Dear Mr. Colbert,
Latest in your book, I Am America(And So Can You!) You discuss race in America. One thing I thought provoked some thought was when you say "Racism no longer exists in America"(172). I know you are probably just joking, but I would strongly have to disagree with that. I'm not saying it has gotten better or is a good thing, but it is, unfortunately, still present. I see it quite a bit. Here is an example that is not necessarily true, or racist, more of segregation, but like how a lot of times the black kids hang out more amongst themselves, as well as white people. I don't understand why that is, possibly because it is natural instinct and we can relate to them better.
A good example of racism comes from a movie called Crash, which won an Oscar for best film. But in the movie, everyone that was racist in the beginning realized by the end of the movie that it was unfair and wrong of them, and those who believed they were the most un-discriminantory ended up being more racist in the end. And it wasn't just white people being racist against black people. It was blacks being racist against blacks, whites being racist to blacks, blacks being racist to Hispanics, whites being racist to Hispanics, Eastern ethnicities being racist towards Hispanics, and so on. It was just a continuing circle of racism, and what those people learned from it. Highly recommend it. But it is just another, really good, example of how racism works and what it's like in our world today.
Other than that, I didn't have a huge reaction to the section. It was kind of my own thoughts and opinions that evoked any thought about what he wrote. And as always, it was funny.
sincerely,
grace
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Week 6 Post A
VOCAB-
jaunty: easily and sprightly in manner. adj.
disconsolate: without consolation; hopelessly unhappy. adj.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE-
1) "The white and black keys (of a piano) could represent white people, and the black keys could represent non-white people"(171). This metaphor already explains itself, but it compares different races to the keys on a piano.
2) "I'm not afraid to disturb the skeleton's in America's closet"(171). Here a metaphor is used to discuss America's problems. The skeletons represent the things that America has done that probably doesn't want to be brought up.
3) "zazz"(177). I'm not sure if this is an actual onomatopoeia, but I think that it could be one. First, it's not an actual word, but it sort of describes something with a little emotion and personality.
QUOTE-
Although it is short; it is quite controversial. Colbert states, "Racism no longer exists in America"(172). As much as most would like this to be true it's not. I see racism almost everyday. Not in my school as much as in the outside world, obviously, but many schools still do have a racism problem. I just watched a movie called Knocked Up, and there's a scene where an older woman is trying to get into a club, and the bouncer rejects her. She gets very upset, but then he tells her that he wish he didn't have to judge by looks, but his job makes him only let in 5% of black people. So for every 25 people he can only let 5 black people in. And this movie was filmed recently taking place in the present. So it goes to show that there is still racism in America, along as everywhere else.
THEME-
This sections theme was eliminating racism, by eliminating color. Although, it would be more correct to accept all color, and not be racist.
jaunty: easily and sprightly in manner. adj.
disconsolate: without consolation; hopelessly unhappy. adj.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE-
1) "The white and black keys (of a piano) could represent white people, and the black keys could represent non-white people"(171). This metaphor already explains itself, but it compares different races to the keys on a piano.
2) "I'm not afraid to disturb the skeleton's in America's closet"(171). Here a metaphor is used to discuss America's problems. The skeletons represent the things that America has done that probably doesn't want to be brought up.
3) "zazz"(177). I'm not sure if this is an actual onomatopoeia, but I think that it could be one. First, it's not an actual word, but it sort of describes something with a little emotion and personality.
QUOTE-
Although it is short; it is quite controversial. Colbert states, "Racism no longer exists in America"(172). As much as most would like this to be true it's not. I see racism almost everyday. Not in my school as much as in the outside world, obviously, but many schools still do have a racism problem. I just watched a movie called Knocked Up, and there's a scene where an older woman is trying to get into a club, and the bouncer rejects her. She gets very upset, but then he tells her that he wish he didn't have to judge by looks, but his job makes him only let in 5% of black people. So for every 25 people he can only let 5 black people in. And this movie was filmed recently taking place in the present. So it goes to show that there is still racism in America, along as everywhere else.
THEME-
This sections theme was eliminating racism, by eliminating color. Although, it would be more correct to accept all color, and not be racist.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Week 5 Post B
Dear Mr. Colbert,
Yet another couple paragraphs on what I've recently read in I Am America(and So Can You!). There isn't a lot that can be said. Yet more opinions about hot topics in society. This week: Classes and the Media. This would have to be one of the problems with your book, the fact that I can hardly come up with something new to write each week. The strong, but hilarious, opinions just continue to go on and make me, but sometimes getting me overwhelmed, even bored with your wittiness. I will continue to praise you on your constant cleverness though. The games and pictures int eh middle of sections make reading more fun and spice it up a little bit.
I am reaching the last chapters of the book, and they are getting shorter, and soon I will have finished your book and will haver to recommend it to even more people than I already have. Although, I wouldn't really recommend that one read this for school, because like me, it is fairly difficult to write about, and the fact that it might be more enjoyable if it's not being forced to be read by the school board.
To just briefly go over what I actually read...Colbert covers the topic of classes in society and the media. As usual, he is against most media sources except his own. Also, an over view of the "Class War." As in, the struggle for the lower class to become upper class and how the upper class doesn't have to do anything but "breathe air" to earn their wealth. He talks about his lower class family and how came into the upper class. It is funny, as always, but lacks topic discussion because you know that what he is saying is not his real beliefs, but just for the sake of humor.
Sincerely,
Grace
Yet another couple paragraphs on what I've recently read in I Am America(and So Can You!). There isn't a lot that can be said. Yet more opinions about hot topics in society. This week: Classes and the Media. This would have to be one of the problems with your book, the fact that I can hardly come up with something new to write each week. The strong, but hilarious, opinions just continue to go on and make me, but sometimes getting me overwhelmed, even bored with your wittiness. I will continue to praise you on your constant cleverness though. The games and pictures int eh middle of sections make reading more fun and spice it up a little bit.
I am reaching the last chapters of the book, and they are getting shorter, and soon I will have finished your book and will haver to recommend it to even more people than I already have. Although, I wouldn't really recommend that one read this for school, because like me, it is fairly difficult to write about, and the fact that it might be more enjoyable if it's not being forced to be read by the school board.
To just briefly go over what I actually read...Colbert covers the topic of classes in society and the media. As usual, he is against most media sources except his own. Also, an over view of the "Class War." As in, the struggle for the lower class to become upper class and how the upper class doesn't have to do anything but "breathe air" to earn their wealth. He talks about his lower class family and how came into the upper class. It is funny, as always, but lacks topic discussion because you know that what he is saying is not his real beliefs, but just for the sake of humor.
Sincerely,
Grace
Week 5 Post A
VOCAB-
pundit: a learned person, expert, or authority.
corroborated: to make more certain; confirm.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE-
1) " You can always pull yourself up by your bootstraps or turn the lemons life has given you into lemonade"(164). Here is a metaphoric phrase being used to describe what the lower class can do in terms of bringing themselves up to the upper class. It's saying that you have to make something out of what life has given you no matter how small, and that you have to bring yourself up from a lower class situation by taking charge and initiative.
2) "They could easily freeze out the poor and man their factories with robots or mice"(165). This is also a sort of metaphor. Colbert is saying the upper class could "freeze" out the lower class, and it is an un-human like characteristic and more a of nature characteristic given to humans. Could possibly also be viewed as personification.
3) "Za-bang!" Another onomatopoeia used to draw the attention with others. Colbert uses this onomatopoeia when discussing the communist Mont Sinclair and some of his very communist-like jokes and uses these onomatopoeias to draw humor and attention to the reader.
QUOTE-
" All day in class, I would think about what my dad did for us, how hard he worked, and that I never wanted to do any of that. I wanted to be the local rich guy. Today, I am"(161). Colbert discusses the financial classes in society, and he is not shy to let people now hi financial status, like in this quote. Here, it is humorous, but most wouldn't or shouldn't go around announcing that to others. So it is interesting to see him not ashamed or humble about what kind of money he makes, because most normally keep that to themselves, with the exception of a few.
THEME-
No surprise that there is lack of an emerging theme. The same theme of personal opinions on hot topics, and Colbert's beyond boundaries discussion and opinion of basic life matters
pundit: a learned person, expert, or authority.
corroborated: to make more certain; confirm.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE-
1) " You can always pull yourself up by your bootstraps or turn the lemons life has given you into lemonade"(164). Here is a metaphoric phrase being used to describe what the lower class can do in terms of bringing themselves up to the upper class. It's saying that you have to make something out of what life has given you no matter how small, and that you have to bring yourself up from a lower class situation by taking charge and initiative.
2) "They could easily freeze out the poor and man their factories with robots or mice"(165). This is also a sort of metaphor. Colbert is saying the upper class could "freeze" out the lower class, and it is an un-human like characteristic and more a of nature characteristic given to humans. Could possibly also be viewed as personification.
3) "Za-bang!" Another onomatopoeia used to draw the attention with others. Colbert uses this onomatopoeia when discussing the communist Mont Sinclair and some of his very communist-like jokes and uses these onomatopoeias to draw humor and attention to the reader.
QUOTE-
" All day in class, I would think about what my dad did for us, how hard he worked, and that I never wanted to do any of that. I wanted to be the local rich guy. Today, I am"(161). Colbert discusses the financial classes in society, and he is not shy to let people now hi financial status, like in this quote. Here, it is humorous, but most wouldn't or shouldn't go around announcing that to others. So it is interesting to see him not ashamed or humble about what kind of money he makes, because most normally keep that to themselves, with the exception of a few.
THEME-
No surprise that there is lack of an emerging theme. The same theme of personal opinions on hot topics, and Colbert's beyond boundaries discussion and opinion of basic life matters
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Week 4 Post B
Dear Mr. Colbert,
I'm reaching the end of your book with only a few more chapters for you to share your humorous opinion. Honestly, there is not a whole lot of new topics that can be discussed about your book. I find it that I mostly just quote what you say to my friends because of its hilarity. What I find intriguing is that most comedians, or as you might prefer, politicians, have their dry material that the audience could care less for and doesn't find funny, but in your book you constantly deliver. It may very well be that you had the time to have your moments when the humor and creativity was flowing then had some down time. Although, I watch The Colbert Report and you never seem to fail there either, and for that I give you props. I notice on other comedy shows that they are not always right on top delivering a super funny show, which is understandable, because you all here of comedians who became depressed because of their dry material or their bad childhoods...or something along those lines, but even if you have those moments it does not show.
One thing I'm curious about is if those who have not seen your show would understand your humor or pick up on your tone in I Am America(and So Can You!). One of my friends did in fact start reading your book and think it was also very funny, but for me I think it helps that I've see the way you speak and operate in real life, but then I am sort of bias becuase I have seen the show.
Sincerely,
Grace
I'm reaching the end of your book with only a few more chapters for you to share your humorous opinion. Honestly, there is not a whole lot of new topics that can be discussed about your book. I find it that I mostly just quote what you say to my friends because of its hilarity. What I find intriguing is that most comedians, or as you might prefer, politicians, have their dry material that the audience could care less for and doesn't find funny, but in your book you constantly deliver. It may very well be that you had the time to have your moments when the humor and creativity was flowing then had some down time. Although, I watch The Colbert Report and you never seem to fail there either, and for that I give you props. I notice on other comedy shows that they are not always right on top delivering a super funny show, which is understandable, because you all here of comedians who became depressed because of their dry material or their bad childhoods...or something along those lines, but even if you have those moments it does not show.
One thing I'm curious about is if those who have not seen your show would understand your humor or pick up on your tone in I Am America(and So Can You!). One of my friends did in fact start reading your book and think it was also very funny, but for me I think it helps that I've see the way you speak and operate in real life, but then I am sort of bias becuase I have seen the show.
Sincerely,
Grace
Monday, December 3, 2007
Week 4 Post A
VOCAB-
tenure: the holding or possessing of anything. n. Although the context in which Steven Colbert uses, he uses it as an adjective.
chromatophores: A pigment-containing or pigment-producing cell, especially in certain lizards, that by expansion or contraction can change the color of the skin. Also called pigment cell.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE-
1) Colbert discusses the tricks-of-the-trade in show business and how to fight them, and as he puts it, " The problem with Hollywood, as if there weren't enough problems already, is that the minute you've whacked that weed in one place, up it sprouts somewhere else"(144). Here is a unique, but true metaphor. It is clear this is a metaphor because he applies an action to something that cannot literally be done in that action.
2) While talking about The Lion King live performance, Colbert states, "Sadly these milk-fed innocents don't know what they're in for" (144). Another metaphor is used here, he is using an animal like quality, but in terms of human beings; it's a common phrase to describe innocent people.
3) Yet another metaphor, "No content to spread their poison across the silver screen..."(144). This is a metaphor for Film companies spreading their "poison" or if I may, their poor film making choices, are spreading to the live stage.
QUOTE-
" Applying to colleges teaches you youngsters resume-building, a.k.a: lying..."(123). This is only a glimpse at the quote, but what Colbert says here is something that most would disagree with, but even those that do know its true. No, it's not good, but colleges are looking for the most unique and well-rounded kids, and if were all unique and well-rounded then one: standards will be raised and two: we really wouldn't be unique anymore...Also, the pressure and demands are so great to get into college these days that kids are willing to do anything because we feel we have to do these types of things to even be noticed.
THEME-
In the higher education chapter Colbert shows favoritism and sympathy for the kids, and is against having higher education, but of course this is for humor.
Secondly, in the Hollywood chapter, Colbert expresses yet another opinion that is against what Hollywood represents, as he does with most of the other topics.
2) While talking about The Lion King live performance, Colbert states, "Sadly these milk-fed innocents don't know what they're in for" (144). Another metaphor is used here, he is using an animal like quality, but in terms of human beings; it's a common phrase to describe innocent people.
3) Yet another metaphor, "No content to spread their poison across the silver screen..."(144). This is a metaphor for Film companies spreading their "poison" or if I may, their poor film making choices, are spreading to the live stage.
QUOTE-
" Applying to colleges teaches you youngsters resume-building, a.k.a: lying..."(123). This is only a glimpse at the quote, but what Colbert says here is something that most would disagree with, but even those that do know its true. No, it's not good, but colleges are looking for the most unique and well-rounded kids, and if were all unique and well-rounded then one: standards will be raised and two: we really wouldn't be unique anymore...Also, the pressure and demands are so great to get into college these days that kids are willing to do anything because we feel we have to do these types of things to even be noticed.
THEME-
In the higher education chapter Colbert shows favoritism and sympathy for the kids, and is against having higher education, but of course this is for humor.
Secondly, in the Hollywood chapter, Colbert expresses yet another opinion that is against what Hollywood represents, as he does with most of the other topics.
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