Ana Juan “New Yorker Cover”

Ana Juan, in her illustration of a “New Yorker Cover” (2011) asserts that although the World Trade Center was destroyed, it will always be remembered as a part of New York City. She supports this assertion by including a watery image of the twin towers in a reflection of the New York skyline. Her goal is to show how the twin towers are still having an effect today and will always be alongside the rest of the skyscrapers. She creates a personal connection with all of the citizens of America by reminding them of 9/11.

In this illustration, the past and the present seem connected, but at the same time very different. The waterline divides the two different time periods from each other. The reflection in the water holds the past and the twin towers. Above the water is the shining city of New York, which exemplifies the present. However, Ana Juan’s goal was to show how even though there are two different time periods, they are still connected. When one looks at the reflection of New York City, they don’t simply see a bunch of glittering buildings. They also see the past and memories of a different city that once stood proud and strong. The past and present may be separate, but to fully understand what New York is all about, one needs to see the whole story. The skyline will always feel a bit empty without the towers, but the memory of the past will always remain.  

Synthesis Blog: Apple Ad '1984'

Apple seems to be a crossroad, that could either go two ways. At one hand, the U.S. Government wants the software to break the password of an iPhone to get into the assailant's iPhone in the San Bernardino case. On the other hand, Apple products promise security and privacy, which makes it appealing to customers. People would feel less inclined to purchase products if they knew their information was out in the open. I believe Apple has a right to keep their products private and have no obligation to create password-breaking software.

The 1984 ad created in preparation for the launch of the Macintosh computer defends Apple’s claim on the debate. The whole basis of a 1984 society is that there is no freedom. Privacy is taken away to ensure that “traitors” don’t prevail. Each room has a telescreen that monitors every move a person makes. Apple, in 1984, was trying to compare IBM to this idea. IBM, the "Big Blue," wants full control, while Apple is the groundbreaking savior sent to destroy a computer monopoly. It seems that once again, Apple is in the same situation because now the American Government is trying to take away freedom and privacy. 
The article “Breaking Down Apple’s iPhone fight with the U S. Government”, written in the New York Times, gives clear reasons why Apple can’t simply release the password- breaking software. This release would snowball into the government taking control of privacy. They would have the ability to use it for a number of cases, which would hurt Apple greatly. Not only that, but China would also have a lot to gain from this software. Their “officials have been pushing for greater control over the encryption and security of technology sold there,” which means that China would have even more controlling and censorship abilities in the computer world. The cons definitely outweigh the pros for a world that doesn’t want to look like 1984.
Apple was considered to be groundbreakers when they released their ad. They turned commercial viewing on the Super Bowl into a “cultural phenomenon”. However, the tides have turned because it is starting to look as if the world will eventually emulate the society of 1984. The government is trying to take control of liberties and rights that we as Americans hold dear. In the coming weeks and months, we will see which direction our world takes as we move forward.

David Sedaris “Go, Carolina”

David Sedaris, in his essay “ Go, Carolina” (2000), claims that he struggled in school socially and physically, due to the school system’s problems with helping kids who were gay or struggling with impairments. He supports this claim by sarcastically going over a period of four months where a speech therapist attempted to help him. His purpose is to highlight problems with education and depict how students with his disability and with other issues felt like outsiders. He creates an informal relationship with the audience by using a sarcastic tone and by speaking in first person.

1. The speech therapy story revealed many issues with school systems and depicted what types of methods they use. The main issue I had with David’s school was their strategy for helping students with issues. They had speech therapists on a circuit, which meant there wasn’t a lot of consistency between teachers, and it also meant that teachers weren’t being interviewed. Miss Samson was a horrible individual and placed herself over David in a superior manner. The school never screened this teacher to see her methods. That showed a lack of caring on the school’s part. However, this story didn’t strike me as true because my school is very different. Since it is a private school, each teacher is interviewed and then watched throughout the semester. The school also sends out google questionnaires on teachers that are anonymous. This means that the school is getting input from the students. From where I come from, I could never see this happening in my school, and I pity David.
2. David Sedaris does a very good job of making heavy parts in the story lighter with comedy and sarcasm. When the Miss Samson mercilessly tricked him into speaking with a lisp, he lightened the mood, by recalling how his mom called him a “sucker”. The therapist had acted with zero respect, but David made the story seem funny. Therefore, he was able to accomplish a very depressing point in his life, without mortifying the audience. He also originally referred to Miss Samson as an agent, which in his mind made going to the therapist more lively. He was able to cope with difficult points in his life with humor and a good attitude.
3. There are a few key lines that highlight David Sedaris’ sarcastic tone. When David was complaining about Miss Samson, he said, “She was in love with the sound of her own name and seemed to view my speech impediment as a personal assault. It I wanted to spend the rest of my life as David Thedarith, then so be it. She, however, was going to be called Miss Chrissy Samson.” This line reveals how he takes his speech impediment in strides. He is able to make a joke out of a seemingly irritating situation, by referring to himself as David Thedarith. This also shows his tone as being one of positivity that overshadows serious points in his life. He again uses his speech problem in funny manner by saying how he preferred to use the word “champ” over “sucker.” David tries to give everything a humorous twist, which sums up his tone.