Use of Symbols in The 11th Hour

It is clear that symbols can invoke multiple aspects of the imagination. As the saying goes," A picture is worth a thousand words." The documentary The 11th Hour, makes what I believe to be one of the best use of symbols i have seen in a while. The symbols and their respective meanings are not always obvious, sometimes you must look closer.

One form of symbolism in the movie is who was chosen to speak in the movie. We cna start with the narrator of the movie, Leonardo Dicaprio (Leo). The general public is bound to take more interest in, and even believe, what Leo has to say than if you or I were up there instead. The public has seen and some have fallen in love with the actor, or hold him on a high pedestal, and therefore will take what he says more to heart. The interviews and commentary given in the movie also presents prominent figures in todays society. The commentators reach all scopes of culture and academia. With speakers such as Stephen Hawking, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Wangari Maathai, we are given relation to the scientific, political, and cultural communities. And the credibility and achievements of these speakers only leaves us more interested and worried about the topic, which is precisely the aim of the documentary.

The images displayed throughout the movie also speak their own words. For example, the cover of the poster for the movie displays the Earth with a human footprint on it, invoking the impression we are leaving on the Earth and relating to the term "carbon footprint". Images of natural disasters (i.e. tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.) leave us with a daunting thought in our minds, the fact that any of these could happen to us and our loved ones gives us a sense of worry. Images of animals and humans in distress give us a feeling of sympathy. One image in particular of a polar bear walking out of its element in a garbage dump, burns an image into the viewers mind that something is wrong.

Through the use of symbols, the powers behind the movie achieve their aim of a sense of urgency and information. The symbols all correlate to the big picture and send a barrage of emotions to the viewer. When all of these aspects and emotions accumulate in throughout the movie, the overall tone (worry,urgency) and aim of the movie are well-achieved.

"The Writer's Voice" of Glick

In his article on the effects of global warming, Glick begins with a neutral tone. He uses what could be seen as an "extended metaphor", as Kolln would describe, by invoking first a story of a polar bear and its majesty. He then continues to prolong the discussion showing the "polar bear community's" current struggle due to the effects of global warming and human interference. The metaphor, without explicit reference, is to the challenge we as humans may eventually have to face.

Kolln also describes that writers are generally, in news and magazines, supposed to take a neutral point of view on the topic of discussion. Glick does not show his tone or bias until about the halfway through the second paragraph when he begins to describe that humans are responsible for upsetting the balance for the polar bears.

" From chemical pollution to oil drilling, hunting to tourism, polar bears are up against an agonizingly familiar series of threats that endanger thousands of species around the globe. But polar bears, which evolved during the late Pleistocene era to survive in one of the planet's most inhospitable environments, must also negotiate an overarching obstacle that uniquely challenges their survival: melting sea ice. Because of global warming, the ice that the bears depend on to supply food and shelter is literally melting under their paws." (Glick, pg. 1)

For the rest of the article Glick describes the importance for the need to reverse, or reduce, our effect on global warming or we to might end up in the same situation as the polar bears.

Glick also makes good use of "buzz" terms to catch our attenition. The diction Glick chooses to use sparks interest in the readers mind. At one point in the article (also in the second paragraph) Glick chooses to use the scientific genus and species name of the polar bear rather than just the former. This change, if only for a moment, catches the readers possibly wandering attention as the reader may not be used to seeing the actual scientific name of the animal. In a way it also adds credibility to Glick's respective knowledge, as he seems more educated on the topic. Another good example of Glick's "buzz" terms is the labeling of one section as "Apex Predator". This term gives much more interest than just saying something as simple as "big animal". And then Glick uses irony after the label by going on to describe the struggles of the polar bears brought about by being at the top of this food chain. Glick describes that high levels of toxins are being found in the bears from eating contaminated prey.( Paragraph 10)

In conclusion, Glick draws many elements of writing together to portray an interesting and valid picture of the effects of global warming. The use of the polar bears invokes a much more intimate relationship with the reader, who may possibly feel heart-felt for the animals, than would just stating global warming facts.

Thursday Workshop Questions

1.) Kaufer disagreement

Recently my roommate and I were discussing who the best basketball player currently in the NBA was. The disagreement arose when I stated that Kobe Bryant was the best and he said that Lebron James was. We argued over stats for the majority of the disagreement, but as the disagreement was nearing a stand still I now look back and realize that we had a level 2 conflict.

Kaufer states that a level three disagreement arises when the opposing sides give a different frame of reference to the basis of the argument.

As i mentioned, when the argument came to a stand still my roomate said," He (Lebron) is by far the most athletic player in the game, when he wants to score you can't stop him." This is when i realized that we were in stage 2, my roommate was holding physical ability and scoring as a higher evidence than leadership and reliability. Where as i agreed that Lebron was the more physically athletic of the two, I believed that the leadership factor outweighed this.

Once I explained that I was also factoring in leadership, we both agreed that the other was right in their respective frame, and that overall the two players were about equal as the factors can cancel out. As Kaufer explains, once we clarify our intended frames of reference the conflict is resolved.

2.) Savio Allusion

Savio describes the problem of free speech on the Berkely campus as akin to that of racial equality in Mississippi. What Savio means by this is that free speech on campus is suppressed much like minorities in are in Mississippi. There is this preconceived notion in society that things are fine the way the are, that being static is being right. Savio alludes to this thought process in his closing paragraph in which he says," This chrome-plated consumers paradise would have us grow up to be well-behaved children." This helps allude to Savio's overall aim that there needs to be change in American society and that we must move away from the current (at the time of publishing) static state.

Savio's argument seems to be a conflict level of 4 (i.e. values). Savio lays out that there are people that accept the current American society and values, but there is also a suppressed group that would value change (outspoken students on campus, minorities in Mississippi). The conflict arises due to the university and those in power (generally whites at the time) are able to suppress the opposing side, and this is why Savio is writing for an understanding and possibly call to arms.

4.) Bullard and stasis of cause

Bullard, in his talk, cleverly uses historical references to past natural disasters (hurricanes) to provide ethos to his argument. By referencing the similarities of the past post-natural disaster housing and clean-up efforts to those after Katrina, Bullard gives a somewhat undeniable basis to argue from. His references portray the mistreatment of the minorities due to the clean-up efforts of the federal government and other organizations. This ethos contruction helps Bullard appeal to his audience as they cant really counter the argument, and in theory should assume responsibility to take action.

Constructing this type of ethos can help Wells-Barnett and Savio appeal to their audience the same way it helps Bullard. By arguing in the stasis of cause one shows past references or doings that brought about the argument be subjected. This obtains credibility of the authors claims and implies a thought that something should be done.

Is it Scientific?

In Biello's "Green Apple" article, one can seem to receive multiple views of the aim that is being made.

The first section of the article would seem as part of an introduction in a scientific report. A historic scenario is portrayed and cunningly connected to the topic of the paper, the effort to go green. Background information is given on what it is New York City and other major metropolitan areas are trying to achieve to become more green.

The second and third sections, seem to still be giving more of an introduction. Yes, solar and electric power are viable "methods" the article still seems to lie in the "what if" range. It is this taken tone that I personally feel the paper is somewhat theoretical. As Gross says in his paper, a theoretical paper seems to rely on a consistent world. Though we have small proof of what these alternative energy options can provide, we still haven't seen and actual major time-lapse ( 50 years) result. Therefore the alternate sources are neither proven or falsified.

Some would view this article, as Gross describes deductive theoretical papers have a tendency to be, as a persuasion to forward the effort for a green world. The article, perhaps inadvertently, seems to use the efforts of the metropolitan cities as a call of urgency. If these cities and government agencies are making such an effort, shouldn't we?

In closing, the article does seem to follow somewhat of a Baconian induction path and is very informative. The introductory sections do lay out multiple facts and possibilities, and the final sections discuss the possible outcomes and what could impede the process. The article is arranged to attempt to give the reader the thought that climate change, in theory, is not totally feasibly achievable but anything helps.

SA 2: Letter to President Clinton

In this letter to President Clinton it is made clear who the audience is assumed to be. The use of urgency and worry towards the U.S. policy in Iraq is clearly taken towards the figure who has the power to change it. I particularly like the statement " As you have rightly declared, Mr. President, the security of the world in the first part of the 21st century will be determined largely by how we handle this threat." This sentence is a direct appeal to the audience, the president, by capitalizing on a former statement made by him. This capitalization is an effort to persuade the president that he must back up his words.

The overall tone of the letter also seems to be fitted for speaking to someone in power. The generosity and and almost plea like tone presented in letter also gives the sense that the audience is the only one with the power to do what they ask.

Another audience that this letter could appeal to with ease, and almost does already as a general audience, is the American people. The authors could construct another sense of urgency with the American people by simply changing around their word usage and adding a situation that could bring the audience into relation for them.

The letter could open up by describing the need to protect the future of our country and its people, and give the tone that Saddam Husein is a direct threat to the future of our lives and children after us. Also the tone of the letter, if written for the American people, would probably be written much less as a plea and more as an informative letter. The author would take the position as someone perhaps more knowledgeable on the subject than the average joe. Statements such as, "If you act now to end the threat of weapons of mass destruction against the U.S. or its allies, you will be acting in the most fundamental national security interests of the country", could be written to appeal more to the general public by saying something along the lines of, " This is the time we must act and change our policies, for if we stay the current course, we will endanger the future of our country and its people."

Relating to Common Values

In general, people tend to get a warm feeling when they stumble upon something done for a common good. So what better way to appeal to an audience in an opening paragraph then to describe a memory of bringing something good upon a community in the hardest of times.

Turkel does an excellent job of quelling some of the potential arguments that could be made to his essay by relating the audience to a warm mindset. Not only does this set a good tone with the audience but also keeps the audience intrigued as to what the story will lead into.

As Killingsworth describes, the opening argument of a piece of discourse can make or break how the audience will receive it. This tactic can more or less sway an audience to hear the message out and take note of the authors positions in a less hostile way.

Turkel also implies two prominent figures in American history to make his argument. He disagrees with Einstein's idea that individuality can be lost when tied into a group. Turkel follows this opposition with an excellent justification by showing a person's need for companionship, and that someone is more comfortable around like-minded persons.

Turkel also counters Einstein's quote by quoting Thomas Paine. The use of Paine's line, " He sees his species as kindred." is an excellent way to close out the essay. This leaves the audience with a thought provoking idea that sums up what his whole essay was trying to get accross.

In closing, Turkel uses ethos, pathos, and logos each together in the essay. Being a Pulitzer prize winner, one would assume he is credible aside from the fact that he has experienced a lot. He uses pathos by cleverly telling the tale of the community outreach during a hard time like the depression to relate to the audience's feelings. Turkel enters logos by providing sound justification to all oppositions made during his piece.