Argument within an image

When you first think about an argument, the picture that pops into most people’s head involves two people, eyes bulging, voices raised, and fists pumping through the air while incoherent words are being sputtered back and forth in anger. While this may be true in some cases, I am slowly learning that arguments are everywhere and don’t necessarily require any words to be spoken or written to make it so. A simple picture can arise more conflict and public distress then words ever could.

The picture I have chosen to analyze was incredibly ironic to me. It showed a common theme in society now a day’s which is that of this unnatural obsession with weight. It shows a very thin, pretty girl standing on a scale while eating a bar of chocolate. It seems as though she is fighting this internal battle as to whether or not this piece of chocolate will somehow turn her suddenly obese, and so she stands on the scale to make sure nothing changes. Her eyes show this unnatural fear of having any sort of weight change occur, but at the same time she seems incredibly happy to be eating the chocolate, as though she hadn’t really enjoyed food in a long time. It is really disturbing to me just how accurate, although a tad bit exaggerated, this image is. We look through magazines and watch television, and now have it in our heads that the “ideal” body is to be as thin as possible, and usually with large breasts. It now gives normal women this incredibly high standard to live up to if they themselves want to be considered “beautiful”. This has resulted in an incredible increase in women with eating disorders and self-image problems, as well as an influx in cosmetic surgery. It really is a shame to see just how influential the media and society can be on an individual’s outlook on everything, including themselves.

When we look at other cultures, women that are heavier are sometimes considered much more beautiful and are sought after by men. They see weight as a sign of health and wealth rather than as a detriment. This is a perfect example of how the media really controls everything. If we had grown up watching television shows where larger women were featured as beautiful, we in turn would most likely find that to be beautiful and strive to have that body type. Unfortunately we have become very impressionable due to the media and skinny girl propaganda, and have stopped embracing the many different sizes and shapes women come in. There is now only one really sought after body type: skinny. It is a shame to watch as the "lose weight now" epidemic floods throughout America, but it is my hope that this will not cause any more damage to perfectly healthy women. We should strive to be healthy and fit, not to starve ourselves to near nothingness.

Components of an efficient argument

Arguing is something I know that I at least have been doing since a very young age. Whether it was to get a toy I wanted, extend my curfew, or convince someone of my very strong Republican views on politics, arguing has just always been an active part of my life. One may even say that argumentation is a simple aspect of human nature. It is something we have always done and will always do. The problem is, many people do not understand the basis of a good argument. Not just an exchange of heated words that ends in tears or non speaking terms, but rather an exchange of ideas with an open mind that could possibly allow some sort of compromise.

For an argument to be under the best possible conditions it requires a clear issue, an arguer, an audience, common ground, a forum, and audience outcomes. Without an issue, there would no point to the argument. Two arguers are required to present the different sides to an issue, and common ground is needed to allow for some sort of compromise in the end.  A forum makes the arguers feel as if they are important and being heard, which in turn usually results in more compelling evidence and creativity in how it is presented. Audience outcomes should occur if the argument was presented well, causing some people to change their opinions on the issue at hand.

Another very important aspect of argumentation is that of removing all emotion. While there are some issues that you just can’t help but get emotional about, those are the ones you should simply steer away from. Emotion has absolutely no business in argumentation or debates and will only hinder your argument and make it look weaker. By simply sticking to fact and fact alone, as long as there is sufficient evidence in support of your side, there is no way you will not be able to accomplish your goal in arguing and have people listen and possibly alter their own opinions in your favor. Facts with always triumph over emotional pleas.

If the issue is too risqué, or there is too much difficulty establishing common ground, arguments are usually bound to fail. If the issue is too large in scale or involves very emotionally centered issues such as religion or relationships, people tend to stay away from them to avoid having to make any life altering decisions or hurt someone’s feelings.  Also, if there is no common ground, there is no basis to an argument. The point of argumentation is to come to some sort of compromise in the end. If one party already has their own mind made up, and is not willing to listen with an open mind and come to some sort of middle ground, then the argument will remain just a silly yelling match that will never be resolved.  It is important to always come into every argument with an open mind, and be willing to possibly change your own views if your opponent presents evidence you were not previously aware of.