TOW #7: Finding musical 'diamonds' in the slums of Paradise City

There is currently a high poverty rate in Brazil, creating very poor living conditions and few options for its youth. Recently, a program was founded that strives to improve upon these issues through music. Students are given violins and free, intensive music lessons once a week. The program’s aim is not only to seek raw talent but also to show the students that they can contribute something to the world. The article was written by Shasta Darlington, an international correspondent for CNN and head of its Brazil branch. Recent surveys suggest that 11 million Brazilians live in favelas with extremely poor living conditions. Musical programs such as this one mean a lot to people who have so little. The article was written to portray the harsh realities of these students and to instill hope for the future. Darlington most likely wrote this article to readers of CNN who are interested in international relations as well as community service.  There are multiple appeals to pathos, most of them attempting to portray the importance and necessity of this program. The most resonating example appears as the last few sentence of the article. "I play with all my heart," she says, breaking down in tears. "If it weren't for music, I'd be a drug addict or a prostitute or out robbing. Because that's the reality here." Anecdotes are also frequently used. Darlington includes quotes and mini-stories of successful people who grew up in the slums of Brazil. After reading the article I feel it was rather effective. Shasta creates a very clear and concise composition that does a great job of both appealing to and engaging with the reader. 

To see more: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/25/world/cnnheroes-brazil-slum-music/index.html?hpt=wo_t4

Nobel Laureates Endorse Obama

There is a letter that has been passed around to all of the living Nobel Prize winners. By signing the letter, the laureates are saying that they endorse President Obama over his rival Mitt Romney. The supporters of this letter claim that Romney is in support of a bill that is not counterproductive and devastating to the countries public research and investment in science. Kenneth Chang is the author, an esteemed science reporter for the New York Times. The article was written at a very opportune time with November 2^nd drawing ever closer. It is very important to show where the two candidates differ when it comes to science. The article was written for readers of the New York Times that are interested in the sciences and value the opinions of Nobel laureates. Anecdotes are used very effectively in the piece; various quotes and descriptions are given from the laureates. This is also an appeal to logos, as the anecdotes give logical support for why Obama’s plan is favored over Romney’s. Chang did a great job of appealing to his audience. His personal writing was concise and logical, however the anecdotes were the most appealing. He was very good at selecting ones that supported his claim, and the piece seemed to flow quite well. It would be hard for anyone who is a strong supporter of the sciences to not be influenced by this article.  

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/nobel-laureates-endorse-obama/?ref=science

Brazilian Anti-tobacco Propaganda

This advertisement is one that depicts a car upside-down, clearly involved in a crash. The front of the vehicle is smoldering with ashes all around it, an image very similar to a cigarette butt. The caption to the right reads, “Do you know how much you really spend on cigarettes?” It was created for a Brazilian company called Tabaconomia, a creator of anti-tobacco propaganda. The creative director for the project was Flavio Waiteman, a prolific advertisement creator in Brazil who has had his works published in numerous magazines. Smokers often buy cigarettes without realizing the true price that they pay. They spend a few dollars on each pack with few immediate consequences. This advertisement attempts to show a different perspective. A comparison is made between the long term deaths caused by smoking and the immediate effects of a car crash. The message is given to an audience of smokers that it doesn’t matter how long cigarettes take to kill you, the result is still the same. It is also interesting that a car metaphor is used because often times there is more than one person harmed in car crashes. This is an appeal to pathos in saying that everyone around the smoker, including his or her family, is affected by secondhand smoke. I believe this is what makes the advertisement most effective. Smokers know they put their lives in danger; it’s often written right on the front of the packs that they purchase. The comparison of a car crash challenges the common conception that they are only harming themselves, and causes the onlooker to think hard about the effects of their actions by tapping into a violent and dangerous cultural memory of car crashes.

Outliers by Malcom Gladwell, Post 1

We as humans attribute many of the causes to success on innate ability. One person is always more talented, smarter, or bigger. This is the reason they succeed. In Outliers, a very different approach is taken. It takes the stance that this assertion is wrong; that much of success can be traced back to opportune timing, extreme preparation and practice, and sometimes even the month that you are born. Malcolm Gladwell, an author of three other bestselling novels and a staff writer for The New Yorker, is the author. Gladwell published and released the book in 2008 in New York City. The book was written to give a well rounded, factually accurate basis for the explanation of success; the cover is subtitled “The Story of Success”. Gladwell has seen time and time again the success of others be attributed to innate talent, and his purpose was to disprove the weight that society places on this factor. The book was written for the many people who fail to analyze success through the facts, but instead hold on to common societal beliefs. The most effective rhetorical devices that are used include appeals to logos and the use of anecdotes. Malcolm Gladwell has a style of including a variety of seemingly unlike descriptions and somehow, almost magically, tying it all together. In this way, he is very effective in accomplishing his purpose because the reader is always both surprised and compelled by the evidence he presents. 

Pro-Romney Political Cartoon

This visual text is a political cartoon. It appears that it is written from a republican viewpoint. It sends the message that, since Obama hasn't gotten enough done in his presidential term, Mitt Romney should be given a chance to change Washington. Randy Bish created the piece. Bish is an author/artist for the Chicago Tribune that specializes in political cartoons. This November, voters will decide that path of America for the next four years. Many Romney supporters believe that to reelect Obama for another four years would be a terrible mistake. They believe he has had enough time to turn things around, and has failed to do so. The purpose of this cartoon is to point out these faults and gain support for Romney, who campaigns on being able to fix Washington. This piece was intended for readers of the Chicago Tribune. I believe it is actually more geared towards democrats, because it attempts to point out the flaws of Barack Obama rather than the advantages of Mitt Romney. An appeal to logos is made in an attempt to logically show that Obama is not the right president for the next four years. It also involves some satire, using Barack Obama’s own words against him. I don’t believe that the author does a very good job of achieving his goal. A direct quote from Barack Obama is used, however it is evident that it is taken extremely out of context. This diminished the credibility of the author and in turn the effectiveness of the cartoon.

The cartoon: http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/0d33e2f4-1a1f-4d0e-b887-eb91d34dfcc4.html 

A turning point for freedom in America, 150 years later

IThis weekend is the 150^th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. This document is arguably the most significant one since the Declaration of Independence in 1776, because it played a very large role in keeping America together. Donna Brazile, who is a CNN contributor, vice chairwoman for the Democratic Nation Committee, and Georgetown professor, wrote the article. There is a very important context for the publishing of this article. In less than two months, Americans will be voting to decide the future of their country. Brazile compares Lincoln to Obama in the fact that they both are attempting to close the opportunity gap as well as reduce economic inequality. Therefor, the text was written to help gain Democratic supporters and remind the readers how far our country has come in 150 years. We may be in tough times now, but they were far worse when Lincoln was in office. It will take a strong leader and effective economic reform, but our goals can be reached with the right president in the White House. This article was most likely intended for voters who are still on the edge and unsure whom they wish to vote for come November. Brazile uses compare and contrast and appeals to both ethos and pathos. I do believe that the author accomplished her purpose. Too often when politics is being discussed it is in dollar signs and numbers. This article does a very good job or reminding voters that there are many other things of equal importance. She ends the article with words that effectively urge the people to take action: “Abraham Lincoln would be proud to see the progress we have made. But he also would understand that there is still more work to do. Together. Claim it.”

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/22/opinion/brazile-emancipation-150-anniversary/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Anti-Japan Protests Erupt in China

Tensions are very highly strung in Beijing over some disputed islands. The Japanese currently have control of the land, but the Chinese feel it has been part of their tradition for quite some time. Protestors congregated outside of the Japanese embassy chanting things such as “down with Japanese imperialism.” The article was written by Steven Jiang, a current employee of CNN with employers such as NBC News, CBS News and Channel NewsAsia on his resume. Chinese maritime surveillance ships disobeyed direct orders from Japan by entering the island’s territory. Pressures have risen between the two countries, especially in the Chinese citizens who believe the land is rightfully theirs. The article is instrumental in informing the reader on the current dispute between the two nations, and providing a rationale for each party’s viewpoint on the islands. It seems that it is intended for any person that is not a citizen of either Japan or China, because even though the journalist is Chinese no apparent bias appears in his writing. He uses instances of logos to describe why each nation feels the land belongs to them. Steven Jiang definitely achieved his goal of providing non-bias news. To do this, it was essential that he represent both sides of the argument fairly and equally. He references the context in which the island disputes have started, and ensures a non-opinionated approach.  

For more information see: http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/15/world/asia/china-japan-islands/index.html?hpt=wo_c2