Rayyan's Respose Prep (26/9/15)

Rayyan Nasr                                                                                                                                      Nasr 1

Dania Adra

English 203

September 25, 2015

“Brand Malala” interpretation

The author lends her blog a social perspective when she stated several points that are both relatable to and target issues in society. The author discusses how there are double standards on how terrorism is reported (Carol 593) and then supports this by stating "Taliban is used to propel the 'good west versus bad east' narrative in the media whilst US state terrorism is served up as 'collateral damage' and is more likely to get buried along with its victims". The author then moves on to mention how there has become somewhat of a two-tier system of care going on (Carol 595) raising questions as to what defines someone to be a worthy case like Malala.Also because of all the modern examples, like the US led war on terror (Carol 593), the mentioning of today's public figures, like the Prime minister (Carol 594), and the fact that the subject at hand (Malala's story) is a recent one, enables us to relate this whole blog to today's society. 

In an emotional perspective, the author was constantly shifting between several tones to inject her mixed feelings into the blog. The author at times uses a respectful tone whenever discussing Malala's background and the conditions she was subjected to before she was shot by the Taliban (Carol 593 paragraph 1), and then transitions to a more disapproving tone when the author writes about the life Malala is being thrust into and the exploitation of Malala's story by PR companies (Carol 596 paragraph 14). The author also uses her sarcastic tone whenever trying to convey some insults or scorn towards a certain subject (Carol 594 paragraph 4). As  for syntax, the author uses concise vocabulary in order to convey her message clearly to her audience. 

In relation to rhetorical perspectives, the blog at hand is a nonfictional text revolving around real life events supported by news excerpts with use of long sentences, clear and informal language, and organization of thought.  The author uses argumentative writing to argue the fact that the methodology and exploitation of Malala's story does not help the cause of any woman, where one would be exploited and other remain suppressed. Also, the author uses informal writing to preach out to different types of audience in order to portray her message to not one but many.

In a logical perspective, the author debates the relation of the wrong doings of the government to the birth of Malala's unfair case and the suppression of other women. For instance, the author provides convincing evidence by quoting a newspaper article in the New York Times (Carol 597), a statement by news behemoth Fox News (Carol 596), and artist Jonathan Rao who painted a portrait of Malala which is found in the National Gallery (Carol 595). The author also cites real life events such as the US led war on terror in Taliban (Carol 593) and relates them to how they have influenced Malala's story. Finally, the author uses plenty of inductive evidence is present throughout the entire blog. 

Last but not least, in an ethical perspective, the blog bears several powerful moral weights throughout. First is to strive to bring justice and equality to not only women all over the world, but also to people who have suffered just like Malala and have gone unnoticed. Second calls upon the responsibilities of the government towards human rights, highlighting how some such as the US and British governments have failed to fully honor each of their citizens and treat them as their laws constitute. The third and final moral weight would be to stop mistakingly glorifying an individual as a victim of a horrendous act, but shed light on the entire act as a whole (in the blog's case, stop symbolizing solely Malala but give importance to the countless women who are still being abused and denied their basic rights). 

                                                                                                                                              Nasr 2

•Work cited :

Grayson, Carol Anne.  “”Brand Malala”: Western Exploitation of a Schoolgirl”.  Shifting narratives.  Zane S. Sinno, Lina Bioghlu-Karkanawi, Dorota Fleszar, Najla Jarkas, Emma Moughabghab, Jennifer M. Nish, Rima Rantisi, and Abir Ward.  Mazraa, Beirut:  Center for educational consultation and Research, Educart,  2015.  Print.