TOW #19 Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman

Deborah Feldman is the daughter of a mentally ill orthodox man and an English mother who left then family when she was young. She faces many challenges because of the strict rules enforced by her family and community, and was out casted when her mother left. This forced her to grow up mostly at her grandparent’s home and face extreme criticism from her relatives. Feldman uses metaphors and Yiddish language to depict her life story in Unorthadox.

Throughout the book Feldman is extremely descriptive when explaining her lifestyle.  She uses metaphors to describe her emotions. Living in the orthodox community is very hard for Feldman and she depicts how “Dreams hover above us like clouds, and mine seem bigger and fluffier” (Feldman 5). This style of writing allows Feldman to discuss abstract ideas and connect with her readers. Even when cultural differences create barriers she is able to convey her ideas and feelings.

To add to the authenticity of the story Feldman uses Yiddish words in her writing. The book is a memoir that revolves around her cultural lifestyle and the language she uses is a large component of it. As a young child Feldman did not even speak a lot of English. When Feldman discusses her family she refers to her grandmother as Bubby and her grandfather as Zeidy. At another point in the book, she describes a time she encountered Hershey’s chocolate; “I take the chocolate from her cautiously. Hershey’s, it says.  Hersh is Yiddish for “deer.” It’s also a common Jewish name for boys. The ey tacked on the end makes it an affectionate nickname” (Feldman 20).  This anecdote recounts how big of a role Yiddish played in Feldman’s life. The language background is clear for the reader though the addition of these words.

Feldman is able to relate her story to her readers and give them a taste of her life experiences. Through descriptive language and Yiddish words the book explains the challenges of living in a strictly orthodox community. 

TOW #18 “Distant Planet Terrified It Might Be Able To Someday Support Human Life” from the Onion

Humans have caused climate change, oil spills, excessive litter, air pollution, mass extinctions, and many major other problems around the world. This crisis has been created to satisfy the needs of humans. Without thought, people continue to add to these problems with everything they do. The Onion uses personification with scientific fact to create perspective for people about the current environmental crisis in the article “Distant Planet Terrified It Might Be Able To Someday Support Human Life.” 

            This satirical piece expresses the issues earth faces through the voice of a distant planet in the Gamma Velorum star system. Although currently there are no known planets that can support human life, if any were to experience an atmospheric change living elsewhere may be possible someday. The Onion “quotes” WR 67c, a planet; “‘The real doomsday scenario would be someday acquiring a breathable atmosphere… At that point, I might as well just hurl myself at the nearest black hole’” (Paragraph 4). Throughout the article WR 67c expresses its concerns for changing to a climate that would support human life for fear of what people would do. Using earth as a model, the planet fears the disasters that people have caused on earth, “‘Boy, I can only imagine what that awful species would do to me if they found out I have an abundance of rich mineral deposits deep within me,’” (Paragraph 7). The Onion conveys the problems earth suffers, because of people, through the personification of this planet.

With a combination of true scientific fact and a planet’s “opinion” the Onion presents the crisis to readers through another perspective. Unlike common articles, this one does not present the issue as one of a problem for people, but as one for the planet. By writing from a “third party” the Onion allows people to acknowledge the issues with a new understanding.

Intro IRB #3 Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman

For the third marking period I am going to read Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman. This book shares what it is like living in a Hassidic community as a woman. Unorthodox is a memoir that tells Deborah's personal story of marrying and having children while following the strict religious rules, which pushed her to want to leave. I chose this book as a recommendation from my mom. I also am interested in learning about practices of other sects of Judaism. This summer I may be living in an orthodox community and I am curious to read about this woman's life. 

Tow #17 The Millennials Are All Right by Peggy Drexler

Technology continues to advance everyday and scientists and sociologists are beginning to wonder what effect this will have on people. With constant updates on twitter, and Facebook and the recent obsession with selfies professions have split opinions about whether social media has created a narcissistic or confident society. Peggy Drexler, a research psychologist, uses historical examples and rhetorical questions to decipher whether or not technology and social media are breeding a generation of narcissists.  Without coming to a definitive conclusion she address both aspects to this situation.

To help her audience understand the situation Drexler is assessing she discusses other similar times in the past. She compares the social media of this generation to that of the baby boomers with TV. “The baby boomers have had their ups and downs, but they ended up a largely happy and accomplished generation. Television didn’t ruin them” (Para 9) and Drexler has the same hopes for today. Each generation grows up with some new advancement that changes them from the previous one. Although, the baby boomers turned out all right Drexler still remains undecided, however, optimistic about the future of the Millennials.

Throughout the article Drexler addresses counterarguments to all sides of the argument using rhetorical questioning. She discusses topics and reservations people have about completely accepting one side. A common doubt is whether the technology is the cause for speculation of narcissism. “Whether it’s a disorder or just confidence, can technology really have all that much to do with it? Maybe. But maybe not” (Para. 4). She justifies the claim with data showing that Facebook users score higher on narcissistic personality tests. While juxtaposing it with other research that came to conclusions that Facebook just highlights narcissism as a social norm as it provides a tool for self-awareness. Drexler employs questions to examine the different studies. She shows the negativity of jumping too quickly to conclusions in this scenario.

Drexler’s article highlights the issue of narcissism in today’s society. She allows people to evaluate the situation from a researchers stance and relates to her audience through historical analogies. With rhetorical questioning, Drexler allows the readers to determine their own conclusion. This article provides a thorough examination on how technology has affected people’s confidence and love for one’s self.