Voice

*Voice is the language and writing style that is unique to one specific writer.

*"The Dubstep version sounds too much like every other "cookie-cutter" song from the 21st century." This shows my voice because of my use of a popular phrase from my family.

*I talk around qualities about myself that I am not proud of.

*Using first person is improper in academic writing.

*Attention to audience and occasion can improve one's voice.

Dubstep v. Beatles

I preferred the Beatles version over the Dubstep version of this song. My personal bias comes from the fact that I listen to old music quite often and I think the Beatles are classic. The Dubstep version sounds too much like every other "cookie-cutter" song from the 21st century.

I think that the original is more pleasing to the ears of people that prefer old music because it flows and has a more classic sound. For younger listeners, I think that the Dubstep version would be more pleasing because of the strong beat that many younger people are accustomed to hearing in their music.

Kandinsky vs. Pollack

I enjoyed that Pollack painting more because I felt that it was more expressive. The paint and colors flowed more together and weren't as threatening as the bright geometric painting that Kandinsky produced. However, I think the Kandinsky painting is more aesthetically appealing because it of the precise lines and shapes. It also uses bright colors that do not strain the eyes as much as the dark colors of Pollack's may.

Sign Language Video

The single effect that I noticed in this short film was that even small opportunities should be seized.

The points that lead me to this single effect were:
*The fact that just taking a flyer from the girl made her happy.
*The narrator enjoys his job because he thinks positively about the smallest parts of it.
*Although the narrator doesn't think much of it, his "co-workers" notice that talking to the girl would make him happy.

"Shooting an Elephant"- SOAPSTone

The subject of George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” is the guilty conscience that inevitably follows unjust actions. Remorse for wrongdoings is illustrated through him saying that “feelings [of guilt] are the normal by-products of imperialism” and that “any Anglo-Indian official” would agree. This shows that, although he still chooses to allow British imperialism into his life, he disagrees with it and that his wrong actions cause him tremendous guilt. He goes on to mention that officials would only agree off-duty. This is because the pressures of society cause them to follow along with their superiors even when they know they’re wrong.

“Shooting an Elephant” was writing after the Anglo-Burmese wars- most likely in the 1900s. The essay’s time of creation is displayed by the predominance of British imperialism throughout the text. The imperial power did not fully take control until after the Anglo-Burmese wars and Burma’s integration into India. The probable place of the essay’s creation is either Burma or England. Based on the fact that Orwell spent time in both countries, it could be either. However, I would say that it would probably have been written in England after he had time to reflect on the happenings and develop deeper guilt for his actions.

The time and place of the essay’s creation influence the essay in his clear tone. His deep remorse throughout the essay and his internal conflict would not be as consuming had he written the essay right after the event or in the exact same place of its occurrence. When given time to stew over his choice, Orwell developed a bit of wisdom on the subject and was able to reflect on what had happened. When Orwell says, “And afterwards I was very glad that the coolie had been killed; it put me legally in the right and it gave me a sufficient pretext for shooting the elephant,” it shows that he continued to think about this for a while after it happened and that he felt the need to justify shooting the elephant.

George Orwell’s specific audience for “Shooting an Elephant” is employees in foreign countries who conform to local or government traditions. This is shown by Orwell’s presence in Burma and his need to go along with what other’s pressure him to do. In his job, he feels the pressure to kill the elephant because it will show that he has power and is in favor of protecting the locals.     

The author’s general audience for the essay is all who are influenced by the pressure of government to conform.  The author’s general audience is communicated through Orwell’s appeal to feelings about a common scenario in the final paragraph. He says, “I often wondered whether any of the others grasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool.” This proves that he wanted everyone to understand that he only killed the elephant so he would fit in and it expresses to the audience that conformity can often cause the wrong impression among peers or colleagues.

Orwell’s purpose in “Shooting an Elephant” is to explain that one must consider all options before doing something drastic and not simply follow along with the ways of society just to fit in. This message is explained when Orwell reflects on different people’s reactions to what he did. He says, “The older men said I was right, but the younger men said it was a damn shame to shoot an elephant for killing a coolie, because an elephant was worth more than any damn Coringhee coolie.” This proves that he understands he had multiple options and that he may have chosen the wrong one.

George Orwell believes that judgments cannot be made just based off of surface information. This value is illustrated by his continual need to explain himself. He shows that his actions were made based on information that outsiders would not understand when just presented with the basic facts of his scenario. He included this value to show to all people that judgments are inevitable, but should be avoided. This ties into his purpose because it shows how making a wrong decision can lead to judgment. The author’s use of imagery when describing the death of the elephant leads us to believe that this death was very tragic and that assumption could easily be made about his character based on this.

Orwell exhibits an understanding, but frustrated, attitude about guilty conscience in “Shooting an Elephant”. These attitudes are expressed as Orwell explains why he made the decision to shoot an elephant and why he knows what he did was wrong. These explanations show that he understands why he must feel guilty, but that he wishes he could justify what he did based on what he was thinking at the time.

Good Old Desk- Harry Nilsson

S- An old desk (friendship)
O- 20th Century America
A- Writers, Scholars
P- to explain the value of friendship
S- Writer
Tone- Upbeat, cheery

This song is explaining the importance of friendship and how he values a reliable friend.

Phrases that suggest a religious theme:
1. "It's got no place to go"
2. "My old desk never needs a rest"
3. "I've got a giant of all times"

Rockwell Introduction Paragraph

While in modern times we often revert to the saying "live in the moment", this ideology was considered a completely new idea in the mid-20th century. Americans were so accustomed to looking back on their pasts that the idea of focusing on present issues seemed unusual. Rockwell's "The Runaway" overlooks the fundamental rift that was rising in America throughout the 1950s- an emerging counter-culture that was not concerned with how things were in America but rather how they are.