TOW #3 – Visual: “Immigrants are Ruining the Economy”

Amptoons Comics

Immigrants are Ruining the Economy

January 28, 2008

By Barry Deutsch

Barry Deutsch is the political cartoonist behind the comic, Ampersand, published in the Dollars and Sense Magazine.  This magazine provides news, analyses, and reports specifically about the economy for its readership, which consists of mostly students and professors.  In Ampersand’s January 2008 issue, Deutsch makes fun of how American nativism has always driven people to scapegoat immigrants for economic problems.  He specifically references the economic crisis of the 1780s, the Panic of 1857, the Depression of 1920, and the Financial Crisis of 2008.  Utilizing juxtaposition and the exaggeration of his character’s facial expressions, Deutsch appeals to the humor of younger generations in order to successfully emphasize how immigrants have always taken the blame for every economic recession in America. 

The author divides the cartoon into four equal squares with one example of scapegoating immigrants in each square.  There is a uniform structure for each example: some character criticizing the immigrants in front of some corresponding background from that year, and a smaller box with date in big bold letters.  This uniformity helps show students that although decades separate each example with every square depicting a different group of people, every instance is essentially the same American citizen asserting unfounded accusations, born from nativism. 

Deutsch also depicts his characters in a humorous way to generate interest from younger generations.  His exaggeration of their expressions, especially with their extreme eyebrows, oddly-shaped gaping mouths, and firm positions of their hands, is how Deutsch ridicules each character, conveying the message that these people and their accusations are ridiculous. 

However, there are exceptions to the above two “visual” devices Deutsch uses.  Deutsch slightly breaks uniformity in the last square when instead of putting “2008”, he writes “NOW.” There is also one character who is devoid of any of the “ridiculous” aspects, and actually only appeals to the audience’s “aww” emotions; this character being the child in the last square.  In doing so, the author points out that although nativism has dominated American history, there is hope in breaking this cycle because now, it is up to the younger generations, who have the choice to follow their predecessors or to make their own future and treat immigrants differently.  

TOW #2 – Article: “In Migrant Crisis: German Generosity Comes Under Fire”

The Washington Post
"In Migrant Crisis, German Generosity Comes Under Fire"
September 7, 2015
By Anthony Faiola and Michael Birnbaum 

Anthony Faiola is currently the Post’s Berlin bureau chief and has written many reports for the paper since 1994.  In this article, he collaborates with Michael Birnbaum, who is the Post’s Moscow bureau chief and previously served as a Berlin correspondent.  Together, they published this article on September 7, reporting on Germany taking fire after pledging to take in 500,000 migrants annually.  Faiola and Birnbaum stated that European leaders blamed Germany for essentially motivating migrants to their deaths with “benefits so lucrative” (para. 3).  In response, Germany lowered the amount of cash handouts to asylum seekers and promised other forms of aid that would be beneficial to migrants in the long run. 

Although the article seems largely factual-based because of its short and simple syntax with the majority of the article consisting of quotations from politicians, Faiola and Birnbaum subtly make an argument about how in some cases, generosity can be harmful.  The authors are most likely writing to warn other European nations about the complexity of this migrant crisis and that in order to help keep asylum seekers safe, less should be offered to prevent them from making dangerous journeys across land and sea. 

Most European nations are being criticized for not doing more to help these migrants; however, Hungary’s leader, Viktor Orban is quoted saying, “Just between us, you know, the problem is not a European problem. The problem is a German problem” (para. 22).  By quoting credible speakers involved in this conflict, Faiola and Birnbaum establish their ethos and also argue that Germany’s monetary promises will lead to a lot more deaths from attempts to take dangerous travel routes.  Orban’s quote also carries an incriminating tone, showing conflict between nations, which is also unfavorable in a conflict that requires the help of all European nations together.  Faiola and Birnbaum quoted leaders whose words would support their argument, allowing them to successfully persuade other nations that promising financial aid is not the solution to the migrant crisis, and neither is putting the blame on others who should be commended for their efforts.

TOW #1 – Article: "Trump and Obama: A Night to Remember"

The New Yorker

"Trump and Obama: A Night to Remember"

September 12, 2015

By Adam Gopnik

As a staff writer of the New Yorker since 1986, Adam Gopnik has contributed fiction, non-fiction, book reviews, humor, criticism, and internationally reported pieces.  On September 12, 2015, reporting on the fiery occurrences at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in 2011, Gopnik enlightens the New Yorker newspaper’s readership with his thought-provoking commentary.  Gopnik’s apparent purpose is to share such humorous news, describing the event as “the usual American ritual of the ‘roast’” (Gopnik para. 7), but how can this article be considered “news” if people had already known about President Obama’s outrageously witty gibes at Donald Trump?  The author goes beyond reporting old news; he writes a cause and effect essay for the purpose of identifying a possible cause for the strange phenomenon of Trump’s stunning lead in the polls.

Gopnik begins by summarizing the highlights of the dinner and quoting only a few of Obama’s most provocative gibes, which serve to quickly refresh his audience’s memory of what occurred four years ago, as well as form the context of his analysis.  Using figurative language, such as simile and personification, he writes, “his head set in place, like a man in a pillory, he barely moved or altered his expression as wave after wave of laughter struck him” (Gopnik para. 3).  Gopnik emphasizes the “parts” of the dinner to introduce the cause he identifies: Trump’s humiliation and anxiety. 

The author then relates such “parts” to the “whole,” his overall argument.  To help his audience’s understanding, he defines the difference between the ideologies of a patriot and a populist nationalist, explaining that “it rests not on a sense of pride in place or background but in an intense sense of victimization (Gopnik para. 7). Gopnik argues that America feels victimized from a “double conspiracy of outsiders and elitists” (Gopnik para. 4), which is what both Trump and the American people have in common, and how Trump has been able to gain the incredible amount of support he has in the polls.

Gopnik bridges his evidence of Trump’s shame, America’s anxiety, and the basis of populist nationalism, ultimately synthesizing his argument about how Trump achieved his current success in the polls.  In doing so, Gopnik appeals to the audience’s sense of logic and reason, successfully convincing readers of one possible reason for Trump’s peculiar political success.

IRB Intro Post #1

            For the first marking period, I have decided to read On Beauty And Being Just by Elaine Scarry.  Since I have always been interested in science related non-fiction, I would like to start reading more expansively, beginning with Elaine Scarry’s philosophical book about beauty.  As an avid fan of art, I thought Scarry’s arguments about beauty would somewhat interest me and serve as a bridge towards more foreign non-fiction subjects.  I do believe some parts may put me to sleep, but I hope I will develop an endurance for boring texts, as well as pick up new vocabulary and learn about Scarry's point of view on beauty's purpose in society.