Dirty Dancing

High school dances have evolved through the generations. What used to be called a “sock hop” or a “mixer” has maintained its social purpose, but because the attitudes of young people have changed drastically. Today’s popular culture is laden with sex. Sex is everywhere. It is on our house, on our back porch, and jumps out from behind trees when we least expect it. Most prevalently, it is in our music. With songs like “Wetter” by Lil’ Wayne on our ipods, it is encouraging sex among the youth of America. This change has also changed the way we dance. Dancing used to be considered an art, a form of expression through physical movement. Now our high school semi formal, homecoming dance, and prom has become what I like to call a “grindfest”. Grinding is a form of dancing similar to that seen in rap music videos. The man takes the woman by the hips and the woman glues her hind-quarters to the man’s crotchal region. The two move to the music with much friction between them. It is as awkward to see as it is to do. This manner of close quarters, hot, and sweaty dancing really baffles me. I don’t understand how rubbing your junk all up on a girl’s booty for 3 to 4 hours to some crappy song about big booty chicks is a fun time. Call me old fashion, but the days when you could win a woman’s heart with your impressive dance steps were the days when chivalry and class ruled. Those days are over now. They have been replaced with the romantic songs such as “Lollipop” and “The Thong Song”.

Rooney Thesis

Critiquing today's ignorant society in "Common Nonsense", Andy Rooney utilizes situational irony, point of view, and sarcasm to give comic effect to the this essay.

Kess and Till

In the comedic recount of this awkward family situation in “Kiss and Tell”, Alain de Botton employs satirical characterization to illuminate that though we are often embarrassed by our “Mum and Dad” we are more similar to them than we chose to believe. When Isabel realizes that her parents are attending the same theatrical performance, she is paralyzed by embarrassment. Through this emotion, the author is characterizing her as a very typical young woman who seeks independence and is easily embarrassed by her parents due to the supposed “generational gap”. She is very surprised at this coincidental encounter and says, “I said I wanted to go to the play, but I didn’t let on that I had tickets for tonight.” The surprise that her parents would actually be doing the same thing that she is doing that evening is very stereotypical of a young woman. The author characterizes her “Mum” as an overbearing women who is very outspoken and embarrassing to her daughter. Yet, the fact that she is doing the same thing as her daughter is in no way surprising to her as she states, “Why shouldn’t I be here? You’re not the only one who does fancy things with your evenings.” Isabel’s dad is a much more low key man who pays very close attention to detail, yet is very forgetful as he stares at the ceiling he says, “I’m looking at the light fixtures, they’re tungsten bulbs.” Though Isabel is mortified by the fact that she is at the same play as her parents, it proves the “generational gap” is not as prominent as many young people make it out to be.

Suburban Thesis

In order to avoid confrontation, in "Suburban", John Ciardi uses contextual comedy, aphorisms, and anecdotal sarcasm to convey that swallowing your pride can help keep good reletionships.