TOW 21: Roles Reversal

Christopher Golebiowski, a Swedish artist, illustrates how things would look if animals had humans for pets. He shows this rather frankly, using exaggeration to raise the question: are what humans doing really just and humane? The audience, followers of Golebiowski or art enthusiasts, are forced to see how degrading humans can be to animals. We treat animals as mere objects that we use for our own entertainment and needs. Golebiowski uses bright, contrasting colors to make his point. For instance, he uses the color red to really emphasize the blood, the cruel and gruesome ways the animals are treating the animals. It draws the audience's attention to how humans kill and skin animals for food without much thought, and how cruelly humans mutilate and abuse animals to death just for the sake of doing so. Golebiowski personifies these animals, making them into butchers, owners who make their pets participate in dog competitions, and normal citizens who view animals as mere things that don't need respect. His purpose is to, ultimately, show the harsh reality of the way humans treat animals. It seems as though Golebiowski wants the audience to know what they're doing is not okay and to make them reevaluate their actions. He establishes his purpose effectively with these drawings, capturing the hearts and attentions of everyone who comes across his work.

TOW 20: Thoughts from Places

In this vlog post (video blog) by the vlogbrothers, John Green, young adult novelist and educator, talks about what it means to drive north instead of west, going home, growing up, and being an adult. He briefly revels in the past, thinking of how all his old trips took him west, partly because that's where all the open space was in America and partly because of this line in one of John Green's favorite book, All The King's Men: "For west is where we all plan to go someday. It is where you go when the land gives out and the old field pines encroach. It is where you go when you get the letter saying 'flee, all is discovered.' It is where you go when you look down at the blade in your hand and the blood on it. It is where you go when you are told that you are a bubble on the tide of empire." John Green talks with the purpose of sharing his experience of becoming an adult; he tells his viewers, anyone from an adolescent to an adult interested in John and Hank Green's thoughts and ideas, although traveling across the country is a fun and exciting thing to experience, home is the most important place. John Green uses a quote from one of his favorite novels to further his point. The quote basically serves as the couple of sentences that sum of all of his ideas and feelings. He also adds anecdotes, where he's traveled, his experiences as a youth, to paint a backdrop for his story. These anecdotes allows for the viewers to understand where John is coming from. He evokes a sense of nostalgia from the viewers even though they many have never experienced road trips to Arthur, Nebraska, home of the world's smallest courthouse, or the Grand Canyon. This nostalgia allows for the viewers to understand and accept John Green's purpose, which is to appreciate home. Appreciate life and the things it gives you.






DFTBA

TOW 19: Emancipating Lincoln

Harold Holzer, author and Senior Vice President of External Affairs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, introduces the three main topics of the book, Emancipating Lincoln: 1) the bow of promise, 2) the concept of Emancipator versus Pettifogger, and 3) sacred effigies. He brings up the controversies that shrouds former President Lincoln in a cloud of uncertainty - controversies such as: was Lincoln really an emancipator? Did Lincoln really support anti-slavery? What were Lincoln's true motives for emancipation? And Holzer does this by asking rhetorical questions. He brings up a topic of interest by asking a question and gives an answer with an answer. This effective use of the rhetorical device allows for the reader, anyone interested in Lincoln and the era of the Civil War where the start of emancipation and civil rights was beginning to bud, to address their own curiosities and continue to actively read through this kind of questioning. Holzer effectively establishes his arguments and illustrates an interesting narrative by citing authorities. He makes his statements (and even opinions) valid and credible by quoting important historical figures of that time period, such as Frederick Douglass.
The readers are allowed an alternate view of President Lincoln and the whole situation of emancipation. Holzer seems to establish his purpose, which is to bring up different perspectives of the Emancipation Proclamation (many, bad), while painting a vivid picture of that time period.

TOW 18: Lights Out, Ravens Beat 49ers

Super Bowl XLVII went out with a bang, the whole dome experiencing a power outage after Beyonce's electric and breathtaking half-time show. In the end, it would be the Baltimore Ravens and the older Harbaugh brother who would reign victorious. 
This article is presented in a rather straightforward manner by the Associated Press's Barry Wilner, a former CUNY of NYC graduate. He simply states what happened during the Super Bowl, highlighting the main events of Beyonce's thriller performance, the black out, and the Raven's impressive defense. Although this article is simple in structure, Wilner utilized the rhetorical device of imagery to add excitement. He illustrated the different plays made by both the Ravens and the 49ers, allowing the readers, those interested in football and especially the outcome of Superbowl XLVII, to relive or experience for the first time, those heart-stopping moments. In succinct sentences, Wilner delivered images in an exciting and real way. He also established his credibility with ethos. He showed that he is knowledgeable when it comes to football, supporting this sentiment with the use of football "lingo". 
I believe that Wilner effectively established his purpose, which in this case was to let others know who the won the Superbowl and how they won. There was a fast-paced vibe that could be felt in this article and it was exciting to read. 

Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after his team defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game in New Orleans, Feb. 3, 2013.