Due 11/9
This is the week for Glittering Generalities, Parallelism/Chiasmus, Climax, Euphemism, and Transfer. It’s a lot!
- For Glittering Generalities, our usual– find two examples in the world, then analyze how and why glittering generalities is being employed in the example.
- Do ONLY Exercise 1 for “Climax” and Exercise 2 for “Parallelism/Chiasmus.” It might be useful to READ Exercise 1 for “Parallelism/Chiasmus” and see if you can guess the actual famous statements, but it seems very hard if you don’t already know the famous statements.
- For Euphemism and Transfer, find one example of each and analyze.
So, you are finding FOUR examples (two of glittering generalities, one euphemism, one transfer) and doing TWO exercises in the book this week.
Leave your answers in comments.
1.“Make America Great Again”. This phrase is recently best known for its use by President Trump but it is actually a phrase that had been used in American politics beforehand and, certainly, by Presidents Clinton and Reagan.
It is a glittering generality because it has no specific meaning. The phrase itself begs the questions, great but how? And great for whom? Although the phrase does not address specifics, it does appeal to human emotions and encourages the audience to have high-minded ideals about themselves, their nation, and their beliefs. The point is that everyone would love a great America. So the wording of the phrase lends itself to use as a propaganda device. On the one hand, it encourages everyone to climb on the bandwagon of success or prosperity or any other adjective that the audience wants to associate with the word great. Making America great is good.
2.A second example of a glittering generality I will use is the phrase “Yes We Can” used famously by President Obama during his presidential campaign in. 2008. The phrase was a glittering generality because it contained no factual information. However, it was really successful for its users because it appealed to diverse groups, races, and genders. It was a slogan that could appeal to people with different values and beliefs because they could all interpret it in their own way. So, the phrase was crucial in aiding a black man reach across the racial divide in his bid to gain the presidency.
Euphemisms are polite, indirect expressions that replace words and phrases considered harsh or
unpleasant. For instance, rather than tell a person that he or she will be sacked, the speaker says the person will be “let go”.
Example 1: Make America Great again!
Donald Trump has taken Ronald Reagan’s’ slogan used in the 1980s.
The message has a powerful impact of people because of the historical
background, makes you feel part of a greater good and being a good patriot,
sharing beliefs with the group you belong within (Republicans). It’s a vague
message, ment to wake up positive emotions but there is no evidence
whether Trump will make it true or not. It doesn’ actually matter what
Trump means because you think that you already know what he means by
the statement, everybody think they know because it appeals to common
values of group.
Example 2: Gilette Razor campaign slogan “The best a Man can get”
There is no evidence that Gillette razors is better than any other razor from
competitors, it doesn’t even talk specify that they men that you should
compare with competitors, it wants you to think that if you have a Gillette
Razor in your hand, it is one of the most important things for a man to have
in his life. The publicity shows a very attractive man having it in his
possession and since you also want to be attractive you feel that you need to
use the products that the attractive men use, so that you will be a part of this
group – or maybe you feel that you already are a part of the group that have
the best things men can have.
There is no evidence that this kind of razorblade is the best on the market,
it’s only a subtle way of persuasion and to wake up positive emotions so that
you will head out to the shop to buy one yourself.
“Climax”
– If you cannot find your friend, let your friend find you.
– I didn’t come here to fight, the fight came to me
– Don’t let others tell you who you are, when you can tell them who they are.
– Don’t let the enemy stop you , when you can stop them.
“Parallelism/Chiasmus.”
-I like jogging, baking, painting, and watching movies.
-Happy to talk to you, to chat for a while.
-He is the best in dribbling, passing and shooting the ball.
-Her long hair was shining, glowering and moving as she walked by.
-As glad as I am that you have come, as sad as I am that you must go
Example Euphemism: “He is between jobs”
The words put together in a sentence do not mean the same thing as each
word separately do. This example is used as a figurative language, which
give space to your imagination. When we hear this we know that this person
is unemployed, and imagine that he probably got sacked from his old job
and is now looking for a new one.
Example of Transfer: “Dodge Challenger AD”
This technique is used in advertising and propaganda. The product will be
associated with things that people admire and respect, but the product has
nothing to do with the association that is made when advertising the
product. One of the most famous transfers ads is the one when the company
Dodge is using the first president George Wahington driving into the
battlefield in a Dodge Challenger and the adversaries are running away of
fear. And then there is the American Flag in the background. George
Washington gives credibility to Dodge, and the American flag wakes up
feelings of patriotism that will be awaken again when you see a Dodge
Challenger in the street. The normal person is probably no aware of why he
wants to buy Dodge Challenger, he just feels the emotion when he thinks
that he can own this type of car.
“America Runs on Dunkin”
“Im Lovin’ it”
These are two glittering generalities that are meant to compel the audience into consuming the products/services that both of these companies offer, Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds respectively. Each of these companies uses these mottos to summarize what their companies stand for in the United States. They use glittering statements to make these simple sentences to be remembered by their consumers. These glittering statements make it seem as if these companies are offering perfect products that should be consumed by every person throughout the world, when in reality, both of these companies offer fast, unhealthy, filled with sugary foods that often do more harm than good to people’s bodies.
Climax Exercise 1:
1. He stood up, and went outside to look for what was causing the tapping. In the eerie darkness, he yelled “is anyone there”, just before his screams were heard throughout the woods when Michael Myers murdered the man.
2. He remembered what his mom told him, “Jeff, do not speed while driving”. With his foot flooring the gas pedal, Jeff instantly knew he made the mistake of his life when he realized he is unable to break in time to avoid the car in front of him. Without a seatbelt on, Jeff flew out the front windshield when he rear-ended the red Prius in front of him.
3. It was a cold night. The sky was filled with a full moon. Scott Armash and his soldiers were waiting. Suddenly, the skies roared with bullets. The trees all around them blazed with fire. Soldiers all around Scott were dying. One by one. He knew he was next.
4. He started out young. He used to play every day. In high school, he would skip his classes to play. Now, he is being drafted by the biggest NBA team, the LA Lakers.
5. With his mother motivating him and guiding each step he took, Luke was able to get to his dream school, Columbia University.
6. He started out selling one at a time. He would sell to every person he found on the street. Now, he opened his own factory with his own brand to sell his energy drinks.
7. Two minutes after he went to bed, he heard it again. He has been hearing this sound for two weeks now, and he just realized it happens at the same time, every night. He now gathered the guts to search for it. He turned on the lights in his room, only to find the face of a crooked, bald, old person peeking through his window.
8. He has been doing this for years. He has been an entrepreneur ever since he was 10 years old. He would sell many things in his school. Now, he is a multimillionaire with multiple companies to his name.
9. He worked hard on himself. He realized he lost control over his body. He wanted to change. He sought to change. Over the next 2 years, Bob would drop 60 pounds and gain muscle and 6 packs.
10. Not only did he work at 12 years of age, he also did not have an education. He made it, however, and bought the company that he always dreamed of buying.
Exercise 2 Parallelism/Chiasmus:
1. I enjoy running, writing, reading, and the way I can swim.
Lacks Parallelism in a sense that there is no connection between writing, reading, running and swimming.
2. During my vacation, I plan to watch movies, play golf, and catch fish.
Lacks parallelism because there is no connection between the three items that are explained in the sentence.
3. During my vacation, I plan to watch movies, play golf, and catch fish.
The sentence lacks parallelism because the same structure is not used the same throughout the sentence.
4. When she was preparing to write, she would sharpen her pencil, and the paper would be organized.
This sentence has parallelism
5. Her daughter got her ready for work by wheeling her into the bathroom, helping her into the shower, and selecting what she was going to wear.
This sentence does not have parallelism because there are no similar structures.
6. The main problems the landlord had were the late rent, the loud noise, and the neighbor’s complaining all the time.
This sentence does not have parallelism because there are no similar structures.
7. F. Scott Fitzgerald is well known for writing lyrical novels, but he is also known for his wild intoxication.
The sentence lacks parallelism because the same structure is not used the same throughout the sentence.
8. Would you please pick up your room, fold your laundry, and then come into the kitchen?
Lacks parallelism because there are no similar structures.
9. I don’t know why she cannot see through his lies, his deceit, and the tricks that he plays.
10. Their children were known for their honesty, determination, and for playing pranks in the neighborhood.
This sentence has parallelism.
Euphemism:
“No, the car that I am selling is not used, it is certified-preowned.”
Rather than saying that they are selling a used car, the person is attempting to comfort themselves and twist the reality by making their car seem better than it is through the phrase “certified-preowned.”
Transfer:
“The mother looked at her son through concerned eyes.”
The eyes in this situation are not actually concerned, rather, it is the mother that is concerned.
An example of glittering generality could be a political campaign slogan, such as “Make America Great Again” or “Hope and Change.” These slogans are vague and positive but do not provide any specific information or plans for how the candidate will achieve these goals. The tactic is trying to persuade the audience to support the candidate by appealing to their emotions and values, without providing any concrete details or evidence.
Another example of glittering generality could be a product advertisement that uses buzzwords like “natural,” “clean,” or “pure” without providing any specific information or evidence to support these claims. This tactic is trying to persuade the audience to buy the product by appealing to their desire for healthy and safe products, without providing any proof that the product actually meets these standards.
An example of euphemism could be a company that uses the term “downsizing” instead of “layoffs” to refer to reducing their workforce. This tactic is trying to soften the negative connotations of the action and make it seem more palatable to the audience.
An example of a transfer could be a politician who uses patriotic imagery and symbols, such as the American flag or the national anthem, in their campaign materials. This tactic is trying to transfer the positive emotions and values associated with patriotism onto the politician, in order to persuade the audience to support them.
1. An example of glittering generalities is the slogan used by the Democratic Party in the United States, “A Better Deal.” This slogan is used to emphasize the party’s commitment to improving the quality of life for all Americans. However, it lacks specifics. It is merely a glittering generality that implies that the Democratic Party will make life better without offering any concrete solutions. The Democratic Party’s slogan is an example of this technique because it does not explain how the party intends to make life better. Instead, it implies that the party will bring about improvements without providing any details. The reason why the Democratic Party employs this technique is to appeal to a broad range of people. It allows them to make vague promises that will appeal to a variety of people without alienating any particular group. By avoiding specifics, the slogan is able to create a sense of inclusiveness that appeals to a broad range of voters. In conclusion, the Democratic Party’s slogan, “A Better Deal,” is an example of glittering generalities because it does not explain how the party intends to make life better, but instead implies that they will make improvements without providing any specifics. The reason why the party employs this technique is to appeal to a broad range of people without alienating any particular group.
2. Another example of glittering generalities is the slogan used by the United Nations, “One World, One People.” This slogan is used to emphasize the UN’s commitment to global unity and peace. However, it lacks specifics. It is merely a glittering generality that implies that the UN will bring about global unity without offering any concrete solutions. The UN’s slogan is an example of this technique because it does not explain how the UN intends to promote global unity. Instead, it implies that the UN will bring about a unified world without providing any details. The reason why the UN employs this technique is to appeal to a broad range of people. It allows them to make vague promises that will appeal to a variety of people without alienating any particular group. By avoiding specifics, the slogan is able to create a sense of inclusiveness that appeals to a broad range of nations. In conclusion, the UN’s slogan, “One World, One People,” is an example of glittering generalities. It does not explain how the UN intends to promote global unity, but instead implies that they will do so without providing any specifics. The reason why the UN employs this technique is to appeal to a broad range of people without alienating any particular group.
Climax:
1. With a fierce roar, the dragon burst through the castle walls and unleashed its destructive force.
2. With a final burst of energy, the hero managed to defeat the villain and save the day.
3. After a long and arduous journey, the adventurers finally reached the fabled city and discovered its hidden secrets.
4. In a dramatic twist of fate, the impossible happened and the protagonist was victorious.
5. In a burst of light and energy, the powerful spell was unleashed and the fate of the world was changed forever.
Parallelism/Chiasmus:
1. She laughed and cried, smiled and frowned.
2. He spoke of justice and injustice.
3. I came to give and to receive.
4. They came to learn and to teach.
5. He read to write and wrote to read.
Euphemism:
Example: “Passed away” instead of “Died”
Analysis: “Passed away” is a gentler and more polite way of saying that someone has died compared to the more blunt and direct term “died”. It is an example of a euphemism because it softens the reality of the situation and is more socially acceptable.
Transfer:
Example: “He’s a real snake” instead of “He’s a liar”
Analysis: This is an example of transfer because it takes the literal meaning of a snake and applies it to a person’s character. The phrase implies that the person is untrustworthy and sly, similar to the characteristics of a snake.
1. The Democratic Party’s slogan in the United States, “A Better Deal,” is an example of a sparkling generality. This motto emphasizes the party’s commitment to raising the standard of living for all Americans. It does, however, lack details. It is only a gleaming generalization implying that the Democratic Party would improve life without providing any actual remedies. The Democratic Party’s slogan exemplifies this method since it does not describe how the party aims to improve people’s lives. Instead, it indicates that the party will bring about changes without going into specifics. The Democratic Party adopts this strategy in order to appeal to a wide spectrum of individuals. It enables them to make broad promises that will appeal to a wide range of people without alienating any one group. The phrase is able to generate a sense of inclusion that appeals to a wide spectrum of people by omitting details. Finally, the Democratic Party’s motto, “A Better Deal,” is an example of a dazzling generality since it does not describe how the party promises to enhance life, but rather indicates that changes will be made without offering any particular. The party uses this strategy to appeal to a wide spectrum of individuals without alienating any single demographic.
2. The United Nations’ slogan, “One World, One People,” is another example of a sparkling generality. This motto emphasizes the United Nations’ commitment to world unity and peace. It does, however, lack details. It is only a dazzling generality implying that the UN will bring about global unity while providing no actual remedies. The motto of the United Nations is an example of this method because it does not clarify how the UN seeks to create global unity. Instead, it indicates that the UN will bring about global unity without offering any specifics. The UN adopts this method in order to appeal to a wide spectrum of individuals. It enables them to make broad promises that will appeal to a wide range of people without alienating any one group. The tagline is able to generate a sense of inclusivity that appeals to a wide variety of nations by omitting details. Finally, the United Nations’ slogan, “One World, One People,” is an example of sparkling generalities. It does not explain how the UN aims to foster global unity, but rather suggests that it will without offering specifics. The UN uses this method to appeal to a wide spectrum of individuals without alienating any single group.
Climax:
1. The dragon burst through the castle walls with a ferocious roar, unleashing its terrible might.
2. The hero defeated the evil and saved the day with a final surge of energy.
3. The heroes eventually arrived at the mythical city and uncovered its hidden mysteries after a long and grueling trip.
4. In a stunning turn of events, the impossible happened, and the protagonist triumphed.
5. The mighty magic was unleashed in a burst of light and energy, permanently changing the fate of the world.
Parallelism/Chiasmus:
1. She smiled and scowled, laughed and sobbed.
2. He discussed justice and injustice.
3. I come to both give and receive.
4. They came to both study and teach.
5. He read in order to write and wrote in order to read.
Euphemism: “passed away” instead of “died”
In comparison to the more harsh and straightforward term “died,” “passed away” is a softer and more courteous way of indicating that someone has died. It is an instance of a euphemism since it softens the truth of the situation and makes it more socially acceptable.
Transfer: “He’s a genuine snake” instead of “He’s a liar”
This is an example of transfer since it applies the literal meaning of a snake to a person’s character. The expression denotes that the individual is untrustworthy and sneaky, comparable to snake traits.
Glittering Generalities
Examples:
1. Eating Fresh (Subway Sandwiches)
2. Just Do It (Nike athletic wear)
Glittering generalities is a form of propaganda that appeals to people’s emotional desires. A lot of people want to eat healthy food and to appeal to that subway sandwiches calms that their food is fresh. Nike is an athleisure clothing brand; they want to appeal to people that with their gear they can just do the activity they want to do.
Climax
Exercise 1
1. It’s hard to get everything right the first time, for most, it takes making a few mistakes.
2. He was just a little boy from Rosario, Argentina, now he’s 35 soon to retire, having all the achievements known to football, all except one.
3. It was the end of the line. With no friends, no grades, and no greater achievement, he has reached rock bottom.
4. They say curiosity killed the cat, but things would never get done if someone doesn’t do it.
5. I might just be the bitter one, but they should have known better to treat me right.
6. The last world cup for many players, which one wants it more, and will win the title of champions for their country.
7. I liked the number four, no one was ever left out. Tommy had a dad, and I had mother, but it all changed when Roy was born. Tommy had a dad, mother could only be there for the new baby, and there was no one for me.
8. It could be a misunderstanding all along, or I interpreted it exactly how it was intended.
9. To have Heart means to have the willingness, but what if someone was born without a heart?
10. Spending 10 years painting, and constantly having people tell me it isn’t good enough, I think it’s time to move on.
Parallelism/Chiasmus
Exercise 2
1. I enjoyed the way I swim, run, write, and read.
2. I plan to watch movies, play golf, and catch fish while I’m on my vacation.
3. Because of the money they’re making, the boys enjoyed operating their paper route.
4. Just before she writes, she must first sharpen her pencil and organized the papers.
5. Her daughter got her ready for work every morning. She wheels her into the bathroom, helps her into the shower, and selects what she will wear.
6. The late rent, loud noise, and neighbors complaining all the time were the landlord’s main problems.
7. Known for his wild intoxication, F. Scott Fitzgerald was also well known for writing lyrical novels.
8. Their children were known for their honesty and determination but they were also known for playing pranks in the neighborhood.
Euphemism
Example: If someone was recently fired, they might say they are between jobs, a common euphemism for being unemployed
Euphemism is used to soften uncomfortable things or situations. Being unemployed is something society looked down upon so saying that one’s between jobs means they don’t currently have one but is looking for one.
Transfer
Example: Most people respect and revere their church and their nation.
Nationalism comes from a form of propaganda the nation uses, which is what transfer is referred to. A transfer is used by propagandists to carry over authority.