open prompt 4

The classic image of the american dream is the house with the white picket fence and nuclear family. Edward Albee addresses the value of the aesthetic nature of the american dream in his play, The American Dream. Albee uses the repetition of Mommy changing subject with the acknowledgement of the boxes to show how only the exterior of the american dream is valued and how those who chase it tend to become more and more frustrated.

Initially Mommy is quite pleased with the job Grandma has done with the boxes, she does not care what is inside but she praises the exterior. When a conversation delves deeper, Mommy will immediately switch back to praising the boxes when she is challenged logically. Mommy has gotten so caught up in the appearance of life that she has neglected to acquire any logic to back her reasoning up. Even when she was a child and had lunch everyday, she would not unwrap the box because the appearance of her lunch was more important than the actual contents, which ironically are much more important in reality. Switching back to the boxes serves as a quick and reliable method for Mommy to ignore the details of her ideas.

After multiple changes of subject mommy is eventually fed up with the boxes and criticizes them quite harshly. She is focused solely on the image of the american dream and gets increasingly frustrated as it becomes clear that it will take more than wanting it and having a vague idea of what one wants to achieve it. By the end she has given up completely on the boxes, showing the completion of her transition to the new american dream, which is ushered in with the entering of the Young Man.

Edward Albee uses Mommy’s adoration of the aesthetics of the boxes and her gradual animosity toward them to show how society values the american dream only at face value. The Young Man has taken over as the new american dream of the household, but Grandma still plods along her boxes in tow.

close reading 3

Vote a critical hurdle for Tunisia by Ellen Lust

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/22/opinion/lust-tunisia-election/index.html?hpt=op_t1

Diction - Lust uses the word “stumbles” to show how difficult it is to find political advertising in tunisia. When someone stumbles it is an accident and it is an act that is overall avoided when possible. This is the case with the political messages, they are hard to find and easily avoided. The word “hijack” is used when describing the fears of islamist extremists taking over the new government. This term is loaded and is aimed and the largely american audience that has strong ties to the 911 attacks. This creates a greater feeling of fear in the reader

Details - Lust describes the situation with the confusion of the actual election process very well. The thousands of possible officials with hundreds of parties makes it appear chaotic and unorganized, the standard view of a new democracy. The fears of the people regarding the rise of the old party also convey something that many people in the west don’t consider, the fears of the tunisians about where their government is heading. 

Imagery - The most striking imagery in this article comes from the description of the political rules in order to even the playing field. The over crowded billboards, and identical messages paint the idea of a society void of debate and under an authoritarian rule, quite contrary to the idea of the revolution.

Course Response 3

This week we extensively analyzed the American Dream through annotation and discussion. This was mainly achieved through grouping up and annotating and then discussing findings as a class. In this format a great deal more meaning can be derived from the text than any one person analyzing by themselves, and so many different points of view on the same section are presented. For me the biggest issue is that I have a hard time believing that Alby meant for so much to be presented in this relatively short play. I continually get the sense that we are over analyzing the play in class, which results in a slower progression of the annotation. Though this abundance of ideas with definitely come in handy when brainstorming for essay ideas for class and on the AP exam.

Close Reading #2

Future of the Gulf

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/opinion/sunday/future-of-the-gulf.html?ref=opinion


Diction: The words "unfilled" and "failure" in regards to congress' actions target the duty of congress to work  to fix the nation's ailments and trials. These words display how congress has not fulfilled it's job and that it should be pressured to do so. The foundation of this government for many denizens is a government for the people by the people, and these words target that feeling in order to stimulate a greater interest in the issue.


Details: The argument this article is making is that the congress should be enacting more legislation and programs in order to clean up the gulf. Details involving the amount of money that could be saved from further efforts, and the restating of Obama's initial statements are compelling details that encourage the reader to get involved in pressuring congress. In an extremely rough economy a 23 billion dollar industry cannot afford to be lost, not to mention the domino effect one industry can have on others.

Imagery: When the Author describes the disaster in the gulf as being the worst since Hurricane Katrina, it instantly evokes the images of thousands of houses submerged only visible by their roofs and newspapers with giant bold letters tallying the death tole. Unlike nature and animals being destroyed the human disaster of the hurricane triggers a deeper response in the reader and compels them to agree with the author's point on a much higher level.

Course Response #2

The American Dream was probably the first play that I have ever enjoyed reading. The concise and comedic play initially seemed like another generic dig at the stereotypical idea of the american dream, but after a few exchanges between the characters it became apparent that it was more. Ridiculous changes of opinion and an inability to determine a purpose show the opinion of the writer towards those who believe in the American Dream, and the defining of the young man as the American Dream, slyly shows it as all flash and no substance. For me what set this apart from other plays and stories about the American Dream is that it is light-hearted through ought even when describing the murder of a child. I felt jolly and satisfied after reading it, not sad or upset.