While the slogan “The pursuit of perfection” might be an effective way to market luxury automobiles, it is not a way to live one’s life. In Anna Quindlen 's speech, “Being Perfect,” she discusses the price of perfection, not in dollars or cents, but in its impact on one 's life. Through powerful anecdotes, symbols, and analogies, she creates a strong connection with her audience and utilizes it to convince them that there is a very high price of pursuing perfection- the loss of oneself. Even the best arguments have no effect on an audience that does not trust the speaker. Many speakers attempt to establish their ethos through mentioning accolades that establish them as experts. While this can build credibility, this type of communication is weaker than one that emphasizes a mutual understanding to create a personal connection. In her opening statement, Quindlen claims that she sees herself as part of the audience (294). She uses …show more content…
When she reflects “Take it from someone who has left the backpack full of bricks far behind. Everyday feels lighter than a feather” she is using symbolism to describe how perfection is limiting (300). The backpack represents the knowledge that one carries with them everyday, and the bricks one 's idea of perfection. These ideas are bricks instead of paper, for they have a heavy impact on one 's life, if one is “being perfect”. Undoubtedly, the weight of such a backpack would prohibit the wearer from doing all types of things, just as living up to the ideals of perfection are limiting. Therefore, when Quindlen claims that “she left the backpack full of bricks far behind” the audience knows that she has given up on “being perfect” and in claiming “everyday is light as a feather” she is proving that her idea is beneficial, which helps convince the audience to change their perspective and reap the same benefits as her
Women are told that in order to get anywhere in life they must constantly worry about their outer appearance. In Jennifer Weiner’s article, “When Can Women Stop Trying to Look Perfect?” she delves deeply into how today’s society women’s worth is based on how they look. Weiner believes that women who do not meet the standards of beauty do not have as many opportunities.
Egan, Dan. “The Painful Side of Perfection.” Salt Lake City Tribune 22 Feb. 2000: D1.
Michael Sandel is a distinguished political philosopher and a professor at Harvard University. Sandel is best known for his best known for his critique of John Rawls's A Theory of Justice. While he is an acclaimed professor if government, he has also delved deeply into the ethics of biotechnology. At Harvard, Sandel has taught a course called "Ethics, Biotechnology, and the Future of Human Nature" and from 2002 to 2005 he served on the President’s Council on Bioethics (Harvard University Department of Government, 2013). In 2007, Sandel published his book, The Case Against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering, in which he explains unethical implications biotechnology has and may have in the near future regarding genetic engineering.
...g the perfect life should seem unrealistic to anyone evaluating the goal from an objective perspective; however the circumstances of the characters in the presented literary works exaggerate the expectations of everyday society. Each work focuses on portraying a flaw inherent in human nature from a different angle and ultimately, the characters’ quests for perfection demonstrate that the flaws permeating human nature are inescapable, prophesying failure for all those who seek to embody perfection.
Recent breakthroughs in the field of genetics and biotechnology have brought attention to the ethical issues surrounding human enhancement. While these breakthroughs have many positive aspects, such as the treatment and prevention of many debilitating diseases and extending human life expectancy well beyond its current limits, there are profound moral implications associated with the ability to manipulate our own nature. Michael Sandel’s “The Case Against Perfection” examines the ethical and moral issues associated with human enhancement while Nick Bostrom’s paper, “In Defense of Posthuman Dignity” compares the positions that transhumanists and bioconservatists take on the topic of human enhancement. The author’s opinions on the issue of human genetic enhancement stand in contrast to one another even though those opinions are based on very similar topics. The author’s views on human enhancement, the effect enhancement has on human nature, and the importance of dignity are the main issues discussed by Sandel and Bostrom and are the focus of this essay.
may not be as simple as it seems to be. The author also encourages the
In today’s modern society it is known for people to be a little too concerned with the way people perceive them. What do you think when a person says they want to be perfect, do you think appearance, money, knowledge, or maybe even social status? The pursuit of perfection should not be a standard of modern society due to the effects it has on one’s health and social life.
Distinctive voices of individuals is far much greater than just one’s spoken words; Isn’t it? Voices hold so much more meaning! It can be said to be one’s expression of their attitudes or perspective through body language or a series of actions. We can see that one’s unique opinion towards a subject is inevitably articulated through their unique expression which draws others into viewing the expressed perspective.
The quest for the ideal is a phenomenon that many people attempt to achieve. As we all know, the quest for the ideal is difficult and complicated by personal experience. The poems, “The Story” by Karen Connelly and the “The Love Song of J.Aflred Prufrock”, by T.S Elliot, as well as the essay “Kant’s Beauty and the Sublime” by Maureen Rousseau explore the peril inherent in the quest for the ideal, which is that in our search for beauty we risk encountering the sublime. The danger of the sublime is that we cannot comprehend the magnitude of the realms of things that are sublime. We ask ourselves why someone would want to risk encountering the sublime. Well, with great risk comes great reward and that is the beauty we seek.
First, Kilbourne’s research should be praised tremendously for bringing to light the unhealthy impression of true beauty in today’s culture. Kilbourne challenges the audience to reconsider their viewpoints on advertising that is sublime with sexual language. The evolution of advertising and product placement has drastically changed the real meaning of being a woman. According to the movie, every American is exposed to hundreds and thousands of advertisements each day. Furthermore, the picture of an “ideal women” in magazines, commercials, and billboards are a product of numerous computer retouching and cosmetics. Media creates a false and unrealistic sense of how women should be viewing themselves. Instead of being praised for their femininity and prowess, women are turned into objects. This can be detrimental to a society filled with girls that are brainwashed to strive to achieve this unrealistic look of beauty.
Beavan cannot bring himself to buy a slice of pizza simply because it is served on a paper plate. Soon, Beavan finds himself envying a man sitting in his BMW. Here the essence of materialism and consumption are captured indirectly. Sometimes consumption and materialism is not practiced to improve lives, but rather to sit in a luxury BMW “while pretty girls crossing the street turn to look” (61). Consumption is a necessary evil, the paper plate for instance is essential, practical, and convenient. The BMW on the other hand is a symbol of materialism and consumption for luxury. The man does not necessarily need the BMW, he can make do with a different, more economical car. Rather, the man drives the BMW for its status and image. This is the true evil of consumption and materialism. Beavan indirectly highlights the difference between consumption for ease and convenience, to the evil of self-righteous
Over the recent four months in Communication 1402 class, I have addressed three formal speechs and completed a number of chapters in the corresponding textbook “Communication Works”. This course of Communication aims to provide general information what public speaking is and how to address a public speaking. Recalling back the experience during the processes of completing the Speech to Imform, Speech to Persuade, and Group Presentation, I will draw a conclusion about this course and these three presentations in five aspects, comprising my previous perception of public speaking before this course; learning from the Speech to Inform; the goal and evaluation of Speech to Persuade; learning from the Group Presentation; the most important thing learned from this course.
The speaker first grab her viewer’s attention by giving them questions and having self participation. Also, Amy uses humor to keep the audience focus on what is is talking about. She achieved this by her use of funny pictures and videos to break the ice for the viewers and to warm her crowd up. Cuddy also utilized technology in her speech. Her use of technology enhance her discussion by providing visuals to guide the audience in her topic. Together with the technology, Amy used an emotional personal story to keep the attention of the audience. This emotional story used the pathos side of a persuasive speech to use the audience emotion to keep them focus on the subject.
“Medieval noblewomen swallowed arsenic and dabbed on bats' blood to improve their complexions; 18th-century Americans prized the warm urine of young boys to erase their freckles; Victorian ladies removed their ribs to give themselves a wasp waist.” 5 Even from medieval times, the extent to which women have gone to achieve ‘ideal beauty’ is extreme. In the 21st century, Americans spend more money on beauty related product than they do on their education, creating a 160 billion dollar a year global industry, all in the name of ‘perfection.’ 5 Intensification of body image ideals has increased through media and manipulation in the advertising industry, due to the portrayal of women, leading to the creation of a 20 billion dollar cosmetic surgery industry. Driven and fueled by sexual instinct and desire to achieve perfection, images of women in advertising will not cease to hold a huge amount of power over the everyday woman who spends her life chasing an ideal, which does not exist, often leading to psychological and physical effects which can last a lifetime.
... information from different sources to support my speeches a have been equipped with vast experience in research. My mind has been opened to a wide range of diversity as a result of being a listener to many different types of speeches from classmates some of which touched on culture during our presentation practices in class. From various practices we carried out I was taught how to use my voice appropriately in delivering my message, how to organize my thoughts logically and how to develop confidence on stage.