TOW #25: Thich Quang Duc Self-Immolation by Malcolm Browne

             Ever since its debut, the camera has had a profound effect on communication, allowing those in one country to see the both the triumphs and struggles of another. In 1963, a Buddhist monk named Thich Quang Duc lit himself on fire to protest the discrimination his religion had received under the Ngo Dinh Diem regime in South Vietnam. A bystander’s photograph captured the moving scene. Thich Quang Duc sits cross-legged in the middle of a street; seemingly calm despite the fire that engulfs his body. Beside him sits a gasoline tank, and in the background, a group of monks watch, with what looks like no intention of intervening.

             An appeal to emotion is instrumental to the power of this image. A person being burned alive would be expected to elicit some sort of sign of pain, but the monk is instead calm and silent. The photographer, Malcolm Browne (AP), said in an interview with TIME magazine that there was panic and cries of misery all around the monk, but no one was even sure if Thich Quang Duc was dead or alive he was so quiet. Browne received a Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting and the World Press Photo of the Year in 1963.

Upon its arrival to the press, the photograph was published in newspapers all around the world. Its audience was diverse, in age, occupation, and political stance, as everyone could feel the struggle that the monks were enduring in S. Vietnam through this picture. This seems to be its purpose, after all; Browne had waited after monks had informed him of a new, big demonstration, and when it did occur, he was the only western photographer there. Browne’s intentions probably also included spreading awareness of the turmoil in Vietnam and rallying support for the monks, who he had been following for the past months. As shown by the prestigious awards Browne obtained, as well as the striking appeal to pathos, Browne achieved his purpose.

            

IRB Intro #4: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Into the Wild is a memoir by Jon Krakauer, in which he recounts his experiences while retracing the steps of Christopher McCandless, whose body was found in a bus in Alaska in 1992. I think this will be an interesting book because I have not read a memoir yet, and I think the narrated style will be closer to a fictional story, which I enjoy more. I hope that after reading this book, I will have gained a better understanding of other people’s lives and perspectives, just as Krakauer may have done with McCandless.

TOW #24: "The Unsettling Thing About Ellen" by Steven Kurutz

            When one amasses as much wealth as modern celebrities of Los Angeles do, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that some extravagant spending might take place. Ellen DeGeneres, talk show host and comedian, validates this supposition through her long list of real estate ventures. In an article published in the New York Times titled “The Unsettling Thing About Ellen,” Steven Kurutz details how the star’s interest in architecture and interior design has led her to make a number of pricy purchases on properties from all over California. Now an experienced home designer, Ellen usually takes charge of arranging the décor in her houses, which include paintings by Cy Twombly and Jean Prouve lamps.

            Because this article was published specifically in the Home and Garden section of the New York Times, there is a good chance that its readers will enjoy it. Although the New York Times has a reputation for reporting on national and global conflicts, the audience of this article is most likely made up of adults with a hobby relating to interior or exterior design, given its context. The author, Steven Kurutz, has many articles in the NY Times that cover art-related topics, so he has a level of credibility in writing this story.

            One notable rhetorical device in this article was the author’s asides that were dotted throughout the article. When describing DeGeneres’ solemn attitude towards her former Malibu beach house, Kurutz wrote, “‘I would just stare at it’ from the window, Ms. DeGeneres said, a metaphor for modern celebrity if there ever was one.” The accompanying description to Ellen’s quote expands the horizons of the article, and asks the reader to consider the life of fame that Ellen endures, which at times may not be as fun as designing your own house.

            Kurutz’s purpose therefore might be larger than romanticizing Ellen’s real estate life; it attempts to give readers an accurate glimpse of Hollywood life, specifically through Dengeneres’ eyes. I believe this purpose was achieved, because of how Kurutz’s both told the story of house buying and media attention for a celebrity.

TOW #23: Why Wu-Tang Will Release Just One Copy Of Its Secret Album by Zack O'Malley Greenburg

            There is currently a metal box with intricate etchings all around the box, sitting at the foot of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Inside it will soon be one Wu-Tang Clan album, one that no one has ever heard before. The rap group recently revealed their secret project, called Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, which has been going on for the past decade. In an effort to spark a revival of music appreciation, Wu-Tang members have decided to sell only one copy of this album at a price in the millions.

            The author of “Why Wu-Tang Will Release Just One Copy Of Its Secret Album”, Zack O’Malley Greenburg, reported on this story in Forbes, detailing the events leading up to the completion of this album and Wu-Tang’s future plans for the rare record. As a senior editor at the magazine, Greenburg reports on business of music and entertainment. He has written books such as Michael Jackson, Inc., and writes The Beat Report, a daily segment dedicated to the happenings in music. Greenburg’s background in music and business is evidenced by the multiple comparisons he makes with other similar events, such as Samsung’s purchase of copies of Jay Z’s new album for $5 million. These kinds of references are an important rhetorical strategy in Greenburg’s article, as they help to validate the possibility of this event’s success, and clarify exactly what kind of business venture the Wu-Tang has committed to.

            As this was written in Forbes, a magazine that focuses specifically on the business aspects of the world, Greenburg’s audience will probably appreciate the mention of making money as one of the reason’s for the one-copy decision. Though none of the people involved in the album mentioned anything about money, Greenburg, as a business writer, made an inference and added his own insight into the article. In doing so, he creates an article that functions both as a narrative, which makes for an interesting read, and a business report, which details the facts. Because of the efficiency with which Greenburg told this story, I believe he achieved his purpose.

Article: http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2014/03/26/why-wu-tang-will-release-just-one-copy-of-its-secret-album/

TOW #22: "Lessons from the Little Ice Age" by Geoffrey Parker

It has been shown time and time again that history repeats itself in all aspects of the world. Geoffrey Parker, a history professor at Ohio State University, takes a look at climate change and its effects on humans in his article, “Lessons from the Little Ice Age.” The event referenced in the title is the period of cold winters that occurred in Europe during the 17^th century. Parker explains that the cold caused flooding, bad harvests and forced migrations, all of which resulted in rebellions and wars across the globe. Applying this to the present, Parker expresses his concern over the potential death and destruction that could occur today if proactive measures are not taken.

Given the debate over global warming that continues today, this article is very relevant. Published in the New York Times, it is likely that Parker’s article has received the attention of a diverse group of individuals. Because the New York Times is relatively unbiased on most topics, there are bound to be some readers who share a concern for the effects of global warming. This predisposition, along with Parker’s objective tone and logical argument for preparation over reparation make it difficult to disagree with the article.

Because of the suggestions Parker puts forth at the end of the article, he seems to be writing specifically for the purpose of persuading world leaders to adopt a proactive approach to global warming. Despite this, he is writing in a newspaper, rather than in a letter addressed to officials. This means that Parker’s purpose is probably more to rally support for this solution in order to bring attention to it. Eventually, with enough support, Parker’s suggestions would reach leaders.

Because of the sound logic Parker uses to support his argument, and his reasonable request, I believe he did achieve his purpose.

Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/23/opinion/sunday/lessons-from-the-little-ice-age.html?ref=opinion