Propeller scene in Blow-up

So, I re-watched Blow-Up yesterday (which by the way, I thought was not so interesting when I saw it the first time, but a FASCINATING movie when I watched slowly, carefully, and wow everything kinda makes sense now!) and why did the photographer buy the propeller? It appears completely useless.
In fact, why does he like buying stuff so much, like why did he want to buy that painting from Bill? And why does he want to buy that antique shop? Is it just to show that he's rich, or is there some other meaning behind that?

Jeff Joh

Citing A Room of One's Own?

What's the convention for citing quotes from the Virginia Woolf piece? There are no page numbers given, so do we just give chapter number or do we give page number based on the pdf' file's pages? Another question: There were a lot of typos in the pdf file, should we maintain the typos while quoting (using the sic marker and what not) or can we go ahead and correct obvious mistakes in the quote?

Thanks
Tom

Final Paper!

Hi Ben,
I wasn't sure if you said we had to use The Lover in our final paper or not?

Writing Analytically 7.2

From Katherine Su:

Writing Analytically, 7.2
1. Pros : The transition into the thesis statement is good, summing up the
two arguments being made in. Uses the word “despite” and “while” to set up
a typically good thesis structure. Presents the specific dilemma
accurately and concisely.

Cons: Makes no claim, nothing that needs to be further proved. Uses a lot
of nouns rather than verbs, no direction. Sums up the introductory
paragraph, doesn’t truly provide a compelling argument. It’s basically a
statement of fact. The first part of the sentence says “despite both
legitimate claims,…” however the second part is just reiterating the two
legitimate claims.

While both claims are legitimate, the issue of protecting the environment
will long outlive the problems of our current economy, but maintaining a
proper balance to both is key a successful future.

2. Pros: It makes a claim. Presents its argument clearly, introduces the
subject of the argument in the very beginning, uses “corporate view” to
try to seem like it is not a personal opinion.

Cons: It is, however, obviously a personal statement, based completely off
of the female stereotype in society. The beginning phrase is unnecessary
(“Regarding the….”), overall sentence is convoluted. “Losing the race”
isn’t quite the best phrase of choice.

As powerful firms promote people into top executive positions, gender
stereotypes are being used against women, claiming that a woman’s
compassion makes her less of a candidate.

Writing Analytically 7.2

1. This thesis makes no real claim about environmental or economic protection. It focuses on both as a whole, and just states that the issue “remains critical.” The thesis does not lead the paper in any particular direction, so nothing can really be resolved in writing the rest of the paper about why resolving the issue between environmental and economic protection is critical. The rest of the paragraph, however, sets up a definite contrast that can easily be debated.

Despite the concerns over preventing global warming, industries must expand to stimulate the American economy.

2. This thesis seems to have personal conviction in the claim. The claim puts women behind men in a corporate “race,” and assumes that executive positions require a lack of compassion. The thesis has a point, but is weakened in its wordiness and weak verbs. To "keep up" with competition is vague, and does not make a specific claim. Overall, the thesis seems more like an attack on women than an analysis.

Women are less likely to gain executive positions, because corporations believe that women are too compassionate to uphold the corporations' interests.

Writing Analytically, 7.2

1.
Strengths:
- anticipates objections by stating both sides and claims that they are both “legitimate”
- good sentence structure: starts out with “despite” and follows argument with “while”
- is relatively specific and avoids weak verbs

Weaknesses:
- somewhat wrong use of “despite”
- lacks drive: the use of “critical” remains ambiguous
- so what if it is “critical”?

Thesis rewrite:

Although protecting the environment and securing our country’s economic position are both legitimate claims, we need to intertwine both objectives because forsaking one for the other will result in useless efforts.

2.
Strengths:
- sets up argument well with points that readers will expect to find out about later

Weaknesses:
- awkward flow (especially the first sentence)
- wordy, non-specific words

Thesis rewrite:

Because most corporations consider women to be too compassionate to keep up with the competition within a firm, women are less likely to hold executive positions.

The Lover/Essay Question

Hey... So I am flipping through the Lover, and I recently noticed something that I hadn't seen previously:
p91
"It was as night ended that he killed himself, in the main square, glittering with light."

I seem to be missing something... who is dying here?

Please any help would be awesome!

-Zach

Writing Analytically 7.2

Question 1
1. The thesis states the obvious and has no compelling argument
2. "Critical" is too braod of a term
3. The thesis statement does not predicate
Although there exists these two established claims, the challenge of protecting the environment while simultaneously satisfying the economy remains the ultimate objective.

Question 2
1. There is a lot of weak verb use
2. There are a lot of generalizations such as "race"
3. The verbs are not strong enough to support the nouns and make for a strong statement
The corporate stereotype, in which women are viewed as too sensitive and compassionate to succeed in a competitive firm, hinders the number of women promoted into executive positions.

Virginia Woolf

Hey all,

For those of you who haven't printed out the Woolf essay yet, I put all 6 chapters together into one PDF. Here 'tis:

http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/42454/A%20room%20of%20one%27s%20own%2C%20by%20Virginia%20Woolf.pdf

It may seem a bit long, but it's pretty straightforward, and a moderately quick (and fun!) read.

Happy Thanksgiving - enjoy.

-Ben

PIZZA! :)

Hey everyone,

Please bring $2 tomorrow for pizza! I'm thinking of getting 2 or 3 "Godzilla" size pizzas from Blondie's. Comment if you have other suggestions or any preferences for toppings :)

~Radhika