Femininity

I will be writing my essay on Susan Brownmiller's "Femininity." In the essay, I will argue that Brownmiller is trying to convey to the reader that a woman who posseses a certain zeal which rebels against the traditional obligations for women actually forms the true definition of femininity. In other words, she is re-defining femininity.

Amy Graziano

Islam

While reading Smith's "The Straight Path of Islam," I became very interested in his discussion of this religion I knew very little about. The way he described the surah as "the heartbeat of the Muslim's response to God" really intrigued me. This statement really shows that this one simple prayer, in a way, is the foundation to everything they do in life, it is what keeps their religion alive. Overall I was shocked to see how similar but yet how different the Islamic faith is from my own faith. Smith goes on to discuss the "Five Pillars" of the Islamic faith. I'm not Catholic but I do know a little and I was wondering if the "Pillars" are in a way equivalent to the sacraments of the Catholic faith. If someone who knows more about it could answer this question I would greatly appreciate it.

Arguments, and the brooking thereof

I will be deciding whether Raymond Carver meant there to be one true way of loving, or whether each person's concept of love is different. My decision will be final, I will brook no argument. No brooking of arguments there shall be.

Posting/Paper

In order to get to where I am at I went to the blog page for Argumentative Prose and clicked 'sign in' in the top right corner, signed in and then clicked 'new post' under the Argumetative Prose blog!

For my paper I believe I will be writing about Raymond Carver's "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love". I thought this story was really interesting in the different kinds of love that it discussed and which love is the 'supreme' or 'highest' kind of love.

Amanda

posting/Islam

I signed in under my Google account [making sure I was using the new Blogger sign in with Google and not just Blogger]. I then clicked post under the agrumentative prose topic and I'm here now. ^^

Also, when I read "The Straight Path of Islam," it seemed to contrast somewhat [especially on violence] with a book I read by a man who converted from Islam to Christianity after having taught at the largest Islamic university in the world. The man, Mark Gabriel, seemed to have a decent knowledge on the topic since he has a doctorate in both Islamic and Christian theologies, if Islam calls their's theology. On the other hand, I have also read nice portions of Huston Smith's book The World's Religions and his style always seems to emphasize similarities, draw comparisons, but never draw sharp contrasts. However, if Smith's portrayal of Islam is a true one, I am very happy and smile to think of our similarities.

Brian Zinser

Post Away!

As I said in class, I won't be posting on any of our readings this week. Instead, I'd like for everyone to try to publish a post yourself. Once you've accepted my invitation to become an "author" of the blog, sign into your Google account and publish a post to "Argumentative Prose." Tell us what reading you've chosen to write about for Essay 1, perhaps indicating what you will be focusing on in your interpretation.

Actually, the first one of you who is able to figure out how to publish a post might also say something in your post about how you did it (so the rest can know what to do)!

Gloria Steinem's "Sex, Lies, and Advertising"

Gloria Steinem was the founder and original publisher of Ms. magazine, and is generally regarded as one of the more influential feminist commentators of the late twentieth century. She certainly addresses feminist concerns in her article, but she also provides some interesting insight into journalism, more generally speaking.

We'll discuss and debate Steinem's argument on Friday. What do you perceive to be Steinem's primary argument here? Also, what rhetorical strategies -- logos, ethos, pathos -- do you see Steinem employing as she makes her case?

Raymond Carver's "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love"

I'll be interested to hear whether or not you think Raymond Carver's story illustrates any of the attitudes and/or ideas we found in the essays by Brownmiller and Perrin. Or just comment on any aspect of the story you found interesting or about which you had a question.

By the way, I've now invited everyone to be authors of the blog. Let me know if you didn't get an email from me.

Susan Brownmiller's "Femininity" & Noel Perrin's "The Androgynous Man"

On Monday we’ll discuss two short essays: Susan Brownmiller’s “Femininity” and Noel Perrin’s “The Androgynous Man.” Both authors are addressing expectations for men and women -- specifically how we are all expected to live up to certain standards of masculinity or femininity (depending on our sex).

While Brownmiller and Perrin have different perspectives and interests, they do seem to agree about certain issues. There are also some interesting differences between the two essays (besides the obvious one that Brownmiller is concentrating on women and Perrin on men).

Leave a comment about how these essays compare. Or simply comment on any claim or observation made by either author you find intriguing.

Scott Russell Sanders's "The Common Life"

I have just a couple of questions for you regarding Scott Russell Sanders’s essay “The Common Life.”

First of all, how would you describe “The Common Life” if you were to explain it to someone who has never read it before? What exactly does Sanders seem to be arguing? Is his essay descriptive or prescriptive? In other words, is he merely describing the current situation here in America? Or is he prescribing ways to remedy the current situation? Or both?

Secondly, how does Sanders characterize American life in the 1990s (when he wrote the essay)? In Sanders’s opinion, what do Americans value? And why? And what’s wrong with those values (acc. to Sanders)?

Those of you who haven't created a Google account, go ahead and do so before commenting. Then sign in with your Google account when you leave your comment. If you run into any difficulty, email me or come during my office hours.

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail"

No class today, as we observe along with the rest of the nation Martin Luther King Day. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” not only represents an important moment in the civil rights struggle, it is a terrific example of argumentative prose. The letter (written April 12, 1963) is specifically addressed to eight white Alabama clergymen. Though sympathetic to the cause for which King and others were arguing, these clergymen had criticized the need for public protests such as the one for which King had been arrested. (The photograph is of King inside the Birmingham jail.)

Even though the letter is addressed to the clergymen, King obviously had a wider audience in mind. King employs several rhetorical strategies (that is, ways of arguing) to convince his readers of the need for racial equality. As you read King’s “Letter,” try to identify some of those strategies. Where is he particularly effective in making his case, and why?

(If you are interested in some more context for the letter, here’s an interesting site that tells a bit about the protest, King’s arrest, and some reactions/consequences.)

As before, leave your comments below. Don’t post anonymously -- when you are asked to “Choose an identity,” go ahead and select “Other” and then type in your name.

"The Use of Force" by William Carlos Williams

Hey everybody! If you’re looking for Matt Harding’s “Dancing” video, just scroll down. (Great comments so far, by the way.)

I asked you to read William Carlos Williams’s short story “The Use of Force” for Friday. This post is designed to give you a couple of things to consider after you’ve read the story. I’ll probably bring up these same issues in class on Friday, but feel free to comment here as well.

You might have noticed several moments in the story when Williams uses figurative language (as opposed to literal language). For example, early on the narrator says “The child was fairly eating me up with her cold, steady eyes” (97) -- he means that figuratively, of course. What are some other examples of figurative language in the story? Why do you think Williams chooses to use figurative language sometimes rather than literal language?

Here’s a related question: What is the significance of the title? Sure, it has a literal meaning. But what other, non-literal meanings might it have? This question is another way of asking whether you think the story might have some “symbolic” significance (beyond what literally happens in the story, i.e., a doctor resorting to “the use of force” to treat an uncooperative patient). What other, broader “argument” might Williams be making here?

"Dancing" by Matt Harding

Here's the short film I mentioned to you during our first class meeting. You can learn more about Matt Harding by visiting his website, called "Where the Hell Is Matt?" The film is about 3½ minutes long.



On the Frequently Asked Questions portion of his website, Harding responds to the question "What is the message of your videos?" by saying "Up to you. I'm just dancing."

Leave a comment by clicking on "Comments" at the bottom right of this post. When you are asked to "Choose an identity," go ahead and select "Other" and then type in your name. (Don't leave an anonymous post.) I'm very interested to hear what you think might be the "message" or "argument" of this short film.

In the near future I plan to give everyone in the class "publishing" rights to the blog. That means you'll be able to submit your own posts (and not just comment).