Entry #3- Debunking Internet slant

Today's slant is Harry Potter. For those who are unfamiliar, Harry Potter is one of the most famous fantasy novel series in the world. Written and published by author JK Rowling the series chronicles Harry Potters's life as he discovers and battles his magical skills. When it was first launched, the series gained widespread praise and quickly became one of the most popular fantasy series of all time. Though with praise and fans of the franchise, there are also haters. Numerous articles and videos are released on the internet in hopes of attracting hateful fans. One of them is; All The Reasons Why “Harry Potter” Actually Sucks (You Know It’s True). 

This 2018 article makes startling assertions, one of which is that the books are poorly written. According to the article, “While J.K. Rowling does an excellent job of world building, ”the piece claims, “the story itself is beyond basic.” It implies that the audience intended for this has a pretty decent knowledge of the storyline. With both the books and the movie adaptations in mind, the article blatantly calls the story basic. As for the movies they are mentioned to be either too cheesy or too dark. Evidently, there is no pleasing this article's intended demographic. Instead of addressing some of the adaptations' genuine problematic controversies, such as a lack of diversity, the article complains about seemingly insignificant issues, such as characters dying in the narrative. These precise considerations lead me to assume that the target audience for this post is adolescents or young adults. Another factor for this claim is the vocabulary used in the article is highly informal and sarcastic with examples such as “And then BAM” or “Gee, if only”. It is safe to say that this sarcastic, and opinionated article has a weak rhetoric. Not only is it highly opinionated but it also does not communicate anything other than vague critique without sources or examples to back up the article itself. In addition, it does not provide any background information for those who are new to the wizarding world.

It is critical to remember that good rhetoric and evidence are both essential for a successful slant piece. An essay like this one cannot be effective without these components. While this was an eye-catching and engaging read, it failed to effectively express its rhetoric.

Blog Entry #2. Did Instagram end the “It-girl” era? Let's talk about it

 

In a time period where everyone with a phone can become rich and famous, the distinction between celebrity and influencer is becoming increasingly fragmented. People now use the phrase "it-girl" to describe to anyone with a smidge of clout. Leaving aside the obvious overuse of the ephitet, I am not sure I can name a contemporary celebrity who warrants the “it-girl” label. Can they even exist in this era? 

What defines the “it-girl” from the movie stars of the 50s to the 90s super models to the influencers of today.

We often hear people referring to famous female figures as having “it”. By It meaning sex appleal, fame and a socialite lifestyle. The term dates back to the early 1900 hunders, by a man named Rudyard Kipling who defined the term as following: "'Tisn't beauty, so to speak, nor good talk necessarily. It's just It. Some women'll stay in a man's memory if they once walk down a street." (Kipling Society) As Kipling once said there is no distinct beauty or personality trait that defines “it”. The most important term is wealth. “The it.” That is the main distinction between the “it- girls” and just girls.  

However people can now put on a mask of having "it" without having any of the  elements that warrants someone the "it-factor" thanks to applications like Instagram. Whereas the “It-girl” used to be pursued by paparazzi, today's influencers turn the camera on themselves - a diy paparazzi. Wealth, fame, and the little button nose can all be photoshopped and faked. The bottom line is that the more disconnected we grow from the real world and the more immersed we become in the internet, the closer the "It-girl" is to extinction. What are your thoughts on the “it-girl”?

Sources:

Page, David. “It!” The Kipling Society , 11 Apr. 2006, https://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/readers-guide/rg_it1.htm.