Monday, May 7, 2012
The RIGHT sample document test
Fortunately nobody has commented on the sample exercise I put up
yesterday, so there's been no wasted effort (whew). So, here it the
right sample document test. It would be great if you could put up your
comments in response to the questions raised by these two documents.
We'll gather up you thoughts in the tute of week 11 as a way of
finetuning your preparation for the final test which happens in week 12.
I hope this is clear enough to read. I'll have paper copies for us to work with in week 11.
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Erin Brodie
ReplyDelete1.Gobineau believes civilisation is a construct of a superior race. He sees civilization itself constructed of different class systems which respectively display characteristic traits. The document itself is obviously restrictive in that Gobineau saw himself as a member of the superior race with “an energetic intelligence” and hence portrays his points with narrow-mindedness.
2.This document, directed with intention at the public, displays instantly the idea that to be a soldier of the British army is a duty of the British citizen. Thus to fight in the First World War was understood to be a cementing factor in British citizenship. The title of “Who’s Absent?” instantly sends negative implications toward any citizen not taking part in the war effort, and casts them as ‘un-British’.
Toby Nash
ReplyDelete2. This cartoon conveys to us that the British people view participation in the Great War as a patriotic duty. This is demonstrated by the appearance of John Bull, with his accusatory finger calling for the young men to do their part for 'King and Country'. Thus, it show us how the notion of citizenship and soldierly duties have been fused. The common British soldiers who stand in the background illustrate that the ideal British man does his duty to the nation through enlisting in the military. The soldiers serve to guilt the young-male target audience into the belief that in not enlisting they are somehow an outsider, or a disappointment to the British nation. The caption 'Who's absent? is it you?' adds this idea, personalising the accusation for the viewer and hopes to invoke feelings guilt and patriotic enthusiasm.
Hannah Gordon
ReplyDelete1. Gobineau’s belief in a structured, hierarchical civilisation is deeply central to his essay ‘On the inequality of human race’. He believes the ‘Negro’ people are intellectually redundant and their values are corrupt or not evident. The ‘yellow’ people, despite their mediocrity, are important in forming ‘the backbone of society’ thereby demonstrating how each group of people have a role, although assume significantly different positions of power and importance within society. Gobineau is not in favour of democracy; the ‘Negroid people’ assume the lowest position of power, and the white race assume the highest, with the most power due to their superior ‘energetic intelligence’.
Gobineau also believes that this stratified society is ‘stamped…from birth’ and therefore a person’s position cannot be changed. This understanding of civilisation forms the beginnings of racism; that there is no equality and individuals must not seek equality, for white people will always be the superior race.
Gobineau understands a civilization to be a hierarchy where people are placed into ‘significantly different positions of power and importance in society’ depending on their race. He concludes in his work ‘On the Inequality of Human Races’ that ‘white people’s ‘ are the only race which is qualified by nature to run a civilized society. Asian races or ‘yellow people’ as Gobineau calls them are clearly subordinate to whites, as ‘...no civilized society could be created by them.’ However, he also implies that they are above Negros for which he claims is the ‘lowest and stands at the foot of the ladder’ of races. Gobineau racism extends to believing that only the whites have the ‘strict despotism’ that is necessary in order to ‘...govern the Negro.’ Gobineau concept of the Negros is that they are merely a ‘human machines;’ savages who ‘kill willingly’ without compassion.
ReplyDeleteGobineau document’s is biased towards what he conceives to be the superior white race that is ‘...gifted with an energetic intelligence.’ He does not understand a civilization to be equal when there are multiple races involved. This essay documents Gobineau’s observations of the inequality of different races, which was seen as a natural concept at the time.
Fabrice Wilmann
ReplyDelete2. The advertisement highlights the patriotic mind-set of British citizens during the Great War. The poster directly attacks all Britons who are not contributing to the war effort, and by extension, failing to contribute to the needs of their country. The soldiers in the background are portrayed as strong, patriotic young men who have placed their lives in danger to protect Britain. This incites guilt and shame in the hearts of young British men who have not yet enlisted, thereby compelling them to join the army and fight alongside their fellow man in the trenches.
Britons understood the war effort as a patriotic congregation of their peoples fighting to preserve their way of living. Therefore, Britons believed it was their duty to fight for their country. Serving in the war was the definitive mark of an individual’s true sense of nationalism; it proved their love for their country and their fellow man.