People and certain locations and spaces have a psychological or spiritual connection that never goes away. This is a fact of existence, and I am not an exception. I have been afraid of heights—including the tops of buildings and skyscrapers—since I was a young kid. I have a tendency of dozing off whenever I'm in an elevator and strongly oppose things like going on long hikes up mountains. I feel as though I could go insane and commit suicide. When it comes to space, confined condition instills fear and insecurity and I avoid them. This course has exposed to the reality of life from literary approach. After reading the experience of the narrator in In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson Is Buried by Amy Hempel, I am convinced that imagination and realities have a thin line between them. A brief recall of the narrator's fear for Earthquake and symbolic use of her sick friend's mask is encouraging. The blend of rhetoric tools that is widely used in literary works of this course inform me that even amidst fear and sadness, a little comedy can bring a comic relief. As such I have learnt to overcome my fears, free my mind from some thoughts and appreciate the power of imagination.
Proceeding not only in your academic career, but in life as well, how will you utilize aspects of this course? Use this question to make specific references to texts we've read and discussed.
The literary skills I have gained from this course offer better prospects in life. This course has helped me gain knowledge in communication skills. The daily challenges in life require open mind to adjust to changing social environment and absorb tension. Ability to imagine and take the mind off the fear of routine effectively cushions an individual against psychological breakdown. As I went through the course, I learnt how to use interpersonal and intrapersonal skills to gauge the emotions of people and interact at the right time. In reference to Thresholds of Violence by Malcolm Gladwell, understanding the social background of the children that carry out mass shooting against classmates in the United States is the basis of constructing a sound remedial measure. In fact, this piece is an accurate analysis of the psychological experience of children that affects their way of thinking, in extreme cases instills the spirit of violence. Such acts as child abuse, sexual abuse, and physical abuse among others, is responsible for sociopaths as seen in teenagers that shoot schoolmates. This course has equipped with ability to take a critical analysis of cause-effect relationship on observed behavior of other people. In that regard, I am competent to make sound judgement in an interpersonal interaction.
As someone with sharpened rhetoric skill, what is your responsibility to the greater social construct around you? If rhetoric is power, and this class is Spiderman, then what is your great responsibility?
Rhetoric skills imply exceptional interpersonal communication ability. Influencing the actions of others require convincing with facts or manipulating with wit. In fact, the emotional and mental aspects of humanity play a key role when it comes to making decisions. As such, rhetoric power is useful in relaying and information and providing convincing premises that can sway the target audience. In fact, oratory skills are a great personality asset. Using my rhetoric skills, I seek to influence the social environment in which I live by promoting intercultural tolerance, appreciation of art, and positive thinking. Rhetoric techniques can help me redefine the experience of young people, especially adolescence that are vulnerable to moral ills, abuse by friend and relatives, and preach the gospel of psychological healing. In reference to Spiderman, the protagonist has suffered poor parenting, psychological distress, and an overwhelmingly oppressive condition. It is therefore important to draw from the rhetoric techniques such as pathos, ethos, and logos to initiate a debate on socially reinitiating such children to normal life. The violent behaviors evident in Spiderman are a reflection of real life. In that regard, I plan to explore my rhetoric prowess to preach and influence tolerance and acknowledgement of diversity.
Which of the texts had the most profound effect on your growth in this class? Explain why this, and not the others, has made an impact on you, and in what specific manner was that impact made?
Although all the texts are informative and entertaining, their messages are expressed differently. The first Surrealist manifesto by Breton is my choice. This book blends philosophy of thinking with the beauty of imagination. The text champions for a literary era that emphasized the need to break away from recurrent thinking. According to Breton, people should strive to attain the psychological status of a child, a mad man, or poets. The dullness of life is associated with traditional seriousness that adults perceive as the action path to live. However, surrealists believe that freeing the mind with imaginative thinking sets in some sort of comfort that enhances emotional and psychological rejuvenation. I like the presentation of the text as it engages the mind in an extraordinary way and invokes deeper thinking. While other texts emphasize interpersonal skills derived from rhetoric tools, this text begin with self. It underscores the power within and that the action of an individual is a manifestation of inner feelings. The text provides me with encouragement to remain steadfast even in the most difficult times by simply imagining a world full of beauty. The text has impacted on my way of thinking towards perceived difficult situation and how to overcome stress, live free as a child, poet, or insane, by appreciating positive thinking.
Class readings
alternateformofcomposition.pdf Amputee.pdf BabyBoy_Intersection.pdf BFF.pdf
ConsiderTheLobster.pdf
in-the-cemetery-where-al-jolson-is-buried.pdf
surrealistmanifesto.pdf
TheReturn.pdf
ThresholdsOfViolence.pdf
