Unit 1 Draft

 Source 1: A Pencil Shop, for Texting the Old-Fashioned Way

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/21/fashion/a-pencil-shop-for-texting-the-old-fashioned-way.html

Molly Young’s article explores the revival of analog writing tools, specifically pencils, in an era very much dominated by digital communication. In doing so, she focuses on Caroline Weaver’s boutique, CW Pencil Enterprise, which is dedicated to selling high-quality pencils from around the world.

The article was written in 2015 -- a time when digital technology had already become the primary mode of communication. Despite this, many felt that there was a growing nostalgia for traditional writing tools. This resurgence of interest in analog methods (such as vinyl records, film photography, and now pencils) aligns with a broader cultural shift toward valuing craftsmanship and tangible experiences.

Young’s tone is lighthearted and almost whimsical, reflecting the seemingly paradoxical nature of a pencil shop thriving in a digital world. Her style merges journalism with cultural critique, using vivid descriptions and anecdotes to immerse the reader in Weaver’s passion for pencils. By mixing personal storytelling, interviews, and historical context, Young is able to build her narrative. She interviews Weaver, explores her motivations, and contextualizes the store within a broader movement of analog revival. The article appears to be written for a general/wide audience, but particularly those interested in culture, design, and technology. It appeals to readers who appreciate craftsmanship and may feel overwhelmed or fatigued by the omnipresence of digital devices.

This article is a feature story, a genre commonly found in lifestyle sections of major publications suchas 'The New York Times'. Feature writing allows for a blend of reporting and storytelling, which Young uses effectively to make the niche topic of pencils engaging. As feature articles prioritize narrative over hard news, Young crafts an engaging, lively piece, as opoosed to merely reporting on a new store opening. Her choice of rich description (ex. describing a Blackwing 602 pencil as having a 'matte black body and a removable rectangular eraser') adds to the story’s appeal.

Through her article, Young successfully highlights the paradox of an analog tool thriving in a digital world, and makes the reader consider why people are drawn to physical, tangible writing instruments despite the convenience of digital alternatives. This contributes to a broader discussion on the relationship between writing and technology. It aligns with other cultural critiques on the resurgence of analog tools in an age of rapid digitalization. Young’s writing implies that technology doesn’t necessarily erase older forms of communication, but that it can also revive interest in them.

Source 2: Why we all need subtitles now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYJtb2YXae8&t=382s

This video was created to acknowledge a perceived problem: many people find it hard to understand dialogue in movies and TV shows without subtitles. This statement is supported by a poll cited in the video, which indicates 57% of their YouTube audience feels they cannot understand dialogue without subtitles. The video's release on YouTube is somewhat ironic (not only because streaming services and digital media have made subtitles easily accessible), but also due to the fact that I myself required subtitles to gauge what was being said in the video.

The creator seeks to explain why many viewers feel the need for subtitles. They do so by exploring changes in audio technology, mixing practices, and the way that content is consumed. They use a combination of interviews, historical analysis, examples, anecdotes, and surveys to support their claims and test their hypotheses. The tone they adopt is conversational and engaging, suitable for a YouTube audience of any demographic. The style is informative, using humor and accessible language to explain complex technical issues. For example, the dialogue editor describes her work as 'audio surgery', and also utilizes self-deprecating humor when describing their own experiences of struggling to understand dialogue. The primary audience is viewers of the Vox channel on YouTube, who perhaps are interested in accessible explanations of complex topics, especially as they relate to media consumption.

The video falls into the genre of a YouTube explainer video, which combines elements of documentary and educational content. It uses visual aids (such as clips from films and on-screen graphics) to enhance understanding. The project is influenced by this genre because the visual aspect helps to illustrate the author's points about changes in technology, actor performances, and mixing practices. The YouTube format influences the project by making it concise, engaging, and visually driven. The quick pacing and editing, combined with the use of music and sound effects, keep viewers interested. The use of direct address by the presenter also helps to create a personal connection with the audience. This format allows the author to reach a large audience and to create a conversation around the topic of subtitles.

The author successfully provides a thorough explanation of the factors contributing to the need for subtitles. By using a combination of interviews, historical analysis, and examples, as well as a range of sources (listed at the end of the video), the author makes a convincing argument about how technology and changes in film production have created a situation where dialogue is often difficult to understand. This source fits into a larger conversation about accessibility, audio technology, and the evolution of film and television.

Source 3: The Danger of a Single Story

https://youtu.be/D9Ihs241zeg?feature=shared

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk explores the way in which narratives shape perceptions, emphasizing the power of storytelling in reinforcing or challenging stereotypes. She argues that consuming only one perspective about a group, place, or culture leads to misconceptions and limited understanding. Adichie delivered this talk in 2009, a time when globalization was accelerating and digital media was increasingly shaping public discourse. Social media platforms were beginning to amplify both diverse perspectives and dangerous misinformation. Her talk preemptively addressed concerns about the digital age’s role in controlling narratives.

Adichie’s tone is reflective and personal, yet urgent. She mergs humor, irony, and personal anecdotes to make her argument both persuasive and relatable. She primarily uses storytelling as her rhetorical method, drawing from her own experiences growing up in Nigeria and encountering Western literature, as well as how others perceived her based on limited narratives about Africa. This personal approach makes her argument deeply human and emotionally resonant. The TED audience is global, consisting of academics, professionals, and general viewers. Adichie’s talk is particularly relevant to educators, writers, and media consumers -- anyone engaged in shaping or interpreting narratives.

This talk is a blend of personal essay and cultural critique, yet is accessibile, relatable, and thought-provoking. Adichie’s storytelling approach makes her argument more compelling than a straightforward lecture on media literacy. Her ability to blend autobiography with social commentary has influenced countless discussions on representation in literature and media. The classic TED Talks format, which requires a short, to-the-point speech with a lot of impact, shapes how Adichie delivers her argument. Instead of an in-depth academic analysis, she distills her insights into memorable stories and quotable statements, making her talk widely shareable and influential.

Adichie’s talk is undoubtedly successful -- it has become one of the most widely viewed and referenced TED Talks, used in classrooms and journalism alike to illustrate the importance of diverse narratives. I studied this text/video multiple times during English Literature class growing up, and am able to see firsthand that Adichie's argument has only gotten more persuasive over time. Her talk ties directly into debates on writing, media representation, and the digital spread of information. As technology advances, so does the ability to control, distort, or diversify narratives. Adichie’s warning about the 'single story' is particularly relevant today, when algorithms can reinforce echo chambers by curating content based on the preferences of users. She states that they 'create stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but they are incomplete'. This highlights how narratives shape perception.