Tyler Allen
English 1010
Midterm
“The lean and Hungry Look”, and the “Great Spirit”. These are the two essays I have chosen to submit for my midterm. Both essays I have written in English 1010. These essays are very unique and were very entertaining to write. I have chosen these two subjects because both of them I can relate too. The lean and hungry look is a very comical story and the Great Spirit hits home as its visual contents strikes every American heart.
“The lean and hungry look”, this essay was a very fun one to write. It was a Summary Analysis Response paper to Suzanne Britt’s essay. To me the essay was very funny because I could relate to the lifestyles between fat and skinny people. Some of my family members live like the ways Britt talks about in her essay so I found this essay to be really funny. As I revised the paper, I realized that I really needed to improve my writing. When I went through I added a lot more on the analysis section of the essay. I used many of the things I have learned in class like the APPPLE concept and the rhetorical strategies to see show how Britt convinces her audience of her Thesis.
“The Great Spirit”, this is the title of the picture that was taken on 9/11 shortly after the attacks. This essay was a visual analysis of this picture. I chose to do this essay because it has had an affect on my life. My dad is a fireman and in the military and the 9/11 attacks have affected my life forever. After I had written the essay I realized that I didn’t do a very good job analyzing the picture. I wrote it more of my personal feelings and opinion. As I corrected the paper I depicted the image a lot more. I showed the rhetorical strategies that the picture has to us for example pathos. To help with my thesis I needed to write my paragraphs to help my argument. I also developed the paragraphs more fully, to make the essay overall better written.
Overall both of these essays were really interesting and very entertaining to write. I believe that by correcting and revising them, my writing skills have improved.
That lean and hungry look
“That Lean and Hungry Look” this is the title Suzanne Britt chose for her comical essay about thin and fat people. In this short essay Britt states that all skinny people are dangerous and they need watching. Thin people are dangerous because they are very critical. They are always criticizing themselves and others. They never relax, they are always on the go, bouncing off the walls.
In her essay, Britt compares the lifestyles between thin and fat people. Both of these people live very different lives. For example, skinny people are always counting the calories of food. They always want to improve their look; they are always stressed and never enjoy life. Fat people seem to have the stress-free kind of attitude. They enjoy what they eat, and don’t worry what it contains. Fat people are always ready to sit back, relax, and have a good time. They are more accepting and don’t judge like thin people tend to do.
Britt uses stereotypes about skinny and fat people to show the differences in the lifestyles between these two groups of people. The main problem between fat and skinny people is that skinny people are never comfortable; they are always following strict steps in order to have “the perfect life”. Fat people are different, they live their lives how they want and enjoy what they do.
Britt’s essay is full of rhetorical strategies to catch the attention of her audience. As she addresses the young overweight audience, she proves you don’t have to be skinny to be happy or fat to be happy, Britt’s main purpose of her essay is to show that the stereotypical look most people want to have today is not really the perfect life; It’s about just being happy with who you are. You get to decide if your happiness comes from taking a jog around the park or feasting on a hot fudge Sundae. She uses many strategies to help argue her point including comedy, compare and contrast and even her language.
In her short essay, Britt uses a lot of comedy and stereotypes that most people think are funny. She makes the essay a very fun read and makes the reader laugh. For example, she states that thin people claim there is not enough time in the day, whereas fat people never say that and that the day is long enough already. She also compares and contrasts the lifestyles of her audience and does this with comedy.
Britt uses the Exemplification Strategy to help the stereotypes she uses in her essay. She also uses a more relaxed language. A type of language you would use to joke with people. She even uses personal experiences to help back up some of her statements. Overall, I think what grabbed my attention most from her essay was the comedy and the great examples that she gave to pull my attention and change my perspective on the stereotypes that are prevalent in our society today.
Overall, I loved the short essay by Britt. I found a lot of comedy that just made me laugh that I could agree and relate with. I have noticed in my own family and friends some of these stereotypes exist. I believe that we should be who we are, and love life.
I believe that it is very important to have a well-balanced life. There are some people, so obsessed about their body that they are willing to starve themselves or work out for hours on end. I personally find that a little extreme, however, we all need to watch what we eat and do physical activity so we can stay in shape and have a healthy body. We should do the things that make us happy if counting calories on food makes us happy then great. If taking a job on a break makes us feel better then do it. I feel that as we enjoy life and enjoy the things we like to do we are overall happier people.
As a stereotype in society, Britt stated that fat people are more acceptable and fun. Honestly, in my life, I find this to be true. When I went to high school, I didn’t fit in with all of the “super stars”; the kind of kids that walked down the hall trying to be super models. I hung around a group of people who didn’t pressure me to look a certain way. My three best friends even today are bigger kids, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. They don’t care what I wear, my social status or the state of my acne. They are loving and a constant support in my life. In the end, I believe that we all need that balance in our own lives.
“The Great Spirit”
“The Great Spirit,” the official name of the photo taken shortly after the 9/11 attacks, by photographer Thomas E. Franklin. This picture is unique on its own and gives just about all Americans an opinion or feeling on the 9/11 attacks and how it has affected their own personal lives. I believe that almost all Americans feel this photo means a lot whether it may be anger, sadness or courage. However for firemen and The United States Military, this may bring forth another story. The raising of the flag during this tragedy brings a remembrance for all those you sacrificed their lives for our country.
Franklin’s photo was taken around four in the afternoon on September 11, 2001. After taking a short break, Franklin spotted three New York firemen pulling out of the rubble a broken flagpole. The three firemen started to raise the flag in remembrance of all of their 343 brothers and sisters that had lost their lives. This is the moment that Franklin snapped the world famous picture of the firefighters raising the flag.
The photo was published in the New Jersey Report the next day under the title “The Great Spirit”. The title is exactly the feeling the photographer wanted the audience to feel. As these three firemen raised the flag after a long day of searching for their beloved brothers and sisters, they continued to have pride in their country. Today, as we look at the picture, we can also share the same pride even when something tragic has happened. We are one nation, and we will keep fighting.
As the three firemen raise the flag, in the picture we notice that the flag is at half-mast. This could be by accident or possibly on purpose. As Americans, we know that when a flag is at half-mast it is in respect of honored people that have given their lives for a greater cause. It also is a symbol for distress and mourning. The flag being at half-mast reminds each one of us of the many lives that were killed in the attacks and in the war that followed.
The picture of raising the flag also reminds us of the Flag raising towards the end of world war two in Iwo Gima. Both pictures capture the attitude of the American society. That we will keep raising and never give up. Both of these photos were taken at a tragic moment, one after being attacked and the other after a very long war and so many people that died. I believe both of the pictures bring out the patriotism in all Americans and also reminds us of all the many men and women who have given their lives for us.
The location of the picture was perfect to set the mood of the American people. Behind these firemen we can see all of the debris that came from the two twin towers. The flag stands out so much when behind the picture is a gray and gloomy color of the debris. When we think of all the debris, I remember watching the TV after the incident. I watched, as the firemen would pull people out of the debris, sometimes dead and sometimes alive. The firemen stand in front of the place where all the men and women sacrificed their lives or had their lives taken in the falling of the twin towers.
I believe the people that were affected most by this picture are all of the men and women in the Fire Department. This picture is an honorable display of togetherness for 343 of their brothers and sisters that were killed trying to help other escape the towers before they crashed down. After the emotional roller coaster that these men and women had to go through during that day they still seem to remember those who died.
In conclusion, this photo has so many emotions behind it. Every single American can relate to this photo whether it is good or bad. However, I feel this photo is one of the most famous photos on that September day. I believe we should always remember September 11, 2001 and remember the ones that have given their lives for us.