Playful Punctuation

"Once I rose above the noise and confusion, just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion"
              -- Kansas, "Carry on my Wayward Son"

Because I strongly supported my argument for Friday's debate,  I am going to discuss and elaborate more on the same topic.
The differences of various writing styles portray that punctuation use cannot be totally defined because each writing technique has a specific way of effectively proving a claim. It was researched that Emily Dickinson, author of Source C, did not attend college for a vast amount of time and she dwelled in confinement the majority of her life. Because of this, she uses poetry, a writing style that allows manipulation of words and punctuation easily, and uses a lack of punctuation in order to feel free from her life of isolation. 
If rules were set strictly in place, she would always be stuck in a place of seclusion. Punctuation in different contexts also has different effects on the writing piece, and therefore must be altered according to the writing style. With punctuation rules, this would be prohibited. Cosco of Source F uses two question marks in a sentence located in paragraph six. This is obviously a subjective choice, but it allows her to develop her unique style. Expressing one’s argument in a way that is sensible for the author is critical for the effectiveness of the work. The example tweet used in Source F lacks in punctuation, but focuses more on word content. In fact, the unusual lack of punctuation draws attention to her message in an otherwise monotone news feed. Similarly to the sources stated, punctuational rules serve as a restriction to authors. Without these limits, authors can develop a sturdy and compelling argument conveyed in a specific writing style.

Longing for Love

"It's a backstabbing world honey, just lean your head back"
       --Augustana, "Meet You There"

"It had occurred to Pecola some time ago that if her eyes, those eyes that held the pictures, and knew the sights-if those eyes of hers were different, that is to say, beautiful, she herself would be different. Her teeth were good, and at least her nose was not big and flat like some of those who were thought so cute. If she looked different, beautiful, maybe Cholly would be different, and Mrs. Breedlove too. Maybe they'd say, 'Why, look at pretty-eyed Pecola. We mustn't do bad things in front of those pretty eyes'" (Morrison page 46).

Pecola believes that if her eye color changed to blue, her entire life would change. Friends, acquaintances, and family would treat her differently. She wants her situation to change because she has dwelled in a life of destitution and hatred. Pecola feels as if something is missing. This something, is love. Morrison states the Breedlove's house is just a "store", implying that soothing warmth of family love is absent from their home. Ultimately, Pecola wants to feel loved, and believes that blue eyes would grant it. Her drive to be beautiful is connected to her wish to belong, in both black and white society. She is unwanted by students and family because she is "ugly", so she associates beauty with belonging. If people perceive her as beautiful, because of her eyes, then she will maintain an identity of elegance. Pecola's only way of finding universal love is to conform to white beauty ideals.

This passage of The Bluest Eye is filled with many strong emotions. The audience obtains a true understanding of the reasons behind Pecola's wish to have blue eyes. This makes the entire book worthwhile because Pecola cannot be misunderstood, and it is simpler to follow her path of destruction. Morrison repeats the words "beautiful" and "different" to emphasize that Pecola wants to be beautiful in order to have a different identity. Not only would redefined beauty change the actions of those around her, but it would increase the amount of passion she obtains from society. Her mindset revolves around the beauty she lacks, but Pecola's heart is the apex of beauty. She still learns to love when everything and everyone around her decides to hate.     

Bluest Bruises

"But compared to your eyes, nothing shines quite as bright"
     --Mayday Parade, "Miserable At Best"

The Bluest Eye. The title depicts hidden meanings within itself, as do many motifs in the novel.

The more obvious meaning of the title is Pecola's dream to have big, bright blue eyes, just like iconic white females. Pecola associates "beauty" with blue eyes, and believes she must possess this quality in order to be seen as beautiful. She believes that "if she looked different, beautiful, maybe Cholly would be different, and Mrs. Breedlove too"(Morrison 46). As if her appearance could change the behavior of her family, or the way she is cruelly treated at school.

As well as this, the word "blue" has a somber connotation. If someone "has the blues", they are sad and depressed internally. Because Pecola is frequently teased and lives in a distressed household, her eyes contain a melancholy and dismal attitude. "She was the only member of her class who sat alone at a double desk" (Morrison 45). Cruel treatment crushes and bruises a person's self-esteem. Pecola endures this for almost her entire life, which causes her to be depressed. Her mom even calls her "ugly" right after she is born (Morrison 126). In this context, she actually has blue eyes. Her dream has been fulfilled, but not in her intended way.

Baleful Barbie

"She'll be in magazines, With all her fancy things"
      -Mayday Parade, "You're Dead Wrong"

When I was younger, I absolutely loved Barbie dolls. Her dollhouse, the countless outfit combinations, her fancy limousine, and all her fancy things were so desirable. To little girls, Barbie's luxurious life was so idealistic and envied. But as life goes on and trends come and go, the trend of Barbie DOLLS has faded away, and the toy is not as popular. Rather, the trend is revealing its popularity in a different form.

Many girls believe that they must resemble the ideal "Barbie" look (to some degree) in order to fit in. To achieve this look, one must have a perfect figure, which consists of a small waist, a big chest, and wide hips. Prager assures this statement in "Our Barbies, Ourselves" by stating, "There are millions of women who are subliminally sure that a thirty-nine-inch bust and a twenty-three-inch waist are the epitome of lovability" (para 3). How do women obtain this unrealistic perception of beauty?

From a very young age, Barbie was always there to play dress-up. To paint her nails with a felt-tip marker. To buy her more friends and a perfect boyfriend. According to www.hubpages.com, children's "early experiences have a significant, lasting impact on their cognitive and social development." Basically, a child's environment influences them significantly because their brains are rapidly maturing and they are induced with the aspects of their environment. This could be a reason explaining why people are immensely obsessed with beauty. If a child is given a Barbie doll to play with, and he or she covets her dream lifestyle, then they are more likely to desire this lifestyle at an older age because they have been influenced directly. 

Although Barbie dolls brought me a lot of joy when I was younger, they are harmful if they create an unrealistic idea of beauty in someone's mind. Barbie dolls are meant to be played with. Hopefully young girls today can solely interpret this one aspect of the toy.

Feigned Festivities

"Wanted to believe in all the words that I was speaking" - Death Cab For Cutie, "Tiny Vessels"

As I finished reading "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro" by Fredrick Douglass, I understood that Douglass, as well as other negroes, view independence day in contrary ways. Although holiday festivities attempt to express a purpose for celebration, I ponder if they fully show this purpose to individuals.

Holidays can be interpreted in several different ways. If a holiday has a specific meaning to a person, then they are more likely to be affected by their own understanding of the ceremony. But other citizens celebrate solely with vague and restrictive emotions, never fully understanding. For Douglass, independence day "only reveals the immeasurable distance between us [African Americans and society]" (Para 4). He interprets the holiday as a brutal affirmation of African American's place in society and their unkind treatment. This concludes that Douglass's understanding of the holiday is different from many others.

In today's society, many people forget the true significance of holidays. If you asked a fifth grader "What is the Fourth of July?", he or she would probably respond saying, "A day with fireworks, family and parades!" This, however, is not the case. America is focused more on the festivities rather than the reasons. And this poses my question- Are holiday festivities truly effective in portraying the purposes of celebrating? According to Laura Schlereth from www.atyourlibrary.org, you should "show your patriotism by celebrating and watching fireworks!" This is her way of interpreting the holiday. To me, patriotism is shown when fighting for your country, not from mediocre festivities. Schlereth does not fully understand, similarly to other Americans, and associates independence day with these festivities rather than its actual meaning. Since she does not have a direct relationship with Independence day, it's purpose is not shown through activities and she falls into a trap of hypocrisy.

Optimistically, America will soon escape from this trap and discover the real meaning of all celebrated holidays.

Sentimental Sympathy

"I sing myself a quiet lullaby, Let you go and let the lonely in, to take my heart again"
           - Chrisina Perri, "The Lonely"

We all understand that Hester committed adultery, and is shamed by the Puritan society for doing so. Although her punishment is accurate during the time period in The Scarlet Letter, Hester deserves some sympathy regarding her ignominy.

First of all, she is completely alienated and shunned by the community. This can be especially harsh in Puritan era; people were strict and rigid on their religious ideals and morals. According to Hawthorne, Hester grew "sensitive with daily torture" as she strolled through the town (83). People gave her the wrong kind of attention, which burdened her with a dreadful feeling of loneliness. Personally, I can't imagine living through daily life being incapable of interacting with others. This is one of the few ways humans can receive happiness and joy. Poor Hester was neglected of these feelings.

Hester is also separated from her true passion to Dimmesdale. Carelessly, she grew very fond of him, leading them to commit their sin. After her punishment, she ultimately cannot visit Dimmesdale because it would easily reveal him to be the second culprit. She cannot have any relations with him for seven years! If today's teenagers believe that a three-month relationship is significant, what does that prove of seven years? How would YOU feel if you were forbidden to be with the "love of your life"? Hester must have been drowning in sadness.

According to Harper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” In order to truly understand Hester's distant character, one must discover her heartache and feel it for themselves. Hester deserves pity for her anguish.

Illusive Identity

"I'll pack my bags and brush it off"
     -Mayday Parade, "Call Me Hopeless, Not Romantic"

How do we claim our identity? With our close friends, we express ourselves through our personality and behavioral reactions. But from a bystander's point of view, we are labeled by our physical appearance.

Judgments based on outward appearance are inevitable in human nature. Even when reading a passage describing a character or person, it is difficult to not base the character's identity on their looks. In the passage read this week in class, Tannen describes the appearances of three women in a business meeting. She plainly depicts each woman nonjudgmentally, deceiving readers into judging each one. "The third wore a sexy jumpsuit; tight sleeveless jersey and tight yellow slacks; a dress with gaping armholes and an indulged tendency to fall off one shoulder" (Tannen 6). Readers can infer that this woman is promiscuous and daring, just by the way she dresses. This conveys how physical image affects a person's identity. We concluded the woman's personality unfairly based on her looks, never allowing her a chance to express her traits.

Louis Vuitton Bag

Outward appearances are categorized by the typical personalities of the wearers. For example, if a woman owns many designer brand handbags, such as Louis Vuitton, Coach, or Michael Kors, she is labeled by society as "luxurious" and "wealthy". If a man has his ears pierced, sags his trousers, and wears clunky boots, he is a "bad boy" or a "gangster". Since it is assumed that most "gangsters" or "lavish" women dress in these ways, anyone who dresses in a similar way to them is associated with their characteristics. This instigates societal judgments of appearance, because everyone dresses in a certain way and ultimately is classified. Although we can hypothesize someone's identity based on their physical aspects, true identity is only shown through someone's actions and personality.