Questions about OFOTCN

1. Though Kesey"s purpose is fairly evident, what could be some other interpretations of the work?

I think that the interpretation of Communism vs. Capitalism (USSR vs. USA) has significant value background and I actually suspect this was Kesey"s second purpose.

2. Was the Nuse"s pressure directly responable for Billy"s death or was McMurphy partially responsable?

I consider McMurphy just as guilty for Billy"s death because it was his idea for Billy to have sex and, "experience life," which led to the Nurse"s inevitable discovery and subsequent harassment.

3. Was McMurphy"s death really justified?

Though Chief thought he was putting McMurphy out of his misery by killing him, I think was McMurphy"s belief that he would want to live at all costs and terrorize with his presense. He would continue to be seen as a martyr, fufilling his own selfish prophecy.

4. Overall, was Chief a reliable narrator?

Chief, as the novel progresses, becomes a less reliable narrator as a direct result of his attachment to McMurphy. He seems to characterize McMurphy as a hero and martyr, while characterizing the Nurse as a villain contrasting his indifference at the begining of the novel.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Blog #2

After McMurphy's arrival until the end of "Part One," I thought that the Nurse would be the winner of the ongoing battle between the two; however, at this point, I seriously consider McMurphy to be the winner because of the last page of "Part One." The Big Nurse's growing rage has become apparent and her attempts to rid herself of McMurphy have been unsuccessful leading me to believe that the Nurse will eventually give up her battle, but my better instincts say she, as a manipulative villain, will not surrender so easily. Her rage has become so clear to Chief he notes,"She's holding up a fist, all those red-orange fingernails burning into her palm"(144). Although the Nurse attempts to keep her cool, she yells out that she is in control showing her twisted need to control others. McMurphy has completed his task of aggravating and enraging the Nurse, so it can be said that he is winning the war.

At this point in the story, I think it can be said that McMurphy has change Chief into a character that is not necessarily afraid to confront the Nurse. During the second round of voting on watching the World Series, McMurphy convinced Chief to raise his hand and resist the "fog" of the Nurse. His character has become more complicated to the reader as a direct result of McMurphy's stimulation. Additionally, his narration has become more biased in favor of McMurphy specifically in his description of the Nurse. The quote referenced above serves as a good example of his change in description because at the beginning of the story his true feelings were hidden by his polite description. For example, the Big Nurse is described acting like a machine, but now her humanity has come out and the true Big Nurse is shown to the reader.

I am rooting for the foul-mouthed and defiant McMurphy because even though he has faults, his faults are minor when compared to the monster, Nurse Ratched, and the fact that I will root for a character that is defiant because he questions the society around him.

First Cuckoo's Nest Blog

Unlike The Great Gatsby, in One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest the characters are defined and easier to divide into the three categories of hero, antihero, and villain. The three primary characters in the novel are Chief Bromden, Randal McMurphy, and Nurse Ratched.

Hero: Chief Bromden is the hero in the story because he is the sole character that does not disturb or harm anyone. He is patient, quiet, and helpful and does not really question the authority of Nurse Ratched, which really speaks to his character that he respects authority. That being said, Chief is also not very engaging or sociable and does not really exhibit the outward traits of a typical hero. He also submits to an evil authority figure who virtually tortures the patients for her own deranged enjoyment; nevertheless, his behavior towards the nurse is consistent with his other behaviors. According to Billy Bibbit, besides sweeping, "There's not m-much else he can do, I guess"(24). The majority of the patients think he is deaf and dumb because he doesn't speak even though he is actually one of the most intellegent in the ward and is definitely the most oberservant, which makes him a reliable and fair narrator.

Antihero: The new "Admission" definitely fits the category of antihero. Randal McMurphy, convicted of statutory rape, was formerly imprisoned on a work farm, but he manipulated the psychiatrist there to declare him insane so that he could be moved to the asylum. This manipulation and deceit along with his rowdy habits make McMurphy the ideal antihero because of his quest to destroy the villain, Nurse Ratched. I can foresee that it will be a battle of wits and will between the two characters because both are so similar in their manipulative behavior, yet so different in their mannerisms.

Villain: When I started the novel and Nurse Ratched was first introduced, I knew she would be the villain. I could tell by her walk and behavior that she is really not the nice, genteel nurse that she claims to be. As noted by McMurphy," Hoowee, I've seen some bitches in my time, but she takes the cake"(60). After progressing further into the novel, I seriously question if this nurse is not a sociopath who taunts and harasses the patients for her sick enjoyment. She takes every chance she gets to publicly humiliate the patients or exercise her power over them with her "aides" who, I believe, are just as deranged because of their behavior. Nurse Ratched is a villain in every way and Kesey makes it clear to the audience that this woman is not only a villain as a person, but as a society.

Final Gatsby Reading Journal

1. Fitzgerald uses many symbols to contribute to his main theme of the failure of the American dream, so which symbol is most effective to help support his theme?

The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckelburg are mentioned every time characters pass through the Valley of Ashes and his appearance is particularly noticeable during the death of Myrtle Wilson. His representation of God serves not only that purpose, but also the eyes of Fitzgerald himself commenting on the moral decline of America, specifically its values. Additionally, God serves as the moral compass for the society, so it is natural that God would be disgusted with the behavior of the society similar to the judging eyes of T.J. Eckelburg during the death of Myrtle Wilson when they are staring down at Daisy who just killed a woman. Moreover,  Fitzgerald's overarching theme of the failure of the American dream is also fairly apparent because through this symbol God's disdain is evident, which in turn shows Fitzgerald's disgust with the society of the 1920's.

2. Knowing Fitzgerald's background with failure and rejection, how are his own issues similar to Gatsby's, who possibly could represent Fitzgerald himself?

After finishing the novel and reading about Fitzgerald's background in class, I became aware of the fact that many of the same issues are present in both situations: public rejection by lovers, extramarital affairs, and the crushing of dreams. Similar to the rejection of Fitzgerald by his lover after college because of social class, Daisy publicly dismisses Gatsby during his profession of his love in the Plaza Hotel, " 'I never loved [Gatsby],'she said, with perceptible reluctance"(132). Even though there is reluctance in her voice, she still renounces Gatsby for money like she did five years previously. Throughout the novel there are multiple affairs and indiscretions, which is parallel to his own lifestyle, constantly cheating on his wife, Zelda. Furthermore, Fitzgerald's dreams were crushed by happenstance, comparable to the crushing of Gatsby's dream to marry Daisy. The best writer is the writer that writes about what he knows, which is definitely visible is Fitzgerald's novels because he fictionalizes his own life through them.

3. What purpose does Gatsby's father serve at the end of the novel?

The primary theme is the novel is the emptiness of upper-class life and Gatsby's father gives the reader a "reality check" with the rest of America. His appearance is quite sudden and shocked me, but at the same time his appearance reminds me of Gatsby's humble background showing how Gatsby broke the "glass ceiling" and joined the upper-class. I appreciated his behavior in comparison to the other shallow attendees of Gatsby's funeral because he was the sole person actually there that cared about the deceased.

4. Why is Myrtle Wilson's death so symbolic?

After Myrtle Wilson's death, the rest of the novel primarily focuses on the repercussions of Myrtle's death, which, I think, translates to some importance and does not just serve as a way for Gatsby to be killed. Although her death is sudden and unexpected, I think it can be said that her death was forcasted throughout the novel by the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckelburg. It may seem odd, but this symbol represents the eyes of God and their importance are reiterated throughout. The eyes are constantly watching the moral violations of characters every time they pass through the Valley of Ashes, so it was only a matter of time before God punished the characters for their defiance. Myrtle's death represents the death of the moral values of America, which is Fitzgerald's main purpose.

Great Gatsby Reading Blog #2 (ch. 4-6)

1. Meyer Wolfsheim helps develop Gatsby's character as whole because he attracts attention to Gatsby's flaws. Until his meeting with Meyer, Nick describes Gatsby as a very kind person without any noticeable flaws, however, afterwards he feels shocked that Gatsby would associate with that type of individual. So as a result Gatsby can be seen as a human being with flaws and not as angel held on a pedestal.

2. After finding out about Gatsby and Daisy's history together, Gatsby's weird actions now seem to make sense. For example, when he looks off toward the green light at Daisy's dock at night after his parties, the back story now connects the dots and changes Gatsby's appearance to Nick and the audience. Fitzgerald intentionally portrays Gatsby as odd, but the audience's perception changes as the plot unfolds, which is his eventual intention.

3. As I initially suspected, Gatsby is a very lonely man as a result of his glorious, but forlorn past. The extravagant parties are an outlet for his loneliness because he believes that others around him should be happy and not suffer like he must. Unfortunately, his generosity is abused by many individuals and I constantly sympathize with Gatsby as a result.

4. Though at the end of chapter three I was a bit skeptical about Gatsby's role in the story, I am now thoroughly convinced that Gatsby is an antihero, which is role that I can appreciate more than an actual hero because of an antihero's ability to be human and flawed. Gatsby has grown as a character and his true morals of love and generosity are introduced and reiterated respectively, which have grown on me, so now I truely respect Gatsby as a character and human being.

Jelly Roll Morton "Black Bottom Stomp"

• This piece would play a crucial role in the creation of the playful atmosphere for which Gatsby parties are known because of its upbeat rhythm.
• The mood is joyful as indicated by the song's upbeat rhythm and pleasant melody.
• It can be assumed that the song would be used for dancing.

Great Gatsby Reading Blog #1 (ch.1-3)

After reading the first three chapters of the book, it is fairly clear that the main characters are Nick, Tom, Myrtle, Daisy, and Gatsby. These central characters can be roughly divided into three categories: villain (Tom and Myrtle), antihero (Daisy), and hero (Nick). As you may have noticed, Gatsby is not included in any of the categories because it is my belief that his character is not yet well developed, so it would be more advantageous to wait and see Gatsby's true nature.
As a result of Fitzgerald's plot line, it is apparent that  Nick is a good person, someone who stands out among the corruption and greed that surrounds him. He is the sole character that understands the individuals around him and all that represent: greed and power. In addition, Daisy remarks," I love to see you at my table, Nick"(14), which would imply that he is a kind person.
Tom, Nick's "friend" and Daisy's husband, is an abusive and cruel individual. From his racist remarks to his abuse of "friends,"Tom can be classified as a villain because of his treatment of others. His girlfriend, Myrtle, can also be placed in this category because of her obnoxious and ostentatious attitude that she exhibits when she is with Nick. Their selfish behavior does not only occur around others, but between each other as well. During the lavish party in New York City, Nick notes their horrible treatment of the other, "Making a short,deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand"(37).
Though Daisy's role is minor so far, her character will grow to be an antihero because of her forced values as a result of her husband, Tom's, treatment. The quote, "I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool"(17)," really defines Daisy's character because she remarks that women are so suppressed by men like Tom that she wants nothing more for her daughter, which in different sense defines her values as well as her husband's. Daisy's aspirations for more wealth and power make her an antihero because her values do not represent the good of all, though she is a naturally good person.

An Artist's Style

• The artist used dark colors with organic shapes along with a few geometric shapes to contrast.
• His main themes are focused on everyday, African-American life in working class neighborhoods.
• Individuals in the paintings do not look realistic and resemble cartoons.

Menken vs. Kroll

After reading both articles written by Menken and Kroll, I would say Kroll was more effective because his appropriate use of pathos and appeals outweighed that of Menken's primarily logos-based argument. Throughout his entire piece, Kroll portrayed his friend, a cold-blooded killer, as tortured by the process of being executed, which really evoked a feeling of guilt from the audience. His portrayal of the victims' families as cruel and unforgiving also made the reader sympathize with the executed; nevertheless, Kroll's fallacies do present a good case to the reader. Specifically, the quote, "The two other stays-including one signed by ten judges-were based on the pending suit challenging the constitutionality of cyanide gas as a method of execution." really was appropriate and was a great use of appeal to authority when he mentioned the 10 judges who the reader would respect. In contrast, Menken's piece did not change my views on the issue as did Kroll's because of his logos appeals did not really make any sense to me because of his faulty logic that was apparent.

"Sixteen Military Wives" by the Decemberists (2004)

The song, "Sixteen Military Wives," discusses the unfairness of American life by contrasting the deaths of soldiers to the "dramatic" lives of celebrities. Underneath the lyrics, the band is trying to communicate that Americans do not value the "real" heroes of the world while instead valuing celebrities who rarely contribute anything positive to society. The author's message is revealed through the quote,"Fifteen celebrity minds...will they find a solution in time," because he/she argues directly that we, as Americans, look to celebrities to find the solutions for our problems as a result of our hunger for them and their complicated lives. He also reinforces that the American people decide who the heroes are when he says, "If  America says it's so, It's so!" even if the choices do not deserve the honor. Comparison of the public to cannibals also reveals his point that Americans thirst for gossip or drama when in reality they should be supporting those who need it like the military wives who just lost their husbands who were the true heroes.

"Race for the Prize" by the Flaming Lips (1999)

Though their intentions may have been good, the lives of the two scientists in the song really define the overall theme that life can pass one by when one is concerned with a lofty goal. The writer depicts the scientists as preoccupied when he says,"Two scientists were racing for the good of all mankind...So determined. Locked in a heated battle...Theirs is to win if it kills them." The two are so determined to reach their goal that they forget the rest of their life in the process. The author is trying to convey that while a high goal can be a beneficial aide, life is not worth missing in the meantime. His anecdote serves as a symbol of what can happen if his message is not followed. The narrative should be a model for all who doubt his message by believing that ambition is more important than everyday life.

Fallacies in Famous Speeches

"They tell us, sir, that we are weak--unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. but when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?" -Patrick Henry

This quote uses the fallacy of argumentum ad baculum because it evokes a sense of fear in each member of the audience when he suggests that British troops will be stationed in every home. This fact would obviously scare and startle the colonists because none would want to share their home with a British soldier. Henry also suggests that the citizens will be totally unarmed, which would frighten the colonists into buying Henry's cause. The combination of the two would horrify the colonists enough to want to be away from Britain if this is the only alternative to staying part of the Empire.

Though mostly inaccurate with their portrayal of facts, fallacies can serve as excellent ways to make a speech something to remember. The stark portrayal of facts that are invalid are more easy to remember than some statistics and the different appeals target different parts of the person, so someone that does not respond to one tactic may respond to another, thus making everyone agree with the author's point and making the speech memorable.

"Duck and Cover"

• Overt message: To inform students about the dangers of an atomic bomb and how to react accordingly with the "duck and cover" position.
• Covert message: The government is trying to convince the populace that the atomic bomb isn't nearly as powerful as is true by showing people in the video that arise unharmed from the attack when in reality they would have been vaporized. The purpose of this is to portray the government as powerful as not to cause mass panic among the population.
• This clip is a symbol of propaganda because there are no clear arguments or ideas, just the same phrase and rhetoric being repeated.

Destination Earth

• Overt message: Oil is an integral part of American life that provides all citizens with products needed for everyday life, but can only work well with competition.
• Covert message: The real purpose of the cartoon is to contradict communist doctrine and beliefs. The main character consistently attacks state-owned enterprise and promotes capitalism. He also portrays the leader of the martian nation as selfish and evil. Americans are shown as happy in their capitalist society with competition in contrast to the unhappy population back home on Mars. Another thing I noted was the uniform of the communists vs. the individualism of the Americans.
• This cartoon is obviously propaganda because of its use of glittering generality, transfer, and bandwagon methods. Each contributes to the general underlying message attacking communism.

Propaganda (WWII 1941-1945)

• The overt message is advising the population to eat less bread as to conserve the resources for troops and the war effort.
• The covert message is to convince the population to support the war effort through different means like buying war bonds with the money they would save from buying less bread. They accomplish their goal by making the consumer feel important and patriotic which is conveyed through the idea that without the consumer the war could not be won.
• The disparity between the two messages makes this specific advertisement propaganda by reinforcing the larger message of sacrifice for the nation through specific campaigns that distract the consumer.

"Clampdown"- the Clash (1979)

• This song discusses the domination of corporations over the general population and how people have been duped into believing that free will and independent government still exist. The quote, "I'm not working for the Clampdown," embodies the author's message that many are forced into a defined "normalcy."
• The music is harsh with loud drums and an electric guitar that are almost demanding someone to confront the people that subjugate the population.
• This song relates directly to propaganda because the "normal" society and its leaders indoctrinate the protelariat through advertisements and the media, which conforms the viewers to their point of view.

Propaganda, Persuasion, Rhetoric, and Argument

Quotes chosen: 390, 396, 401, & 405

"Much of what journalists do that is ethically suspect is not illegal – it does not violate a specific statute. For example, there is no statute against lying. There is no statute against entrapment by a journalist. There is no statute against the ambush interview."

TOM GOLDSTEIN, The News At Any Cost, 1985.

Goldstein confirms his belief in the first sentence by noting that journalists do many things to entertain and captivate their audience no matter the cost. He proceeds to mention that even though there are laws against slander and libel, those laws do not include acting ethically in one's job. From spreading false rumors to embarrassing someone on national television, the job to entertain stops at nothing, so when I saw this quote for the first time I thought of one particular newscaster: Nancy Grace. This woman consistently brings emotion into her debates and rants against particular people, people who she deems as "criminals". Specifically, the case of Casey Anthony has received national attention, so Grace used this attention to boost her own ratings and the popularity of her show. Throughout the trial, she demonized the defendant by comparing her to the devil, yet never used proper support for her arguments. It is clear that with journalists like Grace the media will not stop spreading their propaganda for their own ratings. What happened to the truth?