Sunday, September 28, 2008

It is safe to say that Laura Kipnis stands by the title of her essay, “Against Love”. All of her points in this writing adamantly put down what being in love is all about. “Against Love” generalizes and stereotypes what all relationships seem to be today. Laura Kipnis expressed that what modern love really means now is controlling others and the control they have over us. It is acknowledged that love is a part of our lives and we all search for it and need it, but it is also claimed in this article that what it means to be in love, and in a relationship today is simply about “maximizing submission and minimizing freedom”, and how well partners cater to and obey each other. The view of love here is not really love, it is mainly an arrangement of what two people do for each other.
The article claims that love takes work especially when passion runs out. This seems like a logical statement considering that relationships can be hard and need effort from both partners. However, this article also implies that mostly what happens in this day in age is that when that passion runs out, a desire to work at the relationship also runs out, resulting in its end. The article supports its claims from historical standpoints explaining that , “Passion meant suffering: the happy ending didn’t yet exist in the cultural imagination” (Kipnis 757). While every relationship reaches challenging places, it is hardly fair to say that most of them end badly, especially due to a lack of passion. If the love in a relationship is truly there, it many not be a pretty process of growth to view, but working at the relationship can eventually pay off. Many couples are willing to put in this work instead of taking the easy way out to end the relationship.
Another major theme in this article is about being open. This is true, the lines of communication must be there in a mature way and one of the main points of a relationship is being able to share your true self with another. However, the article also claims that part of being open is to be able to state your needs from your partner, and expect them to be met, while the other member of the relationship does the same. Relationships mean wanting to please the other member of the relationship, and it is great to have someone who cares enough about you to do the same. Although, this article makes a relationship out to be more of a business arrangement about giving a little to get what we want from someone else on a constant basis. A relationship is give and take. Giving yourself to someone else, and getting their love and care in return. When a person in a relationship does something for someone else, it is not for personal benefit, or to appease the other person. An act of kindness is done out of love for the other person, and loving them does not mean doing something to get what you want, it is done because it makes the other person happy. People who truly love each other do not commit to each other for money or what they get out of the relationship. It is true that love should be gained from the relationship, but a real relationship is not based off of what one person wants out of it. It is based off caring about someone else and how they make you feel and better you as a person.
The article “Against Love” by Laura Kipnis strips down love to a business arrangement of give and take that ends when times get hard. What is failed to be recognized in this article is that love can always be worked at, improved upon, and made better, and there are many strong couples that are proof of this. What also is not mentioned in the article that while part of a relationship is giving and taking, that is not the most important part. The most important part is bringing yourself to care about someone that you want to give them your best before they even ask for it, and that all you really want in return is to see them happy.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

  • One's traditional ethos may not fit the situation, and an alternate persona or character may have to be taken on the get one's point across.
  • Arrangement can be used as a form of rhetoric to persuade the audience.
  • introduction-drawing the reader in (ethos)
  • narration- providing background on the subject (logos)
  • confirmation- proof of argument (logos)
  • refutation- addressing counterarguement (logos)
  • conclusion- brings entire argument together (pathos)
  • Purpose is another form of organization or arrangement
  • Narration: crafting a story that supports your thesis and draws readers in
  • Description: painting a picture so the readers can experience the same emotions with you
  • Process Analysis: how something works, or how it is done- logos
  • Exemplification: clarifies argument and solidifies idea by illustrating a point through examples and facts.
  • Comparison and Contrast: reveals greater insight to information being analyzed by juxtaposing two things to highlight their similarities and differences
  • Classification and Division: sort material and ideas to form categories
  • Definition: establishes common ground before the argument is made

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Examples in Darcy's speech

Ethos:
"I have no wish of denying that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success. Towards him I have been Kinder than towards myself" (170).

Here, Darcy's quote is showing ethos. He is trying to make Lizzy feel that he is a more credible source by explaining his reasons for hurting her sister, and he is trying to gain her trust so she will be more likely to believe the rest of what he has to say.

Logos:
"I have every reason in the world to think ill of you. No motive can excuse the unjust and ungenerous part you acted there. You dare not, you cannot deny that you have been the principal, if not the only means of dividing them from each other, of exposing one to the censure of the world for caprice and instability, the other to its derision for disappointed hopes, and involving them both in misery of the acutest kind" (170).

This quote from Lizzy showed logos. She broke down her thinking and explained to Mr. Darcy the reasons she disliked him. She stated her stance and supported it with facts.

Pathos:
"Who that knows what his misfortunes have been can help feeling an iterest in him?" "His misfortunes!" repeated Darcy contemptuously; "yes, his misfortunes have been great indeed" (171).
This quote from Mr. Darcy shows pathos. Mr. Darcy is trying to convince Lizzy of why she should not be mad at him for breaking up her sister and fiance. Mr. Darcy is explaining how badly her sister's fiance would have ended up and that he felt bad for him. He was trying to make Lizzy feel bad about it too, so she would see his argument from his point of view.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos Examples

Ethos: A basketball coach with years of experience playing the sport would show ethos while speaking to their team about a new drill.

Logos: The novel, Fast Food Nation shows logos because while explaining how the fast food industry came about, it presents ideas supported by facts that exposes the many flaws in the industry.

Pathos: Back to school supplies commercials can make people feel depressed and sad about going back to school in the summertime, appealing to pathos.

Monday, September 8, 2008

The Great Gatsby and Fast Food Nation Similarities

Though at first The Great Gatsby and Fast Food Nation seem to have almost nothing in common, after some searching, it is true that they do have many similarities. Along with both the obvious of both being books, The Great Gatsby and Fast Food Nation have a lot to do with starting businesses or companies. Furthermore, in both books the companies are found to be illegal or immoral. Also, both books have a central theme of money being a large contribution to the decline of society. In The Great Gatsby, Daisy chooses money and status over a life of true love and happiness. In Fast Food Nation, the rise of fast food companies promote the importance of wealthy mega-companies in all aspects of life instead of small, personal companies.

First Blog Post!

I love Gen!!! and english.