State of Disbelief: A Memoir
It was about four in the morning, and I had finally managed to successfully insert the key into the lock, turn it, and stumble into the front door of my parents’ house. I was watching the news. I couldn’t help it; it was everywhere. The video clips of the second plane crashing into the World Trade Center had been cycling continuously on every television station for the entirety of a month. I came to the realization that I had finally grown weary of it all. I had been bombarded with images of death and destruction for longer than I was capable of tolerating. I had grown so accustomed to seeing such irrefutable evidence of brutal, violent, incomprehensible death, that the video clips showing the immeasurable loss of human life had somehow lost their capability to produce a reaction within me. But at this particular moment in time, I looked at those images with newly renewed sense of horror—because I understood them. I was viewing the images through a different perspective. One thing was certain, when I got out of bed that morning; I didn’t think that the day’s events would unfold quite the way that they did.
Earlier that day, when I awoke, I lacked the understanding that I would gain throughout the course of the day, but I did have the feeling that something was amiss. As it turned out, the peculiarities of the feelings I was experiencing that morning would soon be reflected by the world that surrounded me. It was the morning of October 12th 2001, and I was seventeen years old. Unbeknownst to me at the time, it was to be the day that the nation was to officially mourn the tragedy that occurred on the 11th of September. Throughout the course of the morning, the strange sensation that I had been experiencing throughout the course of the morning engulfed me to such a degree that I convinced my mother to let me stay home from school. Sometime around noon, the doorbell rang. I got up, walked to the front door, and peered out of the thin, tall window that stood parallel to the door. Standing on my front porch was my very good friend Derrick—a look of confusion painted across his face. I quickly opened the door and let him inside.
His appearance was disheveled; but that wasn’t particularly unusual. What really struck me as odd was the fact that he looked as though he had been crying. Before I could analyze his appearance any further Derrick looked me in the eyes, and in the most serious tone I have ever heard him invoke he told me, “Fuck man, I don’t know how to tell you this. I’ve been trying to think of the best way to tell you the whole way over, but I couldn’t think of anything. So I’m just going to tell you.” He was speaking rapidly—very rapidly. It wasn’t unusual for him to speak quickly, but this was beyond the realms of what was typically considered normal for Derrick. He appeared to be extremely hesitant to tell me what he had come to tell me. He took a very long sigh, looked at me, forcibly slowed his rate of speech, and continued, “Rusty shot himself while we were at school today. Right after the national pledge of allegiance the school was doing for the World Trade Center, everyone heard a shot. It was Rusty, man.” Not quite comprehending what he had told me, I gave him a scolding look and asked, “Are you serious?”, as if to imply, “You shouldn’t joke about something like that.” He looked me in the eyes and said, “Yeah man. They cancelled the rest of school. That’s why I’m here.” I didn’t think of the fact that it was only noon and school wouldn’t typically be out for another couple of hours. Having convinced me with this line of thought, I took a few breaths and tried to collect my thoughts. “Holy shit.” was all that I managed to say.
A few hours later, Derrick and I went past the high school. This was the place that Rusty had killed himself just hours before, and we had heard that a candlelight vigil had cropped up in the wake of the day’s events. We decided to stop by, and in doing so, met up with several of our friends. After some crying, some condolences, a whole lot of silence, and seeing many shocked facial expressions, the idea to have an impromptu party surfaced. I don’t think that anyone quite knew how to handle the news of Rusty’s death, and a party seemed like a good idea to us. A party would give everyone a good excuse to not be alone. And besides, we could get drunk—really drunk. Washing away the day’s events in a buffet of alcohol also seemed to be about as good of a response as any other. A few hours later we went to the party, and did our best to not think about what had just happened. Much to my chagrin, the alcohol seemed to be incapable of nullifying the newly acquired knowledge that I now possessed. At about three in the morning, disheartened and burdened with grief, Derrick and I left the party and walked to his house to go to sleep; hoping that perhaps slipping into unconsciousness might provide some temporary relief from the entirely oppressive state of mind that I was experiencing.
When we arrived at Derrick’s house, I went downstairs to his room in order to go to bed (it wasn’t abnormal for me to sleep on his floor with some regularity during this period of my life). Derrick had stayed upstairs to get a glass of water, and stated that he would return shortly. When he returned, he looked extremely agitated and uttered, “Whatever you do, don’t run into my mom! She’s on the warpath about…” But before he could finish his sentence, his mother Shelley had pushed the door open, burst into the room, put her hands on her hips, and stated “We need to talk.” I looked quizzically at Derrick, however he seemed to know what to expect already. She looked first at Derrick, then at me, and in an urgent, cold, calculated manner, and without hesitation uttered a statement that would forever impact the way that I perceive religion, with some emphasis on Christianity in particular, “Rusty is burning in Hell right now. We need to talk about your immortal souls.”
I was dumbfounded. I had no response for what she had just said, I merely stood in disbelief. Shelley was in top form today. The lack of tact was simply stunning—a truly remarkable display of uncensored, unabashed Christian sentiment. The level of disregard that she displayed for basic, primary human emotions was shocking. I couldn’t help but think of what Rusty’s family would have thought had they heard her say this. I was angry for them as well as for myself—and for my friend Rusty. I have since thought of several retorts (such as the anger-inducing “You’re the one that believes in Hell, you go there.” retort, or the classic “Jesus was black.” remark). However, at the time I could think of nothing to say. I just stood there (presumably with a blank expression strewn across my face) for a moment, and then simply left. I decided to go to my parents’ house and managed to track down a ride there.
It was about four in the morning by the time I got back home. I went inside, made a sandwich, and turned on the television. I wasn’t tired anymore; my outrage at what Shelley had said destroyed any chance that I had of getting to sleep that night. I turned on the television hopeful that the actual physical routine and monotony of normal, everyday, daily living would give rise to some degree of normalcy in my actual, real, physical life. On the news, there was looped footage of the World Trade Center collapsing playing continuously. Watching the buildings collapse, and thinking about the religious fervor that I had so recently witnessed, I became steadily more disturbed at what I saw in front of my eyes. I watched the televised destruction with a newly formed understanding of human nature. I had always assumed that the people that commit these horrific acts of terrorism were simply crazy. But it was at this moment that I realized that they weren’t crazy at all—they just actually believed what they professed to believe. I was mortified by my own discovery—I still am. Shelley seemed to differ from these people only by the specifics of what she believed; not by how firmly she held the convictions that she had. I wondered what type of person Shelley would have become had she been raised to believe that sacrificing her life in the name of God would bring about heavenly rewards—and then asked to. I could imagine her behaving in a manner similar to that of the perpetrators of the heinous September the 11th tragedy. The ramifications of religious belief suddenly became clear to me. I experienced what some has been termed a moment of clarity. If you truly believe something (and not just claim to believe it, but truly believe it) your actions will reflect those beliefs.
When I think about what Shelley said to me, I am certain that the hostility she presented was informed by the fervor of her religious conviction. I am reminded of the English translation of a quote by Blaise Pascal, “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” Before this day, I considered myself agnostic towards the idea of God. But now, I understood the true potential of religion. Shelley had finally managed to convince me of what I could not previously accept. Before this incident, I certainly had grievous doubts about religion. But now, I was absolutely, completely sure that I was an Atheist.
Ubuntu 12: Open-Source OS Done Right
Every computer needs an operating system and most of them use Microsoft Windows. However, with the latest release of the Linux-based operating system Ubuntu, many pc users may be making the switch to an open-source operating system. Now, I know what you might be thinking: “Isn’t Linux for computer hackers and impossibly nerdy I.T. guys?” But Ubuntu 12.10 may be the Linux-based operating system that changes your mind. Because Ubuntu is open-source, it can be a great choice because it comes preinstalled with every program you need to complete most common computing tasks. But its best feature is its price—it is completely free. From the actual operating system to the programs that come preinstalled, everything about Ubuntu is free. In a statement that epitomizes the open-source mentality that spawns projects like Ubuntu, the official Ubuntu website states: “Shared efforts. Shared principles. No cost.” (1)
You probably use your computer to browse the internet, send and receive email, view spreadsheets, create documents, watch movies, download files, and listen to music. For common tasks like these, Ubuntu 12 functions quite well. One of its most welcome features is that it can perform all of these functions out-of-the-box. I tested Ubuntu on all three of my computers (a fairly powerful desktop computer and laptop as well as a far less powerful netbook); it started up quickly, ran quickly, and performed common tasks admirably.
For all of its strengths, Ubuntu is not free of its own set of weaknesses. When compared to Windows, it can be difficult to install programs within Ubuntu—and even tougher to get programs designed for Windows to function correctly within Ubuntu. Using the user interface can be quite a jarring experience if you are just switching from Windows, and customizing Ubuntu can be quite tricky as well. By default, the taskbar is on the left side of the screen and hides itself when not in use. This can be changed of course (Ubuntu is highly customizable), but it can be a rather daunting process for the uninitiated. The menus can be tricky to navigate if you are new to Ubuntu, and updates aren’t quite as automated as well as they are within Windows. Fortunately, if you are nervous about replacing your trusty copy of Windows, there are a few different ways to try out Ubuntu before committing. You can burn Ubuntu to a disc and try it out—all without actually installing it. Using the dual-boot installation process, it can be installed alongside Windows so that you can use either operating system whenever you like. It can even be installed directly to a flash drive and used on any computer with a USB port.
Because Ubuntu is open-source, it is worked on, maintained, and updated by an enormous number of unpaid computer experts. It is this crowd-sourcing approach that contributes to Ubuntu’s greatest feature of all—security. The Ubuntu website describes their open-source approach: “Our global community is made up of thousands of people who want to help build the best open-source operating system in the world. They share their time and skills to make sure that Ubuntu keeps getting better and better.” (1) Because there are vast numbers of knowledgeable people that work on Ubuntu (as opposed to the much more limited number of paid security professionals that work for Microsoft), any security exploits that hackers could use to gain access to your computer or data have been closed. By contrast, Windows has allowed long-known security flaws to remain in their operating systems. The PCWorld website states the following: “Despite the fact that Windows 8 Pro offers some security improvements over Windows 7, the new OS still carries forward with the WinNT legacy kernel, which is at least partially responsible for the litany of security issues Windows has suffered over the years.” (2) Security updates for Ubuntu are released frequently and grants its users confidence that their computer will stay fast, up-to-date, and secure. Because Ubuntu runs quickly and excels at common computing functions, it can be a good replacement for those who are looking to move away from Windows for security reasons or install a second operating system on their computer.
Ubuntu’s biggest strength lies in its use of open-source software. It is the open-source process that results in the quality that is apparent in a product like Ubuntu. This is what really separates Ubuntu from the Apple and Microsoft operating systems that dominate today’s computer market. If like Ubuntu, every operating system incorporated the advice, expertise, and assistance of a vast number of experts, their software could improve as rapidly and efficiently as Ubuntu’s does. Hopefully, in the future we will see this happen. I for one would love to live in a world in which such policies become common software development practices—as it would result in better software and make computing better for everyone.
Rating: 4/5
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Pros: |
Cons: |
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Runs quickly and reliably Free preinstalled software It’s completely free |
Can be difficult to set up and customize User interface is somewhat complex Learning curve |
Works Cited:
1) Ubuntu’s official website, under the “Why is it free?” tab: http://www.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/why-is-it-free
2) A PCworld.com article discussing the advantages that Ubuntu provides over Windows 8: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2013431/10-reasons-to-choose-ubuntu-12-10-over-windows-8.html?page=2
The ‘No More Homeless Pets’ Problem
For most people within our society, spaying and neutering their pets has become an extremely common practice. Many people believe that because the awareness of responsible breeding practices has increased in recent years, that there is no longer a problem. However, there is a segment of the population that for a number of reasons does not feel compelled to spay or neuter its pets. Some of these people believe that the financial cost of the medical procedure is too high for them to afford. For others, there is a perception that altering their pet’s reproductive faculties might also alter its personality or physicality in a negative or detrimental way. There are still others that do not intend to breed their animals immediately, but would like to keep the option available by choosing not to spay and neuter their pets—thus leaving the breeding potential of their pet unaltered. I intend to demonstrate that these fears and concerns are both unfounded and unwarranted, and that these types of breeding practices are not only irresponsible but inhumane.
The primary focus of this piece of writing is to show that spaying and neutering is the single most effective thing that a person can do to ensure that pets stay out of animal shelters—where the euthanasiation of animals due to overpopulation is commonly practiced. By keeping animals out of these shelters, the pet overpopulation problem that adoption facilities across the country are (and have been) experiencing can be significantly reduced and potentially eliminated. Although many people commonly sterilize their pets, there are still a large number of people who do not. If all pet owners spayed and neutered their pets and responsible breeding practices were followed with greater vigilance, countless animals could be saved from being needlessly euthanized. As the website for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals states, spaying and neutering is the “single most important thing that we can do to save cats and dogs from all the suffering and death that their overpopulation causes” (“Spay and Neuter”).
Domesticated animals have been bred by humans to possess specific traits that we deem desirable—such as friendliness, intelligence, and obedience. This process does much to break down and remove the natural wild instincts of these animals. Dogs and cats have adapted and evolved alongside human culture—and as such have become dependent upon it. Dogs and cats are classified as companion animals; this means that clear human stewardship has been established and accepted for the welfare of the animal (“Companion Animals”). Because the owners of these animals have accepted responsibility for their welfare, they have a clear responsibility to keep their animals and their progeny out of shelters and provide for their health, happiness, and way of life to the best of their ability. As these pets no longer have the capability to provide for themselves the way a wild animal would, humans have become responsible for them in nearly every way. Because these animals are reliant upon us to such a degree, it is pertinent that we embrace our role as the stewards of these animals and do what is within our power to eliminate their suffering wherever possible.
Irresponsibly or accidentally allowing pets to breed has very real consequences for the animals in question. As a result of the lack of sterilization, each year in the United States fourteen million dogs and cats are turned over to animal shelters—with four to six million of them being euthanized due to lack of space (“Why Spay or Neuter”). These deaths are the direct result of overcrowding in animal shelters; and if the parents of these animals were spayed and neutered, these deaths would not need to occur. Because dogs and cats reach reproductive age quite quickly, they are capable of giving rise to enormous populations of animals in very short periods of time. When left unchecked, the unmitigated reproduction of two ancestral domesticated cats can lead to an astounding number of subsequent births within just a few generations. The Mansfield Texas Department of Animal Control states that “one year multiplied by the offspring having offspring will produce several thousand cats in only seven years” (“Why Spay or Neuter”). If this figure seems large, it’s because it is; and it demonstrates the enormity of the problem that animal shelters are faced with on a daily basis. It is clearly more feasible and fiscally conservative to spay and neuter two cats than it is to shelter and euthanize several thousand—and more humane.
For the animals that don’t get euthanized, there are a host of other problems that accompany long-term residency in an animal shelter—including infectious disease, social issues, and behavioral problems. The animals that end up in animal shelters often develop negative mental-health problems such as shyness and aggression (Donaldson). As these types of behaviors carry with them a stigma of disreputability, the social issues that shelters cause can make the animals less likely to actually get adopted—and conversely more likely to become the victims of euthanasiation. Obviously, the ideal solution is one in which animal shelters are adopting more animals than they are receiving; and the only realistic way for this to actually occur is by ensuring that as many pets are spayed and neutered as possible. Because sterilization is a more effective, more humane solution to the animal overpopulation problem than sheltering, reducing the amount of animals that enter shelters is essential. Every animal that does not enter a shelter leaves a bed for another animal to stay—thereby avoiding euthanasiation due to overcrowding.
You might be saying, “Why is the overpopulation problem so out of control? Don’t most people spay and neuter their pets?” The answer is more complicated than it would first appear. Although many people are aware that sterilizing their animals is an important part of responsible pet ownership, there is a portion of society that accounts for a much larger percentage of new animals at shelters than the rest of the population: irresponsible breeders. The American Humane Association states that 35 percent of pet owners in the United States choose not to spay and neuter their pets and that “Many among this group intentionally choose to breed their pets, either for profit or for what they mistakenly believe to be a fun experience. Others choose not to spay or neuter out of ignorance, believing that their pets won’t breed accidentally” (“Pet Overpopulation”). All animals (including companion animals) have an intense desire to mate, and the only way to truly ensure than you are not contributing to the animal overpopulation problem is to ensure that your animals are spayed and neutered. You may be wondering what the medical procedure actually consists of and if it is safe. The procedure itself “consists of removing certain reproductive organs—in the female, the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries; in the male, the testicles” (“Why Spay or Neuter”). Because the procedure is extremely common, it has become routine for veterinary medical care providers and is accomplished with extremely little risk to the animal involved—and can confer far greater medical benefits that potential detriments.
In addition to not contributing to the pet overpopulation problem, there are a host of other advantages that accompany the spaying and neutering of your pet. Spayed and neutered animals are far less likely to be aggressive, roam away from home, and mark with urine; and conversely, they are more likely to focus their attention on their human families (“Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet”). In addition to these behavioral benefits, a vast number of medical benefits can be gained as well. Felines are much less likely to get the feline form of AIDS or feline Leukemia (“Spay and Neuter”). Female dogs and cats are less apt to develop breast cancer and uterine infections, and males are less prone to testicular cancer (“Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet”). As animals that are spayed and neutered do not have the intense sexual drive that their un-fixed counterparts do, the rates of sexually transmitted diseases and infections are dramatically lower among their populations. If you take the behavioral and medical benefits into consideration, it is clear that spaying and neutering can be advantageous for reasons other than simple population control—and that the advantages of sterilization are both numerous and beneficial.
One of the more common reasons that many people choose not to spay and neuter their pets is that they perceive the financial cost of doing so to be too burdensome and not within the constraints of their budget. Fortunately, there are many spay and neuter programs that are available and help to subsidize (and in some cases eliminate) the costs associated with the procedure. These community resources are widely available and are intended to help combat the pet overpopulation problem by providing financial assistance to people who would like to spay and neuter their pets but simply cannot afford to do so (“Spay and Neuter”). Despite the costs that are associated with such programs, the financial burden is far less than sheltering homeless animals for an indefinite period of time would be—and as such, many community resources are readily available for citizens to take advantage of.
Although the problem of pet overpopulation is an enormous and extremely challenging problem, it is certainly not a hopeless endeavor. As our society begins to transition into a new way of thinking about our responsibilities to our domesticated animals, the outlook for underprivileged animals is improving on a daily basis. Awareness of the benefits of sterilization is growing, and so is the likelihood that the overpopulation problem can be lessened or eliminated. Every day more and more people come to the conclusion than spaying or neutering their pet is the correct decision for their lifestyle and for their pets. The awareness that animals in shelters are good animals and need homes has been increasing as well—and as such, the adoption rates have begun to rise. If these trends persist and awareness continues to increase, the situation can only get better. Although the end is in sight, apathy must be abated through the application of compassion, reason, and vigilance. It is only through these principles that a more compassionate and reasonable solution to the pet overpopulation problem can be successfully accomplished.
Works Cited
“Companion Animals.” http://www.cawc.org/uk. Companion Animal Welfare Council. Web. 25 March 2013. <http://www.cawc.org.uk/companion-animals>.
Donaldson, Jean. “Behavior Problems and Long-Term Housing of Shelter Dogs.” http://www.maddiesfund.org. Maddie’s Fund, 2000. Web. 25 Mar 2013. <http://www.maddiesfund.org/Maddies_Institute/Articles/ Behavior_Problems_and_Long_Term_Housing.html>.
“Pet Overpopulation.” http://www.americanhumane.org. American Humane Association. Web. 26 Mar 2013. <http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/adoption-pet-care/issues-information/pet-overpopulation.html>.
“Spay and Neuter.” http://www.peta.org. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Web. 27 Mar 2013. <http://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animals/spay-neuter.aspx>.
“Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet.”http://www.aspca.org. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Web. 26 Mar 2013. <http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter/spay-neuter-top-ten.aspx>.
“Why Spay or Neuter.” http://www.mansfield-tx.gov. Mansfield Animal Control. Web. 25 Mar 2013. <http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/ps/ac/pets/fixing.php>.
Genre Analysis: Anti-War Songs – By Clay Boitnott
Song Can Be Found At: https://soundcloud.com/clay-boitnott/what-if
1. What genre have you chosen? What are the overall characteristics or patterns of this genre as found in your examples? Give us the titles and authors of the examples you have found and connect them to these characteristics and patterns.
I have chosen to analyze anti-war songs as a genre. The overall characteristics of the genre are: making a claim or claims that are against war and atrocities—or the repercussions and consequences of war and atrocities, these claims are presented in the form of music, these songs are often highly emotionally charged, they often engage the listener on an emotional level and typically appeal for or attempt to incite change in a political or war policy. The songs that I examined are as follows: “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2, “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath, and “One” by Metallica. As these songs are quite diverse, yet clearly fall within the genre of “anti-war songs”, I feel that their similarities and differences will be able to demonstrate many of the characteristics of the genre. In “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, the band U2 demonstrates that in war no one wins. It is a song about an incident in which many northern Irish civil rights protestors were fired upon by the British military. It engages and appeals to the listener on an emotional level—and speaks of the need to end the violence. In “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath, a theme of powerful people conceiving and creating wars runs throughout the song. The song has a primal emotional appeal and points to the atrocities that are present in any wartime situation. The song ends with the powerful men ultimately paying for their sins—indicating the possibility (and even the inevitability) of peace. The intro to the song “One” by Metallica begins with wartime sound effects and explosions. These wartime sound effects immediately pull the listener into a somber mentality—where one can appreciate the message that the band is attempting to convey. The song tells the story of a young man who is hit with an artillery shell and loses all of his limbs as well as the ability to communicate—yet remains coherent and can think quite clearly. This horrific situation points to the humanity of the people that are impacted by the horrors of war. The emotional connection that this theme combined with the sound effects produce is a powerful one.
2. Analyzing your examples—Consider, though do not limit yourself to, the following elements: use of evidence, dealing with sources, ethos/pathos/logos, tone, sentence construction, overall format. Again connect your analysis to specific examples of the genre.
In the song “Sunday Bloody Sunday” the use of emotional appeals is present throughout the entirety of the song. This is the primary way in which this somber song connects with the listener—as is typical of the genre. In “War Pigs”, the use of emotional appeals is also present. The song describes how humans are used as pawns in a game of chess. This grim statement is meant to show that in war, humans are often thought of as numbers—and to show the dissatisfaction with this kind of mentality that the composers of the song possessed. In “One”, the song utilizes war sound effects as well as samples from the movie “Johnny Got His Gun.” The samples summarize many of the key details of the movie—namely that the man has been mangled by an artillery shell and that his life has become an inescapable living nightmare due to his involvement with war. These samples are used to great effect in the song and the horror of the source material is demonstrated with skill and expertise. The idea that war has taken everything from this man-and that he would like to die, but cannot communicate this fact-is present throughout the song and does much to connect to the listener on an emotional level.
3. How might you divide this genre into sub-genres or examples of this genre written for a particular audience or with a particular purpose? (example: Fiction, Science Fiction, post-apocalyptic fiction) Where do your examples fit on this continuum? How do these criteria shift or change within the different examples you have found? Cite specific titles/authors of this genre which help to illustrate your distinctions. Lastly, remember that generally speaking the subject matter does not define the genre.
Because anti-war songs are present in many kinds of music, there are numerous sub-genres within the category of “anti-war song.” In the genre, distinctions can be made not only in the type of music that comprises the war song, but in the message of the song as well. Some anti-war songs look to protest against a specific war or government policy; and others speak to evils of war and fighting in general. Although both subgenres oppose war, they do so in slightly different ways. The first subgenre attempts to incite change by speaking out against a specific issue—in the hopes that awareness of said issue will be raised. The second subgenre doesn’t speak to any specific issue, but rather demonstrates the musician’s abhorrence to war itself. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” fits neatly into the first category of anti-war songs because it specifically discusses the military occupation of Northern Ireland and an incident in which unarmed civilians were fired upon by the British military (in an incident that has come to be known as “Bloody Sunday”). “One” and “War Pigs” fit into the second category of anti-war songs—as they protest the idea of war in general and attempt to demonstrate the horror it so often produces.
4. In general who is the audience for the genre you have chosen?
The audience for the anti-war song that I have produced is my peer group and those in a similar demographic. The song falls within the second anti-war song subgenre—namely, that of a song in which specific details are discussed in an attempt to persuade the listener to accept specific ideas about our national policies regarding war. The song was written and created for people who are approximately the same age as me (collegiate aged people). The song is targeted at people who possess a general anti-war sentiment, yet may not know about some of the more specific issues that exist.
5. What is the purpose the genre you have chosen?
The song was not meant to persuade proponents or advocates of war to change their opinions. Instead, it is meant to persuade those who are already against war that the foreign policy of the United States is flawed and does much to cause the problems that we are then forced to deal with militarily. Essentially, the target audience for my piece is people who are already aware of the problems this country has regarding the way in which it engages other countries militarily. It is meant to make people like this think about specific issues—not just a general anti-war sentiment.
6. Finally how has this analysis shaped the Open Genre you have written? As you discuss these cite specific titles/authors from this genre.
This analysis has helped me find inspiration to produce the song that I did. The song “One” inspired me to incorporate sound effects and wartime noises into my song—which, in my opinion, worked splendidly and created a purposefully dramatic atmosphere within the song. The dark, somber tone and atmosphere of “One” was also inspiring. This analysis helped me to recognize that my song would have to be as dark as the subject material it discusses. By analyzing the examples of the anti-war song genre, I decided that I would rather produce a song with more specific (rather than generalized) rhetoric. I personally felt that U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” was a far more powerful song than “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath—and I believe that the specificity of U2’s song is part of the reason that it is so powerful. By combining some of the sound design elements that are found in “One” by Metallica with some of the message delivery methods of U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” , I hope to create a song that works on several levels and engages the listener in a meaningful way. If the listener is engaged by the song, and the material discussed is logical and makes sense to them, they will be likely to be receptive to the message of the song. It is my belief that a person’s personal perception can be changed or altered through many mediums of expression and communication—including music. As such, I would like my song to be as powerful and persuasive as it can be. This analysis has helped me to do exactly that.
Self-Assessment
Throughout the course of the semester, I have learned many tools, techniques, and writing strategies that have and will continue to benefit me in my future writing endeavors. By utilizing the concepts discussed in the “they say, I say” article, I have learned to consider my writing to be part of a broader conversation—and write as such. I have also learned to see my writing through the eyes of the reader. This has benefited my writing greatly. In fact, it has probably benefitted my writing more than any other single strategy that I have learned and employed throughout my time in the class. The class has also taught me to read like a writer. This has been extremely beneficial as well. I have found that I almost subconsciously analyze writing when I read it now. Analyzing examples of a genre has proven useful to me as well. Through the analysis of anti-war songs, I was better able to craft a song of my own. The genre examples helped illuminate was in which I could find success in that endeavor. Although these concepts and practices have been essential, and have expanded my ability as a writer, they are far from the only tools, strategies, and techniques that I have learned in my time in the class.
In an attempt to make the latest revisions to my review, researched argument, and open-genre project as effective as possible, I have been working with the specific structure and vernacular of their sentences. I have been working to ensure that the specific wording of phrases is not only clear and understandable, but also persuasive and effective as well. Sometimes, the minutia of the way in which a piece of writing is worded can have a huge impact on the way in which the reader perceives it. My time in this class has allowed me to see these aspects of writing for what they are, and has allowed me to improve upon them greatly.
The open-genre analysis helped me to understand that although there is primarily one goal that anti-war songs set out to accomplish, they have many ways in which to persuade the listener and vary greatly from song-to-song. I have learned to break down a larger piece of material to understand the individual components that comprise the song. I have learned that the tone of the music is inseparable from the message that it hopes to convey—and that all the parts of a song work together to persuade the listener. Traditionally, I compose, record, and produce instrumental music. So working with vocals in my song has been a change. I have found that when properly employed within the music, they can do an excellent job at convincing the listener of a specific idea or concept.
One of the primary pieces of feedback that I received while peer reviewing my memoir draft, was that the narrative arc of the memoir did not necessarily have to be completely chronological. To address this, I decided to begin with the point in the plot at which a large emotional change begins to take place. Then I flashed back to the beginning of that day to properly explain the context in which this change happens. This allowed me to engender a sense of what to expect from the writing that follows within the reader. This helps to generate interest as well as enhancing the context of the revelations within the memoir. The formatting that I decided to use for the piece was simple and included no images or headings. I did so because I had some difficulty editing the piece down to five pages (at one point, I actually had an eight page draft). I found that any information that wasn’t absolutely necessary for the continuation or development of the memoir had to be ruthlessly edited from the piece. This also had the added benefit of contributing clarity to the way in which the story is presented within the memoir. I have found that with less to keep track of, the reader is likely to find it far easier to understand the concepts and ideas that are presented to them.
The reflection process was essential while revising the memoir and the review. Personally, I found that it was not until I had accomplished a substantial amount of reflection that I was able to formulate my thoughts in an organized, clear, and easy-to-read manner. One benefit that I noticed while writing the piece, was that it actually helped me to organize my own thoughts about what had happened—not just what I was writing. Taking the time to thoroughly think about what I intend to write and why I would like to write it has helped me edit my writing more effectively. This editing process has helped to ensure that the essential writing is there, but that it is more thoroughly thought-out and well-arranged.
I have found that the grammar lessons we have been doing throughout the semester have also been quite beneficial—not only in this class but in my others as well. The em-dash, semicolon, and colon exercises allowed me greater freedom to structure my sentences in ways that enhance the effectiveness of the writing. During this semester I have gained much more competence in the use of semicolons and colons when tying together related clauses. I am taking a creative writing class this semester (as well as several other classes that require effective writing) and have found that the skills I have learned in this class have improved the quality of the writing that I complete for that class as well. Even in my sociology class, I have found that the use of semicolons and colons (to tie concepts together) have been another tool in my growing arsenal of writing techniques.
While writing the memoir, I found that I had to be very careful with where summary was used and where dialogue was used. I had a lot that I wanted to say, clarify, and explain but I did not have a lot of space with which to say it. I found that the prudent use of summary was essential to the memoir. In the end, I had to revise my drafts quite a few times in order to properly express everything that I wanted to say in the short amount of space I had to say it in. Ultimately, I found that this process of revision greatly contributed to the quality of the final memoir.
While writing the review, I found that I had to pay more attention to the formatting of the piece almost as much as the actual writing. In technical reviews such as the one that I wrote, it is common for there to be some sort of rating system or pros and cons box. Formatting like this allows the reader to quickly look over the key points discussed within the review. In technical reviews, there are often many such points—and they are discussed quite thoroughly. Because there is so much information in the piece of writing, it can be very beneficial to summarize the key points of the review. In many technical reviews, I found that some sort of overall rating system was often implemented. These ratings systems help to clarify the reviewer’s overall opinion on the thing being reviewed. In my review, I decided to do both the pros and cons box as well as an overall rating. I felt that this information would help generate interest within the review, but would also help to clarify the main pieces of information that were discussed. Through a lot of work with the formatting of the tables that I used to create the pros and cons box and the art-shapes that I used to make the stars for the rating system, I was able to create an interesting visual element that my paper did not previously have. I found that this helps to summarize my review and restate the key points that were made in an easily digestible and quick-to-read manner that the readers of such reviews are likely to appreciate.
Dealing with the memoir’s instructor feedback forced me to rethink what I thought was a well-written paper. I found that the flashback near the beginning of the story needed to be properly clarified so that it is more easily understood. I also realized that I said relatively little with regards to the primary point of the memoir (the idea that some religious people simply believe what the claim to believe)—and was forced to expand and reflect upon that topic more than I might have otherwise. I found that the feedback I received was extremely beneficial, as I was able to look at my writing from a different perspective. This allowed me to reformulate the way in which I constructed the sentences, their flow, and the way I explained things in the memoir. This helped me to craft a memoir that I believe is a lot better than my previous iteration. I have found that this course has already taught me a lot about writing that I didn’t know (or didn’t completely understand).
I learned a great number of things about the writing process that I did not previously know or understand. There were many aspects to the writing process that I wasn’t aware of—and have now learned and incorporated within my writing. The experience that this class has provided me has been essential to my development as a writer. As writing is an essential part of culture and society, I feel that the skills that I have learned will benefit me greatly throughout my life. My writing has improved and is getting stronger as a result of the knowledge and experience that I have attained while enrolled in the course. I thought that I was a pretty decent writer before taking this course, but I am only now realizing how much I do not know. In my opinion, this is a good thing; as I always appreciate the chance to alleviate some of my own ignorance.
clayboitnott 