American Gothic: Persuasive Essay

Chantel Blake
Professor Hepworth
English 101-04
April 30,2007

American Gothic:
Persuasive Essay

One of the most familiar images in the 20th century. An image portraying a pitchfork-holding farmer and his daughter in front of a house. This is the description of Grant Wood’s painting, American Gothic, from 1930. It was painted on beaver board, which is compressed wood fibers used to make the ceilings and inner walls of buildings (Decker, Art Conversation). The painting is 74.3 cm x 62.4 cm, or 29 inches high x 25 inches wide (Karl, personal interview). American Gothic is a very unique painting, although I don’t have the knowledge of paintings, I would probably give it the grade of a B.
What is an American? An American is: of or pertaining to the United States of America or its inhabitants (www.dictionary.com). I interviewed a friend of mine, and she told me what was American about it. "I feel it is American because it reminds me of my grandparents" she started tell me. "They had a homestead in Homedale, Idaho, they had 17 children." She continues to explain, "My grandfather wore the same type of clothing, except he wore a hat and my grandmother wore the glasses" she chuckles a little then continues, "My grandmother wore
dresses, but she wasn’t as well dressed as the woman in the painting." "My grandfather was very
stern and didn’t mess around, he drew the line and none of the children crossed it, and if they did,
it was the last time." She told me with a smile. "It’s American to me because that’s what my grandfather’s life was, and that’s what being American represents to me" (Harris, personal interview). Most people would probably thing of gothic as all black, Satan worshipers, but that is just what people think. Gothic: noting or pertaining to the style of architecture, originating if France in the middle of the 12th century and existing in the western half of Europe through the middle of the 16th century, characterized by the use of the pointed arch and ribbed vault, by the use of fine woodwork and stonework, by a progressive lightening of structure, and by the use of such features as plying buttresses, ornamental gables, crockets, and foils (www.dictionary.com).
Grant Wood probably titled this painting American Gothic because farming is how most Americans make a living, so he decided to portray Americans that way. The gothic part of it was the way one of the window is shaped. It is pointed at the top, it represents to me the way the windows in old churches would look, the style of it.
American Gothic is one of the most parodied images ever. Parodies American Gothic has been used on postcards, magazines, cartoons, advertisements, comic books, and television shows. The first prominent parody was in 1943. It was a photo by Gordon Parks of cleaning woman Ella Watson, shot in Washington, D.C. The photo trades on the post-Great Depression interpretation of Wood’s painting as a "celebratory expression of populist nationalism." Postcards replacing the couple with sitting US Presidents and Presidential nominees (and their spouses) are often
popular products. Some examples are Ronald and Nancy Reagan and Bill and Hillary Clinton. A very rare limited edition printed of American Gothic has surfaced in Scottsboro, Alabama.
This print with the Stone City Seal was originally given to the mayor of Huntsville, Alabama by Miss Iowa World 1978 (Biel, Wikipedia-The Free Encyclopedia).
Grant Wood’s painting has also been seen parodied on television also. Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie pose as the couple during the title and opening credits of their TV series The Simple Life. The Simpsons used the painting for a joke for the fifth season episode "Bart Gets an Elephant," in which, apparently, the family owns the original painting itself. While cleaning the living room, Bart absentmindedly begins to wipe the painting until he has rendered the entire canvas blank, revealing a message underneath that says, "If you can read this, you scrubbed too hard.–Grant Wood." In the classic Looney Tunes short "Louvre Come Back To Me!", Pepe LePew and Penelope Pussycat hide in the Louvre’s air conditioning, his scent pervades into a gallery above, reaching American Gothic, and the figure’s heads disappear into their costumes (Biel, Wikipedia-The Free Encyclopedia).
The actual relationship between the two people in the painting were not related at all. The models for the painting, who for the painting separately, were the artist’s sister, Nan, and his dentist, Dr. Byron McKeeby. Wood asked the two to pose as a farmer and his unmarried daughter. When I first saw the painting, I thought that it was a farmer and his wife (The Art Institute of Chicago).
With all of the research that I did on this painting, and saw how many times it has been
parodied throughout time, I have grown to really like this painting. I don’t know if I have persuaded you to like this painting or dislike this painting any more than you have before. After all this research I have persuaded myself, and I enjoy this painting more, and I have boosted the grade up from a B to an A-. It may not be a big boost but I think that this painting deserves a grade like that.
Work Cited
1. Beil, Steven. "American Gothic."
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia 29 April 2007.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gothic>.
2. Decker, Judy. "American Gothic-oil painting."
Art Conversation Artcyclopedia: The Conversation 2 Aug 2006. 4 Apr. 2007
.
3. Dictionary.com 29 April 2007
2007 Lexico Publishing Group.
<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/American> .
4. Dictionary.com 10 April 2007
2007 Lexico Publishing Group.
<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gothic> .
5. "Grant Wood: American, 1891-1942."
The Art Institute of Chicago Aug 2004. 4 April 2007
<http://www.artic.edu/artaccess/AA_Modern/pages/MOD_5.shtml> .
6. Harris, Katrina. Personal interview. 10 April 2007.
7. Hepworth, Jim. "American Gothic Assignment, Too."
Blog posting. 4 April 2007. Blogspot.
<http://www.drhepworth.blogspot.com> .
8. Karl, Katharina. Personal interview. 4 April 2007.
.

Romance 101: A Man's Handbook: Process Analysis

Chantel Blake
English 101-04
Professor Jim Hepworth
March 11, 2007
Romance 101: The Man’s Handbook
Process Analysis
Flowers, candle light dinner for two, champagne, soft background music, and a secluded place. Doesn’t that sound like a perfect Valentine’s Day? But I don’t believe that romance should only be for one day out of the year. Guys may think that if they plan romantic events, then they are going to be seen as a sissie because they are showing their emotions, or they feel that romance is not important and is a waste of time. But if you want to make your girlfriend happy, and you want to "score" with her, take some of my pointers that I’m going to give you, to heart.
If you want to be romantic, but don’t want to go broke while doing it, write her a sweet, little note. While I was in high school, my boyfriend would always write me notes. He would write in then about how special I am, how lucky he is to have met me, and sometimes he would apologize for his actions for a situation that happened earlier. All of the notes weren’t mushy, he would draw me pictures, or it would be an inside joke that we shared together, and they would make me laugh all day. Those notes meant so much to me, I have kept every single note that he has given me, and every once in a while I will sit down and read them and remember everything that happened that day. When you write these notes, don’t just hand them to her and tell her, "here you go," put them in places that you are certain she will find them. These little notes don’t need to be love poems, just tell her how special she is to you, and how lucky you are to have her. . . . While writing the notes, make them original and extra personal. You can do this by sharing with her your favorite memory together, or including an inside joke you share together. By doing that, you will let your girlfriend know that you pay attention and you listen to her when she talks to you.
To go along with the writing, and if you have this skill, you could write her a song. I think that there is nothing more romantic than writing her a song and singing it to her. But, if you don’t have music skills, then I would just stick to writing the notes, I mean, you don’t want to embarrass yourself right?
However, writing isn’t the only option you have to sweep her off her feet. There is nothing a woman likes more than a man who can cook. When I say cook her dinner, that doesn’t mean throwing a frozen dinner in the microwave, and telling her, "enjoy!" You don’t need to make her a three-course meal, but it makes a girl feel really special if you know how to cook. The reason she feels that way, because she knows that she won’t have to be the only one that cooks every meal, and that you are very capable of taking care of yourself. Cooking dinner is kind of like the notes, you need to make it personal. Do some research, ask her if she has an absolute favorite meal, and what it is. Just by asking her, it makes her feel like you really want to stay with her, because you want to know every little thing about her. When you find out the information about her favorite meal, plan a special evening for her, and tell her that she won’t have to lift a finger the whole night. But if the best dish you make is macaroni and cheese, then you could go to the restaurants around town and order out. If ordering out is the option you have to go with, then make sure that the place that you are going to be eating at is set for the two of you. Setting is everything. If the setting is even a little off balance, or isn’t set up perfectly, it could ruin the whole evening. However, if something does happen to go wrong, be optimistic and continue the date. There should be little to no distractions and no company. Turn off cell phones and pagers; let the answering machine get all the calls. Schedule this time like an important appointment. Set aside at least 2 or 3 hours of time for just the two of you.
If you would really like to blow her away, and be put in the record books, then spend the big bucks, but only if you have the funds. If your girlfriend has a favorite flower you could by her flowers everyday, attached with one of the notes that you wrote her. You could also plan a romantic get away with her. Maybe she has a favorite place to go, and she went there every year since she was a little girl but she hasn’t been there for a few years. Talk to her about the place and research the area, the best time out of the year to go and if there are places to stay. If there is a hotel that she stayed at when she would visit, call the hotel and make reservations and have the hotel decorate the room with her favorite flowers and candles. If her favorite place is a beach, then pack a lunch and a blanket and eat on the beach, right by the ocean. When you are finished with lunch, take a walk along the shore, holding hands, walking through the water, and telling her how much you love her, and how beautiful she is. When you finish the walk, take her to the hotel, and tell her that there is a surprise waiting for her in the room, and she will walk through the door, and see all the flowers and candles surrounding the room, and she will melt right into your arms. When evening comes around, tell her to get dressed up and meet you in the lobby at 6:00 or whenever your reservations are. As she comes down to the lobby to meet you, have a couple of her favorite flowers in your hand to give to her. Have transportation waiting outside for the both of you, and tell her you have reservations at the best restaurant in town. As you are riding to the restaurant, make sure there are refreshments in the car, something to drink, and a little something sweet for the ride back to the hotel after dinner, and there always has to be soft music playing. During dinner, make sure that she is enjoying herself, and that she has everything that she needs. If there is time, and she isn’t too tired from the day, you could go to the movie theater. But if she wants to go back to the hotel and relax, ask her if she would like to go to the hot tub and relax, or go to bed, because her comfort is what the day is all about.
After you have gotten some sleep, in the morning when she wakes up, have room service bring up her favorite breakfast, so she can start the day off right. After she is done with breakfast, and ready for the day, the both of you can walk around and go sight seeing, and visit some of her favorite spots, that she used to go to with her family. Always make sure that you have a camera with you and take many pictures so the both of you will never forget the special days you spent together.
Remember, don’t just love her, but show her. I hope that everything that I told you has opened your eyes to how easy it is to be romantic without having to spend your life savings, unless you feel you need to. Most woman are very easy to make feel special and loved. Just always remember that everything you do affects her too, and always try to make a good impression on her.

My Most Favorite Person: A Profile of Joe

Chantel Blake
Professor Hepworth
English 101-04
5 February 2007

My Most Favorite Person:
A Profile of Joe

Many people have come and gone in my life, but there is one person that will always be in my life and I will treasure forever. We met each other three years ago at Orofino High School, in band class. This special person I am talking about is my boyfriend, Joe.
Joe is 6'0", with brown hair and hazel eyes. He has a round face with facial hair on his upper lip and his chin. Joe has broad shoulders and has many scars on his hands and arms, including a ‘J’ that was burned into his arm by his friend. Joe was born in Nampa, Idaho, January 18, 1987, and lived there for 16 years. He lived in Nampa with his mother, Katrina, step-father, Terry, and younger brother, Daniel. They also had two dogs, a yellow Sharpie, named Chop, and a black Healer with gray spots, named Jake.
Joe and his family moved to Orofino, Idaho the summer of 2004. They moved to a trailer on the outside of city limits, along Orofino Creek. Orofino Creek is surrounded by many trees and wild life, and is a very quiet place away from the cars driving by on the road, and it has a very calm atmosphere about it. His family lived on Orofino Creek for one year, then they moved to a green, three story house, that has a tree in the front yard and a cement wall along the edge of the yard. Joe’s mom also has many plants that she growing all over the yard in planters lining the walk way up the house. She also has a little garden in front of their porch, where she grows green beans and peas. In the back yard is a fireplace built into the hill. Behind their house
are many trees, and a stair case that leads to the raised back yard that circles around the house. Their house is located behind a restaurant called the Ponderosa, the Post Office, and next door to the White Pine Motel.
Joe is the kind of person that looks like he has a tough outside layer and that he would keep to himself. Whenever he wears his green John Deer hat, blue jeans, and his Carhartt jacket, he looks very serious, because you can’t see his eyes and looks very big and strong, but if you really get to know him he is the nicest, most easy-going person you will ever meet. If you ever needed help with something, Joe would help the best that he could, or if you just need someone to talk to, he will always be there for you no matter what.
Joe started a band with his friends Aaron, Chris and Davey on December 16,2005. They call themselves Awkward Silence Joe plays the drums, and is excellent at them. He has been playing drums since he was 12 years old. Aaron is the singer, Chris plays guitar, and Davey plays bass. Joe knows how to make anyone laugh and can solve almost any situation. He has such an outgoing personality, that anywhere he goes he makes friends with anyone. Joe and I have a lot of fun together, too. We "hang out" together and watch movies, play games, and do a bunch of silly things. Joe and I can talk about anything and everything, we fight occasionally, but we always resolve our problems.
I believe that people are learning new things everyday, and Joe has taught me, and tried to teach me, many things. He is always trying to teach me about automobiles, about the different types of engines, what each part of the engine does, different tires and pretty much everything to do with cars. He also tries to teach me about how to relax and just let things happen and not to worry so much, but like I said, I’m learning new things everyday. He has taught me to open my mind up to different things, such as music. I have only listened to on type of music, but by being around Joe and his band mates, my eyes opened up to another genre of music, metal.
He has taught me many useful things as well. He taught me how to check the oil in my truck, which I am thankful for, now that I’m on my own. He also taught me the correct way to punch so I don’t break my hand. That particular information I may never use, but I might some day.
I could have picked anyone to write about for this essay, but I chose Joe because he is possibly the most special and most important person in my life. He was the first person that popped into my head as soon as we received this assignment, and I know more about him than any of the other people in my life, besides my family members. He is a very caring person, and I hope that I portrayed him that way.