Stories have always been a great way for people to connect. Throughout history, people have passed down stories from generation to generation. As we hear these stories passed down, it is interesting to hear how the stories evolve as they are told by different people.

For example, there is a story in my family that has been told for a long time now. It involves my great great grandfather in Greece. My Papou (grandpa) tells the story like this:

     A long time ago in Greece, our family name was Kanellis, and my great great grandfather was a great big hairy man. He was so hairy, that he looked like a bear, and his friends called him, ironically, Spanos. Spanos means 'clean shaven' or 'hairless'. He eventually got so used to the name that he changed it legally to Spanos, and now our family name is Spanos.

 

Papou tells the story truthfully, but it is not the same as when my Yaya (grandma) tells the same story. Yaya is a much better storyteller than Papou, so when Yaya tells the story, she explains everything in much greater detail. She describes the house that my great grandfather lived in, and the names of all his friends who joked with him. She even made sure to explain all the Greek to me. "Kanellis is a name for someone with cinnamon colored hair" she would say. Between the both of them, I learned the same story, but each of them told it in their own way. My Papou is a tough man of few words, and when he does speak, he speaks mostly Greek. While Yaya is a creative and gentle soul, who loves to entertain her grandchildren. Their versions of the story reflect their personalities and the way they connect with people. Do you have any examples of stories that are different when told by different people? Please share!

 



Rhetorical Analysis: Social Media

For those who write frequently, it is well known that the sharpest dagger (Don't worry! Metaphorical dagger!) that a writer owns is rhetoric. How something is written has a major impact on the reader and their interpretation of what was written. For example, in the blog post titled "Social Media: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," the author, called sternerr, talks about the dangers of social media. Their argument appeals to ethos at the beginning when they explains both sides of the argument. The author explains that social media websites can be beneficial in keeping up easily with loved ones, but there are some negative implications as well. The author then goes on to incite logos. They give specific examples of how teens much like the intended audience of their blog need to be careful with what they put of Facebook and Twitter. For example, she recall a story about a college student at UCLA who was forced to withdraw from school after a particular rant on a social media website. Her use of such a grave example makes readers believe that they can get in much more trouble or their posts than they thought. By scaring the reader with examples such as these, the author forms an impression in the mind of the reader and conveys their opinion successfully.

Another blog post, titled "Why Sharing Photos on Facebook is Bad for You," warns readers about the legal implications that their social media can have on their lives and their privacy. This article appeals mainly to logos as the author takes the reader through the process of reading the privacy policy on Facebook's website regarding pictures. The author includes screenshots of the policy itself to show the reader the truth behind his argument.  He then explains the policy to the reader and shows them what Facebook has the legal right to do with their pictures and videos that they had previously shared freely. Offering cold, and a little bit scary, evidence to support his claim allows the author to fully make his point to the reader.

These uses of rhetoric and are important tools that authors implement to make their points while writing. In highly opinionated pieces, the rhetoric is almost flagrant. Any other interesting examples of rhetoric out there? Please share!

Americans take pride in their culture. Baseball, mom and apple pie have been staples in American culture for much of its history. The emphasis on freedom and patriotism has lead many people in the United States that their country is "the best." But culture is a constantly evolving thing, and I believe that technology is the driving force behind that change. Now I'm not saying that The United States is no longer "the best," but I am saying that with the advent of different technologies the culture of The United States is beginning to blur with that of the rest of the world. This would make every one "the best!"

Technology has connected people in ways that were never before possible. For example, right now I can, (if I really wanted to prove my point!), go online and find friends in countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. I can also go online and find music, art and recipes from all over the world. Any person with access to the Internet also has access to the cultures of every person around the world. It is because of this connectivity that culture no longer has geographic limitations. the cultures of the world are beginning to blend into one world culture.

There are some who oppose the change that technology brings. Some people are repulsed by how more and more children play with video games and mp3 players than with jump ropes or hopscotch. Other people believe that our reliance on technology makes human beings lazy and stupid. (Is Technology Ruining Society?). They may be right in their beliefs. In American culture, obesity is a growing problem, and social networking is growing out of control. However, change is a natural part of cultural development, and I believe that this is positive growth.

The abilities that technology provides give us clear windows into the lives of others around the world. Young people in countries all over the world listen to the same music, play the same video games and watch the same movies. This generation of people raised with technology gives me hope that one day, the lines between borders will not be drawn so boldly. And that we will no longer be separated by simple things like where we were born.