Summary and Response
In unit 2 of this class, the focus was on various authors and poets and their use of their work to express their feelings about the issues in the environment. At the end of the unit, we were asked to write an essay in which we summarized and analyzed articles, poems, and movies in terms of the authors rhetorical choices to push a certain idea onto the readers. For my assignment, I decided to focus on the authors creating a relationship between isolation and unity.
Original Submission:
Summary and Response
Contrary to popular belief, the poet, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, use of tone in “Request”, “Whale Chorus,” and “Commitment” creates a relationship between thoughts of isolation or loneliness and different societal tensions that create divisions in order to convey the importance of unity.
In her introductory section of “Dubs: Finding Ceremony”, she makes a point to mention that the person that she is today is because of everything that came before her. She says, “I had to understand that when I reached out for my ancestors, I couldn’t (like population geneticists do) just stop at some relationship that would be markedly salient to my ego’s prior understanding of who I am now” (Gumb, 1). Gumbs’ poem Request, published in the year 2020, addresses the topic of self-love and the responsibilities that someone has for themselves in order to live a happy and healthy life. With a contentious tone, he argues that humans, or anyone for that matter, have a tendency to put everything before themselves. The feeling of being alone causes them to do things or feel a certain way that lowers their self-esteem. For example, when she says, “We would like it if you would turn off your phone,” it sounds like she is telling someone to stop worrying about if someone texted or called because that essentially lowers your own self-esteem and makes you feel alone (Gumb, 7). The repetition of the words “we” and “you” shows that the writer and audience of this poem are the same (Gumb, 7). It seems like the writer is expressing their own flaws and ways they would want to better themselves. In fact, because of the short sentences and constant use of periods, it almost sounds as if the speaker is jotting down thoughts or even daily affirmations for themselves as a reminder. The solution that the writer is calling for is simply taking care of their own personal needs, such as drinking water, and lifting up their own self-confidence rather than bringing it down. The poet says “wrote us poems”, “showed up every day,”, “drank water”, “turned off your phone,” and “stopped pretending to be alone” are all affirmations or goals that one keeps for themselves in the hope of living a better life (Gumb, 7). An advantage of keeping these goals for yourself is that they can motivate you to move on with a positive mindset instead of focusing on your past mistakes and what you are not good at. However, the problem with keeping these goals is that they can be very disappointing and stressful to keep long-term. For example, if the motivation for drinking water is not constant, then it can be easy to stop doing it altogether.
Gumbs in Whale Chorus create a relationship between thoughts of isolation or loneliness and different societal tensions. She addresses the problem of humans destroying the ocean life and water that surround the Earth for their own industrial desires. She argues that water and its creatures are being misused and destroyed by the people who live on the land over time for their own evolution or growth as a society. For example, when she says “there is no you I don’t surround” and “there is nowhere I cannot be,” she is speaking from the perspective of water, which cannot be controlled (Gumb, 25). However, what these people do not know is that the water and its creatures are surrounded everywhere and are the only constants that impact everyone’s life, so people should respect and preserve them. The solution that Gumbs is calling for is taking care of and respecting the nature around you. When she uses the repetition of the phrase “I am here” three times in the end, she is trying to tell the reader that even in an ever-changing world, the constant of water and nature is one that will always be there for you (Gumb, 25). Gumbs ends her poem with a sense of security and contentment for the reader to feel that they are not alone, even if they may feel so.
Gumbs in Commitment creates a relationship between thoughts of isolation or loneliness and different societal tensions. She addresses the problem of feeling like there is no one there to remember you or have someone who will always be there to have your back when you need it. The solution that she calls for is that there is always someone there to take care of you and make you a better person; sometimes that could be a close friend or relative, a force that is always looking after you, or it could even be yourself. For example, when she says, “We promise to be we, even one by one,” the speaker is the reader’s inner voice, reminding themselves that they will always be together no matter what (Gumb, 6). I think this is because the term ‘we’ suggests that there is more than one person, one being oneself. However, the short sentences and affirmations sound like they are personal and a way for someone to make themselves a better person (Gumb, 6). Additionally, it said, “We promise to outsmart your mind,” which makes me think that the speaker is the reader (Gumb, 6). That sounds a little odd because I don’t think anyone would want their mind to be outsmarted by anyone but themselves because it would make them smarter. Like the previous two poems, Gumbs addresses the topic of finding security after being isolated and alone by reminding the reader that even though they may feel like it, they don’t need anyone but themselves.
Similarly, Eric W. Sanderson also discusses this topic of isolation and loneliness, but he addresses it differently than Gumbs’ in “Dub: Finding Ceremony.” The article “Let Water Go Where It Wants to Go,” written by author Eric W. Sanderson, is essentially addressing the problem of the rising instances of flooding in New York City. The overarching problem is that these floods are leading to mass destruction in basements and underground subways, resulting in the loss of many lives. According to Sanderson, New Yorkers are left all alone in these conditions with nowhere to go, and the matter seems to only be getting worse. Sanderson also speaks on the reason behind this flooding of public property when he says, “They may have looked like Edgemere and Oakwood Beach and Red Hook, but these neighborhoods are marshes first, disguised with landfills, and topped with buildings” (Sanderson, 2021). This means that the buildings and piles of landfills that can be seen in the city today are taking the place of the marshes and streams that used to exist underground. This has caused the waterways to attack in other places, which is causing people to be left completely isolated from the decisions that affect their lives. The solution that the writer is calling for is to unearth the natural waterways that have become blocked by the city’s construction of buildings, streets, and railway stations. While this solution may seem effective, it will be difficult to convince many people to move out of their homes without a concrete plan as to where they will live and work. It will require the relocation of many New Yorkers, which will lead to many losing their homes and even being homeless. While Gumbs addresses isolation and loneliness on a more personal level, I think Sanderson addresses the isolation the New Yorkers are being left in after the destruction has happened, and they have no idea what their future might bring.
Similarly, in his 1977 production of “Princess Mononoke”, director Hayao Miyazaki also discusses this topic of isolation and loneliness; however, he also addresses it differently than Gumbs’ “Dub: Finding Ceremony.” While the movie was entirely based on fictional events and was a form of entertainment, it still consisted of themes and ideas that could be transcribed into real-world problems and issues. The overarching problem is that because of human activity and industrial work being done on the environment, we are failing to preserve the land and forests altogether. The theme of the preservation of nature is one of the major overarching themes in the film. It essentially speaks for the effects of human activity on the environment as a whole. For example, the character of Lady Eboshi, who is one of the industrial leaders of the communities, has the goal of modernizing the village and building a healthy life and future for the people who live there (Princess Mononoke). However, in order for that to happen, she believes that the destruction of the forest is the quickest and most effective way for that to come true. On the other hand, the character of Okoko believed that humans were destroying the forests that they believed needed to be preserved (Princess Mononoke). This difference in beliefs about cultural values leads to the isolation and division of the two groups from each other. This leads to fighting and war arising between the two societies, the Emishi village and the protectors of the forest (Princess Mononoke). Thus, I believe that while Gumbs addresses isolation and loneliness on a more personal level, Miyazaku addresses the isolation the two societies are feeling because of the difference in opinions on how things should run.
Revised Submission:
Summary and Response
The poet, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, use of tone in “Request”, “Whale Chorus,” and “Commitment” creates a relationship between thoughts of isolation and different societal tensions that create divisions in order to convey the importance of unity within people and the environment.
In her introductory section of Dubs: Finding Ceremony, she makes a point to mention that the person that she is today is because of everything that came before her. She says, “I had to understand that when I reached out for my ancestors, I couldn’t (like population geneticists do) just stop at some relationship that would be markedly salient to my ego’s prior understanding of who I am now” (Gumb, 1). Gumbs’ poem “Request”, published in the year 2020, addresses the topic of self-love and the responsibilities that someone has for themselves in order to live a happy and healthy life. With a contentious tone, she argues that humans, or anyone for that matter, have a tendency to put everything before themselves. The feeling of being alone causes them to do things or feel a certain way that lowers their self-esteem. For example, when she says, “We would like it if you would turn off your phone,” it sounds like she advises someone to stop worrying about if someone texted or called because that essentially lowers ones own self-esteem and makes one feel alone (Gumb, 7). The repetition of the words “we” and “you” shows that the writer and audience of this poem are the same (Gumb, 7). It seems like the writer is expressing their own flaws and ways they would want to better themselves. In fact, because of the short sentences and constant use of periods, it almost sounds as if the speaker is jotting down thoughts or even daily affirmations for themselves as a reminder. The solution that the writer is calling for is simply taking care of their own personal needs, such as drinking water, and lifting up their own self-confidence rather than bringing it down. The poet says “wrote us poems”, “showed up every day,”, “drank water”, “turned off your phone,” and “stopped pretending to be alone” are all affirmations or goals that one keeps for themselves in the hope of living a better life (Gumb, 7). An advantage of meeting goals is a motivating positive mindset instead of on past mistakes and failures. However, the problem with keeping these goals is that they can be very disappointing and stressful to keep long-term. For example, if the motivation for drinking water is not constant, then it can be easy to stop doing it altogether.
Gumbs in “Whale Chorus” create a relationship between thoughts of isolation or loneliness and different societal tensions. She addresses the problem of humans destroying the ocean life and water that surround the Earth for their own industrial desires. She argues that water and its creatures are being misused and destroyed by the people who live on the land over time for their own evolution or growth as a society. For example, when she says “there is no you I don’t surround” and “there is nowhere I cannot be,” she is speaking from the perspective of water, which cannot be controlled (Gumb, 25). However, what these people do not know is that the water and its creatures are surrounded everywhere and are the only constants that impact everyone’s life, so people should respect and preserve them. The solution that Gumbs is calling for is taking care of and respecting the nature around you. When she uses the repetition of the phrase “I am here” three times in the end, she is trying to tell the reader that even in an ever-changing world, the constant of water and nature is one that will always be there for everyone (Gumb, 25). Gumbs ends her poem with a sense of security and contentment for the reader to feel that they are not alone, even if they may feel so.
Gumbs in “Commitment” creates a relationship between thoughts of isolation or loneliness and different societal tensions. She addresses the problem of feeling like there is no one there to remember you or have someone who will always be there to have your back when one might need it. The solution that she calls for is that there is always someone there to take care of you and make you a better person; sometimes that could be a close friend or relative, a force that is always looking after you, or it could even be yourself. For example, when she says, “We promise to be we, even one by one,” the speaker is the reader’s inner voice, reminding themselves that they will always be together no matter what (Gumb, 6). I think this is because the term ‘we’ suggests that there is more than one person, one being oneself. However, the short sentences and affirmations sound like they are personal and a way for someone to make themselves a better person (Gumb, 6). Additionally, it said, “We promise to outsmart your mind,” which makes me think that the speaker is the reader (Gumb, 6). That sounds a little odd because I don’t think anyone would want their mind to be outsmarted by anyone but themselves because it would make them smarter. Like the previous two poems, Gumbs addresses the topic of finding security after being isolated and alone by reminding the reader that even though they may feel like it, they don’t need anyone but themselves.
Similarly, Eric W. Sanderson also discusses this topic of isolation and loneliness, but he addresses it differently than Gumbs’ in Dub: Finding Ceremony. The article “Let Water Go Where It Wants to Go,” written by author Eric W. Sanderson, is essentially addressing the problem of the rising instances of flooding in New York City. The overarching problem is that these floods are leading to mass destruction in basements and underground subways, resulting in the loss of many lives. According to Sanderson, New Yorkers are left all alone in these conditions with nowhere to go, and the matter seems to only be getting worse. Sanderson also speaks on the reason behind this flooding of public property when he says, “They may have looked like Edgemere and Oakwood Beach and Red Hook, but these neighborhoods are marshes first, disguised with landfills, and topped with buildings” (Sanderson, 2021). This means that the buildings and piles of landfills that can be seen in the city today are taking the place of the marshes and streams that used to exist underground. This has caused the waterways to attack in other places, which is causing people to be left completely isolated from the decisions that affect their lives. The solution that the writer is calling for is to unearth the natural waterways that have become blocked by the city’s construction of buildings, streets, and railway stations. While this solution may seem effective, it will be difficult to convince many people to move out of their homes without a concrete plan as to where they will live and work. It will require the relocation of many New Yorkers, which will lead to many losing their homes and even being homeless. While Gumbs addresses isolation and loneliness on a more personal level, I think Sanderson addresses the isolation the New Yorkers are being left in after the destruction has happened, and they have no idea what their future might bring.
Similarly, in his 1977 production of Princess Mononoke, director Hayao Miyazaki also discusses this topic of isolation and loneliness; however, he also addresses it differently than Gumbs’ “Dub: Finding Ceremony.” While the movie was entirely based on fictional events and was a form of entertainment, it still consisted of themes and ideas that could be transcribed into real-world problems and issues. The overarching problem is that because of human activity and industrial work being done on the environment, we are failing to preserve the land and forests altogether. The theme of the preservation of nature is one of the major overarching themes in the film. It essentially speaks for the effects of human activity on the environment as a whole. For example, the character of Lady Eboshi, who is one of the industrial leaders of the communities, has the goal of modernizing the village and building a healthy life and future for the people who live there (Princess Mononoke). However, in order for that to happen, Lady Eboshi believes that the destruction of the forest is the quickest and most effective way for that to come true. On the other hand, the character of Okoko believed that humans were destroying the forests that they believed needed to be preserved (Princess Mononoke). This difference in beliefs about cultural values leads to the isolation and division of the two groups from each other. This leads to fighting and war arising between the two societies, the Emishi village and the protectors of the forest (Princess Mononoke). Thus, I believe that while Gumbs addresses isolation and loneliness on a more personal level, Miyazaku addresses the isolation the two societies are feeling because of the difference in opinions on how things should run.
All in all, the works written by the poet Alexis Pauline Gumbs and various other authors create a relationship between thoughts of isolation and the security that is provided by the environment around you.
