losses was the closing of a successful car manufacturer G.M. Throughout the time for which Obama has been and will continue his presidency, he has committed and passed many questionable ideas into law which has contributed to a very confused and careless society. Before Obama, America was once a flourishing society with a successful economy in which people of every social class benefited in some way whether it was attaining a job and being able to work and provide food or shelter for a family or being able to have government assistance to help get by with the bare essentials. These aspects for which many people depend on have changed dramatically making it harder for people who are homeless, unemployed, or have a job and live in fear that it may be taken away at any point in time. With this idea in mind, I thought of the quote "History repeats itself." by Karl Marx. This quote is especially true once we begin to look back and dissect the major historical events especially events which have hurt and placed historical trauma amongst many different cultural groups such as African Americans, Native Americans, and even Jews. In Sedaris case, his mind begins to wander once he makes his way to his flight (276).  It is only normal that going through a day full of unexpected surprises, one's mind does begin to shut down and become selective in such a way that one will become unconscious of the ideas and generalizations being made upon others.After conversing with Mr. Mustache, a fellow air traveler, he partially hears only what his mind is allowing him to. "Hello, this is Adolf Hitler." (Sedaris 277). Keeping in mind Adolf Hitler had essentially destroyed a country along with many Jews with the impression of one day developing a pure Aryan Society. Hitler had done so by having strict control in every aspect of his plan as one would in a dictatorship. In saying so, the ways in which we act or conduct ourselves is almost a mirror image of how the events and people whom we are surrounded by shape our perceptions and opinions of others.

Sedaris perception on how he sees the world is based almost as if it were a dictatorship in which one's goal s to have complete and total control over a certain group with the goal of attaining absolute dominance. In doing so, one will do so by by what ever means necessary whether it is by murder, torturing, or by placing fear amongst those seen fit to be inferior or below those of superior power. Sedaris definitely references the communist period for which Adolf Hitler was around and compares it to today's current presidency in which Barack Obama was elected to be the Presidency. Essentially, the US economy was successful and flourishing and just by the power of President's words a once prosperous car manufacturer, G.M., was forced to close down which meant the loss of jobs and also the fear of possibly losing the jobs being held now. This fear of possibly losing the only source or lifeline to get by each day definitely puts a strain on the group as a whole. This will eventually cause tension amongst our group and sometimes even bad feelings or disrespect that may not be entirely intentionally done. The way in which Sedaris perceives the world is that our perception of how we look at other people and places is essentially based on outward influences.

The way in which Sedaris imagines his readers in today's world are viewed as judgemental, critical, and sometimes even stereotyping. This occurs without even noticing that one may be even doing so and and acknowledging that one is fault may be difficult for some to admit. There may also be instances where one finds themselves engaged in a conversation with people surrounding  them and all of a sudden has something in common to talk about. This can be either positive or negative. The point that Sedaris is trying to make to his readers is that each one of us solely base our opinions and how we see other people, places, and different cultures based on what has been told to us or what is being heard whether it is from the media, other people, or the sources themselves. Sometimes people may decide to use that as a base for what we see and form our opinions of others without knowing them. The goal that Sedaris wants his readers to take away from "Standing By" is that we all are very critical and judgemental human beings that are easily influenced and persuaded by the opinions to other and are quick to pass judgement on people that we do not know.

Sedaris' wants his readers to see that they are judgemental and analytical which may be happening as a result  of fear and anxiousness that what has gotten them by each day can one day be taken away just by the words of the leader of our country. With this in mind, people are becoming more frantic and start to develop some sort of hostility towards people unintentionally because of the changes occurring in our world causing many to live with fear in the back of their minds. It is a scary idea to think about but knowing that problems as such are developing and there is nothing we can do about it we essentially have to be prepared for what may be to come. Sedaris' idea to compose his text in a magazine article rather than some other form of media was consciously done with the idea in mind that people generally read magazines to hear the latest gossip on celebrities. By writing the text in a magazine article, Sedaris is criticizing not only other people but himself as well with the idea that he wants his readers to see that how one conducts there opinions and judgements on others is a direct affect on the events occurring around them and how it is affecting the way that they carry and present themselves to others.

Sedaris, David. "Standing By." First Year Composition Reader. Boston: Pearsin, 2011. 275-277. Print

Assignment 3

Throughout Sedaris' Essay "Standing By," I felt a little bit upset and angered about the fact that the passengers flights kept changing. The idea that kept going through my mind is , "Do the flight attendants actually know when we are going to leave?", "Are they going to fix the problem?", and "How much longer will we have to endure this wait?" I slowly grew more impatient as the time passed by and as we continued to wait because I know what it is like to be continuously told that my flight will be departing at a later time and how it ruins the plans that I have for my trip. Sedaris did feel as though the flight attendants were just throwing out times to make him and others calm down and feel better about the fact that their flight would be leaving soon but it grew to a certain extent where he caught on to them and told them. "They told us we would leave at three instead of two-thirty and now they changed the time to four (275)." Sedaris, just as well as the fellow passengers, understood  the hassles of air travel and grew more fed up and impatient with the idea that nobody was ever going to be willing to help resolve this issue. I think that Sedaris felt as though the ticket agents and flight employees could care less about the needs and well-being of the passengers and cared more about their paychecks at the end of the day. I think this way because throughout the essay it was as if the employees at customer service, the ticket agents, and even the flight attendants would just excuse the passengers when attitudes started to arise as the passenger's impatience grew more and more as they waited.

As Sedaris would be waiting for his flights, there were people who had caught his attention. He may not have been looking for it purposefully but that is what happens when you are just sitting around as you wait and boredom begins to creep over. As his mind wandered what caught his attention was an older couple with a couple of teenagers more specifically the teenage father with a shirt reading "Freaky Mothafucka (Sedaris 276)." Was he trying to make a statement? Does he want people to think that he could care less about his son and more about partying, sex, and etc? That is something that most mature fathers in public especially with their parents just would not where out of respect. Sedaris describes the young boy's appearance as immature, disrespectful, and not ready to be a father. "This boy wore pants sagging below his wait, a revealing shirt, and he wore cornrows with blue beading like Stevie Wonder (276)." "The only ones having babies are the ones who shouldn't be having babies (276)." Sedaris raises the idea that if one wants to be respected and should be portrayed in the right light, it is important that the individual appears as such. It is mind bending how individuals, especially young people, are more ready to engage in such activities to make a baby but they are not ready to handle the responsibility to take care of the baby.

Sedaris at some point asks the question, "Who did you vote for in the last election? (276)" I thought this was kind of strange and random to ask this sort of question of a total stranger. The feeling that may come out of this might be "Why is this person questioning my political beliefs?" and "Would it matter to him what my beliefs are because I will not change that because of what he is telling me." Some people do get offended that someone is questioning them on such an issue that can become controversial as Hitler had been. Adolf Hitler was a very bad leader throughout history who wanted to destroy and get rid of the Jewish race in the hopes that one day he would develop a society of the pure Aryan race. He had extreme hate of the Jews and would do anything to get rid of them. "Isn't it amazing how quickly one man can completely screw up a country? (Sedaris 277)" Talking to the man with the mustache next to him helped him realize how today's government is destroying the economy and this is with Barack Obama as the leader of the country. Jobs were essentially lost with the closing of G.M. and many others companies. "They were doing fine, but now the federal government's telling them they have to close. Like this is Russia or something, a Communist country! (Sedaris 276)" Hitler had extreme hate for the Jews getting rid of them and in a similar way jobs are being cut hurting the middle-class and under. This brings backs such depressing, hurtful, and discriminatory feelings similar to those felt by the victims of Hitler's rage.

Sedaris, David. "Standing By." First Year Composition Reader. Boston: Pearsin, 2011. 275-277. Print

Questions

When Sedaris mentions the name Adolf Hitler, did it seem to bring about a more serious tone towards the end of the text?

While Sedaris is waiting in the airport, his mind begins to wander and , in his case, he starts to become very judgemental of others. Do you ever find yourself judging others consciously or without even knowing?

Sedars' "Standing By"

In Sedaris' essay "Standing By," he is describing his own personal experience with flying and the fears and difficulties that he had endured as well. One of the most frustrating things about air travel is timeliness of flights and altogether the growing impatience of passengers and even airline employee's dealing with these problems. "They told us we'd leave at three instead of  two-thirty so I went to go get a frosted pecan wrap, and when I came back they changed it to four (Sedaris 275)." As I am sure, this can be one of the most aggravating problems involved with air travel especially for  a business man who travels a lot like Sedaris. Meanwhile during these waits for on-schedule flights, one's  mind does tend to wander and begin to experience new and sometimes surprising people and may sometimes catch the attention of those unwanted which can sometimes be the most excruciating thing to endure. Sedaris begins to shift his attention to some of the most unpredictable appearances of others around him. Almost every time, there is always something astonishing about the people that you may see and the statements that they make just by their appearance , behavior, and how they conduct themselves. Soon after arriving to the connecting flight, Sedaris and any other passengers are directed to customer-service which was a big pain for everyone. At this point, the thoughts running through many individuals minds are " How are we going to get to...," or "The airline workers are never going to fix this problem," or maybe even "These people can care less about our plans." This can truly be a hassle for the passengers and the workers. Both groups of people are growing more impatient as the attitudes begin to show which contributes to no solution at all. At this point, the frustration and having heard many people complain Sedaris would rather be gone. Sedaris' mind begins to wonder about the grandmother and her children versus some young teen parents and their grandparents and is unwanted engaged in conversation with a fellow passenger. Throughout this conversation Sedaris and this man with a thick and curly mustache bonded over some things in common such as their anger for the attendant and how rude they were being. As a person coming into an environment, such as an airport, one may experience some weird and even crazier acquaintances that may even heighten the fear or even disgust of air travel. There may even be other people whom you may not want approach or engage in conversation with because of the statement they are making with how they are dressed or how their personalities portray them as. It can be a good thing to keep an open mind when traveling or in any public place of travel and conduct yourself in a manner that is safe and respectful to everyone around.

Assignment 2- Jessie Frohwirth

   As a college level English course, I do not expect that this class will be easy in any way, shape, or form. This is actually my second time taking this course. Knowing that, I know what to expect this time around. I do expect to be challenged and encouraged to step out of my comfort zone. More specifically, "speaking freely without being fearful of what others think(p 9)." I may not seem like a shy person but I really am especially when it comes to sharing my work with others. I do become conscious about what others think of me let alone my writing. I don't want others to think down or less about me because I don't seem like I know what I am doing. Being in English 101, I know and understand that I will be challenged to participate in group discussions to give further insight of our opinions about what we are reading or writing about, to explore ideas, or other things that we possibly would not have thought of had we had done the work on our own. I understand more that as a writer and also a college student it is highly important to our growth in this course and future courses that we are challenge ourselves to be more open to sharing our work, receiving constructive criticism, and internalizing it so that we can use that to become a stronger writer.

   Another expectation that I have of English 101 is to challenge us to deconstruct the text, determine what is going on, who the text is written for, and most importantly the purpose for which it is written.Essentially we are "exploring other writers and our own composing decisions as we read and write about different compositions throughout this course (6)." This is something that I may have trouble with because I do get bored with reading passages which makes me not want to read it any more. I understand that this mindset is never the best one to go into class with either because it will hinder me from being successful in this course and allow me to think that doing the minimum is okay. For me, I have never settled for just going the minimum. I was always an overachiever growing up and I did learn to come into class with a positive mindset and a willingness to learn and come out with something new will help get on that path of being successful in this course. This is something that I have and will always remember to do throughout this course and college career.

   I understand that this course will be difficult and challenge us to "critically analyze and examine the passages of the multiple texts that we will be reading (p6)." This is something that I have definitely struggled with and hope to improve upon throughout this course. Sometimes when I am reading a difficult text I find it difficult to really analyze and break down the text in simple terms that one can understand. With having such a small class and being able to share our thoughts and ideas with other students, I believe that I will improve on my analytical and interpretive skills to understand the meaning and purpose of a text. I also understand that every time going into any class, we all are afraid to ask questions or give responses to the professor. I believe that with having small group discussions this will help me to ask more questions to the professor and others to help clarify things that I may not understand.

   This course will teach us to "engage in the thoughtful work of reading and writing (p2)." I do not often think of the different texts or the reasons for which any form of writing is used. I am not really conscious of the reasons behind it. I know that I often engage in reading many forms of writing or media but often do not think of the true meaning for which it is written or performed. I believe that by the end of this course I will be able to dissect almost any form of media, social networking, and texts for which things are being written and enable myself to become a better analyzer and interpreter of text to become a stronger writer.



Questions                                                                                

Will our responses and readings be aloud during group discussions?

Are the students essentially facilitating the group discussions as we discuss each form of text or reading being read?

Would peer editing the work of other colleagues outside of class be encouraged or recommended? Does this have to be done by only our English 101 class or can others do this?

Introduction

About Me

My name is Jessie Frohwirh and I am born and raised here in Milwaukee, WI. I have 3 sisters and one older brother. I used to have a pet cat before I moved onto campus but we had to give him to a local shelter because my family had moved. My favorite thing in Milwaukee are the different ethnic festivals because I get to experience and learn something new everytime. In my free time, I like to go to places around the city that I've never been to because it's kind of like a wow sort of thing like I never knew this place existed and it's really awesome. 

The field of study that I chose to go into Nursing. Growing up, especially during high school, I have found a love for volunteering and just serving others whether they are little kids, adults, and even the elderly. I think that enjoying the volunteer work that I have done and working with kids has led me towards this profession. I feel like Nursing is the profession where I can truly give back to those in need. 

My biggest fear about college-level writing is that I tend to overthink things and double question my work which often results in failure. I really want to do well in college-level writing but I feel like this may get in the way. The type of learning that I work best in is a clean and respectful environment. Also one in which the professor actually knows what they are doing.

One weird fact about me is that I can pop my hip out of place.