I chose to read Krista Ramsey's column titled "Still reflecting on act of vandalism on Opening Day". In the column, Ramsey described how a man and his son stood in flowerbeds that lined the sidewalks in order to get a better view of the Red's Opening Day Parade. This act disturbed Ramsey because the people who stomped on the flowers had no regard for the money and effort it took for local businesses to plant the flowers there.
Here is a link to the article:
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/columnists/krista-ramsey/2014/04/12/krista-ramsey-vandalism/7659161/
I thought the following lines were two of the best lines written in the column. "Which is where I saw the purple and gold mass of stomped, smashed pansies that surrounded us. It was such a botanical massacre that I immediately looked for the cause." The words 'stomped' and 'smashed' have negative connotations that indicate that the crushing of an object was done intentionally and inconsiderately. These words really help readers to see Ramsey's astonishment at the thoughtlessness of the man and his son who killed the flowers. Ramsey used juxtaposition when she said 'botanical massacre'. The word botanical has a very positive connotation that makes people think of beauty, peace, and tranquility. In contrast, the word massacre usually makes people think of bloodshed, violence, and war. These stark opposites convey the magnitude of the injustice the two people committed in Ramsey's eyes.
Ramsey's writing style is very descriptive throughout this article and the two articles we read in class.
One example of how she was descriptive in the article I chose was when she said, "I was so completely enveloped by taller people that I was stuck catching glimpses of marching bands and floats, and after straining my neck for a full half-hour, finally surrendered and let my gaze drift to the sidewalk." This gave a thorough description of the events leading up to when Ramsey witnessed the flower-smashing.
An example of Ramsey's descriptive style in "For better vision, kids need time outdoors" was when Ramsey said, "Your teenager at the dinner table, waiting for his checkup at the orthodontist's office, sauntering to his car - continually hunched over his smartphone or iPad." Here, Ramsey painted a picture of a typical teenager and their heavy use of electronic devices.
In "Super Bowl QBs score points for great style", Ramsey said, "A pretty dress, well-tailored sports coat, stylish hat elevate the mood and maybe even the conduct." Ramsey provided specific details about each article of clothing to create an image in the readers' minds.
Three questions I would ask Ramsey if given the chance are:
1.) How do you get inspiration for your articles? Is it ever hard to think of something to write about?
2.) How would you describe your writing style? Do you aim for it to be a certain way?
3.) What lead you to your current job?
I remember Krista Ramsey talking about the Opening Day "botanical massacre" while she spoke at the school. It's a shame that people have such disregard for not only public property, but also for the idea that it was someone's job, and their labor that made those flowerbeds look nice, and they were not meant to be stepped on. I agree also with you that Krista Ramsey in general does have a very interesting writing style and I think she is very entertaining to read. I particularly like her choice of vocabulary and the connotations attached;)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Olivia! I agree, Krista Ramsey makes good use of vocabulary.
DeleteI love how you went into depth of the diction in the passage. I love the examples you gave of the connotations and the juxtapositions. Great Job!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cassia!
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