Sumter, SC: The GAMECOCK City

For an example of what your next blog post might look like, I've posted two videos I found on YouTube that make different arguments about life in my hometown--Sumter, SC.

First is a clip from a local realtor (a friend of my folks, in all honesty):



This is pretty dressed up vision of Sumter. What sort of appeals are being made? What do you think that they might be leaving out?

The next video is more indicative of the Sumter I know....I'll let you make up your own mind about it.

For Wednesday

- Read Ch. 2 in Confederates in the Attic and Ch. 3 in Everything's an Argument.
- Log into CompClass
- Be sure that a link to your blog appears on my blog.
- Bring pen and paper to class for the writing assessment.

Culture & Landscape in South Louisiana

Later this semester, we'll talk a great deal about the connections between place and culture, and we'll discuss how, as the difference in places are less obvious, so too are the differences between cultures. In my experience, South Louisiana is as culturally unique as any place in the U.S., but it's landscape is changing so rapidly, it's difficult to track how that relates to cultural shifts.

We'll talk about this more later, but when you have a chance, check out this article and this supplemental interactive map from the New York Times. The article is part of a series in which Times reporters revisit the sites described in the Works Progress Administration American Guide series, which were compiled and published during the Depression.

Pathos on the Campaign Trail

In Ch. 2 of EA, Lunsford & Ruskiewicz prompt you to evaluate the relative the possibilities and pitfalls of employing pathetic appeals. Such appeals often dominant political discourse, here and abroad.

The first clip should be familiar: it's JFK's first inaugural address. Watch it, and consider how he appeals to the emotions of Americans, and consider what emotions he appeals to.



Secondly, let's take a look at what many consider the rhetorical highpoint of the current Administration. Consider Bush's use of pathos, both verbally and visually.



Third, check out the most famous ad of the campaign for the Democratic nomination.



Finally, let's consider some ads from recent campaigns. These won't require much analytical work, because our friend Jon Stewart has already done the heavy lifting:

An electronic argument about/for Metro Atlanta

As I said below, your blog posting this week will require to find and briefly discuss an argument about some place that you call home. I thought an example might help....

If you've watched the Olympics or any NBC program in Atlanta recently, you've probably seen the local NBC affiliate's ad campaign, "Are you curious?"; in case you haven't, I've included a clip below. Watch it and think about the argument it makes about Atlanta and about NBC 11Alive, as the channel calls itself.

The Power of Bloggers

On Friday, I mentioned to each section that I expect your blogs to become richer, deeper, and more personalized as the semester goes forward. As you think about what blogs are and what they can do, you might find this article from today's New York Times useful.

Monday's assignments

Greetings all. Your reading assignment for Monday: read Ch 2 (45-59) in Everything's an Argument and Ch 1 (3-17) in Confederates in the Attic.

I'm also providing the blog assignment now--to be posted before class on Friday. I would like you to find an artifact or text that makes an argument about your home town (or neighborhood, or region, or state, etc.). This can be an image, a website, a video file, an audio clip, etc. Embed or link your blog to this (or, if it's a tangible thing, bring it to class), and analyze the argument. Tell me what it suggests, who the audience is, what appeals it makes, and what contextual information I might need to understand it.