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Importance of using humor
American education system
Education system in America
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Knowing that the entertainment source, the Onion, publishes purely satirical articles, I understood not to take this piece seriously. I have read various feature stories from the Onion and I think the writing clever if taken with a grain of salt. I can understand where others might consider this offensive or in poor taste, but the article speaks to a larger issue. As a journalism major, I study not only written English, but the effects on and culture and meaning in various forms, I appreciate the writer’s intentions, who doesn’t hope to ridicule those who have taken their lives or the families who have suffered a loss. Rather, the piece comments on the education system in America. Without malicious intention, the author strives to provide a
In the article The Onion the satire being made criticizes how easily it is for people to believe in an advertised product even though it may be false. The purpose of the writers use of diction, exaggeration, and sarcasm is to make it clear as to how manipulative people have become believing in any products shown in ridiculous advertisement. In this specific article it targets the way an advertisement uses exaggerated stories such as Helene’s or Geoff DeAngelis in order to try to create a connection to an everyday person. Moreover the way they make themselves more credible by their use of a credible source such as the doctors. In total the way an advertisement builds itself to make themselves seem credible to sell their product.
Seinfeld was a sitcom from NBC that was very popular during the ’90s, and is often referred as “a show about nothing.” It consisted of the life of a fictitious Jerry Seinfeld and his friends in New York City (IMDb). Seinfeld reached a Nielsen rating of 21.7 percent and number one in the United States ranking during its ninth and final season (“Appendix 3: Top-Rated Programs by Season”). It was unique in the way that it portrayed social life during the ‘90s, and this inspired shows such as Friends, Ellen, and Mad About You (Pierson 49). In Seinfeld episodes, the viewer can observe social customs, fads, social standards, and family portrayals of ‘90s semi-young adults.
Premise The writer and filmmaker, a moderately aggressive champion for liberal causes is as always-challenging America's gun culture with his latest endeavor, the documentary "Bowling for Columbine." "Bowling for Columbine," was awarded the Special Prize of the 55th Cannes Film Festival. It had already made history by being the first documentary chosen to be part of the official festival competition in almost 50 years. There is no getting around the fact that "Bowling for Columbine" is a provocative, controversial film that is going to make a lot of people angry. But the work claimed by the author is an honest expression of what he and the general public sees and believes. I am not inclined to soften what I do to appease those whom I must beg for money in order to do my work. "Bowling for Columbine" is my personal view of America at the turn of this new century. It is not specifically about Columbine and, no, it is not about bowling. My favorite quote I read during the festival was, "This film will single-handedly guarantee that George W. Bush will never see a second term." Well, one can only dream. After all, it is just a movie. Micheal Moore When "Bowling for Columbine" was announced as the Oscar winner for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards, the audience rose to its feet. It was a great moment, one that I will always cherish. They were standing and cheering for a film that says we Americans are a uniquely violent people, using our massive stash of guns to kill each other and to use them against many countries around the world. They were applauding a film that shows George W. Bush using fictitious fears to frighten the public into giving him whatever he wants. And they were honoring a film that states the following: The f...
In the satirical article from The Onion, the author satirically criticizes the methods that advertisers use, and the gullible consumers who purchase their products, in order to urge advertisers to use better methods, and for consumers to read between the lines a bit more.
The use of satire in this mock press release from The Onion is very prevalent. Generally, satire is a device used to mock or ridicule a specific institution or person. In the article, the author is satirizing the marketing of products for consumers, and how distributors will go to great lengths to fulfill the satisfaction of their customers, even if this includes providing false information. The example given in this excerpt from The Onion references a brand of shoe insoles called MagnaSoles, which are believed to alleviate foot and back pain.
Family environment and the press are two major influences resulting in the recent tragic school shootings. As much as society continues to focus the killing rampages on factors such as television and music, what children are exposed to in reality contributes to the violence. The most recent school shooting in Michigan involved a six-year-old first grader who killed a classmate with a .22 caliber pistol. The news coverage had vanished after two or three days, and I was left wondering what had happened. Considering the fact that the media wore the Columbine incident out, I wanted to know why they did not pay more attention to this school shooting. As evidence did arrive, it was discovered that the child lived in a household where cocaine, heroin, and many other illegal drugs were commonplace. Also in this “home” guns were easily accessible to the child. Children growing up in this type of environment certainly are likely to be held accountable for future violence. Even though I am against the news media presenting too much school violence, Americans should have been deeply disturbed by this shooting because of the child’s young age. The Michigan shooting should have enlightened Americans to the dilemma we face in this country. Two weeks after the Columbine High School shooting, information on the mass murder was still being broadcast on television. The press was feeding young viewers ideas on how to kill their classmates. News was reported how the teenage murderers acquired information regarding building bombs, obtaining guns, smuggling guns into the school, and proceeding to kill their classmates. A mentally unstable teenager could simply watch these news reports and write a book entitled, “How to Slay Your Classmates”. This onslaught was ridiculous and the news coverage should not have been permitted to continue for countless weeks. Society has determined three reasons on which to blame the shootings. First, the nation blamed it on television’s violent programs. Following that, Americans gave the music recording companies the evil eye as well as attacking the gun manufacturers. All of these reasons involve material objects that are unable to think for themselves. Televisions and CD players do not control themselves, people control them. Finally, boundaries controlling the television programs children view should be set by the parents. The same explanation applies to firearms. How can it be a gun’s fault that a person killed another human being?
But this is isn’t quite the point that Miranda Devine is trying to prove. The second article I will share today is contextual, containing significant analysis, interpretation or explanation and is declaring that the federally funded program” Safe Schools” is recognised as a program that subverts parents’ rights and values.
Did you know that Ira Shor grew up in the South Bronx which led to his thoughts and view on education while coming from a working class family? This article about Ira Shor and his english class did not relate to me very much. I do not feel like the last few pages of the article really relate to me in anyway when talking about my past experiences but I enjoyed the story. I understand how he felt walking into a classroom and everyone looks at you on the first day but I have never been in the setting of a inner city classroom. I have never seen any students not do what a teacher tells them to like the students did when Shor told them to form a circle. I have had numerous debates in class but none like that expressed in this article. When Marie
Although the focus is on education, it is very much an essay about civil rights as well. This essay as well was quite intriguing to me, and made me think about these issues with a better understanding of why they should matter to me. It’s especially depressing to read “Learning How to Read and Write”, and them move on to “I Just Wanna Be Average” – there was so much time in between the writing of both of these essays, and yet education is still so inaccessible to a vast number of children. Douglas’s childhood and his struggle to access an education while being enslaved is something we hope is no longer a problem in America, but yet children, such as Rose, are still being forced to scrounge for their own educations even within a formal education
John Marwood Cleese, an English actor, comedian, writer and film producer said, “If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas. And if I can persuade you to laugh at the particular point I make, by laughing at it you acknowledge its truth”. The point he brings up is the ideology of satire. Satire, by definition, is a technique utilized by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society. This can be done by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule ("Satire - Definition and Examples", para.1). Often times, the humor used opens the audiences’ minds to the underlying problem that the writer is trying to reveal. By examining the purpose and methods of satire, dissecting literary works, and displaying examples in the media, satire is shown to be a valuable tool.
The public school system has always been a hot topic in politics, since this is the system that produces children into the leaders of our nations. “Idiot Nation” is a piece by Michael Moore published in 2005, and “Against School” was written by John Taylor Gatto in 2003; these are two pieces that express discontentment in the American public school system. Moore and Gatto’s piece were written in the same context, they take very different approaches to their arguments.
ry American should value their public education because this youth strives to be these young activists, a conduit of change. We take these World Histories, Social Studies, we see these world wars built upon greed, prejudices, and general ignorances. Then we see it again, and again, about grievances that supposedly ended in World War 1. These problems and wars that keep continuing, and when we go home and turn on the TV and there’s another report about a clash of difference and it’s familiar. We strive for this cycle to end as the youth, we learn, and see, but yet that means nothing if we don’t value the education we are given.
Considered to be one of America's imaginative, original, and talented contemporary writers, Kurt Vonnegut has treated readers to such wonderful works of literature as Slaughterhouse-five and Breakfast of Champions. Most of his many novels, short stories, and plays criticize various wrongs of society. Vonnegut's work is often humorous and light-hearted, mixing settings of fantasy with everyday situations of life. Deeper themes concerning the welfare of society are clearly evident in his satire. Throughout this long career Vonnegut has used his unique style to effectively portray his outlook of the world.
Kurt Vonnegut uses a combination of dark humor and irony in Slaughterhouse-Five. As a result, the novel enables the reader to realize the horrors of war while simultaneously laughing at some of the absurd situations it can generate. Mostly, Vonnegut wants the reader to recognize the fact that one has to accept things as they happen because no one can change the inevitable.
In her article “Are We Desensitized?” Nastacia Goodwin expresses her frustration with the media and her peers by contrasting her own reaction to the Virginia Tech Massacre against the reactions of people she knew in school. Goodwin’s reflection on her experience brings her to the conclusion that the peoples’ mass exposure to violence has converted them into apathetic monsters. She starts by laying out expectations of her school’s reaction to the Virginia Tech Massacre, believing that the school will be troubled and paranoid, only for her to find that life is continuing as usual in high school. Goodwin goes through the rest of her day in a state of silent disgust while observing people’s lukewarm reactions to the massacre. Goodwin makes an appeal to pathos by refuting her friends’ statements with her emotions, rebuking them for their lack of genuine sympathy.