What are the three most important texts/chapters you’ve read in this class and why are they so important to you?
The three most important readings for me would be the transitions chapter from TSIS, Big Organic from TOD, and the Asimov/Sedaris readings. TSIS being a very useful guide for writing essays has been a great help in my developing literacy skills, the specific chapter taught me how to making my essays and paragraphs more fluid like in that they flowed well from one sentence to the next. Thus making it easier and more pleasent for others in reading my work. This chapter really strengthened my writing abilities, I found significantly important since it connects the parts of ones writing hence making a essay. The Big Organic chapter from TOD was important to me because it revealed that even things that are labeled organic are labeled like this only to beguile the costumer into purchasing a product that necessarily is not much healthier and natural then the product that doesn't. Another benefit of reading this chapter which made it important was that I have friends who criticize people who do not. When I told them of what i had found out their opinions on organic and non organic had drastically changed.
The final reading that I found important was the Asimov and Sedaris texts. Both of these texts spoke of intelligence and have it differs from field to field, in other words intelligence doesn,t mean that one person is smarter overall it means that intelligence can be specifically connected to ones specialization. Theses are all important because they deal with literacy "the ability to understand and construct communication that is applicable to a specific subject matter". People develop different kinds of communication that varies from cultures to occupations, having the ability of literacy in a certain field makes one intelligent.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Blog # 7
What is meant by "the Omnivore's dilemma"? Some may say that being a Omnivore is a blessing in that we are able to consume many foods from meat to vegetables and many things in between. However there are two sides to the coin after all since our diet is so broad and not focused on a select food supply we must decide whether the food we consume is beneficiary. Hence the dilemma. Pollans dilemma is when he found the chanterelle, and was short in his confidence whether or not he should eat the mushroom. If humans where specialized eaters (herbivores or carnivores) we would have less decisions and speculating to make in our choice of food. Even though we don't have much choice now since we no longer have much control over our food, the greatest choices that are made by the modern day hunter/forager of the supermarket, is should we put it in the shopping cart and bring it home for dinner. This is the omnivores dilemma.
Have I ever exprienced the omnivores dilemma maybe I have but not in the same sense as Pollan. After reading this book and discussing related topics in class I have started to contemplate more on the food being put in front of me. However being from a eastern European background, and raised in that culture I have always gave a thought to the food being produced for us by industry farms. Through my expriences with food in different areas for example when eating in New York or in other large cities I have been wary of what kind of journey the food has taken to get to my table. While in rural areas such as a farm I've trusted the tradition and people who raised and prepared this food.
Have I ever exprienced the omnivores dilemma maybe I have but not in the same sense as Pollan. After reading this book and discussing related topics in class I have started to contemplate more on the food being put in front of me. However being from a eastern European background, and raised in that culture I have always gave a thought to the food being produced for us by industry farms. Through my expriences with food in different areas for example when eating in New York or in other large cities I have been wary of what kind of journey the food has taken to get to my table. While in rural areas such as a farm I've trusted the tradition and people who raised and prepared this food.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Blog # 6
a. What does “organic” mean? And how is it rhetorical?
Organic as defined by the standard dictionary means "noting or pertaining to a class of chemical compounds that formerly comprised only those existing in or derived from plants or animals..." however there is much more to the word organic then meets the eye. Most people today would believe that a product labeled organic would be something natural, healthy, no artificial additives, and grown in a healthy environment. "Organic stood for everything industry was not" (Pollan, Omnivores Dilemma Chpt 9 pg 142). Now organic is simply used in a beguiling manner, by the marketing companies, this is the rhetoric behind the word. Sure a product labeled organic is produced differently from one that lacks the label, however Pollan would say that the major difference is that the organic food has a story behind it "....Now a steak like that has got to taste better than one from Safeway, where the only accompanying information comes in the form of a number: the price..." (Pollan, The Omnivores Dilemma, chpt 9 pg135). In this way the word is rhetorical, a tool used by the market to evoke feelings of confidence that when you purchase that "organic" or "humanely raised" product you will directly benefit from it's healthier traits. When the regular consumer purchases such a product with the literary background they are most likely being deceived by the word that once assured that they where getting a pure product, all one hundred procent of that product no additives. Now a days not even the organic foods are safe from the the claws of industry, poisening everything so it may last a few weeks longer or travel farther all for the purpose of one thing and it isnt the well being of the consumer.
Organic as defined by the standard dictionary means "noting or pertaining to a class of chemical compounds that formerly comprised only those existing in or derived from plants or animals..." however there is much more to the word organic then meets the eye. Most people today would believe that a product labeled organic would be something natural, healthy, no artificial additives, and grown in a healthy environment. "Organic stood for everything industry was not" (Pollan, Omnivores Dilemma Chpt 9 pg 142). Now organic is simply used in a beguiling manner, by the marketing companies, this is the rhetoric behind the word. Sure a product labeled organic is produced differently from one that lacks the label, however Pollan would say that the major difference is that the organic food has a story behind it "....Now a steak like that has got to taste better than one from Safeway, where the only accompanying information comes in the form of a number: the price..." (Pollan, The Omnivores Dilemma, chpt 9 pg135). In this way the word is rhetorical, a tool used by the market to evoke feelings of confidence that when you purchase that "organic" or "humanely raised" product you will directly benefit from it's healthier traits. When the regular consumer purchases such a product with the literary background they are most likely being deceived by the word that once assured that they where getting a pure product, all one hundred procent of that product no additives. Now a days not even the organic foods are safe from the the claws of industry, poisening everything so it may last a few weeks longer or travel farther all for the purpose of one thing and it isnt the well being of the consumer.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Blog # 5
A) "Men have become tools of their tools", after reading Pollan's statement i dissected it to clearly examine the quote. When Pollan says "men" I interpret as the collective meaning: humanity, because all humans use tools, not necessarily tools for a mechanic or construction worker, etc; tools for women would be makeup to apparently enchance their beauty, another example would be an elementary school student given a abacus to make arithmetic calculations. In the society we live many tools are required. However the statement by Pollan I believe means that men (humanity) has become reliant on their tools, the tool being a innamate object with a particular function needs a human to access that function. A human without the tool would have a difficult time with a certain task. A farmer in the days before the tractor had to rake hay and turn it over on the field till it dryed and then finally would be able to gather it, with the tractor the time it takes to complete this task is minimized and also saves the farmer alot of energy. As man evolves so does society and the creations of man, and this way we become more reliant on the tools we use thus becoming tools of the tool.
B)Men, too, face pressures concerning their diet and body image. What are those issues?
Women more then men seemed to be pressured by diet and body image, or is it just illuminated to the public this way. Men like women care about their body image, its like nature the male wants to impress and attract and female therefore they do not want to be overweight or really skinny scrawny like. Men do not show it as much as women but they do face these issues some men more then others. We are pressured to become muscular not just by women but other males, in a fight the stronger will be the victor. Women are targeted far more by marketing companies of beauty products, weight loss programs and fashion, if we look at commercials we can see that men are targeted aswell with ads like iron gym "get ripped in 30 days". One may not agree that men and women are equally pressured but there definatly are issues that men face with body image, diet, etc.
B)Men, too, face pressures concerning their diet and body image. What are those issues?
Women more then men seemed to be pressured by diet and body image, or is it just illuminated to the public this way. Men like women care about their body image, its like nature the male wants to impress and attract and female therefore they do not want to be overweight or really skinny scrawny like. Men do not show it as much as women but they do face these issues some men more then others. We are pressured to become muscular not just by women but other males, in a fight the stronger will be the victor. Women are targeted far more by marketing companies of beauty products, weight loss programs and fashion, if we look at commercials we can see that men are targeted aswell with ads like iron gym "get ripped in 30 days". One may not agree that men and women are equally pressured but there definatly are issues that men face with body image, diet, etc.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Blog # 4
a. What is similar between what Asimov and Sedaris realize about language?
What Asimov and Sedaris realize is that even if a person may be a master of language it does not necessarily mean that they are more intelligent then a person who is not a sophisticated speaker.
There are two types of knowledge one may say, Practical which would be used in real life situations, and theoretical which would be applied more in the classroom. Basically I believe that the similarity that Asimov and Sedaris share is that language varies, and does not establish intelligence. Intelligence can be applied to many fields of expertise, and in these fields different forms of intelligence must be applied. Language aswell varies in the sense of different expertise for example a plumber develops his own lingo the same as a traveling businessmen, if these two where to meet and attempted to discuss their fields of expertise in the languages they developed, they would not understand eachother.
What Asimov and Sedaris realize is that even if a person may be a master of language it does not necessarily mean that they are more intelligent then a person who is not a sophisticated speaker.
There are two types of knowledge one may say, Practical which would be used in real life situations, and theoretical which would be applied more in the classroom. Basically I believe that the similarity that Asimov and Sedaris share is that language varies, and does not establish intelligence. Intelligence can be applied to many fields of expertise, and in these fields different forms of intelligence must be applied. Language aswell varies in the sense of different expertise for example a plumber develops his own lingo the same as a traveling businessmen, if these two where to meet and attempted to discuss their fields of expertise in the languages they developed, they would not understand eachother.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Blog # 3
A) "Within each broad category (formal, business, informal) there are choices which are considerably different one from another, and the sense is that one may as well try out various possibilities to see what comes of it- as though life where a series of costume balls. Thus one can occasionally mock one's own appearance, for identification is not deep (Goffman, Gender adds 217-23) I find this quote significant especially the italic part because identity is not deep but character is, and in this way advertisements manipulate people into purchasing products by relating to its viewers. Example: "most American women go into ecstasies at the sight and smell of the tables and cabinets that have been lovingly caressed with long lasting satin finish, lemon scented, spray on furniture polish (Komisar 1972: 306-307). Women enjoy having a comfortable setting, elegant shining furniture to make the neighbors green with envy. I call this manipulating through relating.
B) "It only becomes a public matter when we force the public to pay for the consequences of those choices. If policymakers want to fight obesity, they'll halt the creeping socialization of medicine, and move to return individual Americans ownership of their own health and well being back to individual Americans (Baltko pg 159)" this quote if signigficant because it represents the orginal idea of capitalistism, for if the government must intervene even into such matters as what the public should eat then it eliminates personel responsibility and makes the gorvenment into a big nurse who must nurture its patients. "Kids taking on Mcdonald's this week, suing the company for making them fat. Isnt that like middle-aged men suing porsche for making them get speeding tickets? Whatever happend to personal responsibility? (Zinczenko pg 153)". This qoute basically shows as that it is a matter of freewill, there will always be things to tempt man-kind but it is our decision whether we should fall into these temptations.
C) Goffmans and Baltkos analysis holds up well in todays world because not muc has changed except that everything has simply expanded, things have grown past the borders of America and the western world and have spread throughout the world. For example advertisments of McDonalds and other fastfood chains are more common now in eastern Europe which was once seperated from the western world by the wall of communism. Women in adverstisements have grown into major roles, when you see a woman on a billboard advertising some sort of make-up product, she has a regal like sense eminating around her. I believe not much has changed except for the fact that things have become more international.
B) "It only becomes a public matter when we force the public to pay for the consequences of those choices. If policymakers want to fight obesity, they'll halt the creeping socialization of medicine, and move to return individual Americans ownership of their own health and well being back to individual Americans (Baltko pg 159)" this quote if signigficant because it represents the orginal idea of capitalistism, for if the government must intervene even into such matters as what the public should eat then it eliminates personel responsibility and makes the gorvenment into a big nurse who must nurture its patients. "Kids taking on Mcdonald's this week, suing the company for making them fat. Isnt that like middle-aged men suing porsche for making them get speeding tickets? Whatever happend to personal responsibility? (Zinczenko pg 153)". This qoute basically shows as that it is a matter of freewill, there will always be things to tempt man-kind but it is our decision whether we should fall into these temptations.
C) Goffmans and Baltkos analysis holds up well in todays world because not muc has changed except that everything has simply expanded, things have grown past the borders of America and the western world and have spread throughout the world. For example advertisments of McDonalds and other fastfood chains are more common now in eastern Europe which was once seperated from the western world by the wall of communism. Women in adverstisements have grown into major roles, when you see a woman on a billboard advertising some sort of make-up product, she has a regal like sense eminating around her. I believe not much has changed except for the fact that things have become more international.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Blog # 2
The icon is a symbol, a representation of ideas, philosophies, communication and pictorial images. The most familiar of these icons off course are the pictorial images. The quote "But If who I am matters LESS maybe what I say will matter more"(McCloud pg 208) can be interpreted to mean that its not what the icon looks like its what the icon represents. Figures in our soceity,Celebrities and Politicians can all be seen as icons as well, President Obama is said to be a icon of change, however prejudice people may avoid his message and simply label him for the color of his skin. I like the quote because I find it to be true, most people will look at a book's cover and judge it without reading through its pages, when the message is scrupulously displayed and the messengers characteristics poorly illustrated to the conscious of the receiver then the message is louder and people will take it into greater consideration. This technique eliminates bias and prejudice thinking, thus proving itself a effect method of stimulating thought in the subject that the icon represents.
If humanity discovers a consistent resource, then war will become obsolete. This is a a logical fallacy known as a false analogy. It is a logical fallacy because even if humanity does discover a never ending resource there are still characteristics in human nature that will drive humanity to destroy one another.
If humanity discovers a consistent resource, then war will become obsolete. This is a a logical fallacy known as a false analogy. It is a logical fallacy because even if humanity does discover a never ending resource there are still characteristics in human nature that will drive humanity to destroy one another.
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