TOW #16 - Blink, Malcolm Gladwell (IRB)

"Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

   
     In the second half of my IRB book Blink, author Malcolm Gladwell discusses about the "right-and wrong-way to ask people what they want" and "the delicate art of mind reading." Through his use of expert testimonials  and anecdotes, Gladwell is able to effectively convey his theories to his audience.
In the chapter "right-and wrong-ways to ask people what they want," Gladwell utilizes expert testimonials to establish the credibility of his theories. The theory discussed in this particular chapter suggests that, contrary to popular belief, body language can reveal a lot more about a person than asking them directly. He first offers John Gottman as evidence, who found that "we can learn a lot more about what people think by observing their body language or facial expressions or looking at their bookshelves and pictures on the wall." Gladwell then mentions Vic Braden, who found that while people "are very willing and very good at volunteering information...those explanations aren't necessarily correct." Gladwell then goes on to offer his analysis, saying that there is a lot more to people than what you see outside. Finding out about people may seem as easy as asking a few questions and relying on an honest speaker. However, he mentions that many people tend to over dramatize things that observing behavior is a much more accurate way to understanding a person's mind. By having experts to speak on this idea, on top of offering his own explanations, was very effective in proving the feasibility of his theory.
In the chapter "the delicate art of mind reading," Gladwell uses anecdotes to explain his theories and appeal to the audience's emotions. He begins this chapter with an anecdote about a twenty-two year old man from Guinea who lived in South Bronx, working as a peddler in lower Manhattan. Having come to the U.S. just recently, his English was poor and he had a stutter. While enjoying a night out right by his house, a group of plainclothes police officers marked him as suspicious because of two things: His loitering, which made him look like a "lookout for a 'push-in' robber;" and his appearance, which fit that "of a serial rapist who had been active in the neighborhood." So, the four white policemen got out of their cars, chest inflated by their bulletproof vests, and approached Diallo. When he ran away from these men, who looked frighteningly like a gang, he was shot numerous times. The truth about Diallo was discovered shortly. Gladwell believes that "there is almost no other impulse so basic and so automatic and at which we so effortlessly excel." His anecdote shows how important this impulse is in daily life, because for the four policemen, failure of at this most fundamental task cost Diallo his life. "Every waking minute that we are in the presence of someone, we come up with a constant stream of predictions and interferences about what that person is thinking and feeling." We try to read every person we meet, and that is what allows us to see the truth, or at least a glimpse of it.
By using expert testimonials and anecdotes, Malcolm Gladwell is able to convey the complexities of his theories to his audience. He effectively illustrates how body language reveals more about people than conversations, and how making snap judgments is the most fundamental and human impulse. In completing this book, I was able to view the world a bit more differently. Blink is a very good read that I would recommend to everyone.

TOW #15 - "Crimes Against Kansas" (Charles Sumner)

Charles Sumner on the Crimes Against Kansas

     In the year of 1856, the Union was undergoing a difficult time period known as the "Bleeding Kansas." As the name suggests, much blood was shed on American soil primarily because of conflicting opinions on abolitionism. Charles Sumner was a strong advocate for abolitionism and denounced the Kansas-Nebraska Act (which stated that the Nebraskan territories can become free or slave by popular sovereignty). This act angered many abolitionists of the time because it quite clearly favored southern slave states. In retaliation to this, Charles Sumner delivered his "Crime against Kansas" speech on May 19 and May 20 that argued for the immediate admission of Kansas as a free state. He also denounced the "Slave Power" and their criminal behavior of raping a virgin territory. His vivid imagery and passionate tone helped struck a chord in many people, successfully increasing abolitionism support. 

     Sumner first attacked the "Slave Power" in an attempt to denounce the peculiar institution of slavery and criminalize slaveholders. He says, "Not in any common lust for power did this uncommon tragedy have its origin. It is the rape of a virgin territory, compelling it to the hateful embrace of slavery; and it may be clearly traced to a depraved desire for a new Slave State, hideous offspring of such a crime, in the hope of adding to the power of slavery in he National Government." Sumner compared southern slaveholders rapists with animalistic desires to rape a pure territory. This 'pure territory,' of course, referring to the Western lands that had just recently been acquired from Mexico and Britain. By making comparisons between slaveholders and rapists, Sumner is able to sway his audiences' opinions against slaveholders. If enough people see the evil sinful side of slavery, Kansas and Nebraska would be able to become free states. Even better, slavery may be able to be suppressed. 

     Throughout his entire speech, Sumner is passionately voicing out his feelings. Sumner was well-known to be a speaker with a temper, which fortunately, proved to be useful in his case. Legal scholar William R. Long states that the speech was a "gauntlet thrown down, a challenge to the 'Slave Power' to admit once and for all that it were encircling the free states with their tentacular grip and gradually siphoning off the breath of democracy-loving citizens." And sure enough, Sumner's speech and the conflict that came about later was crucial in advancing the abolitionist cause. It also proved that abolitionists were not afraid to fight for what they believed in, even if it was by violent means.

    American politician and Massachusetts's Senator Charles Sumner successfully furthered the abolitionist cause through his characteristically graphic speech "Crimes Against Kansas." He denounced the Slave Power and advocated for Kansas' immediate admission as a free state very passionately with use of great imagery. It is through his use of such rhetorical devices that he was able to prove his great support of the abolitionist cause and fight against injustice. 

TOW #14 - A Romantic Portrayal of Napoleon

"Napoleon Crossing the Alps"

     This oil-painting is of Napoleon Bonaparte, a prominent and ambitious political and military leader of the early 19th century. This painting by French artist Jacques-Louis David is just one of the five versions of and oil on canvas portrait of Napoleon crossing the Alps. Commisioned by the King of Spain, this romantic portrayal of Napoleon illustrates the strongly idealized view of Napoleon's crossing with his army. 

     In the spring of 1800, Napoleon led the Reserve Army across the Alps through the Great St. Bernard Pass. This is a portrait of just that. His intention was to "retake" the territory seized by the Austrians. A most prominent visual of an idealized Napoleon is the hand gesture of Napoleon. The raised hands was a well known gesture of reprimand of emotional displays. In Napoleon Crossing the Alps, the gesture leaves no doubt as to the will of the commander to arrive to his goal. It does not indicate the summit, but rather shows the observer the inevitability of victory and at the same time orders his soldiers to follow. The bare rather than gloved hand may indicate Napoleon desiring to appear as a peacemaker rather than a conqueror.

     David uses inscriptions to reinforce the symbolism in eight of his known works. In this picture, the rocks bear the names of Hannibal and Charlemagne alongside Bonaparte, linking them by their crossing of the Alps, and portraying Napoleon as their successor. The inclusion of Charlemagne and the "IMP", signifying an Emperor status raises doubts as to the level of Bonaparte's involvement with the addition of the inscriptions. 

     The first two of the five copies of this painting was exhibited in the Louvre Museum in France in 1801. This romantic portrayal of Napoleon is the most famous painting and sought after painting by David. Although they lost their appeal to the French community after Napoleon's downfall, today it is a well known painting depicting the turmoils of 19th century France.