One major thing to me is the fact that Orlean included the history of the websites she mentions throughout the article. "...and three thousand visits to Taxidermy.net every day, where taxidermists can trade information and goods with as little self-consciousness as you find on a knitting Web site:" (Orlean 3) This is interesting because the fact that there is taxidermy websites does not matter to the championships and should not effect the reader's thought on the championships. The fact that she continues to use it throughout the article is interesting too. I wonder why she thought that the reader would care about a website, especially in 2003!! I, myself, looked up the site, but I was curious because I grew up around taxidermy. I think the time period she wrote this in probably lead her to believe the reader might look it up because the Internet was still fairly new to the majority of the world.
I had mentioned this in class, but the fact that she turns to the feelings of the taxidermists themselves is interesting. "The taxidermists take the competition very seriously." (Orlean 4)I think it is very important that Orlean includes this thought. One can assume that the taxidermists take the competition seriously, but it reinforces the idea into the reader's mind. I realized during class that the majority of the general public, does not like the idea of taxidermy as trophies, none the less as museum pieces. If this was say American Idol, would everyone thoughts be the same? I think the majority of the general public would say that they like it. However, if you talked to any musician, they will tell you it is the dumbest thing on earth. Do the contestants of American Idol take the competition seriously? I would hope so, or why are you on the show in the first place? So my thought is: if you do not like the subject, does it make it wrong or stupid? To you, it might. But to the taxidermists would think otherwise. I think Orlean realized this and the fact that she added it to the article, is very important! This definitely adds to the dedication that is shown with the mention of the websites and the next choice, the seminars.
I find it also very interesting that Orlean adds the information about the seminars. I think that this is more important to the article than the thoughts on the various websites on taxidermy. "In the seminars, the atmosphere was as sober and exacting as a tax-law colloquium. 'Wiskers,' one of the instructors said to the group, giving them a stern look. 'I pull them out. I label them..." (5) I think that Orlean adding the thoughts about the seminars adds almost a attraction feel to the championships. I feel that maybe the next time that they are held, that more people will show up not only because of the mounts that are entered into the competition, but as to maybe hear the seminars and attend the various other activities. Orlean paints a picture that provides an event that anyone could attend if they feel like they might have an interest in the championships.
Work Cited:
Orlean, Susan. "Lifelike." The New Yorker 9 June, 2003. Online.
Have you thought about constructing a CP that involves your background and knowledge of taxidermy? I think it really allows you to interpret Orlean's writerly choices in a different way than the rest of the class.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that you are heading in the right direction with your blog post. You mentioned three distinct writerly choices in your blog post that I too find very interesting. I agree with what you said concerning her reasons for writing about the website in her essay. She probably wanted her readers to research taxidermy. And the internet was a new and exciting research tool for people to use at that time, so what better way to encourage her readers to research taxidermy than to use a new innovation. I also beleive she included in her essay quotes from the website to show her readers just how nonchalant taxidermist are about their trade.
ReplyDeletePerhaps she included the quotes from the essay to appeal to her readerships' emotions. Much of what the taxidermist say on the site is abnormal, and what they say specifically might just reaffirm what her readers are already thinking.
Your explanation as to why she reconfirmed in once senctence that taxidermist take their job seriously makes a lot of sense as well. Readers could just assume that they do take their job seriously, but reinforcing that idea was key. That sentence might suggest that she supports the taxidermy trade.
Both the point about the seminars and the websites are interesting. She tries to explain to the reader that there is a community of taxidermists out there. They are not usually as weird as you would think that they are. However, I feel that the thoughts about the seminars does not help the taxidermists' case on not being weird. It is a bit in the opposite direction.
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