Office Hours for Fall 2024
Monday 2-3 in Humanities 121P
Tuesday 12:15-1:15 in Humanities 121P
Wednesday 2-3 Zoom Office Hour
Thursday 12:15-1:15 Humanities 121P
« April 2024 | Main | June 2024 »
Office Hours for Fall 2024
Monday 2-3 in Humanities 121P
Tuesday 12:15-1:15 in Humanities 121P
Wednesday 2-3 Zoom Office Hour
Thursday 12:15-1:15 Humanities 121P
Posted at 02:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Choice A Building Block 1
Write 2 paragraphs, an Introductory Paragraph and an Argumentative Thesis Paragraph.
I recommend one of two approaches for your introductory paragraph.
Method #1: Summarize the main ideas in the article by Gustavo Arellano titled “Let White People Appropriate Mexican Food.”
Method #2 Summarize the main ideas in the YouTube video “Cultural Appropriation Tastes Damn Good.”
Then transition to an argumentative claim in which you show support or repudiation of Arellano’s main ideas.
While I take offense at the inflated prices of some of these appropriation restaurants and the lack of credit given to the original sources, I agree with GA’s claim that _______ because ________, ______________, ________________, and _______________________.
***
Posted at 02:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Simplified Version of Choice C: Appropriating Outrage
Address the claim that the 1976 movie Network foreshadows the kind of commodification of performative outrage and its toxic societal effects evident in the documentary The Social Network.
Present 7 ways the 1976 movie Network foreshadows the kind of commodification of performative outrage and its toxic societal effects evident in the documentary The Social Network.
ChatGPT
Certainly, both "Network" (1976) and "The Social Network" (2010) offer poignant reflections on the commodification of outrage and its detrimental impacts on society, albeit in different contexts. Here are seven ways the former foreshadows the latter:
In essence, "Network" serves as a precursor to the themes explored in "The Social Network," offering a prescient commentary on the commodification of outrage and its toxic societal effects.
McMahon’s Thesis for Choice A:
On one hand, I embrace Gustavo Arellano’s claim that Mexican food’s greatness emerges from cultural synthesis, evolution, innovation, local ingredients, connection to place, and the spirit of sharing food as a form of love and creativity that must be honored. On the other hand, I reject Arellano’s notion that any people--white or otherwise--get the green light to commit what I call the Taco-Bellification of Mexican food, which is a desecration and abomination--taking the beauty and history of Mexican culture and commercializing it by replacing authenticity and transcendent foods with anodyne, bland, soulless, bandaged-together cookery deceptively marketed as “Mexican cuisine.”
Outline for the Above:
Paragraph 1: I would summarize Arellano’s essay.
Paragraph 2: I would use the above thesis statement.
Paragraphs 3-5: I would analyze the Netflix Ugly Delicious Taco episode to support my claim that Mexican food is not a fixed category but something that evolves with culture.
Paragraphs 6-8: I would refute the notion that the Taco-Bellification of Mexican food is okay by pointing out that commercialization of real food insults culture, replaces delicious real food with fake repulsive food, and influences culture for the worst.
Paragraph 9, my conclusion, would be a powerful, emotional restatement of my thesis.
Choice A
For choice A, our fourth essay will be a 1,200-word argumentative essay that defends, refutes, or complicates food and culture writer Gustavo Arellano’s claim in his essay “Let White People Appropriate Mexican Food” and elsewhere that in the realm of food, especially Mexican food, we must step away from the Cult of Authenticity and embrace the idea that the greatness of Mexican food is related to its constant evolution from stealing, borrowing, synthesizing, and even culturally appropriating from one ethnic culture to another and that cuisines that fail to evolve lack relevance and vitality.
Paragraph 1: Summarize the main ideas in the article by Gustavo Arellano titled “Let White People Appropriate Mexican Food.” Or summarize the main ideas in the YouTube video “Cultural Appropriation Tastes Damn Good.”
Paragraph 2: Then transition to an argumentative claim in which you show support or repudiation of Arellano’s main ideas.
Paragraphs 3-6 would be your supporting paragraphs.
Paragraphs 7 and 8 would be your counterargument-rebuttal.
Paragraph 9 would be a powerful restatement of your thesis, which is your conclusion.
Your last page would be your Works Cited page in MLA format and a minimum of 4 sources.
Choice A Building Block 1
Write 2 paragraphs, an Introductory Paragraph and an Argumentative Thesis Paragraph.
I recommend one of two approaches for your introductory paragraph.
Method #1: Summarize the main ideas in the article by Gustavo Arellano titled “Let White People Appropriate Mexican Food.”
Method #2 Summarize the main ideas in the YouTube video “Cultural Appropriation Tastes Damn Good.”
Then transition to an argumentative claim in which you show support or repudiation of Arellano’s main ideas.
While I take offense at the inflated prices of some of these appropriation restaurants and the lack of credit given to the original sources, I agree with GA’s claim that _______ because ________, ______________, ________________, and _______________________.
Four Weaknesses in Gustavo Arellano's Argument
One. Arellano doesn't address food plagiarism. For example, it is indefensible to take the original food, give it a new name, and claim it as yours as in the notorious case of Gracie Norton who promotes "her spa water" when in fact the water is aqua fresca.
Two. Not all stealing is equal. If John quits the very successful Restaurant Y and gets a new job at the less successful Restaurant Z that Y uses cumin and ghost chilies in their enchilada sauce, then the owner of Z is going to “steal” the recipe. This type of “stealing” happens all the time. But let us not equate this type of stealing with a white lady named Gracie Norton taking aqua fresca and promoting it as her own “spa water.” That is racial plagiarism, and it is morally repulsive and morally indefensible.
Three. Arellano doesn't address the white-washing effect: taking delicious meals and watering them down into soulless bland plates that insult the original dish. Oftentimes a white or non-white restaurant owner takes ethnic cuisine and calculates that since his largely white customer base wants ethnic but doesn’t really want ethnic. These white customers want the excitement of saying, “Guys, we’re going to an ethnic restaurant,” but they don’t really want the true ethnic food experience. They want some watered-down crap that they call ethnic but in reality is the same tasteless pablum that defines their infantile tastebuds. "Tourism food" ruins and insults Mexican food. But here's the rub: Fake tourism food makes money.
This type of cultural appropriation incurs my loathing and abject contempt, but I don’t protest. I merely speak with my dollars. You will never see me a hundred feet from a phony ethnic cuisine restaurant.
This is perhaps my biggest critique of Gustavo Arellano’s argument. Most of his argument I agree with, but object to his failure to address the white-washing of ethnic food and turning it into tasteless, insipid baby food.
An Argument in Favor of Arellano: The Wow Factor
Your job as a restaurant owner is to make food that has the Wow Factor. You will experiment, innovate, and rely on time-tested traditional recipes, some “authentic” and some that are modifications, but regardless of what you do, you must make food that has the Wow Factor, that captures people’s hearts, that hijacks people’s brains, and that makes people addicted to your food. That is your job.
***
Highlights from Gustavo Arellano’s Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America
The Cosmic Burrito
According to food writer and Los Angeles Times culture critic Gustavo Arellano, Mexican food has been assimilated and celebrated in the United States for 125 years. Tacos and burritos are America’s comfort food.
The celebration of Mexican food in America has caused a worldwide appetite for Mexican food, from Dubai to Australia, which has its own Taco Bell, called Taco Bill’s, which specializes in fish tacos.
Arellano observes that for over 100 years, many Americans who are anti-Mexican in their prejudices are unaware of the contradiction between their racism and their undying love of Mexican food. They compartmentalize, loving the food yet inexplicably disliking the people who make it, turning Mexicans into negative stereotypes while having a relentless desire for Mexican food.
Tortillas are the preferred food of NASA astronauts, so there is now the “Cosmic Burrito” and variations of Mexican food pop up all over America, including the muchaco, a taco made with ground beef and pita bread at the Taco Bueno restaurant chain.
Hot Cocoa Comes from Mexico
Arellano observes that traditional desserts made with cocoa and vanilla to make chocolate and vanilla desserts, including hot cocoa, come from 1700s Mexico when the Virgin Mary statues in the cathedrals had offerings of various chocolate and vanilla desserts. This vanilla was cultivated to perfection and copied by the Europeans in Pico de Orizaba, a vanilla region in Veracruz, which is in eastern Mexico.
As early as the 1500s, Spanish conquerors fell in love with Mexican foods made with corn or maize, which were made into various forms of masa cornmeal.
The Spaniards become obsessed with tortillas and tamales, the latter being a convenience food perfect for traveling with.
The Spanish invader Cortes demanded Mexican food in his court, and according to Arellano, this is the first documented case of cultural appropriation.
Moreover, the Spaniards introduced the Mexicans to wheat flour, which brought flour tortillas to the Mexican diet.
This is our first known case of fusion.
Chile Con Carne (soon to become Chili)
Arrellano observes that the first chili made with hot peppers and meat was around 1870 in the San Antonio region, not Texas, but pre-Texas: Tejas.
Chile became so popular that by the 1880s, you could already find it advertised in Hawaii and Washington D.C.
The world doesn’t understand how good Mexican food is. They take it for granted. This is one of Arellano’s main points.
Now Chile Con Carne is just “Chili.”
Tamalero
Tamales started to spread throughout America in the 1890s and were sold by European, Indian, and Arab immigrants who were often called “Mexicans.” These immigrants who sold the tamales on the streets were called Tamaleros, AKA “The Hot Tamale Man.”
They became part of American popular culture and folklore.
World Domination of the Taco in the 1950s
As big as tamales and chili were for about 70 years, they would be replaced by the world-dominating taco starting in the 1950s.
Arellano contributes this growth to a place in Orange County called Irvine, the birth of Taco Bell, founded by Glen Bell.
We now have many tacos including:
Tacos have exploded all over the world, including Sweden, Japan, and South Africa.
Birthplace of the American Taco and the Gateway Drug Argument
While Glen Bell popularized the taco, the birthplace of the American taco comes from downtown Los Angeles on Olvera Street, a tiny taco stand called Cielito Lindo, circa 1931.
The second place is in San Bernardino, the Mitla Cafe, established in 1937. The restaurant served hard-shell tacos packed with beef and shredded cheese: taco dorado con carne molida.
Glen Bell noticed the popularity of Mexican food among the white consumer base in the San Bernardino area, and he copied Mitla Cafe when he started various taco ventures before settling on Taco Bell.
The owners of Mitla Cafe and Gustavo Arellano defend Taco Bell with its phony “Mexican food” because it’s the “gateway drug” to real Mexican food.
We can call this the Gateway Drug Argument for your essay.
Challenges to Authenticity
In his book, Taco USA, Arellano tackles some challenges to the idea of authenticity in Mexican food:
The Great Burrito Rivalry
Gustavo Arellano adores the legendary Manuel’s Special at Manuel’s El Tepeyac Cafe in Boyle Heights.
He compares the burrito to an encounter with God. The burrito is 5 pounds and filled with grilled chicken, carne asada, machaca, beans, rice, guacamole, and sour cream.
The rival to Los Angeles for burritos is San Francisco, the Mission District, a place called “El Faro,” the Lighthouse. These are called Mission Style burritos.
“Tracing the delicious history of San Francisco’s mission style burrito”
“Why are Restaurant Burritos Better Than Homemade?”
Holy Grail Mexican Food Destinations
Not All Cultural Appropriation Is Alike: To Agree Or Not to Agree with Gustavo Arellano
The college students in my critical thinking class and I live in Los Angeles where some of the best food in the world is in our very backyards. I don’t want my students or me to take this for granted. I want us to do a deep dive into the Los Angeles food world, particularly Mexican food, the most popular cuisine in the world. So for our final essay assignment, we read Gustavo Arellano’s article “Let White People Appropriate Mexican Food--Mexicans Do It to Ourselves All the Time” and we write an essay that supports or refutes Arellano’s defense of cultural appropriation.
Arellano defends cultural appropriation by explaining three things. One, that since the beginning of time, restaurant owners have copied their competition; two, social justice warriors aren’t helping anyone when they patronize Mexicans by painting them as helpless victims when in fact Mexicans steal in the food industry just like everyone else; and three, what some might call appropriation or stealing can be in fact the healthy human impulse for cross-cultural pollination, evidenced by the fact that many of Mexico’s most famous regional dishes incorporate the food and ingredients from Spain, France, and the Middle East.
Arellano’s argument forces us to question the very idea of authenticity. What is authenticity? In the context of Mexican food, authenticity is the traditions of regional Mexican cooking that bring labor-intensive cooking techniques, geographical richness, and time-tested rituals to produce some of the best food in the world. But authenticity is more than food. It is family and culture. I urge you to watch The Taco Chronicles on Netflix. When you see families in different parts of Mexico making carnitas, canasta, asada, pastor, barbacoa, guisado, suadero, cochinita, cabrito, birria, and pescado, you will find that the geography and family traditions make these dishes authentic. But just as importantly, these foods are so good that they are a miracle from God. Look at the love the community lavishes on the local taquero, the man selling tacos on the street corner. He is bringing love to the city, and he is appreciated for it. Look at the entire communities gathering together to make these authentic dishes and you will see that food is rooted in family and culture. What is most beautiful about this notion of authenticity is the expression of love for others by bringing them the food of the gods. There is a reason in Mexico why the taco is called madre.
When we watch The Taco Chronicles, the sense of community combined with the making of the best food in the world wins our hearts and our stomachs. Any notion of violating this authenticity rightfully angers us and we are disinclined to agree with Arellano’s support of cultural appropriation. However, if you read Arellano’s book Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, you will get more context for Arellano’s defense of cultural appropriation. Arellano would never want us to violate the authentic regional traditions of Mexican cooking. Instead, he is arguing that the splendor of regional Mexican cooking spread to America by bringing food that is both desirable and affordable and that some, not all, of the magic of authentic Mexican cuisine became accessible to the American masses. Moreover, this Mexican food changed American culture for the better. Full-flavored Mexican food replaced the tasteless pablum of “American” food. Americans speak with their money and they spend so much money on Mexican food that they have made a statement that they want Mexican food in their culture.
Is Gustavo Arellano defending all forms of cultural appropriation? Clearly not. If you read his articles and watch the Netflix series Ugly Delicious, “Tacos,” you will see that Arellano has contempt for “soulless” Mexican food, “Mexican” food chains that bastardize good-tasting Mexican food, food chains that disconnect the food they sell from the workers and from the Mexican culture; you will also see that Arellano has a healthy contempt for white-washed tourist food--phony overpriced Mexican food that has no spice and has been altered to appeal to the most infantile tastebuds. These counterfeit “Mexican” restaurants aren’t serving Mexican food at all. Rather, they are shamelessly serving overpriced tasteless codswallop. They are an abomination of Mexican food and the very idea of cross-cultural pollination.
However, there are defensible iterations of cultural appropriation. Stealing recipes from Mexico and elsewhere and bringing affordable street food to America doesn’t hurt anyone and in fact brings the nectar of the gods to more people for affordable prices. Recipes are stolen all the time. Just don’t take aqua fresca and call it “spa water” on your Tiktok channel, as Gracie Norton did, which is a form of racial plagiarism.
Some will argue that if some white ladies from Portland go to Mexico and steal taco recipes from grandmothers in Mexico City, those grandmothers are entitled to a cut of the action. But in reality, millions of recipes are stolen every day in the restaurant industry and any kind of compensation through accurate and detailed accounting is an impossibility.
Another defense of Gustavo Arellano’s claim that cultural appropriation is a good thing can be found in Netflix’s Chef’s Table Pizza series. Specifically, there are two chefs, Chris Bianco and Ann Kim, who break the rules of tradition to show that there is a place for creativity and improvisation in making superior pizza that violates notions of tradition and authenticity. In fact, Italian pizza experts have visited Chris Bianco’s Pizzeria Bianco in Pheonix, Arizona, and have proclaimed that his pizza is superior to the traditional pizzas of Italy. In the case of Ann Kim, she puts kimchi on her pizza and serves Korean mung bean pancakes and her restaurant Pizzeria Lola is so famous that to meet demand, she opened three other restaurants: Hello Pizza, Young Joni, and Sook & Mimi. Incidentally, her most recent restaurant Sook & Mimi features handmade tortillas made in the tradition of Mexico.
When we see successful restauranters such as Chris Bianco and Ann Kim make delicious food that is based on both authenticity and creativity, we see that making authentic food, or not, is not an either/or proposition. It is possible to do both. Again, this notion of combining authenticity with cultural cross-pollination supports Arellano’s defense of cultural appropriation.
Clearly, not all forms of cultural appropriation are alike. Some types are an abomination. Others are a celebration. The purpose of this assignment is to use our critical thinking skills to distinguish the good from the bad and to find nuance, shades of gray, and complexity.
Just as the best tacos have a complexity of flavors, the best essays have a complexity of ideas.
***
Sample Theses That Refute and Defend Gustavo Arellano’s Argument
Refutation
Gustavo Arellano is a prestigious, beloved Los Angeles culture writer. Unfortunately, his argument that attempts to ease the collective white conscience to steal Mexican food is a sad, unconvincing affair. His argument is crippled with egregious moral, legal, and logical fallacies. He knows all too well that American history is rife with white people exploiting Mexicans’ hard work and ingenuity. To defend whites because “everyone steals” is a childish remark that fails basic moral teachings, specifically the infantile notion that two wrongs make a right. Second, if Arellano wants us to take him seriously, he must give us a more narrow definition of cultural appropriation. There is no moral equivalence between a Salvadorean husband respectfully learning the finer points of making Jahuacatas from his wife who hails from Michoacan and the white El Torito manager who hires a Mexican worker, steals the worker’s recipes over a period of two months, and then unceremoniously fires the worker. A third most regrettable error on Arellano’s part is how he conveniently ignores the atrocious fact that the majority of white stealing of Mexican food is done in the cynical service of making money by white-washing and in effect destroying delicious food to make it palatable for philistines, tourists, and other types of phony people who fancy deluding themselves into “going out and getting some ethnic food.” The bad scenarios described above are more than just bad; they are abominations of the tastebuds and the soul, and for Arellano to omit these abominations from his argument is a form of intellectual dishonesty for which I cannot forgive.
Defense
I feel bad for the above writer who has morally excoriated Gustavo Arellano for his supposed moral failings. This writer’s spiritual purity and moral self-righteousness have blinded him from the gustatory pleasures that result from Arellano’s “free-stealing” philosophy. By “free-stealing,” I refer to a degree of healthy chaos that exists in the food industry. Recipes are flying from one town to another; variations are infinite based on quirks, available food, cross-cultural pollination, and a synthesis of cooking techniques from the many cultures that inevitably converge in great cosmopolitan cities such as Los Angeles. Moreover, the relevance of Mexican cooking makes it the most popular, fastest-growing cuisine in the world. Contrary to the above passage which attempts to put a big stink on Gustavo Arellano and which would have us believe that Mexican food is pure, sacrosanct, and unchanging, real Mexican food is constantly evolving through ruthless stealing, borrowing, mutations, and respectful homages to its sacred origins. Thank God, Gustavo Arellano acknowledges the vibrancy of Mexican cooking and its complicated, sometimes morally questionable origins, for finally, a food writer has exposed the truth about the wonders of Mexican food. The above writer, on the other hand, gets a medal for moral self-righteousness but loses points for being a boring, propaganda writer for the Cult of Authenticity.
Refutation
Gustavo Arellano is gung-ho about white people stealing from Mexicans for three reasons. One, since Mexicans steal, everyone else should be able to. Two, stealing Mexican food is great for popularizing Mexican food throughout the world. Three, dishing up substandard debased Mexican food is a great “gateway drug” to getting people hooked on real Mexican food. All three of his reasons are so ludicrous and asinine as to strain credulity. For one, that Mexicans interacted with other cultures, some who colonized them, and created amazing food is not morally equivalent to privileged classes of people today stealing Mexican food and exploiting Mexican workers. For two, while it’s true that stealing Mexican recipes popularizes Mexican food, this popularization for at least 99% of the time is a disrespectful corruption of true Mexican cooking. So Mexican food has been watered-down to suit the tastes of tacky tourists. Am I supposed to celebrate that fact? I think not. Finally, Arellano would have us applaud the serving of crappy food as the “gateway drug” to real Mexican food. Arellano’s reasoning is based on the optimistic and fallacious assumption that the tasteless hordes will get one taste of abysmal phony Mexican food and want to pivot to something more authentic when in fact the evidence proves otherwise. Look at the popularity of Taco Bell, El Torito, and other shambolic soul-crushing food chains and you’ll see that the masses are quite content with eating phony soulless Mexican food and have complete disregard for the real thing. One last thing I must mention is that Arellano's argument is hypocritical and disingenuous. What do I mean? You won't see Arellano eating and praising Mexican food from white establishments or food chains. He himself goes to hole-in-the-walls owned by Mexicans and other ethnic people and finds his favorite foods from these delicious remote places. These are the places he celebrates in his columns. In other words, Arellano can't even put his money where his mouth is. So while I will read Gustavo Arellano’s cultural criticism, I will index his defense of white people stealing Mexican food in my Rejection and Nonsense File.
Your Essay Assignment:
Do you agree or disagree with Arellano's defense of cultural appropriation?
Summary of the Essay's Main Arguments
Some Caveats, Stipulations, or Conditions We Can Use from Ugly Delicious, "Tacos":
***
***
Review of Arellano's Arguments
On one side, Gustavo Arellano’s side, is the argument that great food evolves through stealing and that stealing is a sign of the food’s greatness. Another side of food greatness is constant evolution and constant innovation. People are open to experimenting with foods and not tied to traditions and absolutes. Mexican food, moreover, is not a monolith. There is diversity based on regions and innovations, so there is no such thing as One Kind of Mexican Food, no One Burrito, No One Taco, etc.
On the other side, the Cult of Authenticity, is the belief that food should be unchanged. Food is iconic and rooted in tradition and attempts at changing the food is equivalent to “blasphemy.” Also, when the food is taken and changed it accounts to the loathsome act of cultural appropriation. Which side are you on?
***
(Pro Tip: The following arguments would make an excellent body paragraph outline for Essay 4)
Ugly Delicious, Season 1, Episode 2: Tacos
ChatGPT Outline That Support Arellano
Historical Precedent: Gustavo Arellano's argument is grounded in historical reality. Mexican cuisine, like many others, has been shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, conquests, migrations, and trade. From the blending of indigenous ingredients with Spanish influences during colonization to the incorporation of flavors from other cultures in modern times, Mexican food has always evolved through borrowing and synthesis.
Diversity and Adaptation: Embracing cultural borrowing and appropriation allows Mexican cuisine to remain dynamic and responsive to changing tastes, ingredients, and culinary techniques. By incorporating elements from other cultures, it becomes more inclusive and adaptable, reflecting the diversity of the people who contribute to its evolution.
Creativity and Innovation: The willingness to borrow and synthesize from other culinary traditions fosters creativity and innovation in Mexican cooking. It encourages chefs and home cooks alike to experiment with new flavor combinations, cooking methods, and presentations, leading to the development of exciting new dishes and culinary trends.
Relevance in Contemporary Society: In a globalized world where cultures intersect and influence each other constantly, clinging too rigidly to notions of authenticity can limit the relevance and appeal of Mexican cuisine. Embracing cultural exchange and appropriation ensures that Mexican food remains vibrant and appealing to diverse audiences, both within and outside of Mexico.
Cultural Hybridity: Mexican cuisine's greatness lies in its ability to blend elements from various cultures into a cohesive and delicious whole. This cultural hybridity is a testament to the rich tapestry of influences that have shaped Mexico's culinary landscape over centuries. Rejecting the Cult of Authenticity allows for a celebration of this diversity rather than constraining it.
Acknowledgment of Influence: By acknowledging the role of cultural borrowing and appropriation in shaping Mexican food, we pay tribute to the contributions of different cultures to its development. Rather than erasing or downplaying these influences, we embrace them as integral parts of Mexican culinary heritage, enriching our understanding and appreciation of its complexity.
Sustaining Tradition through Change: Paradoxically, embracing evolution and cultural exchange is essential for preserving tradition in Mexican cuisine. As society changes and new ingredients, technologies, and culinary trends emerge, the ability to adapt and incorporate these elements ensures that traditional Mexican dishes remain relevant and accessible to future generations, ensuring their survival and continued enjoyment.
***
Choice B: American Chinese Food
Based on the Ian Cheney documentary The Search for General Tso (Amazon Prime) and the essays “Who’s Afraid of Chop Suey” by Charles W. Hayford, “More Than ‘Just Takeout’” by Cathy Erway, “‘Not Real Chinese’: Why American Chinese Food Deserves Our Respect” by Kelley Kwok, and “Searching for America with General Tso” by Jiayang Fan, write a 1,200-word argumentative essay that addresses the claim that to scorn American Chinese food as a betrayal of authentic Chinese food is an oversimplification that overlooks the complications and contradictions of American Chinese food, which is really a story about surviving racism and xenophobia, overcoming economic struggle, and establishing a strong and pervasive cultural influence.
Building Block 1 for Choice B
For paragraph 1, summarize the reasons American Chinese food is viewed as a betrayal of authentic Chinese food and the authors’ main defenses of American Chinese food.
For paragraph 2, write your thesis, an argument that addresses the assertion that to scorn American Chinese food as a betrayal of authentic Chinese food is an oversimplification that overlooks the complications and contradictions of American Chinese food, which is really a story about surviving racism and xenophobia, overcoming economic struggle, and establishing a strong and pervasive cultural influence.
Building Block 2 for Choice B
Write a counterargument-rebuttal paragraph.
Posted at 04:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
1C Essay 4 Cultural Appreciation Vs. Cultural Appropriation: Choose One of 3 Prompts
The Purpose of Essay 4:
We will explore the idea that when we embrace cultural appreciation, such as the deep love for Mexican food, inevitably that appreciation will cross the line into appropriation.
Choice A
For choice A, our fourth essay will be a 1,200-word argumentative essay that defends, refutes, or complicates food and culture writer Gustavo Arellano’s claim in his essay “Let White People Appropriate Mexican Food” and elsewhere that in the realm of food, especially Mexican food, we must step away from the Cult of Authenticity and embrace the idea that the greatness of Mexican food is related to its constant evolution from stealing, borrowing, synthesizing, and even culturally appropriating from one ethnic culture to another and that cuisines that fail to evolve lack relevance and vitality.
Paragraph 1: Summarize the main ideas in the article by Gustavo Arellano titled “Let White People Appropriate Mexican Food.” Or summarize the main ideas in the YouTube video “Cultural Appropriation Tastes Damn Good.”
Paragraph 2: Then transition to an argumentative claim in which you show support or repudiation of Arellano’s main ideas.
Paragraphs 3-6 would be your supporting paragraphs.
Paragraphs 7 and 8 would be your counterargument-rebuttal.
Paragraph 9 would be a powerful restatement of your thesis, which is your conclusion.
Your last page would be your Works Cited page in MLA format and a minimum of 4 sources.
Choice A Building Block 1
Write 2 paragraphs, an Introductory Paragraph and an Argumentative Thesis Paragraph.
I recommend one of two approaches for your introductory paragraph.
Method #1: Summarize the main ideas in the article by Gustavo Arellano titled “Let White People Appropriate Mexican Food.”
Method #2 Summarize the main ideas in the YouTube video “Cultural Appropriation Tastes Damn Good.”
Then transition to an argumentative claim in which you show support or repudiation of Arellano’s main ideas.
While I take offense at the inflated prices of some of these appropriation restaurants and the lack of credit given to the original sources, I agree with GA’s claim that _______ because ________, ______________, ________________, and _______________________.
***
Choice B: American Chinese Food
Based on the Ian Cheney documentary The Search for General Tso (Amazon Prime) and the essays “Who’s Afraid of Chop Suey” by Charles W. Hayford, “More Than ‘Just Takeout’” by Cathy Erway, “‘Not Real Chinese’: Why American Chinese Food Deserves Our Respect” by Kelley Kwok, and “Searching for America with General Tso” by Jiayang Fan, write a 1,200-word argumentative essay that addresses the claim that to scorn American Chinese food as a betrayal of authentic Chinese food is an oversimplification that overlooks the complications and contradictions of American Chinese food, which is really a story about surviving racism and xenophobia, overcoming economic struggle, and establishing a strong and pervasive cultural influence.
Building Block 1 for Choice B
For paragraph 1, summarize the reasons American Chinese food is viewed as a betrayal of authentic Chinese food and the authors’ main defenses of American Chinese food.
For paragraph 2, write your thesis, an argument that addresses the assertion that to scorn American Chinese food as a betrayal of authentic Chinese food is an oversimplification that overlooks the complications and contradictions of American Chinese food, which is really a story about surviving racism and xenophobia, overcoming economic struggle, and establishing a strong and pervasive cultural influence.
Building Block 2 for Choice B
Write a counterargument-rebuttal paragraph.
***
Choice C: Appropriating Authentic Human Experience to Entertain Others
Megan Garber’s 2017 Atlantic essay “Are We Having Too Much Fun?” revisits a “prescient” classic: Neil Postman’s book Amusing Ourselves to Death. In her essay, Garber writes the following:
“Postman today is best remembered as a critic of television: That’s the medium he directly blamed, in Amusing Ourselves to Death, for what he termed Americans’ “vast descent into triviality,” and the technology he saw as both the cause and the outcome of a culture that privileged entertainment above all else. But Postman was a critic of more than TV alone. He mistrusted entertainment, not as a situation but as a political tool; he worried that Americans’ great capacity for distraction had compromised their ability to think, and to want, for themselves. He resented the tyranny of the lol. His great observation, and his great warning, was a newly relevant kind of bummer: There are dangers that can come with having too much fun.”
In 2023, Megan Garber returns to the themes in Neil Postman’s book in her essay “We’ve Lost the Plot.” In her essay, she addresses the forces behind a “post-truth society”--weaponized misinformation, distrust in major institutions, and an addiction to “unlimited entertainment” that blurs the line between fantasy and reality. In “We’ve Lost the Plot,” Garber writes about how what we expect from human beings has changed in the age of entertainment and social media. Garber writes:
“By the mid-20th century, the historian Warren Susman argued, a great shift was taking place. American values had traditionally emphasized a collection of qualities we might shorthand as “character”: honesty, diligence, an abiding sense of duty. The rise of mass media changed those terms, Susman wrote. In the media-savvy and consumption-oriented society that Americans were building, people came to value—and therefore demand—what Susman called “personality”: charm, likability, the talent to entertain. “The social role demanded of all in the new Culture of Personality was that of a performer,” Susman wrote. “Every American was to become a performing self.”
These warnings of society’s addiction to the “performing self” and the ensuing dehumanization that occurs are rendered in the movies Network, The Truman Show, and The Social Dilemma. Write a 1,200-word essay that addresses the claim that the movies Network, The Truman Show, and The Social Dilemma illustrate that to curate a performative self and appropriate authentic experience to entertain others is destroying a healthy liberal democracy and replacing it with a “post-truth” dystopia. For your sources, use the aforementioned movies and two Megan Garber essays. Be sure to include an MLA-format Works Cited page.
Building Block 1 for Choice C
In paragraphs 1 and 2, summarize the Megan Garber essays “Are We Having Too Much Fun?” and “We’ve Lost the Plot.”
Building Block 2 for Choice C
Write your third paragraph, your thesis paragraph, in which you addresses the claim that the movies Network, The Truman Show, and The Social Dilemma illustrate that to curate a performative self and appropriate authentic experience to entertain others is destroying a healthy liberal democracy and replacing it with a “post-truth” dystopia.
***
Choice A
For choice A, our fourth essay will be a 1,200-word argumentative essay that defends, refutes, or complicates food and culture writer Gustavo Arellano’s claim in his essay “Let White People Appropriate Mexican Food” and elsewhere that in the realm of food, especially Mexican food, we must step away from the Cult of Authenticity and embrace the idea that the greatness of Mexican food is related to its constant evolution from stealing, borrowing, synthesizing, and even culturally appropriating from one ethnic culture to another and that cuisines that fail to evolve lack relevance and vitality.
Is the greatness of Mexican food rooted in its tradition or innovation?
What these culture warriors who proclaim to defend Mexicans don't realize is that we're talking about the food industry, one of the most rapacious businesses ever created. It's the human condition at its most Darwinian, where everyone rips everyone off. The only limit to an entrepreneur's chicanery isn't resources, race or class status, but how fast can you rip someone off, how smart you can be to spot trends years before anyone else, and how much money you can make before you have to rip off another idea again.
The Mexican restaurant world is a delicious defense of cultural appropriation—that's what the culinary manifestation of mestizaje is, ain't it? The Spaniards didn't know how to make corn tortillas in the North, so they decided to make them from flour. Mexicans didn't care much for Spanish dessert breads, so we ripped off most pan dulces from the French (not to mention waltzes and mariachi). We didn't care much for wine, so we embraced the beers that German, Czech and Polish immigrants brought to Mexico. And what is al pastor if not Mexicans taking shawarma from the Lebanese, adding pork and making it something as quintessentially Mexican as a corrupt PRI?
Don't cry for ripped-off Mexican chefs—they're too busy ripping each other off. Another anecdote I remember from Taco USA: one of the lieutenants of El Torito founder Larry Cano telling me Larry would pay them to work at a restaurant for a month, learn the recipes, then come back to the mothership so they could replicate it. It ain't just chains, though: In the past year, I've seen dozens of restaurants and loncheras across Southern California offer the Zacatecan specialty birria de res, a dish that was almost exclusively limited to quinceañeras and weddings just three years ago. What changed? The popularity of Burritos La Palma, the Santa Ana lonchera-turned-restaurant. Paisa entrepreneurs quickly learned that Burritos La Palma was getting a chingo of publicity and customers, so they decided to make birria de res on their own to try and steal away customers even though nearly none of them are from Zacatecas.
And that's what cultural appropriation in the food world boils down to: It's smart business, and that's why Mexicans do it, too. That's why a lot of high-end Mexican restaurants not owned by Sinaloans serve aguachile now, because Carlos Salgado of Taco Maria made it popular. That's why working-class Mexicans open marisco palaces even if they're not from the coast—because Sinaloans made Mexican seafood a lucrative scene. That's why nearly every lonchera in Santa Ana serves picaditas, a Veracruzan specialty, even though most owners are from Cuernavaca. That's why a taqueria will sell hamburgers and french fries—because they know the pocho kids of its core clients want to eat that instead of tacos. And that's why bacon-wrapped hot dogs are so popular in Southern California—because SoCal Mexican street-cart vendors ripped off Mexicans in Tijuana, who ripped off Mexicans in Tucson, who ripped off Mexicans in Sonora.
***
Gustavo Arellano contends that the success of Mexican food as one of the dominant cuisines in America and throughout the world is its refusal to be some sort of stagnant “authentic relic” but rather a constantly changing cultural phenomenon. Is his claim sacrilegious? Is he encouraging cultural appropriation, that is white privilege moving in and stealing Mexican cuisine for its own ends? Are his points defensible? Explain.
Review of Arellano's Arguments
On one side, Gustavo Arellano’s side, is the argument that great food evolves through stealing and that stealing is a sign of the food’s greatness. Another side of food greatness is constant evolution and constant innovation. People are open to experimenting with foods and not tied to traditions and absolutes. Mexican food, moreover, is not a monolith. There is diversity based on regions and innovations, so there is no such thing as One Kind of Mexican Food, no One Burrito, No One Taco, etc.
On the other side, the Cult of Authenticity, is the belief that food should be unchanged. Food is iconic and rooted in tradition and attempts at changing the food is equivalent to “blasphemy.” Also, when the food is taken and changed it accounts to the loathsome act of cultural appropriation. Which side are you on?
***
(Pro Tip: The following arguments would make an excellent body paragraph outline for Essay 4)
Ugly Delicious, Season 1, Episode 2: Tacos
ChatGPT Outline That Support Arellano
Historical Precedent: Gustavo Arellano's argument is grounded in historical reality. Mexican cuisine, like many others, has been shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, conquests, migrations, and trade. From the blending of indigenous ingredients with Spanish influences during colonization to the incorporation of flavors from other cultures in modern times, Mexican food has always evolved through borrowing and synthesis.
Diversity and Adaptation: Embracing cultural borrowing and appropriation allows Mexican cuisine to remain dynamic and responsive to changing tastes, ingredients, and culinary techniques. By incorporating elements from other cultures, it becomes more inclusive and adaptable, reflecting the diversity of the people who contribute to its evolution.
Creativity and Innovation: The willingness to borrow and synthesize from other culinary traditions fosters creativity and innovation in Mexican cooking. It encourages chefs and home cooks alike to experiment with new flavor combinations, cooking methods, and presentations, leading to the development of exciting new dishes and culinary trends.
Relevance in Contemporary Society: In a globalized world where cultures intersect and influence each other constantly, clinging too rigidly to notions of authenticity can limit the relevance and appeal of Mexican cuisine. Embracing cultural exchange and appropriation ensures that Mexican food remains vibrant and appealing to diverse audiences, both within and outside of Mexico.
Cultural Hybridity: Mexican cuisine's greatness lies in its ability to blend elements from various cultures into a cohesive and delicious whole. This cultural hybridity is a testament to the rich tapestry of influences that have shaped Mexico's culinary landscape over centuries. Rejecting the Cult of Authenticity allows for a celebration of this diversity rather than constraining it.
Acknowledgment of Influence: By acknowledging the role of cultural borrowing and appropriation in shaping Mexican food, we pay tribute to the contributions of different cultures to its development. Rather than erasing or downplaying these influences, we embrace them as integral parts of Mexican culinary heritage, enriching our understanding and appreciation of its complexity.
Sustaining Tradition through Change: Paradoxically, embracing evolution and cultural exchange is essential for preserving tradition in Mexican cuisine. As society changes and new ingredients, technologies, and culinary trends emerge, the ability to adapt and incorporate these elements ensures that traditional Mexican dishes remain relevant and accessible to future generations, ensuring their survival and continued enjoyment.
Posted at 03:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Fall 2024 Essay Prompts Third Revision
Revised & Polished Essay Prompts for Fall 2024
1A Essay 1: Is Following Your Passion Bad Career Advice?
The Purpose of Essay 1:
The purpose of your first essay is to explore the potential dangers and weaknesses of the idea of following your passion to achieve success. In what ways is following your passion dangerous? In what ways is the notion of passion a meaningless cliche? Why do such meaningless cliches become influential? What kind of audience hungers for these empty platitudes? How is Cal Newport’s idea of the craftsman mindset offered as an antidote to the dangers of following your passion? What moral considerations should be factored into cultivating a craftsman mindset?
To explore these questions, you can choose from one of the following 2 prompts:
Choice A:
In a 1,200-word essay that adheres to current MLA format and provides a minimum of 4 sources for your Works Cited page, write an argumentative essay that defends, refutes, or complicates Cal Newport’s claim from his YouTube video "Core Idea: Don't Follow Your Passion," his online article “The Passion Trap” and "The Career Craftsman Manifesto" and Ali Adbaal's YouTube video "Follow Your Passion Is Bad Advice. Here's Why" that the career advice to follow your passion is dangerous and should be replaced by the craftsman mindset. Be sure to have a counterargument-rebuttal paragraph before your conclusion. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
Choice B:
In a 1,200 word essay, address the claim that the Netflix movie The Founder, about the rise of McDonald’s Fast-Food King Ray Kroc, is a cautionary tale about following Cal Newport’s notion of the craftsman mindset without a moral compass. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
1A Essay 2: Frederick Douglass Champions the Real Version of African-American History
The Purpose of Essay 2:
You will be examining Frederick Douglass as the Northstar of African-American history so that you can rebuke the claim that teaching African-American history is a form of anti-American, “woke” indoctrination by examining Frederick Douglass’ rigor in presenting the truth of American history. By studying Frederick Douglass’ life, you can interrogate common assumptions about freedom, democracy, and social justice. You can study Frederick Douglass’ witness to slavery as an antidote to the American revisionist myth of the Lost Cause, which perversely celebrates slavery as a blessing by God ruined by “Northern aggression against state rights.” You can also study Frederick Douglass’ life as an exemplar of discipline, literacy-fueled transformation, continual self-improvement, and commitment to helping others overcome what Jordan Peele refers to as the Sunken Place. In whole, the life of Frederick Douglass is a repudiation of false claims and Strawman arguments that depict African-American history in a derogatory manner for the purpose of silencing African American voices.
For Essay 2, choose one from the following:
Choice A: Frederick Douglass Lifted Others Out of the Sunken Place
In recent years, there have been critics of teaching slavery, Jim Crow and racial injustice in the classroom. These critics claim that such teachings have degenerated into biased and extremist political ideology that is intended to indoctrinate students into an anti-American mindset with America painted as the unredeemable devil; that this anti-American mindset encourages helplessness and victimization, and that this mindset has corrupted educational institutions so that rather than teach critical thinking, they foster “Woke” political indoctrination. However, some will counter argue that such renditions of African-American history are a perversion of real African-American history, which through ignorance or malice twist the essence of African-American history in order to attack it and silence African-American voices. These defenders of African-American history will posit that while it's true there are political dimensions to the study of African-American history, there are also spiritual, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. To truly understand African-American history, we are well advised to look to Frederick Douglass whose writings were designed to uplift the oppressed from what Jordan Peele calls The Sunken Place. Based on the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, American Slave (available as a PDF online) and Clint Smith’s essay “Monuments to the Unthinkable,” write a 1,200-word essay that addresses the claim that teaching about the life of Frederick Douglass and learning about Germany’s post-World War II moral reform is a way of learning about racial injustice that avoids the aforementioned pitfalls because Douglass’ life and Germany’s moral reform embody the importance of helping others rise above the Sunken Place, bearing witness to the truth, embracing individual self-agency to resist societal injustice, fighting to redeem a society’s past racial sins, and championing the wisdom of the Ancients for our continual self-improvement. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources. For this assignment, I recommend two excellent books for further reading: Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight and The Pursuit of Happiness by Jeffrey Rosen. I also recommend the 2022 documentary Becoming Frederick Douglass.
Choice B: Frederick Douglass and the movie Black Panther Point to a Way Out of the Sunken Place
In recent years, there have been critics of teaching slavery, Jim Crow and racial injustice in the classroom. These critics claim that such teachings have degenerated into biased and extremist political ideology that is intended to indoctrinate students into an anti-American mindset with America painted as the unredeemable devil; that this anti-American mindset encourages helplessness and victimization, and that this mindset has corrupted educational institutions so that rather than teach critical thinking, they foster “Woke” political indoctrination. However, some will counter argue that such renditions of African-American history are a perversion of real African-American history, which through ignorance or malice twist the essence of African-American history in order to attack it and silence African-American voices. These defenders of African-American history will posit that while it's true there are political dimensions to the study of African-American history, there are also spiritual, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. To truly understand African-American history, we can compare the themes in the 2018 Ryan Coogler movie Black Panther and Frederick Douglass whose writings were designed to uplift the oppressed from what Jordan Peele calls The Sunken Place. In this context, write an essay that compares the way we can learn the essence of African-American history in the movie Black Panther and the writings of Frederick Douglass. This comparison should address the importance of helping others rise above the Sunken Place, bearing witness to the truth, embracing individual self-agency to resist societal injustice, fighting to redeem America, and championing the wisdom of the Ancients for our continual self-improvement so that we can find our “Inner Wakanda.” Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources. For this essay, I recommend the following YouTube videos: “Black Panther: Symbolism Explained” and “Black Panther--Creating an Empathetic Villain.”
Choice C. Glory Vs. The Lost Cause
The Lost Cause is a perversion of African-American history, a fabrication that claims that slavery was blessed by God and that in the system of slavery, whites and blacks lived in peaceful harmony, but the evil North ruined this harmony through “Northern aggression” and the “violation of state rights.” Write an essay that addresses the claim that the 1989 movie Glory provides an effective counter-narrative to the heinous mythologies behind The Lost Cause. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
Choice D. Misinformation Is the Enemy of the People
Write an essay that addresses the claim that the misinformation that fuels The Lost Cause as interrogated by Clint Smith’s essay “Why Confederate Lies Live On” and the the lies of Alex Jones evident in the HBO Max documentary The Truth Vs. Alex Jones makes a persuasive case that misinformation is the enemy of moral decency and a liberal democracy. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
Choice E. Condescension and Stereotyping
Comparing Jordan Peele’s movie Get Out with Cord Jefferson’s movie American Fiction, write a 1,200-word essay that analyzes the way both films are a critique of white liberal condescension toward African Americans. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
1A Essay 3: Is Social Media Manipulating Us?
The Purpose of Essay 3:
The purpose of Essay 3 is to interrogate the claim that social media is manipulating us and turning us into “thirsty” social media addicts. Is this claim true? Or is social media not the cause of our downfall? Is social media in fact merely exposing the pathologies and mental frailties that are already there? Could it be that we are in the beginning stages of a Social Media Learning Curve and that our mental strain in the face of social media is both natural and predictable?
To examine social media more critically, choose one of the following 3 prompts:
Choice A
Using as your sources the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, Jonathan Haidt's essay "Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid," and Sherry Turkle’s Ted Talk video “Connected But Not Alone," write a 1,200-word essay that explains the "nosedive" or mental breakdown of Lacie Pound in the Black Mirror episode "Nosedive." Did social media cause her “nosedive” or merely expose the “nosedive” that would have happened regardless? Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
Choice B
Comparing the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma and Jonathan Haidt's essay "Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid," write a 1,200-word essay that addresses the claim that technology is dehumanizing us by manipulating us with cheap and easy dopamine and other insidious techniques that leave us emotionally and spiritually impoverished. Are there not other sources beyond social media of “cheap and easy dopamine”? Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
Essay 4: Groupthink, Moral Compromise and Mass Hysteria
Comparing two works of fiction, movies, or media content, develop a thesis about the connection between Groupthink, moral compromise and mass hysteria.
For paragraph 1, define Groupthink and write about yourself or someone you know who succumbed to Groupthink resulting in a degree of self-destruction and moral compromise.
For paragraph 2, your thesis, compare two works of fiction, movies, or media content. Be sure your thesis is demonstrable in that it presents at least 5 points of comparison so you can have at least 5 body paragraphs.
Paragraphs 3-7 are your body paragraphs.
Paragraph 8 is your conclusion, a powerful restatement of your thesis.
Your last page is your Works Cited page in MLA format. It should have a minimum of 5 sources.
Here are a list of stories and movies you can use for your comparison:
Choice B Mass Hysteria and the Loss of Freedom
Addressing the movie The Truman Show and the rise and fall of social media star The Liver King, write an essay that explores the connection between self-commodification, the loss of authenticity, and the loss of freedom.
For paragraph 1, chronicle the rise and fall of the Liver King.
For paragraph 2, your thesis, compare the connection between self-commodification, the loss of authenticity, and the loss of freedom in the movie The Truman Show and the rise and fall of social media star The Liver King. For your body paragraphs, consider the following:
Your conclusion is a powerful restatement of your thesis.
Your final page is an MLA-format Works Cited that has a minimum of 5 sources.
Choice C: Acclimating to a Loss of Privacy and Increased Surveillance
Write an essay that addresses the loss of privacy, exploitation, commofidication of private life, and increased surveillance in the movie The Truman Show and the CNN article by Faith Karimi “The first social media babies are adult now.”
For paragraph 1, summarize the movie The Truman Show.
For paragraph 2, summarize the CNN article by Faith Karimi “The first social media babies are adult now.”
Paragraph 3, your thesis, will make a claim that addresses the loss of privacy, exploitation, commofidication of private life, and increased surveillance in the movie The Truman Show and the CNN article by Faith Karimi “The first social media babies are adult now.”
Paragraphs 4-8 are your supporting paragraphs.
Your conclusion is a powerful restatement of your thesis.
Your final page is an MLA-format Works Cited that has a minimum of 5 sources.
***
1C Essay 1: How People Are Persuaded and Manipulated by Clever Storytelling
The Purpose of Essay 1:
With subjects as varied as weight-loss management, tabloid misogyny, and the Silicon Valley Tech Grift, we want to interrogate the claim that people without critical thinking skills are all too easily persuaded and manipulated by clever storytelling, tropes, and memes. With this in mind, choose one of the following prompts for Essay 1:
Choice A: Is Losing Weight Based on a Fiction?
Consider the difficulty of losing weight as argued in Johann Hari’s “A Year on Ozempic Taught Me We’re Thinking About Obesity All Wrong,” Harriet Brown’s essay “The Weight of the Evidence” and Sandra Aamodt’s essay “Why You Can’t Lose Weight on a Diet”; consider the advantages of having disposable income to have access to Ozempic and similar drugs. Then write a 1,200-word argumentative essay that addresses the claim losing weight and keeping it off is based on an over-simplistic narrative about self-agency, nutrition literacy, and self-discipline, regardless of our economic standing. Is this story of “staying in shape” based in truth or a myth that obscures inconvenient facts? Does the story of free will and healthy eating obscure society’s capitalistic machine that conspires to get you sucked into the addictive Industrial Food Complex and then transition to the Diabetes-Management Complex? Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
Choice B: Interrogating Fantasy Narratives of Amanda Knox and Elizabeth Holmes
Analyze the witch-hunt-like persecution in the Netflix documentary Amanda Knox in which a young woman is victimized by a misogynistic legal system and a media enterprise that relies on misogynistic fantasies to sell a murder trial as salacious entertainment. Then analyze the rise and fall of grifter Elizabeth Holmes in the HBO Max documentary The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley in which Holmes sells herself as a Steve Jobs-like super tech savior come to save the world. Then write a 1,200-word essay titled, “Fantasies of the Femme Fatale Archetype and the Tech Super Savior" in which you explore the way fantasies misled the public, resulting in mass deception, chaos, injustice, and ruined lives. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 credible sources. You can include the assigned movies as 2 of the sources.
Choice C: Interrogating the Story America Tells the Young Generation
Best-selling author and professor Scott Galloway is an expert at using ethos, pathos, and logos to support his arguments. To understand these ideas, watch the YouTube video “Rhetorical Appeals: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.” Bearing these ideas in mind, evaluate Galloway’s critique of American society. He argues in his Ted Talk video “How the US Is Destroying Young People’s Future” that America tells the young generation a wonderful story about achieving success: The young generation should play by the rules, go to college, and attain the American dream. However, Galloway exposes this story as a cruel and cowardly lie. According to Scott Galloway’s blog essay “War on the Young,” America is not a country in which the older generation is helping the younger generation by paving a path to success. Instead, the older generation is hoarding all the money and has essentially “waged war against the young.” He says in his Ted Talk video that social media maven Mark Zuckerberg has harmed young people more than any figure in American history. Moreover, young men are being marginalized to a degree that is dangerous to not just them but to society as a whole. He expounds on these points in his blog essay “Boys to Men” and in his Bill Maher appearance on YouTube “Why Are Men in Crisis?” In a 1,200-word essay, evaluate the persuasiveness of Galloway’s Ted Talk video “How the US Is Destroying Young People’s Future” and his essay “War on the Young” as a “master class” in the use of ethos, pathos, and logos. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 credible sources.
How to Outline Choice C:
In paragraph 1, write a 250-word paragraph that summarizes the ways the older generation is stealing wealth from the young generation.
In paragraph 2, write a 250-word paragraph that summarizes the prescriptions Galloway offers for helping the young generation get back on the right track.
In paragraph 3, write a thesis that addresses the claim that Scott Galloway in his essay and video uses ethos, pathos, and logos to strengthen the persuasion of his argument.
In paragraph 4, write a 200-word paragraph that focuses on Galloway’s use of ethos and give examples from his presentation using signal phrases, direct quotes, and paraphrases.
In paragraph 5, write a 200-word paragraph that focuses on Galloway’s use of pathos and give examples from his presentation and essay using signal phrases, direct quotes, and paragraphs. Consider the way he summons emotion by looking at the boomer generation’s greed and the abandonment of loving our children. Also, consider the way Galloway discusses his personal life to create pathos.
In paragraph 6, write a 200-word paragraph that focuses on Galloway’s use of logos and give examples from his presentation and essay using signal phrases, direct quotes, and paraphrases.
In paragraph 7, your conclusion, rephrase your thesis in powerful emotional language.
Your last page will be an MLA-format Works Cited page with a minimum of 2 sources.
1C Essay 2: Exploring the Difference Between Centripetal and Centrifugal Character Development
The Purpose of Essay 2
The purpose of Essay 2 is to analyze the causes behind centripetal and centrifugal character development in the context of stories, comedy routines, and movies. Centripetal character development can be defined as a character beginning with a maladaptive character trait at the beginning of the story or movie. As the story or movie progresses, the character’s undesirable personality traits intensify more and more until they are consumed by their inner psychological malignancy. In contrast, centrifugal character development can be defined as a character having limitations and impediments to their moral growth at the beginning of the story or movie. As the character engages with conflicts in the story or movie, they go through a transformation so that they are radically changed, usually for the better. The college narrative, for example, is implicitly centrifugal. Students enter college at a beginning stage of academic life and when they graduate they have ascended several rungs to a stage in which they can achieve more independence. They have “forged a life on their own.”
Choice A: “Winter Dreams” and Magical Thinking
Analyzing the therapist and best-selling author Phil Stutz's notion of magical thinking, write a 1,200-word essay that analyzes the manner in which Dexter Green from the short story “Winter Dreams” squanders his existence by obsessing over his all-consuming chimera Judy Jones. As a result of his fixation, he is stuck in a state of centripetal character development. Because this essay is an analysis and not an argument, there is no counterargument-rebuttal section. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 credible sources. You can use my Canvas modules for your sources.
Choice B: “Winter Dreams” and Homecoming King: Centripetal Vs. Centrifugal Character Development
Centripetal character development can be defined as a character beginning with a maladaptive character trait at the beginning of the story or movie. As the story or movie progresses, the character’s undesirable personality traits intensify more and more until he is consumed by his inner psychological malignancy. In contrast, centrifugal character development can be defined as a character having limitations and impediments to his moral growth at the beginning of the story or movie. As the character engages with conflicts in the story or movie, he goes through a transformation so that he is a radically changed man, usually for the better. In this context, write a 1,200-word essay that addresses the claim that “Winter Dreams” by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Netflix comedy special Homecoming King present us with radically different iterations of grand ambition. Analyze the causes behind Dexter Green’s ambition as a source of his centripetal character development. Then analyze Hasan Minhaj’s ambition and changing attitudes toward Bethany Reed as a study in centrifugal character development. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 credible sources. You can use my Canvas modules as sources.
Choice C: Comparing Ambition in “Winter Dreams” with the 3-Part Docuseries Arnold:
Centripetal character development can be defined as a character beginning with a maladaptive character trait at the beginning of the story or movie. As the story or movie progresses, the character’s undesirable personality traits intensify more and more until he is consumed by his inner psychological malignancy. In contrast, centrifugal character development can be defined as a character having limitations and impediments to his moral growth at the beginning of the story or movie. As the character engages with conflicts in the story or movie, he goes through a transformation so that he is a radically changed man, usually for the better. In this context, write a 1,200-word essay that addresses the claim that “Winter Dreams” by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Netflix documentary Arnold present us with radically different iterations of grand ambition. Analyze the causes behind Dexter Green’s ambition as a source of his centripetal character development. Then analyze Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ambition as a study in centrifugal character development. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 credible sources. You can use my Canvas modules as sources.
1C Essay 3: The Manipulation of Young People
The Purpose of Essay 3:
You will be evaluating social influencers who peddle paranoid notions of “anxiety” and “trauma” and fashion companies who peddle FOMO and body dysmorphia to manipulate, control, and exploit young people.
Choice A: FOMO and the Manipulation of Young People
Read Derek Thompson’s essay “How Anxiety Became Content” and watch the documentary Brandy Hellville and the Cult of Fast Fashion (HBO Max). Then 1,200-word essay that addresses the way the essay and the documentary show how young people are manipulated by FOMO (fear of missing out), a pathologized notion of anxiety, a pathologized notion of fashion, herd behavior, peer pressure, social status, and how the marketing of extremes is used to exploit, manipulate, and abuse young people. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 credible sources. You can use my Canvas modules as sources.
For paragraph 1, write about how you were once manipulated into doing something as a result of desiring belonging, social status, and FOMO.
For paragraph 2, summarize the major points in Thompson’s essay and the documentary.
For paragraph 3, your all-important thesis paragraph, write a claim that compares the manner in which social influencers market exaggerated maladies and Brandy Melville markets pathologized fashion resulting in a toxic, self-destructive culture.
In terms of structure, your thesis might look something like this:
“How Anxiety Became Content” and Brandy Hellville expose a toxic culture that manipulates and exploits young people by unscrupulously relying on _________________, _________________, _________________, and _____________________________, _________________________
Your body paragraphs, 4-8, would expound on the mapping components represented by the blank spaces that follow the above thesis structure.
Because this essay is analyzing the causes of toxic culture and is more of an analysis essay than it is argumentative, there is no counterargument-rebuttal section.
Paragraph 9, your conclusion, is a powerful restatement of your thesis.
Your last page is your Works Cited page in MLA format. You need 4 sources, the documentary, Thompson’s essay, and at least one of my modules from Canvas.
Choice B Consumer Body Shaming
Comparing the documentaries Brandy Hellville and the Cult of Fast Fashion (HBO Max) and White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch (Netflix), write 1,200-word essay that addresses the claim that both documentaries expose the way young people are manipulated by a cult-like culture of toxicity, body shaming, racially-biased beauty standards, and exploitation. Be sure to have an MLA-format Works Cited page with 4 sources.
Choice C The Snakeoil of the Liver King
In a 1,200-word essay, analyze the ways the fallen social media star the Liver King persuaded and manipulated his audience into believing in his lies, buying his supplements, and making him a rich social media mogul. Be sure to have an MLA-format Works Cited page with 4 sources.
***
1C Essay 4 Cultural Appreciation Vs. Cultural Appropriation
The Purpose of Essay 4:
We will explore the idea that when we embrace cultural appreciation, such as the deep love for Mexican food, inevitably that appreciation will cross the line into appropriation.
Choice A
For choice A, our fourth essay will be a 1,200-word argumentative essay that defends, refutes, or complicates food and culture writer Gustavo Arellano’s claim in his essay “Let White People Appropriate Mexican Food” and elsewhere that in the realm of food, especially Mexican food, we must step away from the Cult of Authenticity and embrace the idea that the greatness of Mexican food is related to its constant evolution from stealing, borrowing, synthesizing, and even culturally appropriating from one ethnic culture to another and that cuisines that fail to evolve lack relevance and vitality.
Paragraph 1: Summarize the main ideas in the article by Gustavo Arellano titled “Let White People Appropriate Mexican Food.” Or summarize the main ideas in the YouTube video “Cultural Appropriation Tastes Damn Good.”
Paragraph 2: Then transition to an argumentative claim in which you show support or repudiation of Arellano’s main ideas.
Paragraphs 3-6 would be your supporting paragraphs.
Paragraphs 7 and 8 would be your counterargument-rebuttal.
Paragraph 9 would be a powerful restatement of your thesis, which is your conclusion.
Your last page would be your Works Cited page in MLA format and a minimum of 4 sources.
Choice B: American Chinese Food
Based on the Ian Cheney documentary The Search for General Tso and the essays “Who’s Afraid of Chop Suey” by Charles W. Hayford, “More Than ‘Just Takeout’” by Cathy Erway, “‘Not Real Chinese’: Why American Chinese Food Deserves Our Respect” by Kelley Kwok, and “Searching for America with General Tso” by Jiayang Fan, write a 1,200-word argumentative essay that addresses the claim that to scorn American Chinese food as a betrayal of authentic Chinese food is an oversimplification that overlooks the complications and contradictions of American Chinese food, which is really a story about surviving racism and xenophobia, overcoming economic struggle, and establishing a strong and pervasive cultural influence.
Choice C: Appropriating Authentic Human Experience to Entertain Others
Megan Garber’s 2017 Atlantic essay “Are We Having Too Much Fun?” revisits a “prescient” classic: Neil Postman’s book Amusing Ourselves to Death. In her essay, Garber writes the following:
“Postman today is best remembered as a critic of television: That’s the medium he directly blamed, in Amusing Ourselves to Death, for what he termed Americans’ “vast descent into triviality,” and the technology he saw as both the cause and the outcome of a culture that privileged entertainment above all else. But Postman was a critic of more than TV alone. He mistrusted entertainment, not as a situation but as a political tool; he worried that Americans’ great capacity for distraction had compromised their ability to think, and to want, for themselves. He resented the tyranny of the lol. His great observation, and his great warning, was a newly relevant kind of bummer: There are dangers that can come with having too much fun.”
In 2023, Megan Garber returns to the themes in Neil Postman’s book in her essay “We’ve Lost the Plot.” In her essay, she addresses the forces behind a “post-truth society”--weaponized misinformation, distrust in major institutions, and an addiction to “unlimited entertainment” that blurs the line between fantasy and reality. In “We’ve Lost the Plot,” Garber writes about how what we expect from human beings has changed in the age of entertainment and social media. Garber writes:
“By the mid-20th century, the historian Warren Susman argued, a great shift was taking place. American values had traditionally emphasized a collection of qualities we might shorthand as “character”: honesty, diligence, an abiding sense of duty. The rise of mass media changed those terms, Susman wrote. In the media-savvy and consumption-oriented society that Americans were building, people came to value—and therefore demand—what Susman called “personality”: charm, likability, the talent to entertain. “The social role demanded of all in the new Culture of Personality was that of a performer,” Susman wrote. “Every American was to become a performing self.”
These warnings of society’s addiction to the “performing self” and the ensuing dehumanization that occurs are rendered in the movies Network, The Truman Show, and The Social Dilemma. Write a 1,200-word essay that addresses the claim that the movies Network, The Truman Show, and The Social Dilemma illustrate that to curate a performative self and appropriate authentic experience to entertain others is destroying a healthy liberal democracy and replacing it with a “post-truth” dystopia. For your sources, use the aforementioned movies and two Megan Garber essays. Be sure to include an MLA-format Works Cited page.
***
***
For 1A Social Media Unit
The Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma shows how we are manipulated and dehumanized so that metaphorically we turn into zombies with our brains intoxicated by the liquor of cheap dopamine. Write a 1,200 word essay that shows how The Social Dilemma compares this zombie state to that of the virus in the 2013 movie World War Z. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 credible sources. You can use my Canvas modules as sources.
Sample Outline:
Paragraph 1: Summarize the ways we become dehumanized by social media according to The Social Dilemma.
Paragraph 2, your thesis: Argue that the "zombie state" in The Social Dilemma compares to the 2013 movie World War Z in 5 ways, making the movie an allegory of a global digital society dissolved into mindless chaos as the result of a pandemic.
Paragraphs 3-7, your body paragraphs expound on the comparison points.
Paragraph 8, your conclusion, is a dramatic restatement of your thesis.
For comparison ideas, I put the following prompt in ChatGPT:
The documentary The Social Dilemma shows how we are manipulated and dehumanized so that metaphorically we turn into zombies. Present 5 ways The Social Dilemma compares this zombie state to that of the virus in the 2013 movie World War Z.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
"The Social Dilemma" and "World War Z" both offer chilling perspectives on the loss of agency and autonomy within society. Here are five ways they compare the metaphorical zombie state portrayed in both narratives:
These comparisons underscore the powerful parallels between the metaphorical zombie state portrayed in "The Social Dilemma" and the viral outbreak in "World War Z," both of which serve as cautionary tales about the dangers of relinquishing control to external forces.
***
Variation of the Above with COVID Pandemic Factor Added
The documentary The Social Dilemma shows how we are manipulated and dehumanized so that metaphorically we turn into zombies. This dehumanization worsened during the COVID pandemic when we fell deeper down various social media platforms. Present 5 ways The Social Dilemma compares this zombie state to that of the virus in the 2013 movie World War Z and the zombie state during the COVID pandemic.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
Certainly, "The Social Dilemma" offers a compelling narrative on how social media platforms manipulate users and foster a sense of detachment from reality, akin to a metaphorical "zombie" state. Here are five ways this comparison can be drawn between the themes explored in "The Social Dilemma," the zombie apocalypse depicted in "World War Z," and the societal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic:
***
Show 5 ways the virus in the 2013 World War Z is a metaphor for the kind of mental virus that is dehumanizing us as explored in Jonathan Haidt's essay "Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid."
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
Certainly, here are five ways in which the virus depicted in the 2013 novel "World War Z" serves as a metaphor for the kind of mental virus that dehumanizes individuals, as explored in Jonathan Haidt's essay "Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid":
***
The 2013 movie World War Z is not just a prophecy about the Covid pandemic. It’s a prophecy about how the Covid pandemic put people in an internet crucible in which they got drunk on the liquor of cheap dopamine and were dehumanized and “zombified.” Present 7 examples of how this aforementioned prophecy was fulfilled.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
Comparing the themes of "World War Z" to the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic reveals several striking parallels, showcasing how the film's portrayal of a global crisis resonates with aspects of our contemporary reality. Here are seven examples illustrating how the prophecy was fulfilled:
By examining these parallels between "World War Z" and the COVID-19 pandemic, we can gain insights into the societal and psychological challenges posed by global crises and the importance of resilience, solidarity, and critical thinking in navigating uncertain times.
***
Compare 7 points of dehumanization in the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma and Jonathan Haidt's essay "Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid."
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
Certainly, let's compare seven points of dehumanization evident in both "The Social Dilemma" and Jonathan Haidt's essay "Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid."
These comparisons illustrate how both "The Social Dilemma" and Haidt's essay identify various forms of dehumanization perpetuated by social media and its impact on society.
***
To truly understand African-American history, we must look to Frederick Douglass whose writings were designed to uplift the oppressed from what Jordan Peele calls The Sunken Place. In this context, provide 7 examples to support the claim that teaching about the life of Frederick Douglass is a way of learning about racial injustice that embodies the importance of helping others rise above the Sunken Place, bearing witness to the truth, embracing individual self-agency to resist societal injustice, fighting to redeem America, and championing the wisdom of the Ancients for our continual self-improvement.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
***
During the COVID pandemic, society became even more polarized, radicalized, and open to grand conspiracies. The accretion of these developments had a dehumanizing effect on people. Elaborate on these themes by comparing 7 points of dehumanization resulting from the COVID pandemic to the "zombification" and world chaos evident in the 2013 movie World War Z.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
In the crucible of the COVID-19 pandemic, societal fissures deepened, fostering a landscape ripe for polarization, radicalization, and the proliferation of grand conspiracies. This tumultuous terrain was not merely a stage for ideological clashes but also an arena where the human essence seemed to erode, giving rise to a disturbing array of dehumanizing phenomena. Drawing parallels to the "zombification" and global chaos depicted in the 2013 film "World War Z," we can discern seven points of convergence where the dehumanizing effects of the pandemic echo the chaos of a world overrun by the undead:
In essence, the COVID-19 pandemic and the dystopian chaos of "World War Z" serve as cautionary tales, reminding us of the fragility of our humanity in the face of existential threats. By recognizing and confronting the dehumanizing forces at play, we can strive to rebuild a society grounded in empathy, solidarity, and a shared commitment to preserving our common humanity.
***
Present 7 ways the Liver King manipulated his audience into following his so-called "ancestral living."
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
The Liver King's tactics for persuading his audience to embrace his concept of "ancestral living" were multifaceted and manipulative. Here are seven ways he likely achieved this:
By employing these manipulative tactics, the Liver King could have effectively persuaded his audience to embrace his version of "ancestral living" without critically examining its validity or considering alternative perspectives.
***
Comparing Jordan Peele’s movie Get Out with Cord Jefferson’s movie American Fiction, provide 10 ways both films are a critique of white liberal condescension toward African Americans.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
Both Jordan Peele's "Get Out" and Cord Jefferson's "American Fiction" offer poignant critiques of white liberal condescension toward African Americans, revealing complex layers of racial dynamics and power structures. Here are ten ways in which both films explore this theme:
By examining these themes, both "Get Out" and "American Fiction" offer nuanced critiques of white liberal condescension toward African Americans, challenging viewers to interrogate their own complicity in perpetuating racial inequality.
***
Provide 10 reasons to support the claim that when we adopt a food from another country or ethnicity, regardless of our good intentions the adoption of this food into our home culture will be a messy mix of cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
Certainly, when we adopt a food from another country or ethnicity, even with the best intentions, the process often involves a complex mix of cultural appreciation and appropriation. Here are ten reasons to support this claim:
By recognizing and grappling with these complexities, we can strive to engage in a more thoughtful and respectful approach to adopting foods from other cultures, acknowledging the inherent tensions between cultural appreciation and appropriation.
ChatGPT Prompt:
Based on the Ian Cheney documentary The Search for General Tso and the essays “Who’s Afraid of Chop Suey” by Charles W. Hayford, “More Than ‘Just Takeout’” by Cathy Erway, “‘Not Real Chinese’: Why American Chinese Food Deserves Our Respect” by Kelley Kwok, and “Searching for America with General Tso” by Jiayang Fan, present 10 arguments to support the claim that to scorn American Chinese food as a betrayal of authentic Chinese food is an oversimplification that overlooks the complications and contradictions of American Chinese food, which is really a story about facing racism, overcoming economic struggle, and establishing a strong and pervasive cultural influence.
Based on the Ian Cheney documentary The Search for General Tso and the essays “Who’s Afraid of Chop Suey” by Charles W. Hayford, “More Than ‘Just Takeout’” by Cathy Erway, “‘Not Real Chinese’: Why American Chinese Food Deserves Our Respect” by Kelley Kwok, and “Searching for America with General Tso” by Jiayang Fan, present 10 arguments to support the claim that to scorn American Chinese food as a betrayal of authentic Chinese food is an oversimplification that overlooks the complications and contradictions of American Chinese food, which is really a story about facing racism, overcoming economic struggle, and establishing a strong and pervasive cultural influence.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
***
Present 7 reasons to support the claim that the misinformation that fuels The Lost Cause as interrogated by Clint Smith’s essay “Why Confederate Lies Live On” and the the lies of Alex Jones evident in the HBO Max documentary The Truth Vs. Alex Jones makes a persuasive case that misinformation is the enemy of moral decency and a liberal democracy.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
***
To truly understand African-American history, we are well advised to look to Frederick Douglass whose writings were designed to uplift the oppressed from what Jordan Peele calls The Sunken Place. Based on the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, American Slave (available as a PDF online) and Clint Smith’s essay “Monuments to the Unthinkable,” present 10 reasons to support the claim that teaching about the life of Frederick Douglass and learning about Germany’s post-World War II moral reform is a way of learning about racial injustice that avoids the aforementioned pitfalls because Douglass’ life and Germany’s moral reform embody the importance of helping others rise above the Sunken Place, bearing witness to the truth, embracing individual self-agency to resist societal injustice, fighting to redeem a society’s past racial sins, and championing the wisdom of the Ancients for our continual self-improvement.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
Absolutely, exploring the life and works of Frederick Douglass provides a profound lens through which to understand African-American history and the ongoing struggle against racial injustice. Here are ten compelling reasons why studying Douglass and reflecting on Germany's post-World War II moral reform offers invaluable insights into this complex issue:
In conclusion, studying Frederick Douglass's life and works alongside Germany's post-World War II moral reform efforts provides a multifaceted approach to understanding and addressing racial injustice. Through empowerment, truth-telling, resistance, and reconciliation, these historical narratives offer invaluable lessons for navigating the complexities of our shared humanity and striving towards a more just and equitable future.
***
Choice C
In a 1,200-word essay, interrogate the shared psychological challenges rendered in the 1998 movie The Truman Show and the 1999 movie Being John Malkovich to address the claim that both movies are a prophecy of the struggles humans will face in the Age of Social Media. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
Choice D
The Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma shows how we are manipulated and dehumanized so that metaphorically we turn into zombies with our brains intoxicated by the liquor of cheap dopamine. Write a 1,200 word essay that shows how The Social Dilemma compares this zombie state to that of the virus in the 2013 movie World War Z. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 credible sources. You can use my Canvas modules as sources.
Sample Outline:
Paragraph 1: Summarize the ways we become dehumanized by social media according to The Social Dilemma.
Paragraph 2, your thesis: Argue that the "zombie state" in The Social Dilemma compares to the 2013 movie World War Z in 5 ways, making the movie an allegory of a global digital society dissolved into mindless chaos as the result of a pandemic.
Paragraphs 3-7, your body paragraphs expound on the comparison points
Choice E
Address the claim that the 1976 movie Network foreshadows the kind of commodification of performative outrage and its toxic societal effects evident in the documentary The Social Network.
***
The Sunken Place
The Purpose of Essay 4
The purpose of Essay 4 is to explore a very specific type of depression and learned helplessness--what Jordan Peele calls the Sunken Place. Examining the great writings of Frederick Douglass, Childish Gambino’s viral video “This Is America,” cinema, and other expressions of the Sunken Place, we want to interrogate the causes of the Sunken Place and study the heroism of those who through self-agency and fortitude overcome the Sunken Place and assert their individual selfhood and dignity in the face of a merciless machine that would prefer to eat us alive.
With this purpose in mind, choose of one the following options:
Choice A: Defining the Sunken Place
In a 1,200-word essay with 5 sources, write an extended definition of the Sunken Place. For your definition, draw from Jordan Peele's movie Get Out, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and Childish Gambino's video "This Is America." Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
Choice B: Resisting the Sunken Place
The Sunken Place can be defined as a place of depression and demoralization to the point of paralysis often as the result of racist stereotyping. In this context, write an essay that compares the way Chris Washington in the movie Get Out resists the Sunken Place to the way Frederick Douglass overcomes his own Sunken Place. Consider the following: Both have developed personalities with a strong point of view, a strong articulation of their point of view, and the kind of self-agency and self-worth that make any attempt to enslave or oppress them a near impossibility. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
Choice C: Comparing Get Out and American Fiction
Comparing Jordan Peele’s movie Get Out with Cord Jefferson’s movie American Fiction, write a 1,200-word essay that analyzes the way both films are a critique of white liberal condescension toward African Americans. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
1A Essay 4: Interrogating the Maudlin Disposition
The purpose of Essay 4 is to interrogate the maudlin disposition as an insidious moral weakness that is encouraged by both malignant societal forces and the private demons of the individual.
The word maudlin can be described as excessive, drunken and foolish sentimentality for anything that has been elevated to something undeserving of such excessive emotion. To dig into the word maudlin more deeply, we can ascribe a weakness of character associated with it. To be a maudlin person is to be fragile, weak, immature, and unhinged because to be maudlin is to be disconnected from reality and from other people. To be in this state of disconnection and loneliness, maudlin people rely on their excessive sentimentality to compensate and escape from their miserable loneliness and disconnection. Another egregious flaw of the maudlin person is that they confuse the object or idea of their maudlin emotions with reality when in fact the cause of their sentimentality is a mirage or a chimera. Therefore, we can conclude that maudlin people are disoriented, unhinged, weak, fragile souls who console themselves feebly with their hollow sentimentality, anguish, and regret. Write an essay that presents an extended definition of the word maudlin by comparing two of the following three short stories “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula LeGuin, “Gooseberries” by Anton Chekhov, and “The Swimmer” by John Cheever. Be sure to have a Works Cited page in MLA format with 4 sources.
Required Outline
For paragraph 1, write an extended definition of the word maudlin as the opposite of virtue and moral strength based on Cicero’s Tusculan Disputations in which we find the soul must be “tranquilized by restraint and consistency.” In such a state, the soul “neither pines away in distress, nor is broken down by fear, nor consumed with a thirst of longing in pursuit of some ambition, nor maudlin in the exuberance of meaningless eagerness--he is the wise man of whom we are in quest, he is the happy man.” For your 200-word paragraph research the word maudlin in the context of Cicero’s Tusculan Disputations and present 4 distinguishing characteristics of the word maudlin while you explain how the maudlin disposition is one of moral impoverishment.
For paragraph 2, write a 200-word profile of someone you know who exists in the maudlin state.
For paragraph 3, your thesis, make a claim that two characters from two of the three aforementioned short stories share characteristics of the maudlin disposition and explain that this condition contributes to the characters’ demise.
Paragraphs 4-7 are your supporting paragraphs.
Paragraph 8, your conclusion, is a powerful restatement of your thesis.
Your last page, your Works Cited, is in MLA form with a minimum of 4 sources.
***
Addressing the movie The Truman Show and the rise and fall of social media star The Liver King, write an essay that explores the connection between self-commodification, the loss of authenticity, and the loss of freedom.
ChatGPT
Title: The Trappings of Self-Commodification: Exploring Authenticity and Freedom in The Truman Show and the Rise and Fall of The Liver King
Introduction:
In the age of social media, the lines between personal identity, public persona, and commercial branding have become increasingly blurred. This phenomenon is epitomized by the rise and fall of social media influencers like The Liver King and the thematic exploration of self-commodification in Peter Weir's film "The Truman Show." This essay delves into the intricate connection between self-commodification, the loss of authenticity, and the erosion of freedom, drawing parallels between The Liver King's trajectory and the narrative of "The Truman Show."
Self-Commodification and Loss of Authenticity:
The Liver King, like many social media stars, initially gained fame by commodifying his persona and lifestyle, presenting an idealized version of himself for public consumption. Through curated posts, sponsored content, and carefully crafted narratives, he cultivated a loyal following, trading authenticity for popularity and commercial success. Similarly, in "The Truman Show," the protagonist Truman Burbank's entire life is commodified for entertainment, with his every action and emotion meticulously staged for mass consumption. Both The Liver King and Truman embody the consequences of self-commodification—the gradual erosion of authenticity as personal experiences are filtered through the lens of public scrutiny and commercial interests.
The Loss of Freedom:
Central to both narratives is the theme of freedom—or the lack thereof—in the face of societal expectations and commercial pressures. The Liver King's ascent to social media stardom comes at the cost of his autonomy, as he becomes increasingly beholden to sponsorships, endorsements, and the demands of his audience. His once-authentic persona becomes a commodity to be bought and sold, trapping him in a cycle of performance and validation. Similarly, Truman Burbank's life in "The Truman Show" is devoid of genuine freedom, as he navigates a carefully constructed world where every aspect of his existence is controlled and manipulated for profit. His quest for liberation is a poignant metaphor for the struggle against societal constraints and the yearning for authentic self-expression.
The Paradox of Self-Commodification:
What emerges from both narratives is the paradoxical nature of self-commodification—the illusion of freedom masking a deeper sense of confinement. While The Liver King and Truman Burbank appear to lead glamorous lives filled with fame and adulation, their experiences are ultimately hollow and devoid of meaning. The pursuit of likes, followers, and endorsements becomes a substitute for genuine human connection, perpetuating a cycle of alienation and emptiness. In relinquishing their authenticity in exchange for societal approval, both protagonists sacrifice their inherent freedoms, becoming prisoners of their own constructed realities.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the rise and fall of The Liver King and the thematic exploration of self-commodification in "The Truman Show" offer profound insights into the complexities of modern identity and the erosion of authenticity in the digital age. Through their respective narratives, both works illuminate the perils of trading personal autonomy for public validation, highlighting the inherent tension between self-expression and societal conformity. As society grapples with the consequences of rampant commercialization and social media saturation, it is imperative to reflect on the true cost of self-commodification—the loss of authenticity, agency, and ultimately, freedom.
***
Write a 5-paragraph outline that compares the connection between self-commodification, the loss of authenticity, and the loss of freedom in the movie The Truman Show and the rise and fall of social media star The Liver King.
ChatGPT
III. Loss of Authenticity
Posted at 02:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Provide 5 reasons The Truman Show could be seen as a prophecy of social media.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
"The Truman Show," despite being released in 1998, indeed holds relevance as a prophetic commentary on social media. Here are five reasons why:
By exploring these parallels, "The Truman Show" offers profound insights into the societal implications of pervasive surveillance, curated realities, and the erosion of privacy in the digital age, making it a compelling prophecy of the social media phenomenon.
Give 5 reasons the movie Being John Malkovich could be seen as a prophecy of social media.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
"Being John Malkovich" offers a unique lens through which to view the emergence and impact of social media. Here are five reasons why the film can be interpreted as a prophetic commentary on social media:
Through its inventive premise and thematic depth, "Being John Malkovich" anticipates many of the sociocultural shifts brought about by the rise of social media, offering a thought-provoking exploration of identity, celebrity culture, and the human desire for connection and self-expression.
***
"The Truman Show" and "Being John Malkovich" are both remarkable films that offer intriguing insights into the human condition and society, and indeed, they contain elements that can be interpreted as prophetic of the rise of social media. Here are seven reasons why both movies can be seen as harbingers of the social media era:
Reality as Entertainment: In "The Truman Show," Truman's entire life is televised without his knowledge, turning his existence into a form of entertainment for the masses. Similarly, in "Being John Malkovich," the portal into Malkovich's mind becomes a spectacle for others to experience. This mirrors how social media has transformed everyday lives into curated content for public consumption, blurring the lines between private and public spheres.
Loss of Privacy: Both films explore the concept of privacy invasion. Truman's life is constantly monitored and manipulated for the sake of entertainment, while the characters in "Being John Malkovich" invade Malkovich's mind without his consent. This reflects the erosion of privacy boundaries in the age of social media, where individuals willingly share personal information online, often without fully understanding the consequences.
Identity Exploration and Manipulation: In "Being John Malkovich," characters gain the ability to inhabit Malkovich's body temporarily, leading to a surreal exploration of identity and selfhood. Social media similarly allows users to create and manipulate online personas, blurring the boundaries between authentic self-expression and constructed identities.
Obsession with Celebrity Culture: Both films critique society's obsession with fame and celebrity. Truman is unwittingly thrust into the spotlight as the star of his own reality show, while "Being John Malkovich" plays with the idea of celebrity worship by focusing on the titular actor's life. This mirrors the way social media amplifies and perpetuates celebrity culture, with platforms like Instagram and Twitter providing unprecedented access to the lives of the rich and famous.
Manipulation of Reality: In "The Truman Show," reality itself is manufactured and controlled to create the illusion of normalcy for Truman. Similarly, in "Being John Malkovich," characters manipulate reality through the portal into Malkovich's mind. This reflects the way social media allows users to curate and manipulate their online personas, presenting a carefully crafted version of reality to their followers.
Existential Themes: Both films delve into existential themes such as the nature of reality, free will, and the search for meaning. Truman grapples with the realization that his entire life has been a scripted performance, while characters in "Being John Malkovich" confront questions of identity and purpose. These existential dilemmas resonate with the sense of alienation and disconnection that can arise from excessive engagement with social media, where users often struggle to distinguish between authentic experiences and digital facades.
Reflections on Voyeurism and Narcissism: Both films explore the voyeuristic and narcissistic tendencies inherent in human nature. Truman's life is watched by millions of viewers, while characters in "Being John Malkovich" become fixated on their own desires and fantasies. This mirrors the voyeuristic nature of social media, where users consume and contribute to an endless stream of content, often driven by a desire for validation and self-promotion.
In sum, "The Truman Show" and "Being John Malkovich" offer thought-provoking reflections on the human condition and societal dynamics that resonate with the emergence of social media. By examining themes such as reality manipulation, loss of privacy, and the allure of celebrity culture, both films serve as compelling allegories for the digital age.
Posted at 06:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Recent Comments