TOW #13 Taking A Que From A Friend... An analytical view of a popular meme.

Last week, my friend was struggling to think of a topic for her TOW. She told me that she wanted to do a meme, but wasn't sure how to approach it. This spurred creative thinking in me, and an idea was born. Hence, this:

Oh Overly Attached Girlfriend. You represent so many things that are wrong with society. As you can see from this collection of pictures, the Overly Attached Girlfriend meme has a single common theme. This girl is CRAZY. Or, that's what the pictures seem to show. In each one, the girl is surrounded by text describing a situation that she has caused. Each situation is slightly offensive, albeit hilarious. However, the innocent meme, meant to reflect the small actions of some women that annoy men, has been blown out of proportion. As the collection of posts above (hopefully) shows, the meme has been blown out of proportion. What was once a lighthearted way to poke fun has become a derogatory recurrence in society. Overly Attached Girlfriend (OAG) has become a reflection of the misogynistic values that are STILL abundant in society. In the meme on the bottom right, the text implies that the girlfriend will not allow the guy to wear sunglasses for fear of his “wandering eye.” I don’t think this is fair first off to men as it implies that they are inherently willing to turn their backs on a relationship, always looking for something better to come along. That’s offensive! The meme is also offensive to women though as it implies that all women have much insecurity about not only their boyfriends (or husbands etc.) wandering eyes, but also about themselves. The meme seems to always imply that OAG thinks she isn’t good enough, that she is just waiting to be replaced and that unless she acts like a complete psycho, she will be left in the dust. Not only is this meme offensive and wrong, it is also depressing. How have women come so far in getting equal treatment, only to be set back by society once more? This needs to stop. Let’s end OAG once and for all.

Tow #12 I'm A Stranger... Bill Bryson

Wow. I really like this book so far. As an American I feel that one some level I should be offended (maybe?) but Bill Bryson is just so hilarious! In fact, humor is his main tactic in telling his homecoming story. Bryson utilizes humor to emphasize the differences between Britain and America (which are naturally humorous themselves). 

In his introduction, Bill Bryson gives his readers some background on what the story entails, and how indeed he came about the process of writing on his experience. He explains that he lived in America for most of his life and moved to Britain about 20 years prior to this book-inspiring event. Bryson’s account of the situation is, well, let’s just say I need to check a thesaurus (hilarious, comical, chuckle-inspiring. There, I’m good.) Bryson was speaking to an old friend from London who was asking him to write a weekly article on America. In the following anecdote, Bryson uses his account of the conversation to explain that he was roped into the concept. It doesn’t seem to be a big regret though, so he made out just fine.

Bryson introduces the concept of this book as a collection of his articles on America after returning from his second-homeland Britain. I quite enjoyed the quirky style which added to the overall chuckle-inspiring (see what I did there?) tone of the book. Using the newspaper articles as the core of the book gave it a sort of care-free nature. Bryson isn’t criticizing America, and I think, like I said in the beginning of this post, some people could be offended in thinking this. The use of style in this book makes the topic, which could be controversial, lightweight.

Bryson overall is a very funny man. His lighthearted reflection in the style of news articles is funny and light, avoiding offending anyone. I can NOT WAIT to read the rest.

TOW #11 Obama The Loner: The Trouble With The President's Self-Reliant, Closed-Off Attitude by Todd Purdum

Obama made a promise to be different. He was connected; he utilized social media and creative advertising to reach out to a broad audience. He was smart, after all, he is a Harvard grad. Most of all, he was warm, likable in the words best sense. Obama, a confident face, was chosen to represent America and as it turns out, this may have been his downfall.This article, published on Vanity Fair by Todd Purdum provided an interesting take on how Obama's ability as president was hindered by his individualist position. It provoked thought and reflection through the use of harsh comparisons, understanding analysis and stone cold evidence.

Through the use of comparison, Purdum pokes holes in Obama's behaviors. He pits the idealized version of president Obama and everything that he seemed to be against what he actually is. At the going away party for a major campaign aide, Obama, says the author, "Spoke warmly, even emotionally." It seemed in this instance that maybe Obama wasn't as detached as we think. The next sentence however, seems to prove this wrong. It states, "He made his way quickly around a living room full of Cabinet members, other aides, and off-duty reporters, grasping each proffered hand with a single, relentless, repeated greeting: “Gotta go.” Obama, when presented with a great opportunity to socialize and schmooze with his coworkers, couldn't be bothered. He was aloof, maybe even a tad standoffish. This comparison shatters the fragile, rose colored glass with which most view the president, supporting the author's point. 

The author makes it a point to not place all of the blame on Obama however; he uses analysis and evidence to strengthen his argument while keeping his tone in check. This reflects the level-headed style of the author and keeps his point valid for consideration. If Purdum blamed Obama for being disconnected and simply criticized him repeatedly, the article would be harsh and bias-seeming, making it less credible. However, the author is able to appeal to the lighter side of his analysis. He explains that Obama's seemingly disconnected behavior may simply be part of his nature as the man has always been alone. In explaining that Obama comes by his behavior honestly, the author reflects an understanding of our president on a deeper level. He also explains that Obama is not the first (or the last) president who will act in this way. Purdum shows here not only an understanding of political history, but of the role of president itself and the common effects on its holders. 

Through carefully worded analysis, harsh comparison and strong evidence, Todd Purdum is able to craft a strong analysis of Obama as a president. He shows that the isolation of the elected president has an affect on MANY presidents in addition to Obama, uncovering the true nature of presidential office using Obama as an example.

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2013/11/barack-obama-loner-self-reliant-closed-off?src=longreads