I’m a big believer in passion.
I embrace the things that I love – I live and die with them. I like the unity created when a group of people is so attached to a common cause, and I love how their conversations are able to transcend to another level.
What I don’t like is when outsiders attempt to intrude. When people who don’t understand barge in – and then don’t even attempt to try to get what’s going on.
I found that these two ends of the spectrum were very much at odds with each other from the time that the Sandusky scandal broke until, well even up until now.
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| Copyright of The Penn Stater |
When asked to blog about rhetoric, I could immediately think of no better example than the January/February edition cover of The Penn Stater, Penn State’s alumni magazine.
The cover perfectly depicts the emotions of the type of passionate group referred to above – the alumni. The ones who know what it’s like to eat at The Diner, to cheer their throats hoarse at Beaver Stadium, to play Frisbee on the Old Main lawn... the ones who have been here.
The cover depicts darkness. Fallen letters at the bottom of the page say more than any words ever could. Everyone has always been taught that if you make things colorful and extravagant, they’ll be more noticeable – that they’ll grab attention.
Here, nothing pops. There is no color, no designs, no “wow” factor. Nothing is commonplace.
Though, I’d certainly call it noticeable.
It is exactly the feeling of the Penn State population. Loss, shame, and frustration can begin to describe the emotions, sure. But they are not enough, and that’s what this cover says.
Out of all of the articles and media that have surfaced since this story broke in November, I find this one picture to be my favorite. It is a product of the passionate group – the group who understands. It is not from the media, the people who haven’t a clue about the inner culture of Penn State University, the ones who don’t “get it.”
I think that the cover is incredibly rhetorical, if for nothing else, it expresses emotions in a way that no person could for nearly two months.
And, to me, that is incredibly powerful.
This is a really powerful image. It really does capture exactly the way I think every one of us felt when the scandal broke out. It shows the emotion that, as students, I think we were unable to get out. Its also nice to know that the alumni were, and are on our side. This is th type of thing that the Penn State community should be publishing to the world. Maybe then they will understand.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a fantastic job with this post. It is well worded, full of true emotion, and really depicts the ACTUAL feelings of the true Penn-Staters. What I find most interesting about this magazine cover is the abscence of color. It screams "despair." In comparison with the bold Sports Illustrated November magazine issue, whose title states "the Shame of Penn State" this magazine cover illustrates the use of art over words. We correctly illustrated ourselves as a student body as far more intelligent and aware than those big-shots who skewed our school's whole story with harsh, uneducated words. I was so impressed with this whole issuse in teh way it exuded class. If you haven't read the editors note at the beggining of the issue. I highly recommend you do so. Despite all that has happened lately I'm proud to be a Penn-Stater.
ReplyDeleteAdam - I definitely agree dude. I wish the whole world was able to see this.
ReplyDeleteRachel - I just got so excited. I was definitely thinking about that Sports Illustrated issue when I wrote. Also, I will definitely check out the editor's note. Thanks!