Diggin' class...

To be honest, I didn't really think about my expectations for this class when I signed up in the fall. At this point, in my fourth year, it's a struggle to find classes that fit in with my daily shedule, and this english class was one of those. I had already taken a few different literature classes and was looking for something different, so I went with this and I have not been disappointed. Most of my other english classes were heavily lecture-based with minimal interaction between students. This class is great because it encourages us to voice our opinions in a safe environment. I'm still waiting for that issue that causes a major debate in class.

I'm not planning to be an english teacher, nor am I an english major, but I can see how this class will be helpful to me in the future, whether I go into writing of any kind or visual communications such as photography or videography.

This class has also made me think about the way I used language in jobs I have had in the past. When I was a newspaper reporter, I often had to interview people who were somewhat (and sometimes completely) unwilling to "let me in." I realize now that I was very conciously and actively trying to persuade them to like me and therefore, give me the best story. As a portrait photographer, I was responsible for selling a certain dollar amount of photos to each customer. Obviously, all salesmen are trying to persuade their clients, but you have to be tactful when convincing a young, single mother without much money to buy something she doesn't really need.

If there is anything I am skeptical about, it's the statement that all language is persuasion. Like I said in my last blog, rhetoric is a broad term. To merge this argument with the one about inherently selfish people, I think the world is lacking truly selfless people. It is definitely possible to help and speak to someone without having any motive other than that person's good fortune. My father is a perfect example; he helps others without asking anything and he always shows his true colors. Maybe he just doesn't care what others think, but I never felt like he was trying to persuade anyone of anything.

Rhetoric is a very broad term. All language has some persuasive element to it. If you possess the ability to emote, then anything you ever say to anyone should be persuasive. If you want to tell your girlfriend something nice, you say it in a way that expresses your desire to please her. You will not persuade her that you truly mean what you say if you say it like a robot. If you are talking to yourself, silently, in your head, you are always trying to persuade yourself to do, think, write or feel something.

I'm writing this blog late because I just got home from watching the new Clint Eastwood movie, Gran Torino. This film will win all the big awards this year. It was moving. Eastwood is a master rhetorician. He uses images, story, music and most importantly language to leave an impression on the viewer. He persuades you to think about the human condition; in this case, racism and its gray areas.

Politicians engage in a more direct form of rhetoric. They are actively and intentionaly trying to persuade you to think (and eventually vote) a certain way. Artists take a more creative route in evoking our emotions and usually the payoff is better. That's whats so great about Barack Obama; he's got that ability to move people. I'm just waiting for him to pull out a guitar and and sing us a song of change and freedom.

While politicians are often thinking about how to persuade others, most people do not. It's natural for us to speak with conviction and desire in order to get our thoughts across to others. This goes back to the story of Joseph. He was unable to think abstractly and therefore, unable to fully express himself to those around him. But even with spoken language, it is the ability to use the inflection of your voice as well as gesture and physical expression to fully communicate with others. We are emotional beings with the need to be persuaded by others.

...the better to eat you with, my dear!

It's a little hard for me to believe that all humans are born cannabalistic. I've spent a lot of time around young children from my many nephews, nieces and cousins to the hundreds of children I took pictures of as a portrait photographer. I've seen them bite each other, but never try to eat each other.

I was thinking about the many ways that human children are less independent and more needy than most animals. Many animals are capable of walking shortly after birth. Many have the ability to feed themselves. Many receive no parenting whatsoever and are forced to care for themselves their entire lives. Maybe the weakness and vulnerability of human children and the fact that they must be reared for a prolonged period before they can do much on their own is the reason behind the suppression of our natural cannibalistic instincts.

I definitely agree that language can change the way people think. It gives us the ability to attempt to reason with each other and "talk things out" rather than just running over everyone who has the nerve to cross our path. Then again, some people, like certain soon-to-be former presidents, have only hurt themselves with language. I know I'm in Texas and if he's got any fans anywhere it's here, but when Ol' Dubbya opens his mouth he only hurts his image. He would definitely be better off and make less enemies if he just shut the hell up.

And a thought on the whole good and evil disscussion we were having at the end of the last class...someone said you must define good and evil in order to answer the question of whether we are all born evil. If evil is anything that is no good, then we are all a little bit evil right? Can anyone in our class, besides perhaps the super mom (sorry I can't remember your name) say that they always do everything within their power to help other people? Do you always stop for someone who is broke down on the side of the highway? Do you always hold doors open for elderly folks? Do you always drop some change into the various donation jars around town?

But I do think we live very cushy lives compared to humans a couple hundred years ago, or even 50 years ago. If we couldn't get food so easily or if we were deserted on an island, who knows what some people would do to sustain life. To somewhat loosely quote The Joker as played by the late Heath Ledger, "When the cards are down these so-called civilized people...they will eat each other."