WP3: Final

Author's Note

This assignment presented some difficulties because it was similar in same ways to the other two, but yet different. For instance, the rhetorical devices for sculptures had some similar to photographs and comics but also had new ones that were not addressed in the other projects. Another difficulty with this project was the mechanics of writing a letter. I was unsure how to address the rhetorical devices of the sculpture while writing in the form of a letter and not like the other rhetorical analysis papers. I decided to approach it as I was informing Arietta II of the rhetorical devices Catherine Ferguson had provided so Arietta II would know her purpose in life.

A second issue I found with this project was that the peer reviews were not as extensive. Because the letters were all so different the feedback was not as thorough as before. This means that I had to come up with more ideas on my own of how to revise the letter. Unfortunately, this led to less drastic changes in my revision. I had one pretty drastic change; which was to take out a whole paragraph. I took out the paragraph explaining how the sculpture actually moves in the wind, aligning with the idea of movement. Although I thought this was a good point, I was not able to elaborate on it much to provide a solid argument. I did take a few sentences from that paragraph though. The first three sentences of the third paragraph in my final paper are those sentences I kept. I kept them because they described the starling spectacular that my argument is focused around.

The minor adjustment that I added the most to the strength of my argument was a clarification. In my second paragraph where I explain the significance of the name Arietta II, I wanted to make it clear that the name of the sculpture sets the theme for the argument. However, in my draft I had it stated it one sentence almost like it was recapping something I had already explained. In my final draft I used a couple sentences to explain the two parts of the theme, movement and unity. Although, the revisions were for the most part fairly small, they were thought through and make my points easier to follow, providing for a stronger argument.

For my performance, I have decided to dress in all black to match Arietta II. Also, when I do pose I will grab on to the sculpture to continue my argument that it portrays the importance of teamwork. During the peer review, I learned I need to be sure to speak loudly and interact more. I need to interact with Arietta II and my secondary audience. I will look up from my paper making eye contact with both of my audiences. Making eye contact allows for better facial expressions and seems more natural, like I am reading a letter and not reading a presentation. In my paper I addressed why I will be posing the way I will, that way the transition between reading the letter and posing will seem more natural.


First Draft
Statement of Purpose

Dear Arietta II,

“An incredible display of aeronautical skill, more bazaar and seemingly pointless than anything ever produced” is how Dylan Winter describes the flight of starlings preparing to roost in his Youtube video about them. You represent this astonishing act in sculpture form. Your mother of creation, Catherine Ferguson, has crafted you to reflect the flight of the starlings with her choice of name for you, leaving you outdoors, and welding you together out of steel. These gifts you have received from her provide you with potential to enlighten your audience with the fascinating story of the distinctive behavior of starlings.

Your name, Arietta II, is quite unique but significant. You have been named after a musical term, which actually means a short aria. Arias are musical pieces known to have expressive melodies, full of movement. They are performed with a solo vocalist accompanied by an orchestra. Your name provides for a theme of movement and togetherness. The movement part of the theme comes from the expressive, moving melodies that are in ariettas or arias. The name Arietta II alludes to togetherness because of the orchestral accompaniment that is required.

Each evening, around dusk, multitudes of small starling groups come together. Hundreds of thousands, up to one million, starlings form what appears to be a swirling black cloud. They move gracefully as a unit, as if waves in the sky. You are comparable to the movement of the starlings due to the change in lighting you are provided with. This is a result of being placed outdoors. Your lighting comes from the sun and as the sun moves the shadows made by you, and falling on to you, adjust. The varying light makes you appear differently, as if you are shifting or moving. At night there is little lighting on you, and it does not move. Therefore you do not to look as if you are moving at this time, similar to starlings that roost at night, and so are not moving either. During the day the sun slowly moves the shadows on and around you, causing you to look like you are moving very slowly or slightly. Again this is similar to the starlings; they move throughout the day, but it is in smaller groups and does not occur in the same area. However, in the morning and at dusk, as the sun is rising or setting, the shadows move quickly, showing the greatest illusion of movement by you. This is also the time where the many starlings are moving all together, displaying their “aeronautical skill”.

Your mother has chosen to make you out of steel, which is a metal, so it is heavy and sturdy. This is contrasting with the characteristics of birds. Birds are made of feathers and hallow bones, making them very lightweight and fragile. The contrasting characteristics of the steel and birds make the birds’ lightness and fragility more apparent by calling attention to the opposites. However, due to cooperating and working together the masses of birds all become strong and durable, giving them characteristics similar to steel. So, as they fly together as a unit it allows them to have features completely opposite of the natural features they possess as individuals.

As starlings fly together, they stay warm and safe. The movement keeps each individual body warm, which makes them all warmer for the cool nights. As they fly in multitudes, they scan their chosen roosting area for predators. Because of their teamwork, a predator could not possibly escape their sight. This allows for them to settle in at night, being safe. The togetherness of the birds that are a part of you parallels the cooperation of starlings. You may have noticed that your welding spots are not hidden like other sculptures, but are made very visible. They have been placed on the outside of you, showing they were not even attempted to be hidden on the inside. I doubt your mother did this because she was lazy or to embarrass you. It shows how your birds are connected and held together. Just as your welding makes all the birds one strong sculpture, it represents how their collaboration makes them one very strong unit.

Although being outdoors enhances the idea of movement, it means you have to suffer from the elements that come with being outdoors. You are weathered and dirty, from the dirt in the wind. You are rusted from standing in the rain. Sadly, you have even been written on in the dirt that covers your black coat. However, you have been placed in the habitat of the animals you represent. They must face the outdoor elements as well. They struggle to survive the cold of the winter, the rain or the sleet, any storm almost blowing them away, and the never ending search for food. The only way they can survive all of these things is the unity of their nightly performance, which is analogous to how the welding of your steel keeps you strong in the elements.

The majority of the starling populations are in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, but some have been moved to North America and New Zealand. However, the pre-roosting spectacular is most well known in the former locations. You have been put here in Nebraska and could enlighten your viewers of the stunning behavior that has baffled scientists. However, upon seeing you, unless a viewer is aware of the starlings’ routine, they may not know of what you signify. Your mother has given you the capabilities to share this knowledge with your viewers, and now that you are aware you may choose to make it a goal in life. Your name provides for the theme of movement and togetherness, which you reflect. Now you must embody the starling flight you represent and enlighten those around you. This is my challenge to you.

For the next few minutes I would be delighted to accompany you in this challenge because you have inspired me. Unfortunately, I cannot mimic the spiraling shape of multiple birds like you do. Therefore, I will shape my body to represent one single bird, but because the concept of teamwork is such an important factor for starlings and a theme you represent, I am going to hold onto you as if we were welded together. Margaret Carey made a good point saying “the nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side”.

Sincerely,

Kelli Krueger

WP3: Draft

Dear Arietta II,

“An incredible display of aeronautical skill, more bazaar and seemingly pointless than anything ever produced” is how Dylan Winter describes the flight of starlings preparing to roost. You represent this astonishing act in sculpture form. Your mother of creation has crafted you to reflect the flight of the starlings with her choice of name for you, leaving you outdoors, and welding you together out of steel. These gifts you have received from her provide you with potential to enlighten your audience with the fascinating story of the distinctive behavior of starlings.

Your name, Arietta II, is quite unique but significant. You have been named after a musical term, which actually means a short aria. Arias are musical pieces known to have expressive melodies, full of movement. They are performed with a solo vocalist accompanied by an orchestra. By having the name Arietta II you were destined to promote ideas of togetherness, similar to the orchestral accompaniment, and movement, like the expressive melodies.

Your shape is reminiscent of the starling formations and unbelievable flight. Each evening, around dusk, multitudes of small starling groups come together. Hundreds of thousands, up to one million, starlings form what appears to be a swirling black cloud. They move gracefully as a unit, as if waves in the sky. Because you have been placed outdoors, you sway in the wind. If your mother had raised you indoors, this movement would not have occurred, and you would not live up to your potential as well.

A third way you are comparable to the movement of the starlings, is the changing lighting you are provided with. This again is a result of being placed outdoors. Your lighting comes from the sun and as the sun moves, the shadows made by you and falling on to you change. The varying light makes you appear differently, as if you are changing or moving. At night there is little lighting on you, and it does not move. Therefore you do not to look as if you are moving at this time, similar to starlings that roost at night, and are not moving either. During the day the sun slowly moves the shadows on and around you, causing you to look like you are moving very slowly or slightly. Again this is similar to the starlings; they move throughout the day, but it is in smaller groups and does not occur in the same area. However, in the morning and at dusk, as the sun is rising or setting, the shadows move quickly, showing the greatest illusion of movement by you. This is also the time where the many starlings are moving all together, displaying their “aeronautical skill”.

Your mother has chosen to make you out of steel, which is a metal, so it is heavy and sturdy. This is contrasting with the characteristics of birds. Birds are made of feathers and hallow bones, making them very light weight and fragile. The contrasting characteristics of the steel and birds make the birds’ lightness and fragility more apparent by calling attention to the opposites. However, due to cooperating and working together the masses of birds all become strong and durable, giving them characteristics similar to steel. So, as they fly together as a unit it allows them to have features completely opposite of the natural features they possess as individuals.

As they fly together, they stay warm and safe. The movement keeps each individual body warm, which makes them all warmer for the cool nights. As they fly in multitudes, they scan their chosen roosting area for predators. Because of their teamwork, a predator could not possibly escape their sight. This allows for them to settle in at night, being safe. The togetherness of the birds that are a part of you parallels the cooperation of starlings. You may have noticed that your welding spots are not hidden like other sculptures, but are made very visible. They have been placed on the outside of you, showing they were not even attempted to be hidden on the inside. I doubt your mother did this because she was lazy or to embarrass you. It shows how your birds are connected and held together. Just as your welding makes all the birds one strong sculpture, it represents how their collaboration makes them one very strong unit.

Although being outdoors enhances the idea of movement, it means you have to suffer from the elements that come with being outdoors. You are weathered and dirty, from the dirt in the wind. You are rusted from standing in the rain. Sadly, you have even been written on in the dirt that covers your black coat. However, you have been placed in the habitat of the animals you represent. They must face the outdoor elements as well. They struggle to survive the cold of the winter, the rain or the sleet, any storm almost blowing them away, and the never ending search for food. The only way they can survive all of these things is the unity of their nightly performance, which is analogous to how the welding of your steel keeps you strong in the elements.

The majority of the starling populations are in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, but some have been moved to North America and New Zealand. However, the pre-roosting spectacular is most well known in the former locations. You have been put here in Nebraska and could enlighten your viewers of the stunning behavior that has baffled scientists. However, upon seeing you, unless a viewer is aware of the starlings’ routine, they may not know of what you signify. Your mother has given you the capabilities to share this knowledge with your viewers, and now that you are aware you may chose to make it your motivation. Your name provides for the theme of movement and togetherness, which you do reflect. Now you must embody the starling flight you represent and enlighten those around you. This is my challenge to you.

For the next few minutes I would be delighted to accompany you in this challenge because you have inspired me. Unfortunately, I cannot mimic the spiraling shape of multiple birds like you do. Therefore, I will shape my body to represent one single bird, but because the concept of teamwork is such an important factor for starlings and a theme you represent, I am going to hold onto you as if we were welded together. Margaret Carey made a good point saying “the nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side”.

Sincerely,

Kelli Krueger

WP3: Statement of Purpose

The main purpose of this project is to describe the construction and appearance of Arietta II and to reflect on the effects of those things. The description of the sculpture and my reflections on it are to be presented with a distinguishable structure within a letter. Additionally, the second purpose is to communicate my letter directly towards Arietta II. This will be done by reading my leader aloud to the sculpture.

The letter will be posted online along with being read aloud. Although it is in the letter format, it still needs to be formal. However, it should read differently than just a paper, because it is directed to a specific object. What it is addressing, Arietta II, is also what the letter’s topic will be focused on. I need to focus on structuring my paper as a letter, and not like the other projects we have done. The second form of communication is verbally. Both pathos and ethos are both naturally involved when speaking. This will call for practice to perfect my tone, facial expressions, hand gestures, etc.

The main audience of this project is very unique compared to the others. My communication will be directed primarily at Arietta II. This is difficult because it is an inanimate object, which cannot actually hear what I am saying. However, we are to pretend that these sculptures are animate and need to convey emotion to them just as we would to others. Again this emotion can only come as a result of my facial expressions, my gestures, and the tone of my voice. It may be helpful if I can relate the sculpture to someone I know personally and address it accordingly.

My secondary audience is my teacher and classmates. As the other projects, virtually anyone could possibly read it online. Also, anybody walking by at the time of my letter reading could hear my letter. When I read the letter, towards Arietta, I will need to be sure to articulate my words and speak plenty loudly so the human audience can hear what I am saying. I will also have to captivate my audience, demanding their attention, because due to the presentation being outside, it is likely there will be a multitude of distractions.

Because this project is unique to anything I have done before, it comes with some new concerns. My biggest concern is with the reading of the letter. Unfortunately, I might shy away from the emotional expression I will practice ahead of time. Since I may not particularly feel as passionate about what I am reading as I should portray, it will take a little acting, and drama was never a skill of mine. Also, I am concerned that my actual writing will read more like a paper than a letter. To counteract this, I need to keep in mind the main purpose of this project.

The best outcome of this project would be to communicate the importance of Arietta II. Along with that, I would like to explain to my audience what the sculpture represents. An additional positive outcome is learning the techniques and process for communicating verbally and practicing it. I would really like to captivate my audience, so I can share with them the amazing starling act that Arietta II depicts in sculpture form.

WP3: Pre-writing 4

Arietta II is the title of the sculpture. Arietta is a musical term that means a short aria. This is piece of music that is performed, usually, with only one voice accompanied by an orchestra. It is said to have very expressive melody, which includes a lot of movement. It is commonly referenced to be a part of an opera. Arietta II not only moves in the wind, but is about the incredible movement of Starlings.

Starlings are birds native to Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. They have been brought to North America, Hawaii, and New Zealand. The feature starlings are known for is their exquisite behavior when they are getting ready to roost. During the day they stay in small feeding groups, spreading out to feed off the surrounding land. At dusk, the bigger males act as leaders as they find the roosting spot of the night. Slowly, the smaller feeding groups combine as one large swarm. Hundreds of thousands of starlings come together in a swirling cloud-like formation. They look like black waves moving through the sky.



This movement is incredible because it can include up to one million starlings, and they never collide. Apparently to avoid collision, each starling is to keep their eye on seven other starlings. By traveling in this huge mass, it keeps them warm and safe. As they move, they maneuver into social rankings or positioning. The higher ranked males get the center of the roosting area for the night, where it is warmest and most safe. As the rankings decrease, the starlings get farther from the center. In the morning they leave in turns to feed in their smaller groups, only to return to the huge mass again at night.

Arietta II being the title reflects the focus on movement and accompaniment of the starlings in flight. The actually shape of the sculpture portrays a vortex, similar to the starling formation. The welding shows the attachment and unity of the birds in the sculpture, analogous to the cooperation and togetherness of the starlings. Catherine Ferguson found the starlings’ astonishing act and has made a representation of such movement, in a solid steel sculpture.

WP3: Pre-writing 3

Arietta II is made out of steel. Steel is a metal and therefore is heavy and strong. The object of Arietta II is a bunch of birds, which are the very opposite of steel. Birds' feathers are very light and their bones are hollow, resulting in them being light and weak. By contrasting the characteristics of the steel, being strong and heavy, with the lightness and weakness of the birds, it emphasizes the birds' characteristics. It is similar to a juxtaposition, being two opposing things are presented side to side, but yet more than that because the characteristics of the steel make up the birds in the sculpture, which have the opposing characteristics.

The steel birds are welded together. The spots of the welding are not hidden. In fact, they are on the outside of the sculpture, not even attempted to be hidden on the inside. This points out the attachment, and togetherness of the birds in the sculpture. Starlings, which are the birds this sculpture is portraying, fly together in these huge masses. By working together in the huge masses, the birds are able to stay safe and warm.

Although, being made out of steel makes the sculpture strong and sturdy, it moves within the wind. You can see some movement at the top of the sculpture when the wind is blowing. Because all the birds are welded together, they all move together, which is reminiscent of the way the starlings move or swarm together. Also, the sculpture is much bigger at the top, where it is swaying, than it is at the bottom. This makes the sculpture's look as a whole unbalanced; it is top-heavy.

Because Arietta II is placed outdoors, it endures the weather. This results in it appearing worn and rusted, but still strong as a whole. Starlings face all the difficulties of the weather, such as scarcity of food and cold winters, but by working as a whole they are able to survive it. Another result of being placed outside is the shadows on and inside of the statue. This would not happen if Arietta II was indoors, where lighting is consistent. With the lighting of the sculpture changing, it appears as if the sculpture is changing or moving.