TOW 28: The World Before Her by Nisha Pahuja

The World Before Her is a rare film that offers a glimpse of India in the midst of a cultural crisis: should the country continue to westernize itself as its bustling cities have been doing, or should it remain steadfast to its fundamental Hindu beliefs, as many of its small villages hold on to? This big question is the basis of the film, and explored through the stories of two major female characters. On one hand is Ruhi Singh, a small-town girl who is vying for the crown of Miss India, a competition that is the epitome of western influence on India to many. Ruhi thinks like a "modern" Indian woman who wants to pursue a career outside the home. On the other hand is Prachi Trevidi, a woman working in a Hindu Fundamentalist camp for girls. This camp represents the right wing Vishwa Hindu Parishdad, otherwise known as the "Hindu Taliban". Like Ruhi, Prachi wants to be independent, but the stringent beliefs of her father make it hard for her to do so. Although the stories of these two women represent two very different Indias, the common struggles they share of being a woman in a patriarchal society, a society where boys are preferred over girls, is a common theme throughout. The audience for this film would probably be foreigners, because although it is about India, it deals with an issue that Indians are probably familiar with but Westerners most likely are not.

The most powerful strategy that Pahuja uses throughout this film is juxtaposition. The filmmaker compares "Old India" with "New India" by interweaving the stories of two girls that represent each. Ruhi and Prachi may believe in different ideals, but both girls speak frankly about feeling lucky to be alive in a culture where girl babies are sometimes even killed at birth. The stark contrast between the glamour and almost vapidness of the Miss India contest and the militant, cult-like environment of the girl's camp is very powerful in showing how divided India is. It is clear from this juxtaposition of the ideals of the "old India" and those of the "new India" that both are also flawed in their own ways. For example, the girl's camp teaches the participants to hate Muslims and Christians, while a scene in the Miss India contest has the girls walking  with their faces covered just so the judges can judge their legs. Ultimately, juxtaposition effectively shows the two sides to India and each of their problems, raising the question of how this nation can possible reconcile these two opposite ideals.

Besides employing juxtaposition, Pahuja also uses anecdotes from real people to add humanity to the film. The entire film is really based on two women; their lives, their familes, and their dreams. This from the beginning adds a very personal element to the film, because Pahuja is not just introducing the two India's, but rather two people who are actually living through this cultural revolution of sorts. From Ruhi we can feel the determination and aspirations of a young woman trying to create an identity for herself in a country where women are still limited. Ruhi believes that winning the crown will give her a way to be able to prove that she is worth something as an individual. Prachi is also searching for a sense of self-worth, but she does so by teaching what she believes in, which is Hindu fundamentalism. And although the audience may not believe in what each of the women believe in, it is hard not to feel compassion for them and at least try to understand why they believe in the things they do. These two women add faces to the cultural crisis that India is currently facing, and their presence and struggle to find their place in each of their societal systems makes this story personal and powerful.

I believe that the filmmaker did achieve her purpose of letting her audience see the current cultural dilemma that India and also other developing countries across the globe is facing. The Old World and the New World are set on a collision course, and for many, the questions becomes, "which one should we follow?" Nisha Pahuja is also the director of Diamond Road and Bollywood Bound.

TOW 27: Reflection

I notice a greater amount of detail in my TOWs as they progressed throughout the year. In the beginning of the year, I was more worried about finding rhetorical strategies, but towards the end, I was more concerned about how these strategies affected the work as a whole. I also noticed that I took bigger risks and found more varied topics as my TOWs progressed as well. I think I've mastered, or at least gotten very well, at detecting an author's central argument and also the means he or she goes about trying to achieve that argument. Furthermore, I've been able to summarize my sources more effectively and concisely as my TOWs progressed. This is very important to analyzing all forms of rhetoric. I could still work on considering the author's audience more; whether there is more than one audience and how the author's message may be different depending on who is reading it. I could also work on continuing to see the strategies the author uses as a means towards the bigger goal of achieving his or her actual argument. Overall, I think that I did greatly benefit from these TOWs. I know the main purpose was to help with analysis essays and to get varied sources for argument essays, and I think that these TOWs helped in both ways. They also taught me to be a more conscious reader and be aware of the rhetoric all around me. These TOWs really showed me how to look deeper at an argument, whether it be visual or written, and make judgments for myself about validity and impact of what the author is arguing.

TOW 26: Checkers Speech by Richard Nixon

Reading Goal: Find something besides an opinion piece
Writing goal: Have a good intro and background

During the 1952 election, former President Richard Nixon was running as Vice President of Dwight Eisenhower. He was accused by the Democrats of taking $18,000 from his campaign funds to use for his own personal lifestyle, something that was highly illegal. Although these accusations did seem to have some merit in them, and Eisenhower was about to drop Nixon as running mate, Nixon went on national television to address the issue. In his now infamous "Checkers Speech", Richard Nixon told the American people that he was not using his campaign funds illegally, and that if he had to return his gifts he would still never return a dog that he got from a supporter named Checkers. With his skillful appeal to pathos and his question-and-answer technique, Nixon successfully convinced the American people and the Republican Party that he was a credible candidate.

Nixon uses a powerful appeal to emotion , which becomes the basis of his speech. He starts off by stating the accusation from the other side and then says, "The usual political thing to do when charges are made against you is to either ignore them or to deny them without giving details.
I believe we’ve had enough of that in the United States, particularly with the present Administration in Washington, D.C." By doing this, Nixon not only makes himself seem like a moral and righteous man by speaking "frankly" with the American people (and therefore an appealing Vice President), but he also takes a jab at the Democratic Party by insinuating that the current administration is not being honest and open with the public. He also appeals to emotion at the very end of his speech with discussion of a cute little puppy that he got as a campaign present. This story of the a puppy and also his two young children and how much the family would be saddened to have to give up this "present" is a pathetic appeal. Naturally, the audience will be horrified to imagine tearing the puppy away from the crying girls, and immediately feel sympathetic towards Nixon and angry at the Democratic Party. However, when examined closely this "Checkers" argument falls apart as it really doesn't have much to do with the missing $18,000 in funds at all.

In addition to winning the hearts of the American people, Nixon wins over their minds as well with his clear question-and-answer format of his speech. He posses two questions, "Was it wrong?" and "Was it morally wrong?", and answers both as the audience would want him to answer very clearly. Nixon points out a difference between if something was wrong or morally wrong, saying that something is wrong if it's illegal but that stealing $18,000 is not just wrong but morally wrong and that, no, he would never do something like that. Nixon states, "And now to answer those questions let me say this:Not one cent of the $18,000 or any other money of that type ever went to me for my personal use. Every penny of it was used to pay for political expenses that I did not think should be charged to the taxpayers of the United States." His firm answer, whether or not it might actually be true, uses strong words like "no" and "never". This further convinced the public that he did not funnel $18,000 into his private lifestyle.

By appealing to the sentiments of the American public and firmly denying any accusations, Nixon was able to save his political career. Whether or not these accusations were true is still unknown; but now, an emotional speech by a politician is mockingly called a "Checkers Speech."

TOW 25: Media-Iams Pet Food Commercial

Reading Goal: Be able to clearly identify rhetorical strategies in a video media
Writing Goal: Concise summary

In this commercial, Rocky, an Irish Wolfhound, is shown eagerly awaiting and crying for his owner, Dawn. Dawn has just returned from what appears to be deployment. A voice narrates the bond that Rocky and Dawn, his owner, share. As Dawn appears, Rocky runs outside and jumps on her, clearly happy to see her back. The narrator states, "for a love this strong, Dawn only feeds him Iams". The screen then shifts into a visual that shows that Iams has more protein than the leading dog food brand. Finally, the last scene shows Rocky and Dawn happily together.

The ad. is effective because of its brilliant appeal to pathos and repetition of words. The viewer immediately falls in love with Rocky, who is a beautiful and clearly loyal dog. The meeting he and his owner have also tugs at the hearstrings, making the video highly watchable. The fact that Dawn is also in the military taps into the American conscience and the pride we have for our troops. In fact, this "Dog welcoming owner home" -style video is something highly trending on Youtube, the source of this commercial. After this is when the narrator begins talking about the product this video is selling, Iams pet food. He states the Iams slogan,"For a love this strong, [owner name] only feeds him/ her Iams". This is then continued with a repetition of the word "love" in sentences that follow. Therefore, the viewer associates Iams with happy, loyal pets and mutual love between the pet and the owner.

I think that this ad is effective in its purpose of trying to sell Iams pet food. By incorporating this product into an emotional video, Iams makes this commercial more memorable. It also makes sure to mention its slogan, which is clearly associated with the product. The audience for this commercial is probably all pet owners. Iams is a pet food company manufactured by P&G.

IRB Intro Post 4

I plan on reading The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. This novel deals about the bioethical issue surrounding cell research and race. I choose this book because in AP Biology we actually got to work with HeLa cells, which originated from Henrietta Lacks. I'm very interested to know more about the story behind this woman and also how far Mrs. Lacks's cell have come. One interesting thing about this book is that there are actually pictures of Henrietta Lacks and some of the characters the author mentions.

TOW 24: The Glass Castle By Jeanette Walls

Goals:

Find good rhetorical strategies
Have a clear thesis

Jeanette Walls has had a an unpredictable, almost fictional-sounding upbringing. With two highly individualistic parents who abhorred responsibility, she was left from a young age, to take many responsibilities onto her shoulders. Now, towards the end of the memoir Jeanette is tired of having to look after her parents instead of the other way around. Through vivid description and revealing dialogue, Walls shares her deep desire to leave but also her deep love for her parents despite everything she has gone though.
 Walls uses very descriptive language in her memoir. With her words, she reveals her inner turmoil and disappointment at the actions of her father. She writes, "Dad started laughing and hugging Mom, who started laughing and hugging him. It was as if they were so happy they hadn't  killed each other that they had fallen in love again. I didn't feel like celebrating. I couldn't believe that after all he had put himself through, Dad had gone back o the booze." (77). By vividly describing the unpredictable behavior of her parents, Walls clearly shows the drama and importance of this moment because it is when her father returns to alcohol, leading for her to begin to lose faith that he will actually change. The whole ridiculousness of the situation, with her parents waving knives at each other just moments earlier, also speaks to how much Walls had to go through in her childhood, though she may not blame her parents for anything.
Walls also uses frequent dialogue to add to the vividness of her memoir. Describing a conversation with a woman who oversaw the Internationalal Best Dressed List, Walls writes, "So where are you from Jeanette?' 'West Virginia.' 'Where?' 'Welch' ....'And your family owns coal mines?' (170). This conversation highlights how uncomfortable Walls felt at first being surrounded by so many people who she feels will never understand her. Walls one word answers show this. She thinks others will judge her harshly if they ever find out about her parents, but she feels happy to finally be able to not have to worry about her parents anymore.
Wall's audience is probably the general public. This book was easy to read, but also engrossing because of its vivid language and detailed dialogue. Jeanette Walls is a former MSNBC columnist who is also author of Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel.

 

TOW #23: American Schools Should Teach Entrepreneurship

Reading Goal: Choose a topic very different from my last TOW

Writing Goal: Better rhetorical analysis of devices/stategies

In this article, author Dayo Olopade talks about the teaching model of the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa and how this model can apply to schools in the United States. In the African Leadership Academy, students are deeply immersed in entrepreneurship, group activities, and a hands-on method of teaching. Olopade criticizes the American education system for teaching leadership and business exercises, skills critical for any type of work, at only the MBA levels.

Throughout this article, Olopade employs quotations from students in the system and rhetorical questioning to prove that the ALA model of learning is something American schools should consider. She quotes students Akon Nelson, writing," Very schools give you the opportunity to make it where it counts- not for a grade, but for your own credibility." By showing the positive feelings of a student that is currently experiencing the ALA method of teaching, Olopade is showing that this methord is something that doesn't just sound good on paper, but is actually engaging students in real life. She also uses rhetorical questions to help her American audience consider what is lacking in our current education system. Olopade wites, " Why reserve leadership and business training to budding MBA's and leave teambuilding exercises the domain of annual workplace retreats?" Her questions help advance her argument that the ALA methord of teaching can help students gain the advantages of leadership-building and business-training before even joining the workforce.

The audience for this article is the American public, but perhaps specifically Americans involved in education. Olopade is, after all, offering new ways of teaching. The author achieves her purpose of showing the shortcomings of the American education system in leadership development, but she could have focused more on how to potentially implement more of these programs. Dayo Olopade is a journalist covering global politics and developmental policy.