Abortion is not a new topic of debate. In fact, it is one of the most controversial topics in politics. Abortion did not become legal until 1973, after the infamous Roe vs. Wade case. Although it has been legal for about 47 years, there are still politicians and law makers who actively challenge it. In fact, President Trump has been a vocal anti-abortion advocate and has worked hard to ban abortion in several states as well as defunding planned parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the United States. In this post, I will be analyzing the public policy of abortion using a feminist approach.

First, abortion is a health issue that only pertains to women and their bodies. It is an extremely intimate decision that is difficult for any woman to make. It is both physically and emotionally challenging, without the interference of government. There are many different reasons that a woman may choose to get an abortion, which include but are not limited to: health complications for the woman and/or fetus, financial instability, abusive relationships, etc. Whatever the reason may be, it is ultimately a personal decision that a woman should have the right to make for herself and her body.

In response to Alabama’s ban of nearly all abortions in 2019, state representative Rolanda Hollis, introduced a new bill that would require the vasectomy of any man 50+ or if he had 3+ children. This created much controversy between politicians and government officials, which was Hollis’s intent. She wanted to highlight the double standard, which is exactly what happened. Texas senator, Ted Cruz, who has been urging for the 20 week ban of abortion in his state, said that the bill was an “overreach” and did not think that the government should be able to make those decisions for men. This hypocrisy exemplifies the patriarchy that our nation and society is still operating under. When men’s health rights are at risk of being violated, there is an uproar, but nobody gives the endless struggle with abortion a second thought. Somehow it is not acceptable to tell men when, how, and why they will have children, but it is fine to leave women with the burden of a pregnancy that they, for many possible reasons, cannot support.

Overall, abortion is still a controversial debate, and will likely remain that way for years to come. It is linked the historical oppression of women and the battle against their rights. Our government has the power to force a women to bear a child that they incapable of supporting or caring for. This communicates a message that women do not really own their bodies. It is the law makers, politicians, and social influencers who govern our reproductive systems. This will only be changed with further discussion and conversation that will bring the government’s injustice and oppression of women to the forefront.

https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/02/20/trump-goes-global-his-absurd-anti-abortion-agenda

Feminism is a necessary and crucial part of the world. Without it, women would not have made as much progress in the equal rights movement. Women would not be able to vote, own property, work, etc. Although women have acquired some victories and triumphs, they are still living in a world that is oppressed by men. Often, these are in more subtle, groomed ways that can be easily overlooked. In this post, I will be using the feminist theory approach to analyze the Stacy’s Mom music video by Fountains of Wayne, which will focus on the sexualization and degradation of women.

First, the video begins by showing the music video’s character, “Stacy,” and her mother. Although Stacy appears to be a prepubescent girl, the video immediately sexualizes her. Stacy is wearing a mini skirt in front of male peers, and is later shown in a bed full of stuffed animals, wearing nothing but underwear and a cropped tank top. It is obvious that she is also wearing makeup to enhance her features and make her appear older. This is a controversial trend that has persisted over the years. An increasing number of young girls turn to makeup, scandalous clothing, and provocative behavior to survive in a world that encourages them to “grow up too fast.”

In addition, Stacy’s mother is also being sexualized. She is dressed in revealing clothing, and it even shows a stripping scene. It is notable that the main character in this music video, who is in pursuit of Stacy’s mom, is a young boy. This is an inappropriate age gap that would be ridiculed if roles were reversed. It also highlights how early toxic masculinity is introduced in a boy’s life.

To continue, there is an underlying theme of entitlement and objectification that allows for the degradation of women. The song sings, “Stacy’s mom has got it going on. She’s all that I want, and I’ve waited for so long. Stacy, can’t you see? You’re just not the girl for me.” This shows the self-entitlement of the main character by assuming that either of the women would be interested in him. It also objectifies the women by not giving them a voice. The mother and daughter are being discussed like two objects whose only purpose is to be desirable and appealing to men. This is also shown via the style of cinematography; the boy is able to do normal tasks such as swimming, mowing the lawn, and standing. In contrast, while the women are doing similar things, the camera zooms in slow on their bodies, focuses on their suggestive facial expressions, and pushes a lustful narrative.

Finally, the immense popularity of this song should be noted. Artifacts represent the truth of their time. By analyzing the sexualization and degradation in this artifact, one can see the progression of feminism and women’s rights. While there is still further progress to be made, it is helpful to reflect on the past, as it helps lead to future growth.

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There are several ways in which one can analyze an artifact. Today, I will be discussing the Netflix series, and using generic criticism. This will allow me to explore the genre and its restrictions, constraints, and expectations.

To summarize, You is a psychological thriller series. Joe Goldberg, the main character, is a serial killer who claims to kill for love. His character has gained mass popularity recently. Many fans sympathize with Joe, despite the horrible crimes he continuously commits. The support to this specific genre is notable, as we are living in a society where stories such as these are the harsh realities. This is seen via gun violence, rape, abuse, etc. that is constantly being portrayed and demonized in the media.

Psychological thrillers are a popular genre among many people. Movies and shows such as Bates Motel, Dexter, Gone girl, etc. have gained popularity over the years. Their plots emphasize the instabilities or psychological weaknesses of important characters, while showing how their personalities contribute to the unpredictable plots. Characters are expected to be unstable and erratic. They are constrained by their own mental states or restrictive situations that they find themselves in. Furthermore, they are expected to act, react, think, and feel in an unconventional way that makes the audience think critically and feel unexpected emotions.

In terms of you, all of these factors are seen. Joe is unable to escape his twisted, unhealthy mentality, which is integral to the plot, as it drives all of his actions. Throughout the show, everyday situations are displayed, but Joe puts a twist on everything. He is able to think, feel, and perceive things in a way that the average person does not. While doing this, he is simultaneously justifying his actions through manipulative and coercive thoughts that are shared with the audience. For instance, he stalks one of his love interests on social media, which is something that most people can familiarize himself with. However, Joe goes as far to steal the victim’s phone and keep it for himself in order to spy on her personal life. Although this seems like a serious violation to the average person, Joe then goes on to rationalize by saying he will do anything for love, which is what sets him apart from the average person. He almost makes his faults and shortcomings seem like misunderstood strengths.

Finally, You can be analyzed using generic criticism, as it is a psychological thriller series. Joe is restricted to his own lack of mental sanity which constrains him to acting in an immoral, dangerous, and sporadic ways. This leaves characters with expectations of the same repeating behaviors that allow the plot to keep advancing. It is important to understand the genre of any artifact in order for one to see the restrictions, constraints and expectations that ensue. (467 words)

Metaphors are powerful. They help to convey ideas by directly linking an artifact to other artifacts, symbols, indicators, etc. They can communicate a grand message in just a few words. Although there are many ways to rhetorically analyze artifacts, I will be using a metaphor approach to analyze some of Donald Trump's comments concerning immigrants and people of color.

First, the video I am analyzing is titled, Donald Trump's Comments on Immigrants: They're Rapists. They All Have Aids." by MSNBC. There are several statements throughout the video that have metaphoric interest. Trump references rapists, aids, Pocahontas, and hell. I will address these statements in order.

To begin, Trump said that Mexican immigrants are rapists, but said he "assumes" some are good people. This is notable, because rapists are criminals and are regarded in a very bad light. Rape is a violent, unforgivable act. This is essentially taking Mexicans, as a whole, depersonalizing them, and branding them as illegal, violent, and ill-intentioned people that are a danger to society. Trump even goes further to say he assumes that some are good people, further leaving their quality of character up for question.

Next, when speaking on Haitians, Trump said they all have aids. This is of interest, because he is again generalizing an entire group, and associating all of them to be victims of a deadly medical disease. This victimizes Haitians and strips them of power. It makes the audience think of them as sick and helpless, even though Trump is certainly not a health professional.

To continue, Trump, while honoring Navajo code talkers, made a comment toward senator, Elizabeth Warren. He said, to a Native American, that Warren has been a representative of Congress for so long that some "call her Pocahontas." This is using metaphor to compare Warren to a historic figure in Native American History. This was seen as disrespectful by many, because it is comparing a white woman to a Native American woman who had much historical impact and represents a group that has, throughout history, been diminished and disempowered by white people, such as Trump and Warren.

Additionally, when speaking about African American and Hispanic people, Trump said they are "living in hell" because their lives are dangerous, and they can't even walk down the street without getting shot. When using metaphor to compare these people of color to inhabitants of hell, Trump is essentially labeling millions of American citizens as immoral, corrupt, damaged, and doomed. Hell is commonly known as a place of afterlife for dead, evil spirits; this perhaps questions people of color's right to live. He further uses reference of shooting to instill a sense of fear and violence in association with people of color.

Finally, metaphors are found within many forms of rhetoric and have great impact. Trump use several metaphors in this one artifact alone. They shaped his arguments, protected his reasonings, and left a lasting impression with his audience. Using metaphors can ultimately affect how certain things, people, places, etc. are perceived and handled; that is why it is important to recognize and be aware of them in any rhetoric that one is exposed to.

Living in a world that is technologically advanced, fast-paced, and ever changing comes with endless exposure to diverse content. Americans, especially young children and adults, are constantly engaging in media. This can be done via social media, television, radio, etc. Each piece of content that we stumble across brings with it, its own meanings and messages that the creator(s) intends for their audiences to see. Sometimes this is given to us at face value, but often times, content is strategically created to spark a conversation, influence a movement, or call for change in a more subtle manner. In this blog post, I will be critically analyzing Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s Super Bowl halftime performance and the many things it communicated.

On February 2 of 2020, the biggest American televised event took place. Whether people were watching for the football, the half-time performance, company advertisements, or just to eat some tasty snacks, there were nearly 100 million recorded viewers for this year. While many things sparked conversation, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s headline performance was arguably the biggest. As reported on https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/diversity-inclusion/481164-these-are-all-the-cultural-references-you-missed, it was the first time that two Latinas co-headlined a Super bowl performance. Throughout the performance, the two women acknowledged and payed respect to their hometowns and heritage through traditional dance, song, and celebration. Some critics even identified subtle political statements, which I picked up on as well.

Some feature moments of the performance were when Shakira first greeted the crowd, saying, “Hola Miami!” It was significant that these were her words of choice, because it set the tone for the rest of her performance. It was especially important in terms of location, because Miami is home to a large number of immigrants and is a city with one of the largest Latin populations in the United States. Shakira was speaking directly to her people.

Next, Shakira also incorporated traditional dance, specifically the Champeta. This dance originates from her hometown, Barranquilla, Columbia. She also utilized belly dancing and Arab instruments in her performance. Most notably, though, Shakira had a “meme worthy” moment that had the internet talking- “the tongue thing”. She looked directly in a camera and made a motion and sound with her tongue. While the “ululation” was unfamiliar and misunderstood for some, it known as zaghrouta, a commonly used expression of joy or strong emotion by women in the Middle East and North Africa. This was my favorite part of the performance, because it was extremely smart. Shakira used this moment, knowingly doing something that she knew would initiate conversation, and it did. It was an educational moment for many, and it paved the way for further knowledge on different cultures.

Moving on, Jennifer Lopez was directly speaking to her people, saying to the crowd: “Latinos, get loud!” She also paid respects to her hometown, the Bronx and held up a Puerto Rican flag. One of the boldest performance choices was the incorporation of a child choir, led by her 11-year-old daughter. The children sang the song “Let’s Get Loud” while sitting in cages. Many connected this to the children being held at the border.

All in all, the culture around us is constantly exposing us to important messages. Some are surface level and easily seen, while others take a bit of thought and reflection. Shakira and Lopez’s performance did a nice job at depicting these things. While some of their messages were obvious, they left some of the performance to be up for interpretation, which made for a very powerful, long lasting effect on the audience.

We are living in a world that is flooded with rhetoric. The average person goes about their day with little to no second thought about the content, interactions, and situations they put themselves in. In all of this, we can find greater meanings. This can be through politics, advertisements, personal interactions, etc. In this post, I will discuss two recent situations I encountered that, with some after thought, I realized were rhetorical. 

First, I will discuss a Bernie Sanders debate. In the sixth democratic debate, Sanders was questioned about his Medicare For All plan and how he plans to enact it. Tim Alberta said that Sanders’s plan would not get passed through Congress, so he questioned the approach that Sanders would take to implement smaller changes to this system. In his response, Sanders skillfully avoids the question by using facts that further support his single-payer legislation plan. He uses money, health statistics, and a touch of pathos to build confidence in the idea that the plan will be passed by Congress and further supported by the American people. When using facts such as these, Sanders is helping strengthen his case and build a political agenda that will be supported by the people. 

Next, I will touch on the super bowl. This Sunday was filled with rhetoric as millions of Americans watched the game and its multi-million dollar advertisements. One that stood out to me in particular was the Google commercial. Essentially, it showed an old man recalling memories of his wife, which we can assume passed away. It was heartfelt and touching. Google utilized pathos to capture viewers’ emotions and show them how Google is capable of bettering people’s lives through their advanced technology. 

Finally, there is rhetoric everywhere. Nearly every conversation we have, book we read, song we listen to, show we watch, etc. has a deeper agenda and motive behind it. It is important to be aware of this so, as viewers and rhetorical analyzers, we can consider and be aware of different perspectives and hidden meanings that have a influence on the masses. Bernie Sanders’s debate and the Google advertisement both did a great job at showcasing how subtle, yet obvious rhetoric can be, as well as the great effects that it can have. 

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This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

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The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

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