"A Waitress at Duval" Writing 1

At first glance the waitress seems jocundly pleased. Her hand positioning in combination with her apron gave me the impression that she was hard working. Yet her youthful disposition and the cracking of her smile made me feel that she was happy, and had somewhat of a sass about her. I made up an assumption that she works hard but this is the only life she really knows, so she manages to find pleasure in it? After examining Billy Collins' poem I have a very similar opinion of the waitress. Although I feel this is the waitress portrayed towards the later half of Collins' poem, or perhaps in the middle. She has more of a distinguishable personality than "every waitress | who has ever served [him]" but she is not in the ballroom quite yet. Maybe this is the  moment where she will strip her work attire and become part of his perception as a human being rather than a server. After all, I think Renoir's painting is supposed to humanize the waitress and give her a personality because as part of the working class she has certainly been overlooked on more than one occasion.

Response: "Chick-Fil-A Debuts New Homophobic Sandwich"

In July The Onion featured an article satirizing the news pertaining to Chick-Fil-A CEO's investments in anti-gay agendas. I found this article to be pretty damn funny. As I mentioned in my response paper, I vividly remember when this happened (not just because it was only a few months ago), because it had a large impact on my community. In West Hollywood, a very gay friendly neighborhood, Chick-Fil-A was loved until this story broke and then was severely boycotted.
For my symbol I chose a simple cross to represent the Christian agenda represented in the article.  Although I am a strong believer in respecting all religious and overall personal choices of people, I still find it hard to maintain such respect for any group that wishes to discriminate. I went to Catholic school for 7 years (which isn't exactly the same thing, but pretty damn close). Before I attended Catholic school, I was very much a Catholic girl. I was a strong believer because I did not overanalyze the stories or traditions but rather focused on messages preached by Christianity. But in school I was often faced with people, even teachers, who were so preoccupied in keeping the country the same that they lost their way. Of course, not all Christians or Catholics feel the same way, as no group as complicated as a religion can be bound completely and utterly all of the same ideas. Also I must admit in the rage of remembering school, I am getting a bit off topic. Really, I just do not understand the roles Christian agenda's often play in gay rights. It seems quite barbaric to try to set back discrimination when clearly the nation is ready to move forward. I believe the CEO's actions were plain silly. It has become a norm to accept all different types of people and let go of discrimination. Publicly discriminating against one group of people seems almost as sociably unacceptable and going to work with no clothes on. Thus, I truly appreciated the humor used in The Onion article.

"The Americano Dream"

I really enjoyed the structure of this essay. It seemed to be an organized form of stream of consciousness. The author starts at one place and just keeps going and although the tangents he chooses to go on can seem momentarily random they eventually connect with the main ideas of moving and settling anxieties. The structure of this essay was also chronological, which kept it easy to understand. There was not any jumping from past to present, but rather it remained one line. Finally, I liked the structure of the paragraphs themselves. They were quick and started out with bolded headliners. This fast pace style kept my attention well yet was able to express a lot. I believe that the details chosen and their order made it a rounded story and thus more enjoyable to read.

"The Little Store" p. 154 Seeing 1 & 2

1. There was one passage in Welty's "The Little Store" that really summed the story. She writes, "setting out in this world a child feels so indelible. He only comes to find out later that it
s all the others along his way who are making themselves indelible to him." Although the store and how it had an effect on her is a very important aspect of the story, the journey there is just as influential. This is just as the child is important but really all the things that affect the child in it's environment and cause the child to feel important are important. The beginning paragraphs have a nice almost organized stream of consciousness flow about them. They carry one idea and connect with the next and the next until we are at this journey to the store. Her travel to the store presents a pleasant point of view adventure into her childhood and the time. It characterizes her thought process and gives a unique perspective on the not so mundane errand. Entering the store Welty starts out with the sense of smell, as I'm sure all the odors she describes were quite overpowering. Then it sets into the sights of the shelves and such and the touch of all the residue on the ground and the cold water that holds the precious pop. Overall she gives a rounded description of the store, seeing how it is a main point of the essay. Her ability to point out details and observations really shapes the point of view of the essay and thus it is easier to understand these menial events becoming influential memories that would teach a child about all sorts of realities.
2. I wasn't really sure if this was the Mr.Sessions or not. Although I guess since he disappeared that wouldn't really make sense. But still, when I looked at the photograph after having read the passage I couldn't really help but think that this was the man in the story. He is very stern and lengthy. He definitely looks wise and aged but has a certain vitality in him still. His face, eyes especially, are filled with expression and show a sense of life. He, as well as the store around him, have a great sense of character. The light bouncing off of him really illuminates him in more than just a physical sense. It makes him seem important. He is the light of the picture, and thus given almost a new paramount stance. Also, as a side note, the fact that he is resting his hand on the large round fruit or vegetable still gives him that sense of reliability, and makes him seem as though he has a hands on, hard working attitude.

Homeplace p. 178 Seeing 1 & 2

1. To start, this was the first essay we have read in this class that I did not like both in context and style. First off I believe Sanders did a poor job using his examples to support his ideas. I think it was a mistake to frequently use quotes from individuals who had a counter argument to his and then dissect and comment on those. Each time he went through this process I found myself agree more with the original quote than with his opinion (which often appeared as a petty jab to the text). Furthermore I didn't approve of his other examples either. The first personal one was probably the best and overall I really think he should have stuck with these personal instances rather than pulling other sources out of his ass that didn't really seem to fit well for me. I have a bit of an interest in Zen Buddhism and I think by isolating this one statement he somewhat improperly used a teaching for his own use. However, I admit that I am not a master of this concept, unlike Sanders probably is… And on top of that there was the hideous illusion to the Holocaust. Seriously? But then again I am probably being a bit unfair because I did not go into reading this with an open mind. My opinion of wether one should stay put or explore is the exact opposite of Sanders. My formative years were spent traveling around the world for my fathers job. In increments from anywhere between a month and a year I have lived in Rome, Prague, Berlin and a few cities in Morocco, but I have also done a great deal of traveling on top of that. When I frequently go back to Rome and Berlin and each time it is a wonderful, often sentimental experience. I feel because I have traveled and had my horizon broadened I do not just have one home base, but several, each with a unique diversity that has added to my character. I absolutely loved my childhood and feel very fortunate to have had these opportunities because I know it really added a great deal to my perspective. However, that is something that worked for me. Some people would be their happiest moving, others staying put. I think that everyone should be educated and have an idea of the world existing outside their comfort zone. But I believe that there is not one good or bad way to live in that regard. Again every person is different and wants different things.
2. Clearly, I did not enjoy the essay. I found Sanders's tone to be very abrasive. I felt he was less saying look at this perspective (which is a more effective and positive way to communicate an opinion) and was more expressing that he was right. It seemed as though he thought what he was saying to be some great wonderful important movement of Americans or that he had the truth that no one else has put into action. I really didn't feel he had enough humbleness in his manor of presenting this argument. If I had to read this essay I would do so quite dramatically to both accentuate the absolute seriousness and importance of his points but really just to mock the ridiculousness that is this essay.

Dorothy Allison: Trash Plume

If I am going to speak honestly, this expert seemed like "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" meets Flannery O'Connors' "The Life You Save May be Your Own." The narration of this girl was spectacular. I really enjoyed her vernacular because it was simple yet the ideas she was expressing had a beautiful complexity of their own. Naturally, without having read any of the story prior to what was given in this assignment the beginning was a bit confusing. However The last two paragraphs were immaculate. The second to last was so relatable. It touched on some physical qualities of anger and holding in emotion I can relate to so well but have never thought to express into words. When reading it I was reminded and thus employed to think about my relationships and own struggles similar to hers. And of course any writing that really causes you to think and reflect upon your own life or the lives of others beyond the end of the paragraph is good writing. The final paragraph, though I could not personally relate to it, was equally as thought provoking. For one it is very revealing about the two characters. The aunt lives a fairy tale life and is perhaps as a result oblivious to the needs of others. Yet the narrator, who is so strong and can appreciate the subtle beauties of life, is forced to only watch. She has to watch her aunt mindlessly screw up and pick up the pieces for everyone. And worst of all she must choose not to vent her frustration because ultimately it would be unappreciated and never be understood. Throughout this ending Allison really conveys her characters emotions and struggles beautifully.

P. 145 Seeing 1 & 2

Hirsch develops a distinct tone when personifying the house that effects the entirety of the poem. He strips down the house with each new characteristic until it is a skeleton, much like that of a man. He builds the house to be a gawky and lonely man with a tortured soul. The sky and the ground and the train tracks all isolate the house and make it more aware of it's melancholy state. Do to this layering of human attributes, the house becomes relatable, and thus the painting is able to take on another meaning. Hirsch really emphasizes a viewpoint that Hopper subtly created in this painting. It is clear through the painting and the poem that the house is a representation of Hopper himself.