TOW #26

The TOW that I read for today was a group of sources that argue about masculinity in todays society. One source was a photograph of a man smoking a cigarette which was a marlbolo ad many years ago. This photo was chosen because of the "intensity" of the photo and how it shows the representation on how a man should be. The second source was a man explaining how stereo-typical others can be when talking about an ideal man. This author was ashamed to say that he liked to write due to the idealistic role of those who write are women and not men. The third source was about how a mother was hearing her son say that he wants to play a sport because that way, girls will start to like him and he will have something to talk about in school. There are more sources but I come to discuss the main topic. In todays society, the spotlight is going towards women. Proving their independence with Disney movies such as Frozen, and many books that put a woman as the hero. Maybe this society is focusing more on women than they are with men? Of course, this is the time for women to shine after all these years of unfairness towards them and we have yet much to improve. But there is a very big stereo type for men and how they need to be masculine and strong and tough but are we repeating history? Why should a boy in elementary school be worrying about a girl not liking him because he does not play sports? Why do others characterize men as "computer-freaks" or the polar opposite of that, a "jock?" One source has stated that statistics show that women have a better learning capacity than men do. Apparently women also handle moving schools better than men do, as they start more fights. Maybe the reason for all this mayhem is because of ancient history. The men were the mightiest and strongest and could handle anything. Times has changed though and maybe men do suffer just as much as women.

TOW #25

This weeks TOW is chose is an essay of Martin Luther King Jr.'s death and its effect. Due to his assassination, the civil rights movement was left at a sudden stop and many others were unsure of what was to happen next. The essay then explains the type of man he was, and how he fought for rights in a way with sermons and religion, the author then says that religion will no longer play a role in the fight for black rights. The author of this essay, Elizabeth Hardwick, was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and educated at the University of Kentucky and Columbia University showing that her work is reliable because of her high level of education. Hardwick's work is also notable because she is a recipient of a Gold Medal from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The context of this essay was written in a gloomy tone, and when the environment of Memphis was described as place broken in pieces that were left to be picked up after King's death. Hardwick's purpose of writing about the death of King was to reflect his life and to introduce what may become of the battle for civil rights. The  intended audience for this piece of writing is for civil rights activists at the time, and for people who were interested in King's life's work. To achieve their purpose, the author uses hypophora several times throughout the essay asking questions such as, "Was this a victory or a defeat?" and "What did they mean beyond a wish for the genuine act, a consoling communion with the garbagy streets?" She asks questions that her audience would like to see defined, then goes in to detail answering them. I believe that the author is well able to achieve her purpose because throughout the essay she acknowledges what was next for the battle of civil rights and also states that after King's death religion would most likely not interfere with the fight for African american rights. Hardwick leaves the reader with hope saying, "perhaps what was celebrated in Atlanta was an end, not a beginning—the waning of the slow, sweet dream of Salvation, through Christ, for the Negro masses"

TOW #24

My TOW this week is an Ernest Hemingway’s essay called Camping Out and it starts with Hemingway describing with how going camping can be either a relaxing vacation or a terrible experience based on your knowledge on the subject.  He outlines points that can make a camping trip horrible, leading the reader to believe that he has done this many times himself and he truly is an expert.Hemingway’s protagonist in this story is Wilson, the hunter who lives and breathes the great outdoors. The story to juxtaposes another character Macomber to Wilson while Wilson is the favored in that comparison due to his outdoorsiness. However, at the end of the story Wilson breaks the code to which he lives by as he hunts down buffalo in a car, an illegal act. .Two literary techniques are in play throughout the story that enliven the action and embellish Hemingway’s otherwise minimal descriptive passages. The first is onomatopoeia, and is best exemplified by “whunk,” the noise Macomber’s bullet makes as it hits the lion and “carawong,” the noise Wilson’s high-velocity “big gun” makes as it fires at game (p. 26, 34). Hemingway’s usage of these terms helps the reader imagine the noises of the hunt. The second technique Hemingway employs is simile and metaphor. The most notable example occurs in Wilson’s thoughts when Macomber asks if they should leave the wounded lion, “Robert Wilson, whose entire occupation had been with the lion and the problem he presented, and who had not been thinking about Macomber except to note that he was rather windy, suddenly felt as though he had opened the wrong door in a hotel and seen something shameful” (p. 24). This simile demonstrates Wilson’s shock at hearing Macomber voice such cowardly ideas. Macomber would rather leave the lion to suffer or risk someone else running into the lion and possibly being killed than face up to hunting it down and finishing what he started.