3. 6/8 (due 6/11)

50 thoughts on “3. 6/8 (due 6/11)”

1. 1-A. I did not find any grammatical errors except, add a few more commas to sentences that I felt were run-on. Below, are the revised interpretations of Hooks, O’Reilly, Simmons, and Berlatsky.

   Bell Hooks’ views are more concerned towards Beyonce’s “innocent” look. She believes that Beyonce is a ‘slave’ to her image, and that she represents herself as a victim to sexualization of women.

   Quote: ”I see a part of Beyonce that is in fact anti-feminist, that is assaulting- that is a terrorist…I actually feel like the major assault on feminism in our society has come from visual media, from television and videos.”

   O’Reilly’s view on Beyonce’s work is negative because he feels it threatens the youth and would cause young girls to be inspired by the song and have unwanted pregnancies.

   Quote: “Why would she do it when she knows the devastation that unwanted pregnancies, which we will deal with in a moment, not with you, but in another segment, and fractured families, why Beyonce do that?….I believe in—I believe in entertainment and an entertainer like Beyonce and a mogul like you have an obligation to protect children, not put out exploitive garbage that you know harms impressionable children.”

   Opposed to O’Reilly, Simmons’ views on Beyonce’s work is more positive. He believes that Beyonce’s work is art as sex is a natural thing for a human to do; and that it is natural for Beyonce as an artist to make music based off of something that inspired her from a natural activity.

   Quote: “I think the artist’s job throughout history has been to tell— to say things that people are inspired by…And so when an artist expresses something that’s sexual in music it is a reflection of our reality.”

   Berlatsky’s views differ from that of Hooks, and O’Reilly. He explains that Beyonce’s work is an art as an artist has the right to make their work how they want it to be. He adds on by explaining that to O’Reilly and Hooks, it is difficult to consider Beyonce an art as you only see her body, etc..In addition it seems that Berlatsky feels that Beyonce shows the true nature of her artwork that both O’Reilly and Hooks do not seem to get.

   Quote: “There does seem, then, to be some difficulty in thinking of Beyonce as an artist making art while at the same time thinking of her as a body, to adorn videos, or magazine covers, or someone’s argument.”

   1-B. O’Reilly is one the commentators that suggest Beyonce’s work is an art but in a negative way. In regards to O’Reilly’s interpretation to Beyonce’s work, he explains that it is easy for young girls especially in their teen years to go wanting to imitate what Beyonce insinuated in her song which is sex. In addition, thus would explain his concern for young girls getting pregnant because of it. O’Reilly’s interpretation would correlate with Plato’s thoughts on art being an imitation. In Plato’s text, Plato speaks about starting off with an idea of a couch, a carpenter decides to make that couch, then the painter decides to paint that couch. This would explain the correlation between Beyonce’s work and Plato as both carpenter and painter get the idea from someone else that inspire them to do the same. As well, as the young girls who would feel inspired to do the same as Beyonce’s work insinuates.

   2-A. Two styles in Queneau’s “Exercises in Style” that I will compare are notation and retrograde. Some similarities I found with both styles are that they follow the plot of the story, have the same characters, and both are in first person perspective. Some differences I found in these styles are that retrograde starts from the ending of the story to the beginning, is shorter in length, and has a lot of sentences in forms of questions based on the plot.

   2-B. Style in literature to me can be defined as the different techniques a writer uses to write their story or text. Queneau demonstrated this in his story, where he would use different types of styles or way of writing to show the many interpretations his story might have on his readers.

   Prompt 3 and 4 are already up. Prompt question3 can be found under one of your students Emmanuel Pichardo’s essay in Essay 1 feedback section.

   I also forgot to include one student that I also gave out a feedback was to Victor Li.

   Reply

   1. Kelly, hey.

      Here is a resource on run-ons and comma splices that I think you may find helpful:
      https://www.aims.edu/student/online-writing-lab/grammar/comma-splices.php

      I appreciate your attempt to link O’Reilly’s view to Plato’s, but I don’t think that either of them think that art ought only to “imitate life.” (Plato discusses this view but doesn’t endorse it and another one of Beyonce’s commentators–but not O’Reilly– thinks that the role of art is to reflect life. Can you revisit this paragraph and the texts on Beyonce to see if you can adjust the connections your making between Plato’s work and those debating Beyonce’s work?

      2A. I think you’re on the right track here, but when analyzing style we really need to be looking at quotations and discussing specific word choices within them. Can you bring in a discussion of two quotations from “Notation” and “Retrograde” as well as an analysis of specific word choices that differ?

      Thanks.

      Reply

2.    Prompt #1

   1.  I understand the syllabus. It is clear to me. I also think it is very well structured in the sense that we build on what we learned from the previous lessons.   B My question is that will we receive a weekly instruction from you on what we have to do

    

   2.I’m a little woozy on the essay assignment other than that I think I am good to go.

   3.Literary text

        By Mary Ruefle  “On Beginnings”

       “Everyone knows that if you query poets about how their poems begin , the answer is the same: a phrase, a line, etc. If you have any idea for a poem, an exact grid of intent, you are on the wrong path, a dead-end alley, at the top of a cliff you haven’t climbed . This is a lesson that can only be learned by trial and error.”

   The question I have for this quote is that if an experienced poet who has published countless  

   poems want to write a similar poem, does the poet have to use the trial and error method?

   I don’t think so. As a beginner the best thing to do is to use the trial and error method but experienced writers mostly I feel know what they are doing. You have to have an idea on what you the poem you are about to write but the quote states otherwise. With no idea there is no action going to take place. There are things that happen on the fly but writing a poem isn’t one of them You have to really sit and have an idea or train of thought in the construction of words that rhyme with each other. And after that there also has to be correction and improving the words used. Overall I disagree with the quote. 

   4. A poem is an interpretation of an idea conceived by an individual who then puts it in words. Ruefle then goes a step further to indicate that it is an unfinished interpretation. This unfinished story takes a turn and contradicts her words. This is because the rhyming of the words can continue to infinity but the meaning of the interpretation can actually end. This suggestion makes me think about unfinished interpretation in a different way. I now understand that most interpretations are unfinished and it doesn’t only apply to poems it applies to everything.

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3.   Prompt #2

   1. In the republic book X plato does not necessarily agree with the imitative aspects of  arts. However he believes that one thing leads to the other. Plato lets his audience know that although imitative arts differ in many ways they have a link that connects them in their different ways.” According to the same argument, if badness of body doesn’t introduce badness of soul into a soul, we would never admit that the soul is destroyed by an alien evil that does not bring with it the specific badness of a soul that is we would not admit that one thing is destroyed by the evil of the other.” This example seems like a farfetched example but what plato is trying to explain here is that art can be imitated in so many ways. And in particular one thing can lead to the other. He states that badness in the body can destroy the soul. This is an example of the imitation of transforming to a different thing. People however, can change the narrative from the original arts to a different idea thus this can lead to critics interpreting arts as a bad thing.

     

   2. Beyonce`’s art seems to be misinterpreted by her critics. Beyonce` arts shows her body in a presumption that she is trying to show her feminist side as a woman. Beyonce`’s work seems to be interpreted as a sexual scene and a disregard for people who look up to her. I personally think that because she is into arts and music, she tries to get people’s attention by using nude videos in her presentation of her music alongside her arts. Critics like O’Reilly and Hooks think otherwise. They think she is irresponsible and by using such images knowing that she is a role model in the society.

   3a   Hooks completely disagrees with Beyonce. He condoms the side portrayed by Beyonce in   her video. He thinks Beyonce is anti-feminist and she is harmfull to society.

   B  Hooks “ Teenage girls look up to Beyonce, particularly girls of color. Why would she do it when she knows the devastation of unwanted pregnancies.”

   4a O’Reilly like hook also condemns what is portrayed by Beyonce in her art. O’Reilly thinks that beyonce is setting a bad example for the youth who are up and coming.

   B O’Reilly “ he sees himself as defending conservative family values against a corrupting mainstreem entertainment industry.”

   5a  Simmons was also not in favor of the nudity portrayed by Beyonce in her video. Like hooks he taught that this will significantly destroy the upcoming youth. 

   B Simmons “Featuring a politely exasperated Simmons who had hoped to talk about his book”. 

   6a Berlatsky thinks that the critics  are too conservative and they do not want to expose the youth to such scenes. He also states that portraying something like that is a part of what celebrities have to go through in order for their work of art to be viewed.

   B Berlatsky “ Moralizing against sex is sold, like everything else, via sex. At the same time of course , Outrage and rebellion is a big part of what celebrities have to sell. ” 

   Reply

4. Prompt 1 Part 1
   The song of Beyonce, “Partition” describes the life of young people today. In the song, it also gives a message that young people do not give value to people’s standard. The song also glorifies the misuse of sexual intercourse because it should only happen between a married couple or couple who are committed to each other. The lyrics also tells a message that women in today’s world gained love by seducing men into sexual intercourse that forgets their value as human beings. Promiscuity became the norm that people think that having multiple partners is better, which is not. The message is that women and men are degrading their dignities just to achieve the love they wanted.
   The lyrics “take all of me daddy” is a message that not only degrades the dignity and integrity of a person, but also shows that there are no self-esteems that they have one themselves. Self-Esteem should be high because it is a factor that helps decide what is right from wrong. It is a self-respect that makes a person think logically, have good judgment, and choose to do what is right. There are also people that are doing what is right, but are afraid of being hated by many. By doing what is right regardless of what people think shows that the standard of a person is not low and degraded.
   The dignity of a person should not be degraded, because every single person has a life that they live to do what is right, and to lift others up in doing what is right. Although the song has a negative message, there is a message that tells everyone that we can love romantically in the right time and with the right person. The use of sex must be use appropriately.
   Part 2
   In Mary Reufle’s short story, “On the Beginning” it describes the importance of poetry in literature. Some poems are made out of a situation a person is experiencing, some are made for fun, some are made to describe the situations that happened in the past. The phrase “In life, the number of beginnings is exactly the equal to the number of endings” means that poetry always begins, but never ends because a poem is made in every single situation at different times, language, and places. It is true that the poems never end because of the fact new poems are made based on an event. There are also poems that were made, but were unfinished because they were abandoned.
   Reufle should have described it as the forgotten poem because people make them, but never finish them. The poem should reflect the point of view of the writer that in unison with the reader as well. Reufle’s interpretation of the poem is that it begins and ends as it begins. But poetry does not end because every second, a new poem is written by a person. The understanding of Reufle is that the mind acts, and the poem is written in whatever event. In which the description of the event is interpreted.
   The poem is a great way to make readers understand the situation that is being described. Reufle had emphasized that the poem is constructed because the first line and the last line must be connected in order to stay in the topic.
   Prompt 2
   According to Plato, the art is showing one side of the story. It is usually expressed during grievances, situation, and anger. Poetry only shows the side of the oppressed, and does not show the bigger picture. In which Socrates stated that poetry is a biased kind of art. Socrates contradicts the statement made by Reufle, and the song lyrics of Partitioning because it is only showing the side of the artists.
   Beyonce’s interpretation of the song is that she is promoting love. Her work is to show that women are not just an object for sex, but as human as well. Her works are interpreting that women in today’s generation are treated as sex object objects. In that case Hooks, O’Reilly, and Simmons had united on criticising Beyonce’s work for her music video that allegedly promoted nudity as an art. What Beyonce had done is a form of art according to Greek Philosophy, because nudity shows the true image of things, person, and events. Art should be exposing all things such as injustice, prejudice, racism, and all negative things that hinders the society from progressing.
   Each commentator is arguing that Beyonce’s music is not art, but is a form of sexual immorality that may or may not inspire young women on following her ways.
   “Why on Earth, a woman would do that?” ~Simmons
   “She put a video that glorifies sex in the limousine”.~ O’Reilly
   There are no direct quotations from Berlatsky and Hooks.

   3.
   Hooks’ interpretation about Beyonce is that she is promoting illicit sexual desires that will degrade the dignity, and the integrity of the women. Hooks also interpreted that Beyonce is influencing young women because of her money.
   There are no quotes directly from Hooks, but there is a description. The description is “Hooks speculates that Beyonce’s appeal is not just her beauty but with money”.
   4.
   O’Reilly’s argument stated that Beyonce is promoting monogamous sexual relationships, but in a way that is explicit that can degrade the human dignity of women. Especially when teenage girls are looking up at Beyonce as a model.
   ”Teenage girls look up to Beyonce, particularly to girls of color. Why would she do it when she knows the devastation of unwanted pregnancies”.
   5
   Simmons has argued that Beyonce’s music videos have brutalizing effects due to nudity that is against moral ethics.
   There are no quotes from Simmons.
   6
   Berlatsky argued that Beyonce is an artist speaking for herself because not only she is advocating women’s rights, she is showing how women should be respected at all times. Beyonce is also promoting self-care, bolstering self-esteem, and having self-respect.
   There are no direct quotes from Berlatsky, but he is describing the side of Beyonce, and the people who are against her.
   1a. There are no grammatical error as of this time.
   1b. Plato’s text on art are that art can be biased. It only shows one side which is the point of view and perspective of the one who is doing the art. Beyonce’s work is a form of art, but according to many critics and non-critics, the art is degrading women’s dignity. Simmons is in line with Plato’s advocate because the song that Beyonce performed is glorifying promiscuity, immoral sex, and exploiting sex to everyone which degrades the dignity of women.
   2a. The version in Queneau’s exercises, such as Negativities and Precision. The sections are both describing events that have occurred. They are also giving information regarding on what happened in one place, which can be different versions but one event. The difference is that in the Precision, the person describing the event knows all the detail from the very smallest piece. In the Negativities, the person describing the events only knows the main events happened in situation. The styles that were used are informative literature because it is giving information on people about the events. The styles between two exercises are informative writing, by informing readers on how people should be alert on whatever events in order to be safe from bad things.
   2b. The information I read about a book on Inside the Middle East, Making Sense The Most Dangerous and Complicated Region on Earth. The author, Avi Melamed used the informative style that gives true information that contradicts all negative perception about the Middle East.

   Reply

   1. Jesse, hi.
      I’m still interested in direct quotes from the articles on Beyonce. Quotations are what interpretations and analysis of texts are built out of.

      1a. One quick grammatical thing I caught in this sentence (“There are no grammatical error as of this time.”) is that you began it with an expression which suggests you are talking about the presence of a plural noun (“There ARE”) but your noun in this sentence is singular (“error”). Can you correct this? Let me know if you need my help.

      1b. Can you take your time here in drawing connections between Plato and Beyonce’s commentators like Simmons? I’m not yet clear on how or why you think Simmons is in line with Plato–can you explain this more? Also, what do you think Plato is suggesting art SHOULD do–and whose view(s) on Beyonce aligns with Plato in this regard?

      2a. Good start on this comparison of Queneau’s “Negativities” and “Precision.” However, I’m not sure you’ve fully described what happens in the style of “Negativities.” Can you quote from each passage and discuss the word choice in the quotations you’ve chosen? I think this will help things here.

      2b. Build on this example you’ve provided. This book you mention uses an “informative” style; what other kinds of style are there? and what then does “style” seem to be referring to?
      Thanks.

      Reply

      1. I will revise what is needed sir!

         Reply

5. Crispin Thys

   A) I want you to re-read your work carefully and revise anything that is amiss. Just because I’m not grading your prompt responses based on grammar doesn’t mean you can’t notice grammatical issues, typos, etc. that may be in need of fixing! Post your revisions here along with one question about grammar that you’ve encountered while revising.
   One question about grammar that I thought of while revising was in what instance does the use of a semicolon (;) seem useful and justifiable. I feel like I have a lot of extended sentences, split up with commas, but would it be possible for me to utilize a semicolon, and what value would that add? Essay 1 draft 2 posted

   B) Make a list of possible ways to connect Plato’s text on art to the different interpretations of Beyoncé that we’ve read. For instance, at least of the commentators on Beyoncé proposes a view of art that is similar to the one that is similar to the one Plato critiques: that “art imitates reality,” more or less. Which commentator(s) suggest(s) this? On the other hand, who seems to be suggesting a view of art more in line with what Plato advocates for: the notion that art ought not simply imitate reality but that it ought to extoll moral virtuousness in order to make viewers better people? List any other connections you notice as well.

   The commentator who has an opinion that is similar to the one that Plato critiques, that art imitates reality, is Russel Simmons who says, “I think that the artist’s job throughout history has been to tell -to say things that people are inspired by. There is a subject – there is research that says a man thinks about sex every 12 seconds. And so when an artist expresses something that’s sexual in music it is a reflection of our reality. If we want that reality changed, then we have to do things that affect the core.” One could argue that Berlatsky also shares this opinion as can be seen by his comment that, ” If she is seen as an artist who is speaking for herself, what she says is quite impactful.
   O’Reilly, on the other hand, expresses the view more in line with Plato that art ought to extoll moral virtuousness in order to make viewers better people. He says, “I believe – I believe in entertainment and an entertainer like Beyoncé and a mogul like you have an obligation to protect children, not put out exploitive garbage that you know harms impressionable children.” Someone else who shares O’Reilly and Plato’s view that art ought not simply imitate reality, but that it ought to extoll moral virtuousness in order to make viewers better people is bell hooks who mentions that she believes Beyoncé’s cover image on TIME magazine fails to stand of to misogynistic principles that have held society back for so long.

   a. After reading the excerpts from Queneau’s “Exercises in Style,” I want you to choose 2 of the “exercises” (i.e., chapters, story versions, etc.) and compare them. What similarities do you notice between the two stories? What differences do you notice? How would you describe the differences in “style” between the two exercises? Provide a quoted passage that exemplifies each style.
   The two exercises that I chose to compare are “Retrograde” and “Precision”. Both of these stories tell the same exact story. However, they do so in entirely different ways, utilizing two distinct styles. The perspective in “Retrograde” is looking back on the events which have just occurred. The perspective in “Precision” tells the events in the order in which they happened. They both utilize descriptive detail; however, the details are entirely different. “Retrograde” says, “the scraggy young man was the wearer of a ridiculous hat.” whereas “Precision” describes the same situation using technical detail saying, “a person of the masculine sex aged 27 years 3 months and 8 days, 1m 72cm tall and weighing 65 kg and wearing a hat 35cm in height round the crown of which was a ribbon 60 cm long. Both of these examples describe the same exact situation using extensive detail, but the detail is more visual in “retrograde” and more technical in “Precision, thus making their styles different.

   b. Based on 2a (and anything else you’ve read for the course so far… or your own outside experience), how would you define what “style” is—and what the different facets of a writer’s “style” are?
   I would describe style as a combination of a writer’s approach to the perspective of the text, the language, and vocabulary of the text, and the structure of the text that tell the message that the writer is trying to convey in an original way. A writer’s style is dependent upon the angle with which the writer chooses to approach a particular topic and the descriptive language, or lack thereof, which the writer chooses to address the topic.

   Reply

   1. Crispin,

      Check out the link I posted in my comment on Stephanie’s post for more info on semi-colons; it’s a great question/topic.

      Excellent work discussing Plato, O’Reilly, and Simmons.

      Great work with Queneau as well. Let’s just be careful with how we introduce quotes here. We almost always want to have a subject and a verb when introducing a quote–so author name and a signal phrase. Something like this would work:
      In “Retrograde,” Queneau writes, “the scraggy young man…” whereas in “Precision,” he describes the same situation…

      2b. Fabulous.

      Thanks!

      Reply

6. 1a-
   3)
   a- Hooks interpolation on Beyonce is an anti-feminist who impacts little girls in a negative way. His argument on arts role in society states it comes for visual media like a TV, that’s how people, especially young children are influenced from it.

   b- “I see a part of Beyonce that is in fact anti-femnisit , that is assaulting-that is a terrorist.”

   5)
   a- Simmons’ interpretation on Beyonce is a brilliant artist who inspires a lot of people . His argument on arts role in society is to inspire people and give them hope.

   b-“bill if you think that art comes out of a community is because of the struggle-”

   6)
   a- Berlatsky’s interpretation on Beyonce is different from anyones else’s interpretation on her. He thinks that Beyonce shows her art and her work in a way O’Reilly and Hooks do not understand. O’Reilly and Hooks both see Beyonce only using their bodies for her work of art when there so much more depth to her art. I do not have any questions about grammar when I revised.
   b-” They are both unwilling, or unable to consider Beyonce as an artist.”

   4)
   a- O’Reilly view on Beyonce was negative because she made that video knowing the negative impact it can have on young girls.

   b- “Why would she do it when she knows the devastation that unwanted pregnancies.”
   Platos imitative aspect of art says art should project reality and truth. He goes on to explain in the text why he doesn’t like art because people don’t know how things really are and that’s what he wants readers to know.

   1. b. Bill O’Reilly are one of the commentators that suggest that Beyoncés work of art imitates reality in a bad way. For Bill believes and suggest that little girls would want to imitate Beyonce when she makes her art. For example he states on an interview with Simmons “why would she do it when she knows the devastation of unwanted pregnancies” and that’s the reality. O’Reilly also seems to be on that with what Plato claims. On page 98 of “The Republic” Plato Suggest there are three kind of people the couch maker, painter and the carpenter. The painter and the carpenter both don’t really know the true nature of art, instead they make art based on what it looks like. Plato says “Toward which is painting directed
   in each case-toward imitation of the being as it is or toward its looking
   as it looks? Is it imitation of looks or of truth?”
   “Of looks,” he said.
   “Therefore, imitation is surely far from .the truth;” This can be related back to the Interview on Beyonce because Beyonce and the young girls who watch her music imitate what art is, Beyonce being the painter making art the she thinks is right. The little girls being the carpenter imitating Beyoncés work.

   2. a. The two styles I chose were Tactile and visual, what was most interesting was when I was reading I felt like I was in the text. The similarities the two share is all in the imagery, it was very descriptive witch gives the readers an image in their mind. The words and are also are very soft to keep the story
   in its own style. The differences between them are in the style tactile, gives you a version where it’s more of an action being described rather than image. In the Visual style you can paint a picture in my head on what the bus looks like and it soundings. From Visual it states “To get somewhere near
   it you’d have to extract from the magma a
   light ochre rectangle, put a light ochre oval
   on top, and then on top of that again, stick a
   darkish ochre hat which you’d encircle with
   a plait of burnt Siena, all mixed-up, at that.”

   The text Tactile states “Buses are soft to the touch especially if you
   take them between the thighs and caress them
   with both hands, from the head towards the
   tail, from the engine towards the platform.” These two quotes from the two stories both give example to the two different styles I explained.

   2. b. What I think the different facets of a writer’s style are the different ways and techniques to write something. To me style is the many different ways someone may say or write anything. For example in “Exercises In Style” The author used many different ways of saying the same thing to make an amazing short story.

   Reply

   1. Hey Marcus,

      Nice reading you. A quick grammatical issue with subject-verb agreement in 1b: Bill O’Reilly IS (not ARE) one of the commentators who SUGGESTS (with S)…
      –Watch out for this throughout!

      Regarding O’Reilly and Plato, I feel you’ve almost made the connection in your discussion of their views, but maybe it’s not entirely there yet. There are a couple different things going on in Plato: first he doesn’t like that art only represents appearances rather than the truth of things; however, this applies to both GOOD and BAD things in reality. There is also, however, the suggestion (elsewhere in the text) that art ought to instill a kind of moral virtue in its viewers. This is a rather separate issue from the discussion of art and truth.

      Can you clarify in your paragraph who is OK with art imitating reality and then also clarify where O’Reilly’s views line up with Plato’s—that is, is he agreeing with Plato’s contempt for the fakeness of art or is he agreeing with Plato’s thought that art ought to train people to be better?

      2a. Another good start here. Can you follow up your quotations with more discussion of specific words/phrases in each quotation that “provide examples of the two different styles” I explained. This is a key skill to develop with regard to quotation: how to follow a quote with close analysis/discussion.

      Reply

7. 1-A. I went back and re-read and revised the typos and errors that needed revision. Below, are the revised interpretations of Hooks, O’Reilly, Simmons, and Berlatsky.
   Bell Hooks’ views towards Beyonce are more of anti-feminist, assaulting, and as a terrorist. She believes this due to the impact it has on young girls.

   Bell Hooks’ quote: “I actually feel like the major assault on feminism in our society has come from visual media, from television and videos.”

   O’Reilly’s view on Beyonce’s work is also negative because he feels like it’s a threat to the young and makes young girls aspire to be like that

   Bell Hooks’ quote: “I believe in entertainment and an entertainer like Beyonce and a mogul like you have an obligation to protect children, not put out exploitive garbage that you know harms impressionable children.”

   Simmons’ views on Beyonce’s work is more positive. He feels that Beyonce’s work is art and that it is natural for Beyonce as an artist to make music based off of something that inspired her from a natural activity.

   Bell Hooks’ quote: “I think the artist’s job throughout history has been to tell— to say things that people are inspired by…And so when an artist expresses something that’s sexual in music it is a reflection of our reality.”

   Berlatsky’s views are that Beyonce only shows vulnerability and no power opposed to what the song is about, “power”. He adds on by explaining that it is difficult to consider Beyonce an artist because she is depicting sexuality and her body.

   Bell Hooks’ quote: “There does seem to be some difficulty in thinking of Beyonce as an artist making art while at the same time thinking of her as a body, to adorn videos, or magazine covers, or someone’s argument.”

   1-B. I believe that O’Reilly is a commentator who proposes a view of art that is similar to the one that is similar to the one that Plato critiques: that “art imitates reality.” Although O’Reilly finds Beyonce’s work to be negative for young gilrs. O’Reilly’s believes that Beyonce’s workis impacting and influential to young girls especially girls of color thinking that this is the way they need to be, and that it is ok to sexualize everything because this is whats “cool” and “socially acceptable.” That is why he is concerned with young girls getting pregnant at an early age because of her depictions. O’Reilly’s interpretation would correlate with Plato’s thoughts on art being an imitation. Plato talks about the idea of a couch and a carpenter. Just because you draw these things does not make it a reality. This correlation between Beyonce’s work and Plato as both carpenter and painter can be interpreted differently and inspire others.
   2-A. Two styles in Queneau’s “Exercises in Style” that I chose are precision and auditory. Similarities between the two that I found were that both styles follow the same pattern, characters, and both are told using in first person speech. Some differences I found in these styles are that precision was that it was very detailed using exact measurements and accuracy where as auditory focused more on the sounds going on.
   2-B. Style in literature may be defined as the different techniques/style or freedom a writer can use to express the story or text in their point of view. Queneau used this technique in this story. He interpreted different types of styles or way of writing to show the many different ways the story could be interpreted to readers.

   Reply

   1. Melanie, hey.

      I think you’re on to something in the connections you’re drawing between O’Reilly and Plato; however, I’m a bit lost in some of the repeated words of your opening sentence. Can you reword/revise here?

      Also, I’m not sure I see how O’Reilly’s “interpretation corresponds with Plato’s thoughts on art being an imitation” (further down). Regarding O’Reilly and Plato, I feel you’ve almost made the connection in your discussion of their views, but maybe it’s not entirely there yet. There are a couple different things going on in Plato: first he doesn’t like that art only represents appearances rather than the truth of things; however, this applies to both GOOD and BAD things in reality. There is also, however, the suggestion (elsewhere in the text) that art ought to instill a kind of moral virtue in its viewers. This is a rather separate issue from the discussion of art and truth.

      Can you clarify in your paragraph who is OK with art imitating reality and then also clarify where O’Reilly’s views line up with Plato’s—that is, is he agreeing with Plato’s contempt for the fakeness of art or is he agreeing with Plato’s thought that art ought to train people to be better?

      2A. In order to closely look at the stylistic differences you’re discussing here, we really need quotations from the two passages in Queneau that you’ve chosen to focus on. This, I hope, will help you focus your discussion on specific word choices he makes in each section and how they differ, which I hope will in turn help you refine your ideas about what’s involved in literary “style.”

      Reply

8. 1. Based on assignment I’ve had been misunderstand about what the questions were and me some errors as well as grammar.  The truth about plato is the way he seems to view art as a negative since the way he lacks on believing there is some creativeness on a piece of art. Plato has a perspective of thinking that art is an imitative of nature which it doesn’t seem real to him but what I think its that he thinks this way about art since he wants the painter to think more deeply than just an image that exist already but to go far beyond and creating a similar image as making your own original but with different perspective from any other artist seen it.
   Beyonce’s work of this song it make it seem like she wanted to show a more respect and love for the black women since many of times they are judge not knowing the truth but also I like how she included some example might it been from experiences but helped directed the message she is trying put out there.
   Hook’s looks at Beyonce as if she was against feminism because he thinks that how this is an example to young girls by the way she portrays herself in the song video which I don’t see as nothing wrong because as women we should be comfortable to do whatever we want even if its trying to portray a message.
   O’Rilley view Beyonce as if she has a negative influenced on children’s because by the way she is shown on video he thinks that how this is an example to young girls and which is why many girls now days end up making bad decisions.
   Berlastsky not surly says that he agrees with Beyonce’s song but makes an statement that she’s an older women and should be able to do her thing in the video doesn’t seem like she’s having sex with a random person its her husband and also argues that Hook’s and O’Rilley are just trying to come at famous artist to gain some popularity
   2. After reading Queneau’s “Exercises in Style” it shows many different of styles to tell a story. The two styles I will be comparing is Notation and Precision. Some similarities I found on both of Notation and Precision is that they both telling a similar story and contain the same used traits from one another but what I noticed different in Notation is that tells a full story like if someone was there and capturing every moment on the bus, but for precision it tells the specific about on part of the story and continues being more descriptive about that moment with many details.
   2a. Style in literature is the way you want to portray your story using different styles of text tells the same story but seem in different form based on the style you using, like in Queneau’s “Exercises in Style” he used many different styles to show his story.
   3. I gave on feedback to Starlyn Hiraldo and Victor li essays 
   4. I posted my listening log #2 on 06/09/2020

   Reply

   1. Emily, hi!
      A thought on one recurring grammatical/word choice issue: “imitative” is an adjective that describes nouns; “imitation” is a noun. So it would be conventional to say “art is an imitation of nature” or “art is an imitation of life.” Using the adjectival form, we could say Plato doesn’t like art that is just “imitative” (meaning art that only imitates life). We could switch back to the noun form and say: Plato doesn’t like art that is just an imitation of life.

      Good work beginning to summarize O’Reilly’s perspective. Can you connect his perspective to the views of Plato in The Republic?

      Can you provide quotations from “Notation” and “Precision” so that we can look more closely at the different styles/word choices in sentences from each of those passages?
      Thanks.

      Reply

9. 1a) I did not find any errors looking over this work.

   (Hooks’ interpretation of Beyoncé and argument about art’s role in society): Hooks believes that Beyonce is disempowering black women leaving them vulnerable for men.

   (Quotation from Hooks): “ Let’s take the image of this super-rich, very powerful black women and use it in the service of imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy. ”

   (O’Reilly’s interpretation/argument): O’Reilly is saying that Beyonce as a big artist that she is has to protect the young ones from sexual thoughts or activities.

   (Quotation from O’Reilly): “I believe in the entertainment and an entertainer like Beyonce and a mogul like you have an obligation to protect children, not to put out exploitive garbage that you know harms impressionable children.”

   (Simmons’ interpretation/argument): Simmon believes what Beyonce is doing is an art and what she portrayed is a representation of our reality.

   (Quotation from Simmons): “ And so an artist expresses something that’s sexual in music it is a reflection of our reality.”

   (Berlatsky’s interpretation/argument): He believes that both O’Reilly and hooks might have used Beyonce to make their comments go viral.

   (Quotation from Berlatsky): “They both end up using Beyonce’s body to broadcast their message of a more conservative or radical world..”

   1b) In Plato’s text he states that art imitates reality, similarly in the text about Beyonce we see that Simmon states that art is a reflection of our reality. Is interesting how he says a ‘reflection’ just like the example in Plato’s text where the following quote comes into play “You could fabricate them quickly in many ways and most quickly, of course, if you are willing to take a mirror and carry it around everywhere, ” that being that art in a way imitates reality. Plato also advocates for “the notion that art ought not simply imitate reality but that it ought to extoll moral virtuousness in order to make viewers better people” meaning that art shouldn’t only imitate but it also should strive to make the audience of that art better people. O’Reilly’s point of view on Beyonce’s song and video of ‘partition’ is similar to Plato’s in the way that he says the following: “I believe in the entertainment and an entertainer like Beyonce and a mogul like you have an obligation to protect children, not to put out exploitive garbage that you know harms impressionable children.” meaning he wants Beyonce to strive to send a more positive message that doesn’t involve having sex in the back of a limo.

   2a) The two styles that I choose were “Reported Speech” and “Notation”. Similarities I noticed is that is the same story but written in different way, style, and tone. In the notation style, we see the following: “People getting off. The chap in question gets annoyed with one of the men standing next to him.” similarly to the reported one which states “He had complained to the man standing next to him about the continual jostling which the latter had been inflicting on him.” both being very similar just that one is more in detailed than the other. The way I would describe the difference in style between the two is just the way they word it, in one is more detailed than the other, and different perspectives.

   2b) A ‘style’ of writing is just like the way we say one thing in a different tone. The way we explain one thing to another person is our own style of saying, now if they explain it to another person they’re not going to say what you said to them word for word but instead say it in their own style. The way we write something is unique to our own understanding and experiences in life.

   Reply

   1. Starlyn, hi.

      1a. I noticed a small issue in the opening line of (1b): In Plato’s text he states that art imitates reality, similarly in the text about Beyonce we see that Simmon states that art is a reflection of our reality.
      –This is a comma splice. Please read about them here and see if you can begin noticing and correcting comma splices when you re-read your work!
      Also: Your second sentence is missing a subject before the verb (is) which begins the sentence. This sentence should read: It is interesting how he says…
      Good links between Plato, Simmons, and O’Reilly. I would encourage you to find other ways of transitioning out of quotations and into your own discussions (aside from stating “meaning…” and then offering a quick translation of the meaning of the quotation). I would also develop your discussion following each quote by referring to individual words and short phrases that show what you’re saying the quote shows. For instance: It can be seen in O’Reilly’s suggestion that artists have “an obligation to protect children” that he thinks art ought to extoll certain moral values…

      2a. Good start here, but see my suggestions above regarding how to work with and discuss in a more detailed way the quotations you’ve selected here. Also I think there is much more to say about the stylistic differences between these two “exercises” than “one is more detailed than the other.” Can you develop this more? Thanks.

      Reply

10. 3. 6/8 (due 6/11- Indee

    1 – A)
    Revise- I have noticed a few mistakes in my writing as follows.
    “nature of God” – should be “The nature of God”
    “building up on”- should be “building Upon”
    I believe the relationship between art and ethics, in “The Republic” by Plato in his theory of Imitation he states that the Imitative aspect of the art is far beyond the truth since art imitates the real object. According to Plato, art is an imitation of imitation; it is more like an illusion than its original idea or experience. In his example of the couch, the original idea is the truth. Though, once he transformed his idea into a chair, it is once removed from reality. And when the painter paints the chair its already twice removed from the reality. Therefore, art is inferior. To Plato the truth of philosophy is superior to pleasure. According to Plato, since art is an imitation of an imitation, it does not convey the true knowledge. Therefore, Plato looks at the concept of art as unethical. Likewise, it could bring undesirable consequences by distorting the truth.

    Hooks and O’Reilly share kind of similar views on Beyoncé’s work, from the time when visual media has a bigger impact on our society, Beyoncé’s art of expressing and exposing sexuality is not giving a positive message to the humanity. Meanwhile, many teen girls look up to her, and such videos could have a bad impact on them. At the same time Hooks does agree that she is giving influential and sturdy messages to our society. Simmons’s perspective is that artists should be free to publish whatever they desire.

    My thoughts on Beyoncé’s work and her artistic visuals mirror real-life stories. In other words, her work seems to imitate real-life experiences. She uses sexuality as a vehicle to reach wider audience. Her work often reflects feminism, relationships, and sexuality.

    1 – B)
    According to Plato, art imitates reality and it is an illusion. Beyoncé’s work is also an imitation of life experiences. Her art is an imitation of life but there are so many people working on her imagery, choreography, and music that it consequently distances her ready product very far from reality. As example she could make a story about making love to her husband and the crew responsible for creating her music video could show it as passionate sex with a millionaire in a limousine. Such visual art distorts real life to the point that it may give a wrong idea about life to her young audience. Each additional artist working on any piece of art furthers or moves this art away from the truth. According to Plato truth is more essential than pleasure. Therefore, since there are many people working on Beyoncé’s art and the fact that it is far beyond the original and far beyond the truth, this makes her art inferior unethical from Plato’s point of view.

    2- A)
    Two styles in Queneau’s “Exercises in Style” that I compare are Precision style and Negativities style. One similarity is that it is the same story and the other similarity is that both stories have same characters.
    The differences I found in each style is that Precision style gives exact details and describes the exacts such as height, width, and time frames. In Negativities style it utters the story from the negative point of view.

    2- B)
    Style can be defined as different way of expressing ideas. Different writers use different methods of writing to deliver their story. Authors can decide to choose a different style or approach to deliver the content based on the targeted audience. For example, when writing for a younger audience author may choose to use more simple language and words appropriate for such audience.

    3) Prompt 3- can be found under students Melanie Sabino and Cabrera

    4.) Prompt 4- already posted under the listening log.
    Song used – “Revolution in Paradise” by Heath Hunter (Artem Smart Remix)

    Reply

    1. Indee,
       Glad you caught a few grammatical issues/typos in your re-reading.
       Good work with connecting Hooks and O’Reilly (and Plato); however, the next step is to CONNECT these commentators on Beyoncé to the views on art expressed by Plato in Book X of The Republic. Can you do that? (Perhaps bring in Simmons as well.)

       Nice observations on “Precision” and “Negativities” (capitalize and quote short story titles); can you go further though? I want to see a quotation from each passage and more discussion that helps us to understand what you’ve observed about the differences in style between the two.

       Reply

11. 1)When I re-read my work I did not find any big grammatical errors.
    The revised work on Plato and Beyonce:
    In “The Republic”, Plato thinks of art as a bad thing because poets pretend to know everything but in reality they know nothing. Plato says that every art is an imitation which is far from the truth. He states, “Between us-and you all won’t denounce me to the tragic poets and all the other imitators-all such things seem to maim the thought of those who hear them and do not as a remedy have the knowledge of how they really are.” Plato thinks that art should project reality not truth. Because everyone has their own truth and everyone sees the world in their own way. Additionally, people’s opinions may vary depending on their perceptions of the world.
    Beyonce’s work appear to be an interpretation of her standards of beauty and sex. She created a standard of how a woman’s body should look to sexualize it and bring men’s attention to it as well. This leads younger girls to get unwanted pregnancies. A big part of Beyonce’s art is a visual aspect. Those girls see Beyonce as their idol and they want to at least imitate her looks which can lead young girls to look a lot older and get unwanted pregnancies.
    3) Hooks sees Beyonce as an innocent figure who represents women of color fighting against “imperialist, white supremacist capitalist patriarchy.”
    3b) Quote: “is colluding in the construction of herself as a slave.” “It’s not a liberatory image.”
    4) O’Reilly is against Beyonce’s work. He thinks Beyonce affects young girls in a negative way because of their immaturity they look up to Beyonce and her work and it leads them to get unwanted pregnancies.
    4b)Quote: “Teenage girls look up to Beyoncé, particularly girls of color. Why would she do it when she knows the devastation that unwanted pregnancies. … Why would Beyoncé do that?”
    5) Simmons likes Beyonce’s work and he thinks that making a song about sex is normal because its natural thing that people do and it is okay to represent it in a song.
    5b) Quote: “She is a brilliant artist and she’s not only be people of color as you know, she is really one of the top artists in the world.”
    “And so when an artist expresses something that’s sexual in music it is a reflection of our reality.If we want that reality changed, then we have to do things that affect the core”
    6) Berlatsky’s views on Beyonce’s work is neutral because he is saying that she uses her body to get more attention to her arts and if she has to express something in her art she must be prepared for criticism and all the effect that her art brings in society. He thinks that an artist can do whatever he/she what to do or to express in the arts.
    6b)Quote: “There does seem, then, to be some difficulty in thinking of Beyoncé as an artist making art while at the same time thinking of her as a body, to adorn videos, or magazine covers, or someone’s argument. That’s unfortunate, because if she is seen as an artist who’s speaking for herself, what she says is quite pointed.”
    “But certainly on the topic of sexualization and power, she has something to say. So if people are going to rather helplessly use her body to further their own agendas, it seems worth remembering that everybody has a person attached—and that that person is not just an object of analysis and scorn, but, potentially, someone who can offer a critique herself.”
    The text “ The Republic” and the article “Beyonce, Sex Terrorist: A Menace for Conservatives and Liberals Alike” have some similarities because Plato viewed art as a bad thing just like O’Reilly views Beyonce’s work. Plato and O’Reilly think that art imposes standards and norms which can have a negative effect on people. They also think that art does not imitate a good part of a soul.
    2a) After reading the excerpts from Queneau’s “Exercises in Style”, I choose “Retrograde” and “Abusive”. The similarities I noticed between those two stories is that they have the same characters and events. Additionally, the stories are being told from the first point perspective. The differences that I noticed between the two stories is that the “Retrograde” tells the story backwards, it tells us the story from the thing that happened last to what happens in the beginning. Ex: “You ought to put another button on your overcoat, his friend told him… This took place on the platform of an S bus…” The story “Abuse” is written in an aggressive tone, which shows us that the character was in a bad mood. Ex: “… I finally got into a filthy bus where a bunch of bastards were squashed together.”Additionally, “Agressive” is a little longer than “Retrograde”.
    2b)A style is a way that a writer or narrator writes. It is how he or she presents and expresses the work(the story) to the readers. The different facets of a writer’s “style” can be sentence length, structure, position, variations, tone, figurative language, irony, and more. Those aspects help writers show different interpretations in their stories.

    Reply

    1. Galina, hi.

       Quickly–I just noticed a grammatical issue with this sentence: “Beyonce’s work appear to be an interpretation of her standards of beauty and sex.”
       There is a subject-verb agreement issue–can you fix it?

       Ok, you have a decent start in linking Plato and O’Reilly through the fact that they are both rather negative about works of art. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Explain more specifically why and how each of them dislikes the works of art that they discuss. I don’t believe either of them really discusses art as imposing “standards and norms” as you mention. Take another look at their texts.

       Good discussion of QUeneau. I’m glad you chose “Abusive,” as I think it is one of the funniest ones in there. Can you follow up on your quotation, though, with a discussion of what exact language in it you find to be “aggressive”? You could compare this word choice to the more neutral sounding word choice of “Retrograde.”

       Reply

12. 1a.) Few grammatical error I found was in my interpretation for Beyonce’s Partition video.
    Error – “This interpretation of a good girl (as portrayed in the beginning on the video) to a sexualized, risky, burlesque woman is exactly what Beyonce I believe wants us to interpret this as.”
    Revision – It should be “This interpretation of a good girl (as portrayed in the beginning of the video) to a sexualized, risky, burlesque woman is exactly what Beyonce’ wants us viewers to interpret this as.
    Error – Baker was known to use her dazzling beauty and moves to captivate an audience
    Revision – Baker was known for using her dazzling beauty and moves to captivate an audience
    Error- She is also known for the extensive contributions and work to the Civil Rights Movement.
    Revision – She is also known for her extensive contributions and work to the Civil Rights Movement.

    b.) The commentator that suggest Plato’s critique that “art imitates reality,” more or less was Russel Simmons. As O’Reilly interviewed Simmons about Beyonce’s Partition video Simmon goes on to answer that “The artist job throughout history is to say things people are inspired by… There’s a research that says a man thinks about sex every twelve seconds and so when an artist expresses something that is sexual in music it is a reflection of our reality.” On the other hand, the commentator who has the notion that art out not simply imitate reality but that it out to extoll moral virtuousness in order to make viewers better people is Bell Hooks. Hooks discusses how she believes Beyonce is a Terrorist to the young minds.
    2a.) After reading the excerpts from Queneau’s I chose to compare the notation to gustatory. The similarities that I notice between the two stories is it is the same plot and conclusion that a bottom is missing from an overcoat. The same characters are in both stories. The differences are the perspective of the story. Gustatory is defined as the concerned with tasting or the sense of taste. In this style the story is still told with the setting of the S bus. The tall character that arrives on the bus with a feather hat and gets in a dispute with another passenger. In notation it states “The chap in question gets annoyed with one of the men standing next to him. He accuses him of jostling him every time anyone goes past.” This is explaining to us readers that the gentlemen that was introduced is getting into a dispute with another passenger. In gustatory that same dispute is stated as “Next we sampled the chewing gum of dispute, the chestnuts of irritation, the grapes of wrath and a bunch of bitterness.” He explains that part in a sense of taste.
    (Sidebar: Reading over all these exercises and making my family listen to me read them all over because I want them to see how interesting these different styles and interpretations of the same story is. Lol)
    b.) I would define “style” of a writer is based on his audience. Going back to my answer for 2a reading his style gustatory and seeing Queneau incorporates a concern for tasting to tell a story is intriguing. What if an author writes a style based on his targeted audience? In the story he even mentions a gourmand. A gourmand is a person who enjoys eating and often eats too much. What if that style gustatory was for all the gourmands out there.

    3.) I provided essay feedback to Marcus and Crispin
    4.) Listening log #2 posted now

    Reply

    1. Brittny!
       Great discussion of the link between Book X of Plato’s Republic and Simmons and Hooks’ views on Beyonce’s work.
       In your discussion of Queneau (and generally), be careful to use quotation marks and capital letters when writing out titles to short stories—-e.g., “Notation” and “Gustatory.” “Gustatory” is really interesting–especially the quote you’ve chosen. Can you unpack this a bit more? How does this passage about “chewing gum” manage to tell the same story as the more straightforwardly told “Notation”? Where are the references to the same events?
       2b. Can you say more about the connection between style and audience? I think you’re right and I’m following you with your discussion of the “gourmand,” but can you say more precisely how you view a writer’s (imaginary) audience as influencing a writer’s style?

       Reply

13. 1.So far I did not find any grammatical issues, but I re-read everything before submitting and fixed every grammar.

    1.a) Hooks doesn’t agree with Beyonce. He thinks that Beyoncé is anti-feminist. He said that it will have an impact on society in the future.
    b)”I see apart of Beyoncé that is, in fact, anti-feminist—that is, a terrorist—especially in terms of the impact on young girls.”
    4.a) O’Reilly thinks ​Beyoncé is setting a bad example for young people to follow. He doesn’t want young people to try sexual things.

    b)Quote: “Why on the earth would this woman do that?”
    5. a)Russel Simmons claims that Beyoncé shows her individuality in the mv. He said Beyoncé wanted to encourage men. Beyoncé is not recognized as a performer.
    b)Quote: “ Yeah, yeah. I sort of think that artists throughout history, writers throughout history, have been blamed for expressing what is in people’s minds, and I don’t think it’s any different now. ”
    6. a)Beyoncé’s Berlatsky views by voicing themselves in the music video demonstrate his own abilities. He said Beyoncé was also trying to inspire youth. Everyone has a view of themselves and tells us about the work of Beyoncé.
    b) “And if people are going to use their bodies somewhat helplessly to pursue their own interests, it seems worth remembering that everybody has a person attached to him-and that person is not only an object of ridicule and scorn but actually someone who can give himself a critique. ”

    1B)The text of Plato states that art imitates nature/ reality. Simmon also points out that the text on Beyonce represents our nature. In Plato Art is an often misunderstood element of the republican as most people believe that Plato did not think that art was good at all such a mistake is easily rectified when we consider that Plato was a playwright and his works were all dialogues taking on our art form in themselves. what Plato was really stressing is that those who create must be knowledgeable and masters of their craft, Plato explains this by starting with a concept of a couch he explains that the couch exists in the form of an idea, a craftsman grabs hold of this idea and using his skills and raw materials creates the couch in a physical sense that one can sit up. An Artist Comes around, sees that same couch and decides to paint a picture of it. The artist is not in this sense working with the prime ideas but rather with a lesser copy of the idea, hence the artist does not know anything about the object besides what it looks like making his knowledge inferior. This is the sort of art that Plato fights against in “The republican”.

    2a)Two styles that wanted to compare from “Exercises in Style”. The two styles are Precision and the subjective side. Precision writing is a method of communication that primarily conveys details. This type of writing is suitable for technical communication but also for use in non-technical circumstances. The subjective style of writing offers your views; it is your subject’s own understanding. The analytical form, on the other hand, is simply true and objective and focuses on evaluating different aspects of an argument. What they both have in common is that they both communicate with the reader and also give a more engaging story.

    2b)How I will describe Style is how you show yourself by what you wear. Style is defined as something specific to do or say or refers to a unique form of clothes or way of arrangement. The way you know is an indication of design. Three separate aspects of syntax, design, which use — and always confuse authors and publishers alike. I typically receive advice on style as syntax guidance when responding to a grammatically unchanged piece of writing.

    3) have been posted.

    4) have been posted.

    Reply

    1. Ok Emanuel–good connection here between Plato and Simmons. Can you go further, though, and explain how Plato’s view might be linked to O’Reilly’s and/or the other commentators on Beyonce?

       2a) You have two repeat sentences/fragments that begin this response. Check those! Also, please discuss quotations from the two styles of Queneau that you are looking at here. Quotations help us to confirm that what you’re saying about a literary text like Queneau’s is true and they also help us to understand your claims a bit better.

       I must admit I get a bit lost between the references to clothes, design , and syntax in your discussion of style. Can you revisit this and rephrase some of these lines? Perhaps you could try focusing on “style” in the context of writing alone and see if that clarifies things?

       Reply

14. I believe that based on Plato’s Book X of the republic, he thinks that art should be valued for such imitative possibilities but also that it’s important to remember that it is just a replica and imitation of other things. Plato discusses how art can represent certain things and how it can be connected to even more. Throughout the text he focuses on how exactly art can imitate so many different things and even how art can speak for itself. He uses a comparison of a couch created by a craftsman and a painter who simply uses the craftsman work and creates a painting. Plato states “Well, then, it was this I wanted to agree with when I said that painting and imitation as a whole are far from the truth when they produce their work”. Plato emphasises that poets or in this analogy the painter presents a fabrication.

    Beyonce’s work is an interpretation of trends, it is just misinterpreted or interpreted differently by others. Beyonce’s music videos are always very visual and well thought out. She uses her platform mainly to engage in trending topics or what’s going on in society. The song and music video for partition focuses on her sexual appeal but in regards to feminism. O’Reilly and Hooks’ criticism towards her is a prime example of what she is standing against. If a man were to be the artist of the song Partition, I’m sure both critics would have different and positive thoughts.

    Being that Plato critiques that art imitates reality. His texts on art can be related to Beyonce’s work. As I stated before Beyonce’s works is an interpretation of trends in society. She uses her platform, her music and visual videos and bases them off of what is trending or what people would want to see. Belanksky’s comments on Beyonce’s work supports this. He infers that whether or not Beyonce causes controversy people will still listen. He suggests that this is why O’Reilly and Hooks made their comments to gain attention. “When you talk about Beyoncé, people listen—which is why Hooks’s comments about the singer have gone viral…” (Beyonce, Sex Terrorist by Noah Belansky). He even says “O’Reilly, hooks, and certainly me, exist in a media environment where people will click on anything having to do with Beyoncé, especially if it is something having to do with Beyoncé and sex”. Belanksy also makes the audience think what if this is what Beyonce wants? After all she is still getting money and publicity. Beyonce’s work can tie into both of Plato’s views on art and imitation. Beyonce truly is simply basing her work of reality but she is also using her art as an imitation simply so viewers can view.

    In Queneau’s “Excercises in Style” Onomatopoeia and Logical Analysis are two different styles of writing Queneau uses to tell his story differently. Both of the stories compared have the same storyline however, one is more descriptive than the other. In Onomatopoeia Queneau uses onomatopoeia to resemble the sound it is described. “Whereupon, phfft, he threw himself on to a free seat and sat down, plonk”. While in logical analysis he decides to use more blunt, shorter words and sentences. The similarity between both stories can be seen but so can the differences while he states how a man throws himself onto a free seat and plonks in onomatopoeia, in logical analysis he simply says “Seat vacant. Seat taken”.
    Style in writing is how a writer decides to use their word to construct their piece and sentences. Style plays a big part in how a story is perceived. Writing can be persuasive, humorous, sarcastic, descriptive and more. An author can use style and rhetoric to create their story.

    Reply

    1. Chelsea,
       I really liked your blog post. You brought up a great concept when you wrote, “Beyonce’s work is an interpretation of trends…it is just interpreted differently by others.” I think that this is a very good point. Beyonce does often make art, music, or videos that she feels represent important topics that her voice and opinion would be influential in addressing. I agree that Partition was likely focused on feminism and the freedom for Beyonce to express herself and her body in a sexual manner. I do disagree, however, that O’Reilly and Hooks would have had positive thoughts if Partition were written and produced by a man. I feel that O’Reilly and Hooks are justified in their opinion, and I think it is important to try to understand their perspective rather than simply assume that they would be supportive of a man making such a video. Unless we try to listen, learn, and understand, the deep divisions that are evident in our society today will continue.

       Reply

    2. Chelsea, hey.

       Nice discussion of Plato’s and Berlatsky’s perspectives on art, and Beyonce’s art in particular, here. The next step is to try to call out some connections between Plato’s views on art and those espoused by Beyonce’s commentators (Hooks, O’Reilly, Simmons, etc.). Can you do more of that in your revision?

       Good beginnings in your discussion of Queneau, but can you go further in explaining what onomatopoeia is and how it affects the reader (you, for instance) differently than the other style used by Queneau in “Logical Analysis”?

       Reply

15. Kerving Sosa 6/11/20

    English 1121 Professor Street

    1a: Beyonce is an icon and a role model to many. However, with so many young people looking up to her, the boomer generation (older folks) must dis-like her way of expressing herself through the music. In the Partition from Beyonce, she does appeal to an older audience in this song but with so many young girls looking up to Beyonce this could prove to be an issue. However further reading through the other articles will give different ends of the spectrum. On how people felt and it seems that certain people will always try and support their own agenda with fake news to just be relevant or just getting their political views out there and causing mayhem within the media. In the Panel discussion of Beyonce being featured on time magazine where Beyonce is portraying a young girl as the clothing she has on a young girl’s body and they discuss Beyonce. Bell Hooks says “A little girl we can all lust after” saying how this young girl can be abused by using a dark analogy and compares it to the oppressing racial concerns that have always been like this in America for the black female. Further saying that their “destructive” point of view will conclude that the opposing side’s view is constructive as Beyonce shows how “constructs herself as a slave” that’s still at play and asks another person “are you slave?” While totally ignoring the consideration of how Beyonce is a huge star and this is an art form creating music and performing. How can you judge someone on their craft? When they are a master at it. The other articles as well just further involve criticism of Beyonce being a menace and these people critiquing her by bringing up their own political views to further show what they are opposed to. In all fairness, these people are just doing their job to stay relevant to the conversation and they must speak badly of the most powerful gorgeous black woman in the world. As a young fan of an artist who is way older than you, with the right environment and understanding of life, they learn that this is just grown-up music/stuff. Actually watching the video and dissecting it as art you see the true attraction and Beyonce’s craft in the video it’s quite a sight to see.

    1b: In the O’Reilly interview with Russel Simons, Simons brings up a key point that is discussed in Book X by Platos Simons says “Yes I kind of think of the artists throughout history, poets throughout have been criticized for sharing what’s on people’s minds.” This is the very reason Platos exiled the poets because they speak what’s on everyone’s mind; it’s not always a good thing. Plato believed that the expression of thought by the poet is creating a bad sense of self within people by relating to the vast majority of people. It would not be easily replicated to get inside of the minds of these “good” people because not everyone knows how they think or feel we all have that dark cloud that is always right above us. Relating to the majority of us has always been easy in Beyonce’s song she is talking about sex and referring to sexual acts something the whole thinks about. You cannot simply sub-categorize her expression of self because of the harm you believe it’ll do. Music cannot be labeled with such a narrow mind. It must be explored and see the true art behind it all.

    2: I’ve chosen Precision and Metaphorically these two are not very alike as precise is being exact and a metaphor is describing something as is or is like. Similarities I noticed are like the bus they both had a vehicle in the story so the outline and events of the story remain the same however the way it’s described is very different. You can tell the very differences in the sentences used to describe the bus. The metaphor “traveling sardines in a colecopter with a big white carapace.” Precision “In the bus of the S-line, 10 meters long, 3 wide, 6 high, at 3 km.” Here you can see the very difference between both styles. Styles, style is like your own signature craft to a unique ability. There are styles of clothing, styles of people, styles of martial arts, singing, dancing the list goes on and on. Depending on the context of a style there can be a correct way to be ”styled” for a certain thing. Some people have very unique styles that work for them and others may follow a signature style that works as well. However, this does not mean you must practice and study that one style alone you can also branch out and learn many different types of styles. There are essentially 4 main different parts of style in writing, you have the non-fiction which is basically the facts, how-tos, and backed research and data proving and disproving a certain idea this style can include stuff from articles, textbooks, instructions, cooking books. Visionary writing is poetry, diary entries, scenery. The narrative is storytelling such as biographies, screenplays, novels. Lastly is persuasive, which can be the academic papers, editorial writing, productive reviews.

    Reply

    1. Kerving, hello

       Nice connection between Plato and Simmons’ view of Beyonce. Can you loop in O’Reilly’s perspective a bit more, though? How does his view sit vis-a-vis Plato’s?

       Nice quotations from “Metaphorically” and “Precision” in Queneau’s work; but can you discuss what you want us to absorb from these quotations a bit more? After you quote, you say we can “see the differences of style” between them but you don’t actually explain what these differences are. Explaining the s*** out of what you notice in quotations is a habit I really want you to get into!

       In your discussion of style, I believe you are discussing different genres of writing: nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and so on. But even within each genre–take poetry, for instance–there are writers of vastly different styles—-e.g., Haryette Mullen, Renee Gladman, Gertrude Stein (all poets in the PDF who write in very different styles). Can you elaborate more then on what you think style is?

       Reply

16. 1A. ) After reading my response to the second homework, the only corrections I made were simple. I wrote “ Simon believes that art only displays what is it is others are interested in “. The error I made here was simple/type. I revised it as “ Simon Believes that art only displays what it is that others are interested in “. Other than that I don’t think I made any other crucial mistakes or simple mistakes that I notice. One question on grammar that I want to ask is, How can I use semi colons, in a sentence. The reason I asked this is because I would want to know how to use it in my writings to make it look more professional.

    1B. ) Similarly as to how Plato suggests “art imitates reality”, Simmons interprets Beyoncé’s
    work as a reflection of what society is. Many people are inspired by the idea of sex, so her work is based on that reality.

    Plato also suggests that art betters the people who view it. This idea is similar to Hook’s and O’Reilly’s interpretation of how many young girls look up to Beyonce and for this reason, they believe her work should inspire them to move in the right direction. But instead they believe it diminishes the value of feminism and is a negative influence on young girls.

    Plato emphasizes how a work of art or a system of some sort has many layers to it but many do not see it. This compares to Berlatsky’s belief that Beyoncé’s work does more than what most people think. He sees that under the “over sexualized” image and the fame and wealth is a rather empowering message. For example, although many see her using her body inappropriately, in reality she is displaying a confidence and a strength that women should be inspired to have.

    2. ) After reading excerpts from Queneau’s “ Exercise in style “ , I chose to compare Visual and Auditory. The similarities I noticed in both styles of writing is the way both stories are very detailed. When you read the two detailed stories, it is easy to picture everything that was said. In my case when I read both “Visual” and “Auditory” I was able to understand everything that was going on because both stories provided me every single detail I needed to read to be able to picture what was said. Some differences I noticed is obviously how the Auditory excerpt focused more on sound. In the beginning of Auditory it starts off by saying “ Quacking and letting off, the S came rasping to a halt alongside the silent pavement “. This quote just shows how the authors focus more on trying to help you understand the sound that’s occurring in the reading. With the Visual excerpt, it’s quite the opposite. The quote “ To get somewhere near it you’d have to extract from the magma a light ochre rectangle, put a light ochre oval on top, and then on top of that again, stick a darkish ochre hat which you’d encircle with a plait of burnt Siena, “ Shows us that the writer is focused more on trying to make you visualize what he is talking about.

    2A. ) I would define “style” to be the way you want to do things on your own. The word style means “ a manner of doing something “ or it could mean “ A distinctive appearance “. The different facets of writers “ style “ can be how they propose their story. They can use styles like tone, the way they structure their writing. They can use figurative language in their writing and use things like irony in their writing. All this can determine the style of a writer’s work.

    3. Commented under 2 essays.

    4. Posting listening log #3 before 5 pm today

    Reply

    1. Randy, hey.
       I posted a link to semi-colon info in my response to Stephanie (above). Check it out!
       Great discussion of Plato and Beyonce’s commentators.

       Interesting work with Queneau, but be careful with some of your wording here: do we “picture” what is written in “Auditory”? Also, a habit to get into when discussing literature is using the present tense. I notice that here you use a good deal of past tense. Try writing in present tense and see how it feels; I find it brings the text you’re interpreting “to life” a bit more than past tense.

       Lastly, be sure to follow up your quotations with completed sentences: for instance instead of “Shows us that the writer is focused…” use “This shows us that the writer is focused…”

       Reply

17. 1a) One question I have about grammar is how to properly show the difference between internal dialogue and external dialogue. I noticed in my Essay 1 draft that I chose to write about a childhood experience from my memory, and the two perspectives were from a racially biased store clerk and my mother shopping in that store. When writing my mother’s perspective, I struggled with knowing how to continuously write dialogue as if she’s narrating to herself and the audience, while simultaneously using external dialogue when interacting with the worker.

    Revisions:
    Hooks view on Beyoncé is that she is an anti-feminist terrorist. She believes that Beyoncé is wrong for letting the media portray her in such an erotic and sexual way because of the harmful message that could negatively effect young girls.

    “My main concern is the whole idea of containment. I see a part of Beyoncé that is in fact anti-feminist, that is assaulting-that is a terrorist. Especially in terms of the impact on young girls.”(“Are You Still a Slave? Liberating the Black Female Body on the representation of black women in the media”, Hooks).

    O’Reilly completely disagrees with Beyoncé in questioning her reasoning for promoting a sexual message to younger girls, saying that it would cause unwanted pregnancies. He interpreted her message to be negative and intentional.

    “I’m saying why on earth would this woman do that? Why would she do it when she knows the devastation that unwanted pregnancies, which we will deal with in a moment, not with you, but in another segment, and fractured families, why Beyoncé does that?”(“Conversation about Beyoncé”, O’Reilly & Simmons).

    Russel Simmons interprets Beyoncé as an actual artist, using self expression. He doesn’t view her video or content as negative and sees it as it’s supposed to be viewed as art. He also interprets art as a reflection of our reality.

    “And so as when an artist expresses something that’s sexual in music it is a reflection of our reality. If we want that reality changed, then we have to do things that affect the core.” (“Conversation about Beyoncé”, O’Reilly & Simmons).
    Noah Berlatsky defends Beyoncé and questions if Hooks and O’Reilly scorn Beyoncé for capital gain. She mentions that since Beyoncé is well known and across the world that an automatic critique would draw anyone’s attention. She defends Beyoncé by saying that she’s not just a body to be adorned and is not only an artist to be scorned for her content. She says Beyoncé isn’t just a body to be exploited over and to remember that attached to every artist is a soul. In simpler terms, they are still human beings
    .
    “But certainly on the topic of sexualization and power, she had something to say. So if people are going to rather helplessly use her body to further their own agendas, it seems worth remembering that everybody has a person attached-and that that person is not just an object of analysis and scorn, but, potentially, someone who can offer a critique herself.”( “Beyoncé, Sex Terrorist”, Berlatsky).

    1b) Bill O’Reilly’s interpretation of Beyonce’s art is most similar to Plato because of his negative view on art and how it influences people to act the same. Plato claims the art imitates reality and believes that art should push people to do more. Similar in perspective, O’Reilly exposes the possible negative outcomes of artistic irresponsibility. He questions Beyonce’s awareness on how her imagery can negatively influence young black girls that admire her. Just like Plato, O’Reilly believes that art is powerful enough to influence others to imitate the actions of another. As alluded to the text, Plato states, “Come now, reflect on this. The maker of the phantom, the imitator, we say, understands nothing of what is but rather of what looks like it is. Isn’t that so?”( “The Republic, Book X (excerpts)”, Plato).

    2a) The two styles of writing I chose to compare from Qeneau’s “Exercises in styles” were Metaphorical and Precision. Both contain a great amount of detail and imagery. In contrast, the metaphorical style is more philosophical in nature due to its abstract language. It sounds religious as if someone would be reading off a text from the bible. It also can be compared to a poetic style. For example, “In the centre of the day, tossed among the shoal of travelling sardines in a coleopter with a big white carapace…”(“Exercises in style”, Qeneau) The narrator’s language instills a reversing tone, as if the speaker is cherishing or admiring what he/she is experiencing. As for Precision, it is quite self-explanatory. It is much more precise and to the point. It is written like blueprint instructions telling in-depth measurement details. It is just as detailed as the metaphorical version, but it is more realistic and logical than abstract and philosophical.

    2b) Style, in my opinion, is defined as a specific technique used by an author. Queneau’s styles used in his short story allows for different interpretations of the same story through multiple perspectives.

    3) My essay feedback can be found under Crispin Thys (Essay 1 draft).

    4) My re-mix listening log 3 is already posted.

    Reply

    1. Jamal, hi!
       Good question about internal vs. external dialogue. When writing in the first-person (using “I”), you can use quotation marks if you introduce the thought with a signal phrase—-e.g., say something like: I thought to myself “what a bad man” or you can use italics to indicate “free indirect discourse”—-e.g., something like: He had the gall to slap me in the face. what a bad man!. External dialogue, meanwhile, typically involves quotation marks–e.g.,
       “…and then he slapped me in the face,” I said.
       “He did what?!?” she said.

       Great discussion of the similarities between O’Reilly and Plato.

       Nice work with Queneau–but can you go further and unpack/explain some of the metaphorical language he’s using in “Metaphor”? How do we know that this is the same story? How do we tell what is what in this highly coded rendition of it?

       Reply

18. Kwame Manuh
    Prof. Street
    6/11/20

    1A After I looked over the second prompt from the O’Reilly, Simmons , and Berlatsky, I found that a made a grammatical error which was that he states that badness in a body can destroy the soul. I didn’t specify who I was referring to. I was referring to plato. I really didn’t have a problem revising; rather it made me aware that even after carefully writing something, revision always corrects a mistake not noticed.

    B Like plato interpretation of art one thing can lead to another. Interpretation as it stands on itself is usually directed in the person who wasn’t to convenience peoples view. Most people disagree with what plato says. O’Reilly states that “ In which she presents herself having sex in a limo with her husband while name dropping Monica Lewinsky.” O’Reilly thinks this is inappropriate. This connects to what plato says” It is more or less like art”. This claim shows that art doesn’t have to be restricted to a particular side; it can extend over a variety of ranges. On the other hand Berlatsky seems to give in on what art is; he understands that art can be a variety of things changed from one spectrum to the other.

    2. I chose the Precision and onomatopoeia. For starters they both talk about a scuffle that happened in a train and a man getting his upper coat button fixed. But of course the story is told in a very different way compared to a normal story. As for the onomatopoeia it uses sound often to describe an event that occured. For the precision it uses accurate measurement to describe the measurement of the man’s hat, the length of the train, the size of the button and many more objects described to precision. For Precision” In a bus of S-line , 10 meters long , 3 widde, 6 high, at 3km.” And for onomatopoeia,” Whereupon, phfftt, he threw himself on to a free seat and sat down, plonk.

    B Based my experience, style in writing is the use of specific words to deliver a message in a thoughtful manner. Style speakers volume enables the reader to know what type of writing style that is; it can range from second pronouns to metaphor and many other writings.

    1A After I looked over the second prompt from the O’Reilly, Simmons , and Berlatsky, I found that a made a grammatical error which was that he states that badness in a body can destroy the soul. I didn’t specify who I was referring to. I was referring to plato. I really didn’t have a problem revising; rather it made me aware that even after carefully writing something, revision always corrects a mistake not noticed.

    B Like plato interpretation of art one thing can lead to another. Interpretation as it stands on itself is usually directed in the person who wasn’t to convenience peoples view. Most people disagree with what plato says. O’Reilly states that “ In which she presents herself having sex in a limo with her husband while name dropping Monica Lewinsky.” O’Reilly thinks this is inappropriate. This connects to what plato says” It is more or less like art”. This claim shows that art doesn’t have to be restricted to a particular side; it can extend over a variety of ranges. On the other hand Berlatsky seems to give in on what art is; he understands that art can be a variety of things changed from one spectrum to the other.

    2. I chose the Precision and onomatopoeia. For starters they both talk about a scuffle that happened in a train and a man getting his upper coat button fixed. But of course the story is told in a very different way compared to a normal story. As for the onomatopoeia it uses sound often to describe an event that occured. For the precision it uses accurate measurement to describe the measurement of the man’s hat, the length of the train, the size of the button and many more objects described to precision. For Precision” In a bus of S-line , 10 meters long , 3 widde, 6 high, at 3km.” And for onomatopoeia,” Whereupon, phfftt, he threw himself on to a free seat and sat down, plonk.

    B Based my experience, style in writing is the use of specific words to deliver a message in a thoughtful manner. Style speakers volume enables the reader to know what type of writing style that is; it can range from second pronouns to metaphor and many other writings.

    Reply

    1. Kwame,
       Great job with your discussion post. I really like the way that you compared precision and onomatopoeia. I agree that both stories report upon the same incident, but in entirely different ways. I agree that onomatopoeia uses sound to describe an event whereas precision used accurate measurements. I like how you wrote, “But of course the story is told in a very different way,” because I agree that these stories are told in entirely different ways. Seeing the same story written in multiple different ways has allowed me to relate that to the real world. The crazy events of today are the story, and the different lenses through which the events are witnessed result in the story being told in a different way. Neither side is right, per say, and I think that it is important that we all try to understand the different lenses through which we see the world.

       Reply

    2. Kwame, hi.

       Glad you benefitted from re-reading and revising your work–it’s very important.

       In (B) I’m struggling to follow you from one thought to the next. For instance, when you say “Most people disagree with what Plato says,” I’m not sure what you think it is that Plato says. So it would be helpful for you to write a sentence there (before you quote) about what it is you think people agree with in Plato’s text. Then you’d want to write a sentence that connects this to whatever it is in the O’Reilly quotation that you want us to focus on. Same thing after the quotation. I’m not clear on how you’re intending to connect the quotation to what you say about Plato there (that “Plato says ‘it is more or less like art’.) See if you can go back over this whole section of your response and re-write, trying to be as clear as you can about what you think Plato is actually saying about art—-what it should do, etc. and how this connects to what O’Reilly seems to think art ought to do (or not do).

       Good work with Queneau, but can you reword 2B? I’m having trouble understanding you there. Thanks!

       Reply

19. NOTE: Since I can’t bold, underline, or change text color in comments, it’s a lot easier to read my response on google drive.
    Stephanie Dirani- HW prompt 3
    For Thursday, I want you to look back over your work on the different interpretations of Beyoncé’s work by Hooks, O’Reilly, Simmons, and Berlatsky. Then I want you to do two things with this work:
    A) I want you to re-read your work carefully and revise anything that is amiss. Just because I’m not grading your prompt responses based on grammar doesn’t mean you can’t notice grammatical issues, typos, etc. that may be in need of fixing! Post your revisions here along with one question about grammar that you’ve encountered while revising.

    My question about grammar: Although I had a couple of commas missing in some places or too many commas in other, one thing I never understood the correct us of is the semicolon. Please help!

    What does Beyoncé’s work appear to be an interpretation of? (You can be creative with your response because I’m not sure I have a “correct” answer to this question in mind—it is, after all, a matter of…

    (On google drive I used red text and the strike-through option to edit my response but you can’t see them below in my comment)

    I’m going to merge my response to #2, A, and B because I’ve got quite a bit to say regarding the articles in response to her video, what I think of her video, and also the Time cover. Let’s start with the article in regards to her video. In the article, they mention her reference to Monica Lewinsky and how there’s something political behind it. In my opinion, she was simply using it as a verb because there is nothing that precedes it or follows it that has any kind of political nature. At least, nothing other than sex. The lyrics literally are, “He Monica Lewinski’d all on my gown…daddy didn’t bring the towel.” It’s pretty obvious that this statement is referring to the fact that her husband came on her dress and they didn’t have “the towel” to clean it up with.” Some may argue that she could have used another name or she could have just said that “he came”, but I think the purpose of using “Monica Lewinski’s” name, is “scandal”. Her video in and of itself is scandalous whether it is her husband or not, that is in the video. But, something being scandalous doesn’t always mean it’s a negative thing.
    “Over there I swear I saw them cameras flash” Any kind of sex caught on camera is considered scandalous regardless of the sanctity of marriage. The act, in itself, isn’t wrong or bad, but. The fact that it’s caught on camera or displayed publicly is seen as so. It’s considered a private thing. But the goal of Beyonce’s video being about sex in a limo isn’t to display her sex life as a negative thing or a bad influence on young girls. I don’t believe that Beyonce’s goal was to display her sex life as a negative thing or a bad influence on young girls. But, I’ll talk more about that later. But Since her private sex life being displayed is considered “scandalous”, I believe she specifically used “Monica Lewinski’s” name due to its association with a scandal of its own. Specifically, a sex scandal. I don’t think she meant it as a political attack but IF she meant it as any kind of attack I think it’s simply the fact that she can make her husband cum and Hillary “can’t”, which could be considered the reason why her husband sought an affair in the first place.
    Going back to her video not being a bad thing or a bad influence on young girls; in the article, they interview O’Reilly said, “Teenage girls look up to Beyonce, particularly girls of color. Why would she do it when she knows the devastation that unwanted pregnancies…Why would Beyonce do that?” I can see what they O’Reilly would think that with teen pregnancy stats at the time, but they are he’s forgetting a couple of VERY important details.
    1. Beyonce is a grown-ass woman. Of course, she’s going to be having sex! She’s an adult! If she was a teenager, or even in her early 20’s, then okay… maybe they have he has a tiny point. I’m in no way condoning underage sex, but who are we to judge other people’s actions? Especially when we don’t know their stories…their history.
    2. She’s MARRIED. It’s not like she’s having sex with some guy she’s been dating for 2 weeks.
    It’s literally her HUSBAND in the video, not some strange man that could signify an affair.
    3. Keep this timeline in mind: They got married in 2008, had Blue Ivy in 2012, and this sex-heavy video was released in 2014. More on this below.
    As the timeline above mentions, her wedding was in 2008 that means she’s been married for 6 years when the video came out. Do you know how many marriages still have that much sex 6 years in AND with a 2-year-old? Not many I’m sure. Also, she has a child. I’m sure she is very well aware of the fact that her daughter and any future children will someday see this. As disturbing as it may be to see your parents all over each other like that, it doesn’t change the main thing: What love should look like. O’Reilly sees himself as “defending conservative family values.” But in my opinion, there are no values being broken. I think she’s showing those teenage girls what a healthy marriage should look like (minus the paparazzi). She’s showing them that even 6 years into a marriage, and with a baby, you can love each other so much that you can’t even keep your hands off each other for more than “45-minutes”. I don’t see anything wrong with that. In fact, that’s the kind of marriage many aspire to have!
    Now in regards to her Time cover photo, The keyword here is “time”. This cover was released shortly after her Partition video but we see a completely different side of Beyonce. I think this cover is a statement from her not about “colluding in the construction of herself as a slave”, but as a normal woman who has her an innocent side. If you ask me, that quoted statement above is racist. She herself isn’t a slave and never was. She wasn’t around when slavery was a thing. Saying she’s “constructing herself as a slave” to me is the equivalent of calling her a slave. What really baffles me is the fact that Bell Hooks is saying these things in comparison to the works she’s known for. I mean she’s the one that wrote that famous piece, “Ain’t I A Woman?”. I mean she’s all about Black women and feminism; and the second Beyonce shows a glimpse of “Black Feminism” she gets attacked by the very same Bell Hooks who exhibits the complete opposite of Feminism in her reaction. Yes, I understand she’s a little bit older but age doesn’t define feminism. We’ve all fought hard to step away from being just a house-wife and child-bearer and now that Beyonce was showing what that looks like, Bell Hooks is acting like Beyonce broke the sacred rule of “she’s meant to be a house-wife and child-bearer/Southern Belle”. Not to mention that They Bell Hooks CLEARLY don’t doesn’t seem to know Beyonce. I think Beyonce is literally answering Bell Hooks question of “Ain’t I a Woman?” with “I’m 100% woman. I don’t know much about her Beyonce, but from every single song I’ve seen or video of her speaking, or article about her; I know she has always been powerful and empowering. She speaks volumes to women (and men too). People worship her words because they’re true and help many through tough things. I mean her songs alone speak louder than anything. “Survivor, Single Ladies, Lemonade”. Regardless of what she goes through she comes out strong. She would never make herself look weak or “owned” unless she had the purpose and intention to appear that way. But what I think her image in Time shows, is that regardless of her sensual side, she has an innocent and ladylike side. A side she’s always had regardless of the “time” that has passed. To conclude, I think Berlatsky said it perfectly, “…intentionally or not, they both [O’Reilly and hooks] end up using Beyonce’s body to broadcast their message of a more conservative or radical world.”; taking us two steps back in feminism.

    3a (Hooks’ interpretation of Beyoncé and argument about art’s role in society):

    I can’t even begin to believe that she said “a little girl we can lust after” or that she brought child abuse into the picture by referring to Woody Allen. Why do we “have to” draw that connection to “enslaved black female bodies”? One thing she’s not wrong about is the way women’s bodies are viewed. I took a class in high school where we were assigned to find ads that sexualize females and let me tell you, I was done in 2 minutes because the images were so easy to find. People say “sex sells” but in reality, it’s “sexualized females sell”. I’ve seen an ad that consisted of 2 side by side images, one where the woman had her legs crossed with a closed jewelry box in front of her and in the other the man reveals a big diamond in the box, and the woman’s legs were uncrossed and slightly spread. Another ad for cologne, the bottle is held in between a topless woman’s breasts with her hands covering her nipples. Even burger king had an ad of a woman, mouth open, and about to bite into a phallic-shaped sandwich that was captioned “It’ll Blow your mind away” and the sandwich described as the “BK Super Seven Incher”.
    I feel like Hooks just keeps trying to bring slavery into this just because Beyonce is black, and then playing it off by adding in “girls, of all colors”. What I think is that Beyonce knew exactly what she was doing wearing that outfit. And not in the least sexualizing herself. It may be underwear but she’s literally wearing Granny panties that cover her up to her waist and a bra that doesn’t allow for cleavage to really show, plus a cover-up (despite the fact that it’s see-through). There is nothing “sexy” about what she’s dressed in. If she was dressed in a slinky bikini or lingerie that’s a different story, but a story she would be purposefully telling.

    3b (Quotation from Hooks): (Image of quote in Google drive doc)

    4a (O’Reilly’s interpretation/argument):

    I believe I answered this in my rant in question 2 and provided the evidence as to why I believe what I believe. But I don’t agree with his interpretation. I think he’s just trying to make Beyonce into a bad guy that condones underage sex when in reality I think she’s doing the opposite considering she is a grown, married woman that also has a baby in 2014.

    4b (Quotation from O’Reilly): (Image of quote in Google drive doc)

    5a (Simmons’ interpretation/argument):

    I think Simmon’s understands it. First of all, he was completely bombarded by O’Reilly about Beyonce when he was actually there to talk about the book, and that’s not fair at all. But I’m happy with what he said when defending Beyonce because the facts are real. And he couldn’t have said it any better. (Quotes below) After all, he is a parent of two. If he’s not outraged by this because he understands it, then I don’t see that O’Reilly’s point is valid at all. Yes, there are girls and boys that don’t have “an amazing mother or ok father” but if they look up to someone like Beyonce then they know her values and they know exactly the meaning behind that song. A song written by a married woman and mother.

    5b (Quotation from Simmons): (Image of quote in Google drive doc)

    6a (Berlatsky’s interpretation/argument):

    I believe I answered 6a and 6b in #2 in which this article was my main focus for my answer. I think his interpretation (from the quote I used above) supported all the info I talked about in #2. I didn’t think it necessary to add any more to it.

    6b (Quotation from Berlatsky):
    “…intentionally or not, they both [O’Reilly and hooks] end up using Beyonce’s body to broadcast their message of a more conservative or radical world.”

    B) Make a list of possible ways to connect Plato’s text on art to the different interpretations of Beyonce that we’ve read. For instance, at least of the commentators on Beyonce proposes a view of art that is similar to the one Plato critiques: that “art imitates reality,” more or less. Which commentator(s) suggest(s) this? On the other hand, who seems to be suggesting a view of art more in line with what Plato advocates for: the notion that art ought not simply imitate reality but that it ought to extoll moral virtuousness in order to make viewers better people? List any other connections you notice as well.

    In almost all the articles, I believe there was a question of “Is what Beyonce creates, art?”.

    Pg 149: Simmons: (Image of quote in Google drive doc)

    Page 151: (Image of quote in Google drive doc)

    Page 154: (Image of quote in Google drive doc)

    More or less, I think O’Reilly is more in tune with Plato’s views of art. When he replies to Simmons with “That’s art?” And as Berlatsky mentions, “…intentionally or not, they both [O’Reilly and hooks] end up using Beyonce’s body to broadcast their message of a more conservative or radical world.” They both really don’t believe that what she is creating is art but they think of her work as an abomination it seems. Berlatsky couldn’t have interpreted what they think any better than how he did in the quotes I inserted above. (Page 154). I think O’Reilly and books are in line with Plato’s beliefs but Simmons really believes in Beyonce’s art (which seems to signify everything Plato stands against.) I agree with Simmons in the sense that it is art but I also think it DOES stand up to Plato’s standards because Plato speaks of art=truth. Art should speak the truth and I think that’s exactly what Beyonce was doing. I think she was showing the world the truth of her relationship with Jay-Z. A truth that many people keep hidden privately. If anything it’s the general world that does exactly what Plato is against. We all wear a mask when facing the world, but as soon as we’re alone we take that mask off and reveal our truths.

    a. After reading the excerpts from Queneau’s “Exercises in Style,” I want you to choose 2 of the “exercises” (i.e., chapters, story versions, etc.) and compare them. What similarities do you notice between the two stories? What differences do you notice? How would you describe the differences in “style” between the two exercises? Provide a quoted passage that exemplifies each style.

    I will be comparing “Notation” and “Metaphorically”.
    The obvious similarity is that both stories are the same story. It’s the same characters and events, just described differently. In both works, it appears that the author is telling us the story in the form of a thought process but each in a different way. Not exactly a narration but still descriptive in nature.
    The differences on the other hand are also very obvious. In notation, everything is short and precise. Written exactly how things are being seen by the eyes. For example, “People getting off. The chap in question gets annoyed with one of the men standing next to him.” It’s written like someone taking short notes (hence “notation” for something they need later, an observer. It’s what a writer would do when gathering content for a story or a detective gathering clues for a case. Something you’d write in a tiny pocket notebook.
    Metaphorically is different from this because it’s so elaborate. Everything about this story is “spiced up” but this also makes it messy. It’s not as neat and tight as “notation”. There’s so much going on that you spend more time trying to guess what the metaphor means than actually understanding the story. But it keeps your attention caught. Notation lets you understand exactly what’s happening but it’s soooo dryyyy.

    b. Based on 2a (and anything else you’ve read for the course so far… or your own outside experience), how would you define what “style” is—and what the different facets of a writer’s “style” are?

    I think there are many different kinds of style and that style isn’t just black and white. One version of different styles is what we saw in Queneau’s work, but I also believe style plays off of the way you write regarding the content. For example, the POV that you write from or the events that actually happen but they all have similar events or main themes. Basically style is a spinoff of the theme of a story. You can have completely different things going on in different versions but in the end when you break it down it still follows the same events. For example, in my Essay, one version I wrote was in the POV of the thief, and the other version I wrote I tried to focus on the opposite of everything in the original; such as opposite characters, opposite social status, opposite ways of getting back the stolen item, etc. It’s like the hue of a color, they all look different but in reality, it’s still the same two colors mixed together.

    Have fun reading aaalll that ^ (insert laughing/crying emoji)

    Reply

    1. Stephanie, another epic.
       First, I think you may be able to apply bold and italics if you post and then click “edit” next to your comma. Not sure.
       Here is a link to some material I think you could find helpful on colons and semi-colons.

       Good synthesis of the Beyonce articles in your interpretation of them as all centering on the question of whether B’s work is art. (Although, to me, the more interesting question has to do with WHY each of these commentators argues her work is or ISN’T art–and the centering of these arguments around the relation of art and sexuality.

       I’m compelled by–but get a bit lost in–your discussion of O’Reilly, Hooks, and Simmons vis-a-vis Plato’s view of art. Can you explain a bit more explicitly the affinity you see between Hooks and O’Reilly and Plato. And where exactly does Simmons sit in connection with Book X of Plato’s Republic? Lastly, I’m not sure Plato thinks art can ever reach truth (and this is one of his fundamental problems with it); so can you unpack what you are saying here a bit more? Is it that you see Beyonce’s play with masks as revealing a truth about social reality–i.e., that everyone is always sort of wearing a mask? This is a very postmodern deconstruction of Plato, but I kind of like it…

       Great work with Queneau–and actually, I think he’d agree with you that POV is a component of style, given that in several of his experiments with style he changes up the perspective…

       Reply

20. A. I did not notice any grammatical errors so I did not change anything. I did notice that quotation marks were backwards which didn’t change when I tried to fix them. I was going to add some more of my thoughts but my response is lengthy already. And I’m certain that we are going to continue to build on this foundation.

    B. After reading Plato’s text on, “imitative art” and reading all the different pieces on Beyonce, there’s definitely many different ways in which the text topics are congruent. The person who’s ideology aligns with Plato the most would have to be O’Reilly’s. Plato’s beliefs were that someone has to be moral, righteous, virtuous and is masterful before being allowed to partake or be celebrated. O’Reilly states that, “I believe – I believe in entertainment and an entertainer like Beyoncé and a mogul like you have an obligation to protect children, not put out exploitive garbage that you know harms impressionable children.”In other words, the art harms children making it in “bad taste” just because it equals sexual freedom this automatically becomes immoral. In addition stating, “Why would she do it when she knows the devastation that unwanted pregnancies…” And again,“ Worth about $350 million. She puts out a new album with a video that glorifies having sex in the back of a limosuine. Teenage girls look up to Beyonce. Partially girls of color.”Even though this statement is highly racist and illogical as Beyonce is also a grown, chrisitian, married woman with children from her first and only public love. And I’m almost certain that no teenager has the funds to buy a limousine just to have sex in, and even if they did I’m almost certain that it’s not a popular place to have sex. More than likely those who have access to disposable funds also have access to birth control and contraceptives.

    Bell Hooks also said something similar in response to Beyonces Time Magazine cover, “You are not going to destroy this imperialist,white supremacist capitalist, patriarchy by creating your own version of it.”Even going further by calling her a terrorist, “ Beyonce that is in fact anti-femisist, that is assaulting -that is a terrorist. Especially in terms of the impact of young girls”. According to Hooks, if you adhere to homogeneity and keep perpetuating “misogynoir principles”, then you could never be liberated by acting under your oppressor and are harming the young girls who are looking up to you as a role model or for guidance. Thus being immoral and not with virteoustic terms.

    While in the same interview with O’Reilly, Simmon’s on the other hand says that art reflects reality, “ Yes. I kind of think that artist throughout history, poets throughout history have been criticized for sharing what’s on people’s mind and I don’t think it’s any different now. I think for thousands of years, hundred of years-.” In addition, “I think that the artist’s job throughout history has been to tell -to say things that people are inspired by. There is a subject – there is research that says a man thinks about sex every 12 seconds. And so when an artist expresses something that’s sexual in music it is a reflection of our reality. If we want that reality changed, then we have to do things that affect the core.” This means that if the art looks shameful or controversial then, that is of societies thoughts/behaviors. Artists shouldn’t be chastised because it brings these ideas to the forefront. Berlatsky also mimics this viewpoint by saying, “ If she is seen as an artist who is speaking for herself, what she says is quite impactful.Which again gives agency to the artist to create their own art opposed to others opinions on what is considered art.

    I would also agree that again women were not viewed as “virtuous” in Plato’s time which is subjective (Why is it that only men get to define it?). Even in those times one can say it was still a capitalist patriarchy to some degree. Beyonce being a woman and being black probably would have not led to her being wealthy (which is a viewpoint that Hooks and O’Rielly makes to invalidate her). Even if she was wealthy at that time,she would have to still deal with people criticising. This is the same as Hattie McDaniel who was the first African American woman to win an Academy Award in 1939 for her role as a mammy figure. Which, one could debate as inspiring for black women to be acknowledged and rewarded. Or, as harmful as it perpetuates stereotypes about the black community which leads to suffering.

    A. After reading Queneau’s “Exercises in Style,” I chose to compare the exercises, “ The subjective side” and “Retrograde”. The similarities between the two were that both are told from an “in retrospect” view, both have the same plot and same characters. The differences between the two were whose viewpoint was being told, the length of retrograde was a smidge longer, and the subjective side was more so based on feelings in/towards the situation while retrograde was written more so as something to ponder with an ending that’s more poetic.

    B. Based on the work previously done in this class and my own personal definition, “style” can be defined as the way the author/writer/artist chooses to convey a message through the text/medium. It can be highly stylized and is always individualistic. But even with changing “style” main message and theme should remain intact. Even though the reader might get an alternative viewpoint/plot through the “style”.

    Reply

    1. Aravis,

       Nice link between Plato and O’Reilly and great quotations. Careful with introducing those quotes, though. You’re going to want to include “signal phrases” (e.g., O’Reilly mentions, “I believe…an entertainer like B…”) before pretty much any quotation you include.

       Also, I appreciate (and share) your critique of O’Reilly’s rather bigoted views on Beyonce, but I want you to tie this discussion back into the point you departed from, which was a link you noticed between O’Reilly’s perspective and Plato’s. We never loop back to a full explanation of this after the quotation. Can you be sure to do that?

       Same thing with your discussion of Hooks and Simmons—can you connect these to Plato a bit more?
       Interesting points about Hattie McDaniel and black visibility as well as possible stereotyping.

       A. Can you say more about whose “viewpoints” are “being told” in the two “exercises” you’ve chosen. Also, be careful with the terms “plot” and “story.” “Plot” refers to the order of events through which a “story” is told. “Story” refers to the events as they unfolded in reality, in chronological time (in order). So “Retrograde” has a different plot than “Reported Speech” because it is told backwards. Both have the same “story” (key events that happened in “reality”). It’s tricky. Does that make sense?

       Reply

21. 1a.
    1. According to Plato’s “The Republic”, it is evident he is not a fan of art. this statement can be confirmed when he says “imitation is surely far from the truth… he would deceive children and foolish human beings…”. Basically, he believes art is a form of a lie, and artists are frauds. For Plato, art should be for entertainment and helpful, as he states,”For surely we shall gain if it should turn out to be not only pleasant but also beneficial.”
    1b. Plato’s text on art can be compared to the interpretations of Beyonce’s work by O’Reilly, specifically. For example, when he criticizes her of having sex with her husband in the back of a limo, it is very similar to how Plato criticizes poets for their work.

    3a. Hook’s interpretation of Beyoncé is of someone who is against feminism, as she is ruining states how her actions show it.
    3b. “I see a part of Beyoncé, that is in fact, anti-feminist-um- that is assaulting- that is a terrorist, especially in terms of young girls… the major assault of feminism in our society has come from visual media…”
    4a. O’Reilly interprets Beyoncé as a negative influence on the adolescents that look up to her as he believes her work exploits sex and girls that look up to her would also want to do that just because of her.
    4b.”…glorifies having sex in the back of a limousine…unwanted pregnancies…exploitive garbage that you know harms children…”
    6a. Berlatsky views Beyoncé as someone with an agenda when it comes to power. This agenda would be for more publicity.
    6b. “If the ever-savvy Beyoncé ends up as a part of O’Reilly and hook’s marketing strategy, then their various forms of anger and condemnation are definitely part of hers as well”

    2a. Out of all the excerpts from Queneau’s “Exercise in Style”, the ones that stood out to me the most were reported speech and retrograde. Other than the plot and characters, a similarity I noticed between these two styles were that they were written in past tense. But the differences are more prevalent. One example would be that while retrograde is in a first person point of view, reported speech is in third person. As shown in the Retrograde version, “I met him in the middle of the Cour de Rome, after having left him rushing avidly towards a seat”, while in the reported speech version, “the young man had rushed off towards it and sat down upon it”(“Exercises in Style”, Raymond Quenaeu, “Retrograde” & “Reported Speech” excerpts). These two phrases literally have the same event happening, but in a different point of view. Other differences include how the events are mentioned in a different order in each excerpt and the Reported Speech excerpt is longer than the Retrograde.
    2b. Based on Quenaeu’s “Exercises in Style”, style can be defined as doing one task several different ways. In the case of writing, it would depend on the genre the author is writing about. If a person is writing an article, he would use reported speech, or if he was writing an autobiography/memoir, he’d use retrograde.

    Reply

    1. Haziq, hi.
       Nice link between Plato and O’Reilly. Can you say more, though, about how you see these two perspectives—Plato’s and O’Reilly’s—as similar? For instance, it isn’t clear that O’Reilly is critical of Beyoncé’s art because it is “imitative”——or is it? Tell me more here.

       3a. I’m not clear on what you’re saying about Hooks. Can you re-word this? Thanks.

       6a. Nice wording where you are summarizing Berlatsky’s view.

       2a. Good work with Queneau on the whole, but be careful of a couple things: capitalize and use quotation marks around chapter/story names (e.g., “Reported Speech”). Also, be careful with the terms “plot” and “story.” “Plot” refers to the order of events through which a “story” is told. “Story” refers to the events as they unfolded in reality, in chronological time (in order). So “Retrograde” has a different plot than “Reported Speech” because it is told backwards. Both have the same “story” (key events that happened in “reality”). It’s tricky. Does that make sense?

       2b. Good!

       Reply

       1. Plato’s and O’Reilly’s perspectives can be seen as similar, because as Beyonce’s work is seen as art, O’Reilly thinks of it as “exploitive garbage”, meaning he also doesn’t believe art should imitate reality, as Simmons was suggesting in their interview together. As for 3a, I meant to say that Hook’s was saying how Beyonce is ruining feminism for young girls and how her actions show it. And I get what you mean professor, thank you.

          Reply

22. i forgot to mention that i had commented Indeevari Kamarasing and Randy Cabrera essays.

    Reply

23. 1. In Plato’s “Book X” of The Republic he looks at poetry with a negatively charged attitude, his implications can be viewed on page 107, paragraph 605b. “Similarly, we shall say the imitative poet produces a bad regime in the soul of each private man by making phantoms that are very far removed from the truth and by gratifying the soul’s foolish part, which doesn’t distinguish big from little, but believes the same thing are at one time big and another time little”. In this quote Plato believes that poets take their interpretations which is imitative of the subject matter original nature and influence to those who intake their piece to then believing their creation or interpretation is the truth. My take on this is that Plato believes that originality can only be conceived by the creator and the imitators interpretation is false.

    A.) A question I have in regards to grammar and punctuation is the use of colon and semi colon.

    B.) O’Reilly proposes that artists or entertainers, especially a mogul such as Beyonce having a “moral obligation to protect children, not put out exploitive garbage that you know harms impressionable children.”

    2a.) Comparing the Precision style and the Logical Analytical poem style shows how the Precision style excessively describes each subject and line of action in the story while the poem takes a more simplistic approach. The styles are also similar because they still describe aspects of the story with the intent of moving the story along and helping the reader visualize but the contrast between the styles are dramatized in phrases that can be pulled from both beginnings, Precision Style “In a bus of the S-Line, 10 metres, 3 wide, 6 high, at 3km. 600 m. from its starting point, loaded with 48 people, at 12:17 p.m.” and the Logical Analytical style states “Bus. Platform. Bus Platform. That’s the place. Midday. About. About Midday. That’s the time. Passengers.” Both these styles convey the same message but one is overly simplistic in its description while the other is excessively illustrative.

    2b.) I believe style is a form in which authors convey their interpretation of a topic, the different facets of authors styles would include simplistic and complicative styles alongside an aggressive or passive form of writing depending on the type of message they would like to convey.

    Reply

    1. Miguel, hey.

       Here is a link to some material I think you could find helpful on colons and semi-colons. Let me know once you’ve read it and we can go over whatever you’d like.

       1. Please have another look at the prompt and try to connect Plato’s views on art to the various commentators on Beyonce (Hooks, O’Reilly, Simmons, and/or Berlatsky). I notice you’ve pointed to O’Reilly’s perspective in 1B; can you spell out the connection to Plato’s text a bit more? Are you saying O’Reilly’s view is similar to or different from Plato’s–and in what ways?

       2. Great work on style and Queneau.

       Reply

24. 1. A) I want you to re-read your work carefully and revise anything that is amiss. Just because I’m not grading your prompt responses based on grammar doesn’t mean you can’t notice grammatical issues, typos, etc. that may be in need of fixing! Post your revisions here along with one question about grammar that you’ve encountered while revising.

    I have noticed that there are lot of run on sentences and the incorrect use of tenses in my essay.

    B) Make a list of possible ways to connect Plato’s text on art to the different interpretations of Beyoncé that we’ve read. For instance, at least of the commentators on Beyoncé proposes a view of art that is similar to the one that is similar to the one Plato critiques: that “art imitates reality,” more or less. Which commentator(s) suggest(s) this? On the other hand, who seems to be suggesting a view of art more in line with what Plato advocates for: the notion that art ought not simply imitate reality but that it ought to extoll moral virtuousness in order to make viewers better people? List any other connections you notice as well.

    Plato stated that all art is mimetic by nature; art is an imitation of life. He believed that “idea” was the ultimate reality. He gave an example of a carpenter and a chair. The word “chair” first came in mind of the carpenter. This gave the carpenter the idea to build his chair out of wood. The commentators that suggest this was Bill O’Reilly. O’Reilly disagree with Beyoncé because he thinks that her mv “Partition” will be a bad influence for young viewers. Bill didn’t think that her mv was art at all. Bill O’Reilly is suggesting a view of art more in line with what Plato advocates for: the notion that art ought not simply imitate reality but that it ought to extoll moral virtuousness in order to make viewers better people.
    2. A) After reading the excerpts from Queneau’s “Exercises in Style,” I want you to choose 2 of the “exercises” (i.e., chapters, story versions, etc.) and compare them. What similarities do you notice between the two stories? What differences do you notice? How would you describe the differences in “style” between the two exercises? Provide a quoted passage that exemplifies each style.

    The two styles I compared in Queneau’s “Exercises in Style” is “Precision” and “Retrograde”. I noticed that both stories are the same but described in different ways. One difference is that in “Retrograde”, the narrator was describing the story as a reporter and another difference in “Precision”, the narrator described a man that got on the bus and was talking about numbers. In “Precision “, the narrator stated “In a bus of the S-line, 10 meters long, 3 wide, 6 high, at 3 km. 600 m. from its starting point, loaded with 48 people, at 12.17 p.m.” In “Retrograde”, the narrator stated, “He had just protested against being pushed by another passenger who, he said, was jostling him every time anyone got off.”

    B) Based on 2a (and anything else you’ve read for the course so far… or your own outside experience), how would you define what “style” is—and what the different facets of a writer’s “style” are?

    Style is a way of how a writer use specific words to writes a story or a book. Every writer has their own technique in writing their own story. The different facets of a writer’s style include first person and third person writing. In first person writing, the narrators used words such as I, we, me, us while in third person the narrator use words such as he, she, they.

    Reply

    1. Good, Victor. Some suggestions:

       1. You capture one aspect of Plato’s thoughts on art quite well: he dwells on the way art mimes reality. But can you be clearer on whether he thinks this is a good or a bad thing? Once you do that, you’ll be able to make the transition/connection to O’Reilly a bit clearer.

       2. Good work with “Precision”; take another look and revise/add to your thoughts on “Retrograde.” I want you to go further than describing this exercise as an attempt to write “as a reporter”—note that Queneau already does this elsewhere in “Reported Speech,” so this isn’t quite what’s unique or special about “Retrograde.” Tell us more about what is unique in “Retrograde”—hint: it has something to do with the order of events.

       2B. Good!

       Reply

25. Revise 6/11 HW
    Prompt 1 Part 1
    Beyonce’s song is a form of art according to her. But it is showing degrading of human dignity. As it says in the song “I just wanna be the girl you like, girl you like The kind of girl you like, girl you like Take all of me I just wanna be the girl you like, girl you like” the song have collected negative responses due to the fact that it promotes illicit sex, and not sufficient amount of self-respect and self-esteem. The intention of the song is about art, but it glorifies nudity, sexual immorality, and improper used of sex.
    Part 2
    In Mary Reufle’s short story, “On the Beginning” it describes the importance of poetry in literature. Some poems are made out of a situation a person is experiencing, some are made for fun, some are made to describe the situations that happened in the past. The phrase “In life, the number of beginnings is exactly the equal to the number of endings” means that poetry always begins, but never ends because a poem is made in every single situation at different times, language, and places. It is true that the poems never end because of the fact new poems are made based on an event. There are also poems that were made, but were unfinished because they were abandoned.
    Reufle should have described it as the forgotten poem because people make them, but never finish them. The poem should reflect the point of view of the writer that in unison with the reader as well. Reufle’s interpretation of the poem is that it begins and ends as it begins. But poetry does not end because every second, a new poem is written by a person. The understanding of Reufle is that the mind acts, and the poem is written in whatever event. In which the description of the event is interpreted.
    The poem is a great way to make readers understand the situation that is being described. Reufle had emphasized that the poem is constructed because the first line and the last line must be connected in order to stay in the topic.
    Prompt 2
    According to Plato, the art is showing one side of the story. It is usually expressed during grievances, situation, and anger. Poetry only shows the side of the oppressed, and does not show the bigger picture. In which Socrates stated that poetry is a biased kind of art. Socrates contradicts the statement made by Reufle, and the song lyrics of Partitioning because it is only showing the side of the artists.
    Beyonce’s interpretation of the song is that she is promoting love. Her work is to show that women are not just an object for sex, but as human as well. Her works are interpreting that women in today’s generation are treated as sex object objects. In that case Hooks, O’Reilly, and Simmons had united on criticising Beyonce’s work for her music video that allegedly promoted nudity as an art. What Beyonce had done is a form of art according to Greek Philosophy, because nudity shows the true image of things, person, and events. Art should be exposing all things such as injustice, prejudice, racism, and all negative things that hinders the society from progressing.
    Each commentator is arguing that Beyonce’s music is not art, but is a form of sexual immorality that may or may not inspire young women on following her ways.
    “Why on Earth, a woman would do that?” ~Simmons
    “She put a video that glorifies sex in the limousine”.~ O’Reilly
    There are no direct quotations from Berlatsky and Hooks.

    3.
    Hooks’ interpretation about Beyonce is that she is promoting illicit sexual desires that will degrade the dignity, and the integrity of the women. Hooks also interpreted that Beyonce is influencing young women because of her money.
    There are no quotes directly from Hooks, but there is a description. The description is “Hooks speculates that Beyonce’s appeal is not just her beauty but with money”.
    4.
    O’Reilly’s argument stated that Beyonce is promoting monogamous sexual relationships, but in a way that is explicit that can degrade the human dignity of women. Especially when teenage girls are looking up at Beyonce as a model.
    ”Teenage girls look up to Beyonce, particularly to girls of color. Why would she do it when she knows the devastation of unwanted pregnancies”.
    5
    Simmons has argued that Beyonce’s music videos have brutalizing effects due to nudity that is against moral ethics.
    There are no quotes from Simmons.
    6
    Berlatsky argued that Beyonce is an artist speaking for herself because not only she is advocating women’s rights, she is showing how women should be respected at all times. Beyonce is also promoting self-care, bolstering self-esteem, and having self-respect.
    There are no direct quotes from Berlatsky, but he is describing the side of Beyonce, and the people who are against her.
    1a. There is no grammatical error as of this time.
    1b. When Plato stated that art is also a biased judgment. In which Simmons is stating that Beyonce’s work is a one sided form of art that is showing a negative acts that degrades woman’s dignity. Simmons is line with Plato’s beliefs due to the fact that the song is promoting sexual fantasies which is considered as love by some people. Simmons and Plato are stating that art should teach the right values to everyone by promoting human dignity and integrity. Plato is suggesting that the art should be unbiased, that will show both ends of the story, like why things have been done, how it was done, why it has to be done, and what will be its effect on its near future.
    2a. The version in Queneau’s exercises, such as Negativities and Precision. The sections are both describing events that have occurred. They are also giving information regarding on what happened in one place, which can be different versions but one event. The difference is that in the Precision, the person describing the event knows all the detail from the very smallest piece. In the Negativities, the person describing the events only knows the main events happened in situation. As it is described in the text “It was -neither’ a baby; nor an old man, but a young man.” In which only the important things were detailed, but in comparison to the Precision, the details are also similar.
    The styles that were used are informative literature because it is giving information on people about the events. The styles between two exercises are informative writing, by informing readers on how people should be alert on whatever events in order to be safe from bad things.
    2b. The information I read about a book on Inside the Middle East, Making Sense The Most Dangerous and Complicated Region on Earth. The author, Avi Melamed used the informative style that gives true information that contradicts all negative perception about the Middle East.The other style is that it is historical because it tells the history of the Middle East Politics, and relationships with other non-Muslim countries. The style is referring to the world that the region of the Middle East is not a place of terror, just because a few evil people are committing atrocities, crimes, and acts of terrorism.

    Reply

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