Blog Number 5

Blog #5 

a.  What does Pollan mean when he says, “Men have become tools of their 

tools” (150-200). 

 

b.  Men, too, face pressures concerning their diet and body image.  What are 

some of those pressures? 

  A. I believe this quote, "Men have become tools of their tools.", means over the years, men have become more attached to their tools. Their are many definitions of a tool, but the definition that fits best with this quote is how men, over time, has had a major effect on the world. Inventions were always big in a man's life back in the early 1900's, but did all inventions work? If a man is being described as a tool, this usually indicates he is not smart, and most likely does stupid things. Needless to say, some inventions happened to fail, or fade away after a while. I am certain you would not see a person walking down the street with a walkman, but a newer, sleeker, iPod. Of course, the Walkman was a huge success at one point, it eventually faded away, and just became "a tool". However, not all "huge" inventions may have this problem. Before the wheel was invented, I am  sure it was hard in moving objects, and they way objects were moved, may have made it harder on the individual. Men over the years have certainly thought they were helping others by inventing something, when it could wind up being the total opposite. 

B. Men most certainly have pressures concerning their diet and body images. A man's number one concern is most likely their body. Have a huge, unattractive beer belly can indeed put a mans self esteem down. Also, baldness seems to be taking the credit as one of mens top concerns. It seems like men would do almost anything to cover up that bald spot. instead of buying wigs, or just simply shaving their head, the invention of the horrid comb-over was invented. For young men, it seems acne is a major concern. As I went into puberty, of course i had to be greeted with a face full of pimples, which did decrease my self esteem, and was a major concern if i would ever have a clear face again. All of these concerns seem to be the top pressures of men today.

Blog number 4

Blog #4 

a.  What is similar between what Asimov and Sedaris realize about language? 

A) Both Asimov and Sedaris do indeed have similarities of what they realize about language. Asimov realizes that language is an importance to ones vocabulary. While reading this document, I realized that Asimov was a considerably smart man, just by how he worded his sentences. However, a certain individual is smart in one or more areas. As Asimov scored high on certain test, he discovered that he is not as intelligent as his mechanic in those areas. Language can also determine on how smart a person is, in most cases. Sedaris realizes that language is one of the most widely known ways to communicate. Also, Sedaris does believe that language is a large part of how smart a person may be. If a person knows more than one language, you can determine that, that person is indeed a smart person, or is a good learner. Just by knowing that someone speaks well, or knows more than one language, you can estimate that person is smart, just by his or her language usages. Both authors have great views on how language can be a great passion, and have a affect on how a person can be viewed as well. 

Blog Number 3

Blog #3 

a. Type your favorite quote from Goffman.  Explain why this quote is significant 

to you (50-75 words). 

 b.  Type your favorite quote from Bordo.  Explain why this quote is significant to 

you (50-75 words). 

 c. How well does Goffman and Bordo’s analysis hold-up today? In other words, 

have visual images in advertisements of men and women changed? (100-150).  

A) After reading Goffman's passage about their views on gender advertisements, my favorite quote from the passage is,"...one finds that the allocation of at least one girl and at least one boy ensures that a symbolization of the full set of intrafamily relations can be effected." Goffman also continues by stating how you would always find the mothers with daughters and the fathers with the sons. These quotes are significant to me because, I have experience, and agree, of what the author says. I tend to do more activities with my father than i do with my mother. Also, my two sisters seem to be more closer to my mother as well. 

B) One of my favorite quotes from Bordo is,"The magazines tell me at this age, a woman can still me beautiful. but they don't mean me." Also, I found interesting on how Bordo describes how older actresses seems to get more younger than older. These quotes are significant to me because woman these days seem to be surgically beautiful, than to be natural. I also find these quotes significant because most television commercials I see today deal with aging products, and how woman will do almost anything to make themselves seem younger. 

C) I believe visual images has changes drastically in advertisements of men and woman. More products come out every year to keep men and woman from aging at a quick rate. It seems like more female products come out than males, such as makeup, wrinkle products, and skin products. however, males do have their share in visual images, such as products to eliminate grey hair, and to help men get their hair back. In conclusion, no matter how one would look at it, visual images has indeed changes for both men and women.

Blog #1:rhetoric

Perry Pizzolo: Blog #1

A. Foss defines rhetoric in many ways. One particular way he describes this term is "...empty, bombastic language that has no substance."(Foss 3) Foss also explains how rhetorical speech has dated back to the fifth century B.C. Foss demonstrates how rhetorical speech was used in types of communication. Also, Foss describes the three primary uses of rhetoric. they include:    "(1) humans as the creators of rhetoric; (2) symbols as the medium for rhetoric; and (3) communication as the purpose of rhetoric." (Foss 4)

Rhetoric, in my own words, can be described as a way a person speaks to create a mood, or feeling in their dialect. One would use rhetorical speech to make their story more interesting, or change a mood to make it more appealing. Also, dictators and/or politicians could use this form of speaking and writing to "grab" the readers or peoples attention. 

After learning about rhetorical terms, one strong example of this form of language is as followed:

Instead of a writer simply saying,"the man ran down the street to hide from a killer.", they could use,"The desperate man frantically ran down the road, as he made a astonishing escape from the cold blood killer." 

B. One definition of Rhetoric i liked was: Rhetoric is one of the arts of using language as a mean to persuade. 

Another definition i liked was: The art of speaking and writing effectively. 

Definition sources: 1) http://en.wikipedia.ork/wiki/Rhetoric 

2) http://mw1.meriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhetoric