The Literary Tape

Just a normal roll of Scotch tape right? Wrong. This is double sided tape – the special stuff that works like magic when used correctly. On flat surfaces, it glues items together so well that it basically morphs them into one coherent object. Yet, if even one surface is slightly uneven, it becomes completely useless. 

What does this have to do with a blog post for AP English? Well, words function in an almost identical way. Double sided tape looks just like normal tape; similarly, sentences can be masked with layers of sarcasm or euphemisms or innuendos that create meanings other than what is literally said. For example, the phrase "Thanks a lot" could be a genuine comment or a sarcastic insult. In other words, sentences that look the same on paper could serve vastly different purposes, like double sided tape, which is two times as versatile as single sided tape yet looks identical to its inferior counterpart.

Lastly, we reach the tape's primary purpose: to stick items together. Words have the power to unite people. Powerful speeches, presentations, and essays can influence the minds of millions, and through words, knowledge can be passed for generations to come. Now that sounds heartwarming and all, but words can also be harmful – they are double-sided. They "let us say the things we want to say and also things we would be better off not having said." They can cause destruction through calculated ambiguity. Ambiguity in applying tape can result in a broken picture frame or a burst pipe. Double-sided tape used incorrectly on a rough surface can cause a divide between objects rather than a union. Words used incorrectly can be offensive and split relationships. 

And then, we reach the Flex TapeⓇ of all words. The strongest words that can unite people (maybe two people) forever. But those words are for you to decide. Let me know in the comments below!

Focus on the Relevant

"...never mind the fact that this American classic (written in 1884) depicts the spiritual kinship achieved between a white boy and a runaway slave, never mind the fact that the "n*****" Jim emerges as the novel's most honorable, decent character. "

By focusing on the center, one does not get
lost in the vast landscape

Many of us, including me, forget to focus on the main purpose of a work. Instead, we worry about the irrelevant details that carry little significance to the piece. As Kakutani mentions above, the relationship between Huck and Jim is one of the most important lessons from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, yet many critics focus solely on the words used to create this message. To some extent, I do this as well. Sometimes, I fail to recognize the main idea of a passage or article, which makes the knowledge that I gain from reading it useless. While focusing on the main idea of a literary work is important, many people fail to realize is that this concept can be applied to all aspects of our lives.

Meeting someone for the first time can be an enjoyable experience only if one ignores the other person's flaws. In terms of appearance, nobody looks perfect, and by ignoring looks we can focus on the more important features that make someone significant, such as personality. Often, we meet someone with a "potty mouth" – someone who can't even say a sentence without swearing at least once. And often, these people use racial slurs unacceptable today. Now, while such words should never be used, the person saying them may not actually have cruel intentions.

Which brings me back to Kakutani's argument in "The Word Police". Censoring hundreds of possibly irritating words (not racial slurs) is not going to solve the real issues of prejudice in this world. So, in other words, let us make an effort to identify the underlying issues in society instead of labeling the irrelevant as significant.