Satire Project
This project was all about satires and satirical devices. We learned what they are and how devices are used in everyday life, like cartoons, newspapers, and more. I focused on fast fashion and the toll it takes on the world and many people around the world. And for my final project, I made a cartoon focusing on that topic. The two satirical devices that I choose to use were understatement, downplaying the severity of a situation, and sarcasm which is bitter, cutting, and intended to wound the target. I drew a cartoon using those elements as you can see below!
Reflection
My satire is focused on fast fashion and the negative impact it has on the world. The audience that I am targeting are people who support fast fashion who don’t need to and the company owners themselves. The two satirical devices that I choose to use were understatement, downplaying the severity of a situation, and sarcasm which is bitter, cutting, and intended to wound the target. I wanted the audience to feel bad about supporting fast fashion and really call them out.
During this project, I learned a lot about how newspapers or news sources in general target people. When I used to look at cartoons in the paper I would never think about the satires or the message the cartoon was trying to convey. You can see I used this new knowledge in my final product because I actually drew a cartoon and I made sure to use what I learned in the project when drawing. This taught me a lot about how to convey emotions to people in different ways and I think I will carry that skill with me for a long time!
I think that satire has a large role in society even if not many people know about it. Many people read news sources every day and a satire is almost always included in those sources. I think what really makes satire effective is when they call someone out or hurt someone’s feelings because that is what will leave a lasting impact, Juvenalian satire or irony is a really good example of that.
I think overall I am a 9 on the rubric. I am almost always prepared for class and make sure that I participate in class and use time wisely. For example, when we would have Socratic Seminars in class I would participate often and I make sure to come to class every day with my computer charged and notebook in case I need to take notes. I will continue to do this for the rest of the semester but to try and improve too, I will make sure I turn in all assignments on time and try and participate more in class.
During this project, I learned a lot about how newspapers or news sources in general target people. When I used to look at cartoons in the paper I would never think about the satires or the message the cartoon was trying to convey. You can see I used this new knowledge in my final product because I actually drew a cartoon and I made sure to use what I learned in the project when drawing. This taught me a lot about how to convey emotions to people in different ways and I think I will carry that skill with me for a long time!
I think that satire has a large role in society even if not many people know about it. Many people read news sources every day and a satire is almost always included in those sources. I think what really makes satire effective is when they call someone out or hurt someone’s feelings because that is what will leave a lasting impact, Juvenalian satire or irony is a really good example of that.
I think overall I am a 9 on the rubric. I am almost always prepared for class and make sure that I participate in class and use time wisely. For example, when we would have Socratic Seminars in class I would participate often and I make sure to come to class every day with my computer charged and notebook in case I need to take notes. I will continue to do this for the rest of the semester but to try and improve too, I will make sure I turn in all assignments on time and try and participate more in class.
Rube Goldberg Machine Video
African Colonialism Project
This project was about colonialism in Africa, and the effect it had on the native people. In this project I focused on the Igbo Woman. They were people who were effected by the British and stood up for themselves, making them powerful female activists who stand as a model for women today. In this project I wrote an op-ed and made an art piece to show my knowledge.
Art Pieces
These are pieces are signify protesting, I made three signs that relate to woman and what we are going through today. This transfers to what the Igbo women were facing because they too had to protest to be heard.
Op-Ed: The Igbo Women's Resistance
When thinking about feminist leaders, who comes to mind, perhaps Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg or feminist writer Gloria Steinem? Igbo women probably don’t, although they were some of the first female activists. When the British came to colonize Nigeria the colonists were discriminatory and sexist but the Igbo women took a stand against them, and started protesting in the fall of 1929. The appointed British warrant chiefs, or authority figures, had become violent, and they were making the female market workers pay taxes that they could not afford. Eventually, in November, the Igbo women had enough and they spoke up, using methods like “sitting on a man,” rioting, and signing petitions. The war prompted authorities to drop the plan to impose taxes, and ultimately there were successful, but the price was steep- in all 50 women were killed and over 50 were wounded. The Igbo women took a stand against violent oppression in an effective way, making them powerful female activists who stand as a model for women today.
The Igbo people were one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. Their homeland is geographically divided by the Niger River. The Igbo people worked mostly as craftsmen and farmers. They were also successful traders, and because of that, the population of Nigeria was growing fast before Colonization. After the British came into Nigeria, everything changed. The culture was oppressed and many people lost their beliefs and religions.
The Igbo Women's war was one of the first major revolts in Africa, and because it was successful it led to many more riots around Nigeria. The women accused the British of restricting the role of women in the government, instead, they appointed warrant chiefs or Nigerian male authority figures. “The women utilized protest techniques that were traditional and specific to their communities, such as sitting on a man and wearing traditional ritual wear. While the men in the community understood what those techniques and tactics meant, the British did not because they were outsiders. As such, the event appeared to be "crazy acts by hysterical women," thus calling the events riots.” (Wikipedia) The appointed Nigerian warrant chiefs knew the women’s culture and therefore they understood that the women protesting and why they were protesting. Because of that scenario, the warrant chiefs were able to help carry out some of the woman’s requests.
The women had many different forms of protest, but then never seriously injured anybody who they were protesting against. It was hard to keep the protests non-violent, especially when women were killed, instead they used song and dance, a traditional Nigearn practice, called sitting on a man. A writer from The Gale Review states, “In extremis, Igbo women had recourse to communal women’s groups. If a group of women felt one of their numbers had been wronged by a man, the group could unite to ‘sit on’ the individual: gathering at his residence, making a great deal of noise, attacking his hut, and intimidating him into submission. This was a traditional way for Igbo women to express grievances that had been ignored.” (Tom Henderson) In my opinion, these women were very intelligent and used successful methods to get their point across.
By the time British authority figures were able to gain control of the women, 10 courthouses were destroyed and the women had broken into 46 prisons to release prisoners. Many women were killed and punished but this marked the end of the war. “The women were able to transform "traditional methods for networking and expressing disapproval" into powerful mechanisms that successfully challenged and disrupted the local colonial administration.” (Wikipedia) A new Governor was appointed, Donald Camero and he was able to carry out some of the women’s recommendations. In certain areas, new warrant chiefs were hired and many protests in Africa from the 1930s to 1950s such as oil mill protests were inspired by the Igbo women’s war.
Women have struggled with equal rights forever. The Igbo women were able to face male oppression head-on. Women today can be inspired by their courage and resolve. The revolt that the Igbo women led was one of the first uprisings in history, led by females: “The Igbo Women’s war prompted colonial authorities to drop their plans to impose a tax on the market women, and to curb the power of the warrant chiefs. The women’s uprising is seen as the first major challenge to British authority in Nigeria and West Africa during the colonial period and became a historic example of feminist and anti-colonial protest.” (Marissa Evans)
This revolt was an inspiring moment for women around Africa and led to many other uprisings. Many people were mistreated during colonization, but especially women. Like today, they were treated as if they were not as important as men. But after the Igbo women's revolt was successful, more people were brave enough to speak up and make a difference. Women around the world today can take note of what the Igbo women did, they were brave enough to voice their opinions against dictatorial men and succeed.
Work Cited
Tom Henderson, Gale Review. “Rioting In Nigeria .” The Gale Review, 12 Mar. 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2020, from https://review.gale.com/2018/03/12/sporadic-riots-and-false-reports-british-reporting-of-the-1929-igbo-womens-war/
Evans, Marissa. “Aba Women's Riots (November-December 1929).” Black Past, 31 May 2020, www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/aba-womens-riots-november-december-1929/.
08 March 2018, tpk |. “The 'Women's War', 1929.” The School of History, The School of History , 8 Mar. 2018, blogs.kent.ac.uk/history/2018/03/08/the-womens-war-1929/.
Wikipedia. “Women's War.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Oct. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_War.
The Igbo people were one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. Their homeland is geographically divided by the Niger River. The Igbo people worked mostly as craftsmen and farmers. They were also successful traders, and because of that, the population of Nigeria was growing fast before Colonization. After the British came into Nigeria, everything changed. The culture was oppressed and many people lost their beliefs and religions.
The Igbo Women's war was one of the first major revolts in Africa, and because it was successful it led to many more riots around Nigeria. The women accused the British of restricting the role of women in the government, instead, they appointed warrant chiefs or Nigerian male authority figures. “The women utilized protest techniques that were traditional and specific to their communities, such as sitting on a man and wearing traditional ritual wear. While the men in the community understood what those techniques and tactics meant, the British did not because they were outsiders. As such, the event appeared to be "crazy acts by hysterical women," thus calling the events riots.” (Wikipedia) The appointed Nigerian warrant chiefs knew the women’s culture and therefore they understood that the women protesting and why they were protesting. Because of that scenario, the warrant chiefs were able to help carry out some of the woman’s requests.
The women had many different forms of protest, but then never seriously injured anybody who they were protesting against. It was hard to keep the protests non-violent, especially when women were killed, instead they used song and dance, a traditional Nigearn practice, called sitting on a man. A writer from The Gale Review states, “In extremis, Igbo women had recourse to communal women’s groups. If a group of women felt one of their numbers had been wronged by a man, the group could unite to ‘sit on’ the individual: gathering at his residence, making a great deal of noise, attacking his hut, and intimidating him into submission. This was a traditional way for Igbo women to express grievances that had been ignored.” (Tom Henderson) In my opinion, these women were very intelligent and used successful methods to get their point across.
By the time British authority figures were able to gain control of the women, 10 courthouses were destroyed and the women had broken into 46 prisons to release prisoners. Many women were killed and punished but this marked the end of the war. “The women were able to transform "traditional methods for networking and expressing disapproval" into powerful mechanisms that successfully challenged and disrupted the local colonial administration.” (Wikipedia) A new Governor was appointed, Donald Camero and he was able to carry out some of the women’s recommendations. In certain areas, new warrant chiefs were hired and many protests in Africa from the 1930s to 1950s such as oil mill protests were inspired by the Igbo women’s war.
Women have struggled with equal rights forever. The Igbo women were able to face male oppression head-on. Women today can be inspired by their courage and resolve. The revolt that the Igbo women led was one of the first uprisings in history, led by females: “The Igbo Women’s war prompted colonial authorities to drop their plans to impose a tax on the market women, and to curb the power of the warrant chiefs. The women’s uprising is seen as the first major challenge to British authority in Nigeria and West Africa during the colonial period and became a historic example of feminist and anti-colonial protest.” (Marissa Evans)
This revolt was an inspiring moment for women around Africa and led to many other uprisings. Many people were mistreated during colonization, but especially women. Like today, they were treated as if they were not as important as men. But after the Igbo women's revolt was successful, more people were brave enough to speak up and make a difference. Women around the world today can take note of what the Igbo women did, they were brave enough to voice their opinions against dictatorial men and succeed.
Work Cited
Tom Henderson, Gale Review. “Rioting In Nigeria .” The Gale Review, 12 Mar. 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2020, from https://review.gale.com/2018/03/12/sporadic-riots-and-false-reports-british-reporting-of-the-1929-igbo-womens-war/
Evans, Marissa. “Aba Women's Riots (November-December 1929).” Black Past, 31 May 2020, www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/aba-womens-riots-november-december-1929/.
08 March 2018, tpk |. “The 'Women's War', 1929.” The School of History, The School of History , 8 Mar. 2018, blogs.kent.ac.uk/history/2018/03/08/the-womens-war-1929/.
Wikipedia. “Women's War.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Oct. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_War.
Reflection
Pride
Writing is something that I enjoy, I always have. But I had never written an op-ed until this project. I'm very proud of my op-ed because I feel like it is well written and has useful knowledge on the Igbo women. One thing that I am the proudest of, is finishing my op-ed. The night before it was due I decided that I wanted to change the layout of my essay because I felt that it wasn't good enough. So I rewrote most of the paragraphs in my op-ed to make them better. I am proud of that because I could have given up and turned in what I had, but instead, I made necessary revisions to make sure I had a final product that I was proud of.
Difficulties
As well as being my proudest moment during the project, the night before the project was due was also a struggling point. Because I felt like my essay wasn't good enough I had to research more information on the Igbo women and changed my essay to something that I liked. That was stressful because it was almost time to turn my essay in and I was rewriting it. But I succeeded in solving the problem and I was happy with my final product. I could have avoided this problem by spending more time refining my essay before it was due. That way I wouldn't have had to be stressed and change it at the last minute.
Learning
The thing that I learned that I felt was most important was learning about colonialism and how much of an effect it had on African citizens. When I was younger I learned about colonialism from the British perspective. I'm very glad that I now know the other perspective as well. In my opinion, the British were biased and cruel, in trying to take away the Africans religion and power. This was very important to learn about because it is related to what we are facing today with the BLM protests. In my op-ed I go into detail about the British and Africans relationship, it was important to know about colonialism because that is what I was writing about.
Writing Growth
I feel like I have grown as a writer in this project in many different ways. Specifically, finding quotes from articles and putting them in my writing. I was not very good at this at the beginning of this project, but I feel like I have grown in this area. I have gotten much better at relating my quotes to what I am talking about in my essay. For example, in paragraph 5 of my op-ed, I am talking about what the Igbo women accomplished during their protest, and I have a quote that is very significant and relatable to what I am talking about. It enhances my writing and makes it more clear for the reader to understand.
Self-Assessment
I feel like I am a 9 on this self-assessment rubric. The one thing that I could improve is, using my class time effectively to complete my assignment. Most of the time I am focused and complete my assignments in class but there are certain days that I get off-topic and don't work very hard. But I always make up the work that I didn't complete after class. Other than that I feel I always come to class prepared with a pencil, a charged computer, and my assignments completed. One thing that I will do to improve next semester is by making sure my electronics aren't distracting me. When we have online days it is easy to get off task after zoom meeting and get right on a screen without doing my work. I make sure I am effectively using class time so I don't have that problem.
Writing is something that I enjoy, I always have. But I had never written an op-ed until this project. I'm very proud of my op-ed because I feel like it is well written and has useful knowledge on the Igbo women. One thing that I am the proudest of, is finishing my op-ed. The night before it was due I decided that I wanted to change the layout of my essay because I felt that it wasn't good enough. So I rewrote most of the paragraphs in my op-ed to make them better. I am proud of that because I could have given up and turned in what I had, but instead, I made necessary revisions to make sure I had a final product that I was proud of.
Difficulties
As well as being my proudest moment during the project, the night before the project was due was also a struggling point. Because I felt like my essay wasn't good enough I had to research more information on the Igbo women and changed my essay to something that I liked. That was stressful because it was almost time to turn my essay in and I was rewriting it. But I succeeded in solving the problem and I was happy with my final product. I could have avoided this problem by spending more time refining my essay before it was due. That way I wouldn't have had to be stressed and change it at the last minute.
Learning
The thing that I learned that I felt was most important was learning about colonialism and how much of an effect it had on African citizens. When I was younger I learned about colonialism from the British perspective. I'm very glad that I now know the other perspective as well. In my opinion, the British were biased and cruel, in trying to take away the Africans religion and power. This was very important to learn about because it is related to what we are facing today with the BLM protests. In my op-ed I go into detail about the British and Africans relationship, it was important to know about colonialism because that is what I was writing about.
Writing Growth
I feel like I have grown as a writer in this project in many different ways. Specifically, finding quotes from articles and putting them in my writing. I was not very good at this at the beginning of this project, but I feel like I have grown in this area. I have gotten much better at relating my quotes to what I am talking about in my essay. For example, in paragraph 5 of my op-ed, I am talking about what the Igbo women accomplished during their protest, and I have a quote that is very significant and relatable to what I am talking about. It enhances my writing and makes it more clear for the reader to understand.
Self-Assessment
I feel like I am a 9 on this self-assessment rubric. The one thing that I could improve is, using my class time effectively to complete my assignment. Most of the time I am focused and complete my assignments in class but there are certain days that I get off-topic and don't work very hard. But I always make up the work that I didn't complete after class. Other than that I feel I always come to class prepared with a pencil, a charged computer, and my assignments completed. One thing that I will do to improve next semester is by making sure my electronics aren't distracting me. When we have online days it is easy to get off task after zoom meeting and get right on a screen without doing my work. I make sure I am effectively using class time so I don't have that problem.