Africa by Toto:

Commentary on a song about a place.

In 1982, the band Toto released their album Toto IV, which contained the hit song Africa. This song is about a man in Africa waiting for his girlfriend's flight to land. He sings about the rain and the importance of their reunion. The song is filled with tribal drumming and a fun melody. In addition, it contains a great chorus about the rains in Africa.

In my opinion, this song has stuck around as a popular piece of music because almost everyone can relate to it...a man waiting for his girlfriend. This could be taken several ways; maybe they have broken up and he is waiting for her to accept him again, or perhaps they were separated by some tragic accident. Nevertheless, this is a classic situation in our culture, so it has helped the song sustain it's popularity and be remembered.

Place and environment add quite a bit to it's rhythm and tone. The band has incorporated somewhat of an African theme into the melody, using some flute and drums. The song also has a rather long introduction, allowing time for these elements to sink in. The relation of the song's qualities says a lot about the place it is connected to.
Citation:

Toto. Africa. Toto IV, Columbia, 1982.

Summary of a News Article: March to Your Own Drummer

This article, found in the Iowa State Daily as a commentary, discusses the discovery of underground music, and more importantly: where to find it. The student discovered the Bali Satay House, a popular establishment, while walking down Lincoln Way. The music coming from the establishment was enough to get them to wander inside, and discover a whole new world of hidden culture.

Before their discovery of live guitar and indie music, the writer listened to Good Charlotte and Green Day. They were completely transformed by this new style of music they had been exposed to, and suggested that everyone wipe their iTunes completely of all mainstream music, and check out the local music venues in Ames.

The writer continues by saying how impersonal music has become today, and how much commercialism has played a part in it, especially in an overpriced CD. "You don't even feel the connection with the music at a $60 concert in the nosebleed section..." they state, commenting on how distanced you are with the band, while at a local concert, you may be from the same town as them. The writer believes that we should take back music and make it personal again, instead of listening to MTV and pop-culture.
Citation:

Michels, Andy. "March to Your Own Drum." Iowa State Daily 30 November, 2007. Vol. 202, No. 69. Pg 4.

Summary of a News Article: Don't Fence Me In

"Campus chains start debate over aesthetics"

Recently, the frustration has surfaced over the issue of fencing in areas of endangered grass. Many students have taken the initiative to argue against what they think to be unattractive, annoying chain fences. Some think that instead of these fences, attractive shrubbery could be placed in their stead. Others think that the paths worn over the years are symbolic of Iowa State's history, especially while celebrating the 150th anniversary.

Campus managers have been doing a lot to fix this issue. They till up the compacted ground and plant new grass seeds, put up "natural barriers", and have installed permanent and temporary fencing. These officials do, however, dislike the fences as well. One woman preferred that there not be any chain fences, and that students would respect and appreciate the grounds.

Students have taken action: one has started a Facebook group for the cause, while others are getting awareness out to higher authority. Officials and others are pleased with the reaction caused by this issue, as they now are reassured of the students' respect for the condition of the campus after all.
Citation:

McChesney, Rashah. "Don't Fence Me In". Iowa State Daily, 16 November 2007. Vol. 202, No. 64.

Commentary on an Advertisement

This advertisement for Dolce & Gabbana clothing takes a different spin on perceptions of European culture. This scene occurs in what seems to be a fancy English garden, where the residents may have invited guests over for some sort of festivity. The ad is composed of mostly women, with only one man who is wearing nothing (except for a headband). The clothing worn by the women varies from elegant dresses to masculine coats and boots. The background is set with a few exotically trimmed bushes and a sunset. There are also some Victorian-style chairs, statues and hairdos, and the simple words "Dolce & Gabbana" in capital letters on the right side.

The advertisement may appeal to young women who want to seem like the women displayed here. These women appear to be wealthy and well-dressed. They have a lovely English garden, complete with a naked man at their disposal. Although all this stuff makes them appear like they should be happy, they don't look very enthused. The picture is dramatic and somewhat chaotic, especially with the woman laying in the grass, as well as the hard expression every face.

In my opinion, this advertisement gives Dolce & Gabbana a fancy, dramatic style with some edginess as well. I think that dramatic ads like this stick like glue in the minds of consumers because of the strangeness and the want to feel like the models they see. This is great for the companies, who use dramatic advertising to boost their sales.
Citations:
Cartwright, Gemma. Untitled. 2007. Shiny Media, 28 Nov, 2007.

Summary of a Film : Grizzly Man

The film Grizzly Man, directed and narrated by Werner Herzog, tells the story of a man named Timothy Treadwell, and his passion for grizzly bears. Treadwell would travel to the Grizzly Sanctuary in Alaska every year for a few months to protect the bears because to him, they were like family. Treadwell would have gladly done anything to protect his bears, even if it meant his own death. He mentioned this several times in his own footage, and in the end, he met his untimely demise through a particularly unfriendly bear.

Although Treadwell meant well with his expeditions, many people were indifferent to his cause. Several people in the documentary commented on how crazy or ridiculous
Treadwell was acting by putting himself in such danger, and
giving no respect to these potential killing machines. Oppositely, others who knew Treadwell in the film thought he was working towards a great cause.

The purpose of Herzog's film was to tell Treadwell's incredible story of commitment and resistance to opposition. As Herzog narrates this documentary, he adds his own opinions to agree or disagree with that of Treadwell. The narration also, in my opinion, was to help inspire people all over the world to follow their hearts and do what they feel strongly about.
Citations:
Grizzly Man. Dir. Werner Herzog. DVD. LFG, 2005.

Analysis of a Corporate Blog

MTV Movies Blog

The MTV Movies Blog appeals to a younger audience with an interest in movies and other subjects of the medial world. The purpose of this corporate blog is to inform the internet-surfing public of new movies, celebrity gossip, and behind-the-scenes secrets. The blog allows for comments on articles after they have been read by anyone. As this blog is owned and copyrighted by the MTV Network, only the official "film experts" working for the network can publish these articles as posts.

The blog's layout and design are one of its most important rhetorical aspects. The colorful heading and pictures displayed over the entire blog space creates a fun and interesting environment. The space also provides to many different areas of reader's interests, with several subject headings in the margins and advertisements on the page. The layout is attractive in an informal way, appealing to younger readers, and media lovers.

MTV's blog depicts a young, "new" world view, different from most of a corporate nature. This view is displayed in the blog's intense color usage, as well as the selection of movies in the blog posts. Supportingly, Most of the comments are from younger readers, giving their thoughts and opinions about the post they have read.

This corporate blog differs from a personal blog in many senses. Most bloggers don't get the chance to post articles about movies and insider celebrity news. If everyone had access to this type of news, there would be an overrun of media gossip in society. This would also take away from the purpose of personal blogging (the keyword being personal). Personal blogs bring out culture and stories from a variety of bloggers.

Citation:
MTV Network. Weblog posting. 30 November, 2007. http://moviesblog.mtv.com/.

Rhetorical Analysis of a Text

The Obligation to Endure

The book Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, set a new argumentative platform for the use of dangerous chemicals in the world. As a major environmental activist of her time, Carson also speaks out against how humans have treated the world, and how they
act as human beings with respect to their environment. The world changes that were occurring at this time may have influenced Carson’s reasons for publishing this book because of the developing culture and society.

In the beginning of this chapter, Carson uses a lot of eye-opening facts about our
impact on the environment. She uses these statements to catch the reader’s attention, and
make them aware of the theme of the chapter, similar to a thesis statement. She also
describes the danger that we have put our environment in, and how this danger effects us as human beings.

To argue her point, Carson uses a noticeable amount of emotional appeal. For example, when she poetically says “...to still the song of birds and the leaping of fish in the streams, to coat the leaves with a deadly film, and to linger on in the soil...” one can form a picture of a polluted, dirty stream or field with no wildlife. This is definitely not appealing to her readers, so it advocates proper conservational care. In addition to this, Carson writes about how humans have waged a “war” against some forms of wildlife. She explains how insects have become immune to a particular insecticide used. Thus, we develop a more deadly chemical to fight them. The way she writes this segment gives sympathy in the insects’ favors.

Carson also employs some logical appeals in this chapter. Although she strongly advocates the proper use of chemicals, she does not say that they should not be used at all, “It is not my contention that chemical insecticides must never be used”. She also supports her claims by predicting future occurrences, and facts from the situations at that time.

Rachel Carson uses both emotional and logical appeals poetically to communicate with her audience. Although she strongly stands for a point, she does not completely advocate for the dismissal of insecticides. Her mission is to inform the audience at that time of the dangers they were putting themselves and nature in, as well as advocate for future generations and build a better tomorrow.

Citation:
Carson, Rachel. "The Obligation to Endure." The Informed Argument. Ed. Robert K. Miller and Robert P. Yagelski. 6th ed. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, 2004. 420-6.