When I first learned that our class would be having a Socratic seminar, I was a bit apprehensive about how it would actually go, would it turn into a heated debate, or would it be long awkward silences. When the seminar began, I realized that it wasn't going as I thought, it was actually civil.
My performance was not as I expected. Usually I dominate the conversation, but in the seminar I was dominated because of interruptions, but I digress. The seminar did deepen my understanding of the novel. It also posed a lot more questions about our society and if we[our society] are heading to a society like the one in Brave New World. The seminar also showed me the different views people had, on the same topic. For example, Andrea interpreted Henry Ford as God because he basically "created" the Brave New World society just as God Created us. While Nelson and I viewed him as a figure they[ Brave New World people] looked up to because of his scientific advances and they were a scientific society.
My favorite part of the Socratic discussion was the evaluation period after each discussion. I feel like the conversation became deeper with the whole class involved, and it was easier to share opinions because the pressure was taken off.
This exercise turned out to be really fun and thought- provoking! I would not mind having these seminars more frequently! If I had a "do-over" then I would be more aggressive in getting in the conversation.
Monday, October 11, 2010
ANNOTATED READING LIST
Postman, Neil. Amusing ourselves to death: public discourse in the age of show business. New York: Penguin Books, 1986.
Postman's Amusing Ourselves To Death delivers an amusing critique on our society's addiction to television. In the book Postman says that America is heading towards a society like BNW. He says that Americans were more intelligent before the influence of television. He also points out that our society has become too focused on "show business", which I totally agree because we [Americans] put people in show business on such high pedestals. Religion is one of the things that is negatively affected by television because of all the television church services. Basically, Postman is saying that television has changed the way we think, talk ,and act and that is not a good thing because we don't want to end up like the people in Huxley's BNW. (163)
Huxley, Aldous. Brave new world. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006.
Huxley's Brave New World predicts a future that is very scary. This Book Is set in a time in the future, where everyone is exactly the same. From Birth the people are manipulated to be exactly how society wants them to be. They use different tactics to make the people how they want them to be. For example they genetically modify children and they use hypnopaedia so they end how society wants them to be. In every bunch there are always a few bad apples. For example, Bernard Marx is a strange young fellow compared to the other alphas. He doesn't think or act like them. One day Bernard and his lady friend, Lenina, go to a savage reservation and find a savage who's mother is from the BNW society. Bernard takes him back and life is never the same again. The savage comes to the BNW society and does not know how to react to all the immoral acts done by the BNW society. He realizes that in the BNW society there are no morals or individualism and that is something he doesn't handle well. Huxley used a very interesting writing style, he told different stories at one time, it was confusing, but made me a stronger reader. This book also opened my eyes to how morals and individualism is very important. I also asked the question is stability worth giving up individualism?? (268)
Bray, Libba. The Sweet Far Thing. New York: Delacorte, 2007. Print.
The Sweet Far Thing is set during Victorian times at Spence Girl's Academy. I felt like the characters in this book were too modern for the time the book was set in. Gemma Doyle is the main character and she is the protector of the magic. Her friends Felicity and Ann also use the magic because Gemma has the power to give them some. She also has a beautiful romance with a boy named Kartik that has an unfortunate ending. The girls are about to be debuted into society, and so they are getting ready for that in the day, but at night they are getting ready to fight a war that is brewing in the realms. This book was a long read, but it wasn't very challenging so I recommend it for anyone looking for a pleasure read. I also recommend the first two in the trilogy.(816)
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Postman's Amusing Ourselves To Death delivers an amusing critique on our society's addiction to television. In the book Postman says that America is heading towards a society like BNW. He says that Americans were more intelligent before the influence of television. He also points out that our society has become too focused on "show business", which I totally agree because we [Americans] put people in show business on such high pedestals. Religion is one of the things that is negatively affected by television because of all the television church services. Basically, Postman is saying that television has changed the way we think, talk ,and act and that is not a good thing because we don't want to end up like the people in Huxley's BNW. (163)
Huxley, Aldous. Brave new world. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006.
Huxley's Brave New World predicts a future that is very scary. This Book Is set in a time in the future, where everyone is exactly the same. From Birth the people are manipulated to be exactly how society wants them to be. They use different tactics to make the people how they want them to be. For example they genetically modify children and they use hypnopaedia so they end how society wants them to be. In every bunch there are always a few bad apples. For example, Bernard Marx is a strange young fellow compared to the other alphas. He doesn't think or act like them. One day Bernard and his lady friend, Lenina, go to a savage reservation and find a savage who's mother is from the BNW society. Bernard takes him back and life is never the same again. The savage comes to the BNW society and does not know how to react to all the immoral acts done by the BNW society. He realizes that in the BNW society there are no morals or individualism and that is something he doesn't handle well. Huxley used a very interesting writing style, he told different stories at one time, it was confusing, but made me a stronger reader. This book also opened my eyes to how morals and individualism is very important. I also asked the question is stability worth giving up individualism?? (268)
Bray, Libba. The Sweet Far Thing. New York: Delacorte, 2007. Print.
The Sweet Far Thing is set during Victorian times at Spence Girl's Academy. I felt like the characters in this book were too modern for the time the book was set in. Gemma Doyle is the main character and she is the protector of the magic. Her friends Felicity and Ann also use the magic because Gemma has the power to give them some. She also has a beautiful romance with a boy named Kartik that has an unfortunate ending. The girls are about to be debuted into society, and so they are getting ready for that in the day, but at night they are getting ready to fight a war that is brewing in the realms. This book was a long read, but it wasn't very challenging so I recommend it for anyone looking for a pleasure read. I also recommend the first two in the trilogy.(816)
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Analysis of Abundance
Pink observes that our society has become more and more obsessed with "stuff" and beauty. "For most of history, our lives were defined by scarcity. Today the defining feature of social , economic, and cultural life in much of the world is abundance." He compares yesterday's society and today's society saying that in modern times people are defined by their "stuff" whereas back then people were just trying to get their basic needs met. Pink also comments that "For business, it is no longer enough to create a product that is reasonably priced and adequately functional. It must be beautiful, unique, and meaningful." This goes to show that not only do we want "stuff" but we want it to be aesthetically pleasing and easy on the wallet! Pink then talks about PetSmart about how "on average sells $15,000 worth of merchandise a day for non humans." Not only do we (the humans) want to look good, but want our pets( the animals) to look good too, so we are willing to spend thousands of dollars to make fluffy look pristine as well. With all this obsession with beauty and objects, we should as ourselves this question, Am I truly happy?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Analysis Of An Anti-Smoking Ad
Persuasion is a huge industry in our society better known as the advertising business. Aristotle a great philosopher in history gave the art of persuasion three categories ethos, pathos, and logos. The three categories have to do with three different methods of persuasion used in advertisement. In this anti-smoking ad the advertisers used ethos, pathos, and logos to try and persuade the public not to smoke.
Ethos means that the advertisement is trying to gain credibility. For example in this advertisement, they have a note from the surgeon general. Having a note from, a creditable source, makes this advertisement more believable to the public.
Pathos means that the advertisement is using emotional appeal to persuade the public. For example in this advertisement. Having the casket, shows people that they can die from cigarettes. The casket can also make people remember loved ones who have died from cigarettes. Death is a good way to make people emotional and dissuade them from smoking cigarettes. Another smart way the advertisers used pathos is when they say, "New crush-proof box." That was smart because the advertisers used a joke to lure the public in, so after the public chuckles they could get the deeper meaning in the picture.
Logos is when they use logic to persuade the public. For example in this advertisement they used the amount of tar, nicotine, and other poisonous ingredients to show the public what exactly they would be putting in their body, if they smoked cigarettes. This method would help dissuade the public of smoking because it would show them that logically it would not be wise to smoke.
In conclusion, If your goal is to master the art of persuasion then, learn to use these three methods.
Ethos means that the advertisement is trying to gain credibility. For example in this advertisement, they have a note from the surgeon general. Having a note from, a creditable source, makes this advertisement more believable to the public.
Pathos means that the advertisement is using emotional appeal to persuade the public. For example in this advertisement. Having the casket, shows people that they can die from cigarettes. The casket can also make people remember loved ones who have died from cigarettes. Death is a good way to make people emotional and dissuade them from smoking cigarettes. Another smart way the advertisers used pathos is when they say, "New crush-proof box." That was smart because the advertisers used a joke to lure the public in, so after the public chuckles they could get the deeper meaning in the picture.
Logos is when they use logic to persuade the public. For example in this advertisement they used the amount of tar, nicotine, and other poisonous ingredients to show the public what exactly they would be putting in their body, if they smoked cigarettes. This method would help dissuade the public of smoking because it would show them that logically it would not be wise to smoke.
In conclusion, If your goal is to master the art of persuasion then, learn to use these three methods.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Scandal In The Shampoo Industry!
I was reading this article about shampoo. The writer said that we were all wasting our money, buying all of the nutrient rich shampoos. I was immediately lured in, because I use Garneir Nutriesse, and that brand always talks about how it is rich in nutrients.
The writer says that the nutrients end up down the drain, just like our hard earned dollars. As I was reading, I asked myself "How does this happen?" As if she was in my head, the writer answers by saying the the shampoo molecules are too large to penetrate the tiny follicles where our hair grows.
While reading this article, I was just blown away because all these years I thought that getting nutrient rich shampoo would make my hair glorious, but actually I was just wasting my mother's money.
Then I continued reading, waiting for her to sell me some miracle shampoo that actually works, and what did she do? She starts advertise a miracle shampoo. I chuckle quietly to myself, because I saw that advertisement coming.
What I learned from this article is that I should ditch my shampoo and use the one the author advertised beautifully. The crazy thing is, I secretly want to try the miracle shampoo, but it is still relatively new and it is hard to come by.
The writer says that the nutrients end up down the drain, just like our hard earned dollars. As I was reading, I asked myself "How does this happen?" As if she was in my head, the writer answers by saying the the shampoo molecules are too large to penetrate the tiny follicles where our hair grows.
While reading this article, I was just blown away because all these years I thought that getting nutrient rich shampoo would make my hair glorious, but actually I was just wasting my mother's money.
Then I continued reading, waiting for her to sell me some miracle shampoo that actually works, and what did she do? She starts advertise a miracle shampoo. I chuckle quietly to myself, because I saw that advertisement coming.
What I learned from this article is that I should ditch my shampoo and use the one the author advertised beautifully. The crazy thing is, I secretly want to try the miracle shampoo, but it is still relatively new and it is hard to come by.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Is Facebook Ruining Friendship As We Know It?
The text I chose to read was an article I found in the Arkansas Weekly called the The Facebook Dilemma by Archie Lewellen.
In the beginning of the article he talks about the nineties and the huge technological boom during that decade. He also talks about how during our lifetime we have went through a wide spectrum of technology. For example, most people my age have gone from a Walkman portable CD player to an apple iPod touch.
He then begins to talk about all the ways people nowadays can communicate. We have several ways to keep in touch aside from cell phones, like Twitter, Myspace and the most popular Facebook.
Then he begins to get into the issue of Facebook, which is that we are using it to socialize then actually seeing people and hanging out with them. He talks about that we can go for weeks without speaking to our friends because we know exactly what the other i doing. I can relate to this, because I talk to my friends on Facebook all the time and days will go by of not actually seeing them.
He brings up that Facebook is not ruining the term best friends, but it is redefining it. I agree instead of only interacting with our friends when we are with them, we can actually be interacting with them twenty-four seven hours a day!
At the end of the article he says is Facebook good or bad. His response is that it is both good and bad. I agree with him that Facebook is good and bad. It’s good because it keep you connected, but then its also bad because you can forget to actually go outside and be with your friends.
In the beginning of the article he talks about the nineties and the huge technological boom during that decade. He also talks about how during our lifetime we have went through a wide spectrum of technology. For example, most people my age have gone from a Walkman portable CD player to an apple iPod touch.
He then begins to talk about all the ways people nowadays can communicate. We have several ways to keep in touch aside from cell phones, like Twitter, Myspace and the most popular Facebook.
Then he begins to get into the issue of Facebook, which is that we are using it to socialize then actually seeing people and hanging out with them. He talks about that we can go for weeks without speaking to our friends because we know exactly what the other i doing. I can relate to this, because I talk to my friends on Facebook all the time and days will go by of not actually seeing them.
He brings up that Facebook is not ruining the term best friends, but it is redefining it. I agree instead of only interacting with our friends when we are with them, we can actually be interacting with them twenty-four seven hours a day!
At the end of the article he says is Facebook good or bad. His response is that it is both good and bad. I agree with him that Facebook is good and bad. It’s good because it keep you connected, but then its also bad because you can forget to actually go outside and be with your friends.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
"If You're Out There"
The text I chose to read, was a song by one of my favorite singers,John Legend. It's called If "If You're Out There". This song is one of those songs that touch your heart and make you smile.
"The future started yesterday and we're already late." I think that this part of the song means that we should have already started working on a brighter future, but we are just living in the present.
In the chorus he says "If you're out there, sing along with me" He later says " If you're out there, tomorrow's starting now" This part means that If anyone wants to make the world a better place then stand up and do something, and that we can't wait, that we have to start now.
"No more broken promises. No more call to war. Unless it's love and peace, that we're really fighting for. We can destroy hunger. We can conquer hate. Put down the arms and raise your voice. We're joining hands today." This part tells us[the human race] all the things that we can do if we work together to achieve them.
The rest of the songs talk about we can do anything together and that we have to start now.
The singer John Legend is a huge humanitarian, he just won a huge award for his work overseas to gain peace, end hunger, and end poverty. This song is just another way he is pleading with the rest of us to take action and start solving global problems.
This song touched my heart and made want to start helping the world. I can't go to the poverty stricken areas, but I do donate money to an organization that helps, and yes it is legitimate.
"The future started yesterday and we're already late." I think that this part of the song means that we should have already started working on a brighter future, but we are just living in the present.
In the chorus he says "If you're out there, sing along with me" He later says " If you're out there, tomorrow's starting now" This part means that If anyone wants to make the world a better place then stand up and do something, and that we can't wait, that we have to start now.
"No more broken promises. No more call to war. Unless it's love and peace, that we're really fighting for. We can destroy hunger. We can conquer hate. Put down the arms and raise your voice. We're joining hands today." This part tells us[the human race] all the things that we can do if we work together to achieve them.
The rest of the songs talk about we can do anything together and that we have to start now.
The singer John Legend is a huge humanitarian, he just won a huge award for his work overseas to gain peace, end hunger, and end poverty. This song is just another way he is pleading with the rest of us to take action and start solving global problems.
This song touched my heart and made want to start helping the world. I can't go to the poverty stricken areas, but I do donate money to an organization that helps, and yes it is legitimate.
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