Bonus blog

"The Boston Photographs" by Nora Ephron

This is a make-up for last week's blog post 3 which was a reflection of our narrative essay. This post will evaluate Ephron's style of wrting in the article "The Boston Photographs." This sensationalized real life account describes the horrifying images of a woman and a child as they are rescued by a firefighter from a fire escape. Ephron begins the article with the words of the Boston Photographer. He describes how he took that photo in that instant: the scene surrounding the heartbreaking photo of a woman, a child and a firefighter. Ephron continues with a highly descriptive paragraph of what the photos looked like. A description that creates a visual image that is hard to contend with. In our minds, we see the image of the three victims on the fire escape, then we see the fireman holding up the ladder, then we see the the the fire escape and the child slipping. We see a woman holding tho the child as she holds on to the firefighter. The next disturbing picture is the woman falling in mid sky with the child, succumbed to gravity we might say. Ephron tells us that the woman dies while the child survives.

Ephron says the pictures were a great example of photojournalism, a type of journalism she argues is powerful than written journalism. By looking at these photographs, one will unreluctantly agree.
The Boston Photographs received a negative reaction from the public who felt that these were sensationalized photos meant to look like "sideshow act." However, Ephron and some journalist will disagree with the public's reaction and find the importance of publishing such photos however graphic and disturbing it might be. Some journalists thought it was an important issue for the public to know about the deterioration  of the fire escapes. Was that their true intention?

Ephron who feels that the the Boston Photographs is just like any accident or war photos thinks that they should be published. She questions why the last picture, that shows the woman and the child lying on the ground, was not released. She says that death is part of life; that photos that has been released in the past about automobile accidents were focused on death not the mangled cars. She concludes that photojounalism is meant to disturb readers. 

I do not agree with Ephron's argument. Just because photos have been taking does not mean they should be released. The readers are the main deciders of what should or should not be published, not the editors. At the end of the day, you have to get paid and that only depends on the consumer rate. You might not care about the paycheck, then I guess that will be a different issue. However, every journalist and editor should consider the benefit of photos or any article when been published. Is it really worth it? How will I react to these photos if I was the consumer? In the end, we have to live with these decisions, can I live with it? Journalist sand editors may find that, by considering such questions, it might be useful to exclude some information, that in the long run has no benefit to them or the reader.

"Free Writing Exercises" by Peter Elbow

My blog post today is on Peter Elbow's "Free Writing Exercise."  Elbow's essay offers us one main tip-to freewrite. He says it is the only way to write a powerful piece. "Freewritings help you by providing no feedback at all," he says. Elbow compares the concept of freewriting to writing something and putting it in a bottle in the sea. You are never getting that bottle back from anyone. Likewise, in freewriting, one can write knowing no one has to read the 10 minute rambling of the same words.

He continues to expatiate the difference between writing and freewriting when he says, "Writing....[permits] more editing. But that's its downfall too." Elbow says that when writing we are inherently focused on the grammar and the spelling of our words. However, that constant need to edit when writing is what makes writing not not only hard but as Elbow says, "dead." For us to write great pieces we have to to freewrite. When we develop the habit of freewriting, we will produce writing that is not forced but reflects our voice. A voice that speaks to us when we are writing-"our source of power."

Moreover, by freewriting our minds to not become blocked as we try hard to write our first paragraph and get it right. Elbow says that is the "formula for faluire." Write anything that comes to mind and after that you can correct them and come up with new ones. The idea that you willl get everything right the first time is unlikely and "a secret way to give up writing."

I find Elbow's essay more like Lamott's essay which we read last week. Both essays have the idea of not getting it right the first time, not even great writers do. However, there is a contrast between what Lamott says in his essay about the voice in our heads. He gives us a formula - a writing process. However, Elbow tells us to freewrite. This is a habit we have been practicing in class-not as freely as Elbow tells us to since we are given prompts to write about, yet it is a great way to start the morning. I plan to start freewriting especially for my essays. I have noticed that there is always a great line in the rambling I make on a page.

"Shitty First Drafts" by Anne Lamott 

This is my second blog post. My post is about Lamott's essay "Shitty First Drafts." As the name implies, the essay focuses on how terrible first drafts are, which they should be. Lamott's essay addresses a misconception I have about great writers; that somehow, they sit down " and dive in, typing fully formed passages as fast as a court reporter." Lammott says that idea is a "fantasy."

She refers to the first draft as a "child's draft," where creativity runs wild. You can write anything you feel or want "knowing no one is going to see it." When you revisit this draft later, you will find an idea or sentence that will steer you in the right direction. Lamott discusses the writing process he uses when he has to write food reviews. Clearly, it is a very frustrating state. She talks about how his first draft will contain "descriptions of the food,one dish at a time." She knew it was horrible but he would "trust the process." She will go back to the writing again and find a second idea or concept. She will then write the second draft which he says will turn out "fine." Of course, this writing process will continue every time she had to write.

In the last few paragraphs, Lamott's advice proves useful especially for me. He says, "All good writing begins with terrible first efforts." I like her essay because she offers the perspective of writing from great writers. Writing is an arduous task. You can only get what you put in it. We as humans are bombarded with different ideas and ways of thinking because we are all from distinct backgrounds, cultures and nationalities. As such, we all greatly influenced by these factors. I know I am. Lamotts's decision to shut up all these voices is one I plan to take. Not that I don't think my writings should not be influenced by the voices of the "vinegar-lipped Reader lady" or "the emaciated German male" or even my "parents." Yet, these voices sometimes hinder the best and explicit ideas.

I love to write first drafts but they are really daunting to initiate. However when I begin, I find that there has been these great ideas bottling inside of me. It might not always be the best ideas but as Lamott said "the first draft is the down draft - you just get it down."

The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and me

My first reading in my College writing class is an essay written by Sherman Alexie. He writes about himself;about his experiences as a child growing up in a reservation. My blog post answers the first question: What is Superman doing in the comic book panel Alexie remembers? Why is it important to remember this detail at the very end of the essay?

The answer to the first part of the question is pretty straightforward. Superman is breaking down the door.

The significance of this detail is seen at the end of the last paragraph when Alexie says, "I throw my weight against their locked doors."  Alexie compares himself to Superman. As he tries his best to embolden the "sullen and already defeated Indian kids," he becomes in a sense their superhero, the hero to break them out of their plight. What's their response? They refuse to be reasoned with, rather "the door" -the hurdle that blocks their logic- "holds." Unlike Superman who breaks the literal door, Alexie cannot break the figurative door. His goal to save the "sullen" childrens' lives is shattered by their pertinence satisfaction with the status quo.

Reading this article made me think about my experiences with reading and writing growing up. Learning to read saved Alexie's life. I do not know if it was a life changing event for me, but I do know, for the most part, it made me who I am today. The value I placed in education, and still do, is the reason for my achievements. Just like Alexie and Superman, it is important for me to break the doors for other people to see the value of a learning and education. Forget about a college education, if you want to, learning is key. Do not misinterpret my advice, as perhaps to say, I am against a college education. I am in college. Yet, I do know growth is more than been in a college setting. You have to learn in college to succeed. Just because you go to college does not make you any more mature or knowledgeable than the other person. It is about making use of what you are given, through formal education or informal education. Thus, I have to show the generation behind me the satisfaction of being yourself and trying your best to improve yourself in all aspects of life be it spiritual, moral or intellectual. I may not "break the door," at least not for all, but I can definitely say I tried.