TOW # 28 Why We Fight

     The documentary Why We Fight is a film by Eugene Jarecki, and discusses the United States' reasoning behind declaring war in Iraq. Many Americans believe that the reason for fighting the war was as a retaliation for the terrorist attacks on 9/11, or in order to liberate the Iraqi people from an oppressive regime. They would be surprised to discover that these are only the sugar-coated reasons presented to them by the government, who has a hidden imperialistic agenda. In his film, Jarecki, who tries to remain objective but at the end of the film very clearly shows his liberal colors, points out that there were several reasons the government wanted to declare war, like control of the oil rich middle east, that caused them to exaggerate the Iraqi ties to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and their possession of weapons of mass destruction. Jarecki also explains the overpresent "military industrial complex" that President Eisenhower warned America about in his farewell address. War is such a mass industry in America. Large cooperation that produces weapons make tons of money from the government, and also sometimes bankroll politicians. This leads to lots of corruption and also a over willingness for war. This film came out in 2005, a few years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and while the US was still in war in Iraq. In context, this film was aimed at the American public, most of whom had no clear idea of why their country was involved in a war overseas. The purpose of the film was to explain to the American people the true reasons behind the war, and that they had been mislead by their government.
     One way Jarecki conveys his purpose is through testimonial. Throughout the film he interviews several people. One person he interviews is a cop from New York who lost his son in the 9/11 attacks. Another is a young man who just signed up for the military. Another is a woman who formerly worked a the pentagon, and a man who formerly worked at the CIA. These testimonials provide a diverse look at the issue at hand. From the point of view of civilians we see the view the government has wanted to present, and from the point of view of the experts we get the real scoop. These testimonials have the effect of adding credibility to the film, but also show the disconnect between what the public knows and what the government knows. By doing so, the film shows just how sometimes things are not always what they seem, as is the case with why we fight the wars we fight.
     Jarecki also creates parallelism. On of the interviewees, the NY cop, served in Vietnam when he was a young man. In the interview, the cop emphasizes the shock and anger he felt when he discovered that may of the details of the war had been exaggerated in order to maintain public support for the war. The view cannot help but to draw parallels to the exaggerations made present day to keep morale up for the Iraqi war. In fact, the cop even explains the anger he felt when he was duped once again by the government, saying that they exploited his feelings of patriotism and tragedy following the 9/11 by exaggerating the ties Iraq had to the attacks, making many Americans call for war. By drawing the parallels, the film explains that the misleading by the government is something that has occurred before and something that will occur again. The parallels help make the audience aware of the government, and wary for the future

TOW #27 Reflection

    Looking back over my past TOWs I can clearly see massive improvements. Starting out, my posts had no organization. As the year went on, I learned how to set up my Analysis essays, and began to treat the TOWs as mini analysis essays. From then on my TOWs were remarkably more well organized, especially with a clear thesis. I also really improved on finding rhetorical devices within texts, and being able to articulate how they appeared and what their effect was, and how that helped achieved the purpose.
     I think one way my posts could still improve is in the quantity of evidence. Often I will only cite one example to back up a point, when it could be strengthened with multiple examples. Overall, I think these TOWs helped me improve on my Analysis essays. They kept me sharp throughout the year when we moved onto learning other essays. I am not sure how much they helped me in gathering material to add to my arsenal of knowledge, but I still think they were useful.

TOW #26 Mio GPS ad

Reading goal: visual text
Writing goal: good intro

     In the past when people would go on road trips they would take along a big fold out map. If they got lost they would have to either stop and ask for directions, or sprawl the map across the hood of the car and figure out the best route to take. Nowadays, in the age of technology, these giant maps are becoming obsolete, replaced by electronic maps and direction-givers: GPS. One brand of GPS, Mio, released an ad that features a several roads looking like they have been tangled up and tied in a knot. In this ad, Mio used metaphor and hyperbole to convey how well Mio GPSs give directions.
     Pictured right in the center of the ad is a giant metaphor: roads being depicted as a tangled knot of yarn or string. The metaphor of the roads being tangled like string serves to emphasize the feelings of helplessness and anxiety that people associate with getting lost. When one doesn't know where he or she is going, then the roads might as well be tangled up into a knot. Luckily, the add presents a solution to this problem: a Mio GPS! Through the metaphor, Mio explains that their GPSs are top-notch, and can get people to where they need to go.
     The metaphor is strengthened through the use of hyperbole. The extent to which people get lost is clearly exaggerated. Sure people ma take a wrong turn or two, but the roads are never tied up in a knot. The hyperbole has the effect of conveying that a Mio GPS is effective at giving directions even in the unlikely worst-case-scenario, and has the effect of emphasizing just how good the Mio is at giving direction.
     This ad appeals to the basic human desire to save time by getting where they need to go. Through metaphor and hyperbole, the ad presents a way never to get lost again: the Mio GPS. It even pointedly asks in the corner "Lost?" Well perhaps if you had a Mio GPS you wouldn't be.