Thursday, November 5, 2009
CP idea...
So I was thinking for my Commonplace Paper I would keep to the general idea of my analytical research paper: that peer pressure is a much more complex issue than adults will admit and that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is compelling and relevant to this topic because of how Joss Whedon makes the teenage characters in Buffy so relatable to the audience. For example, the characters in Buffy face many similar situations dealing with peer pressure as teens today do. They also go about reacting to the peer pressure in a similar way. They will change how they act or how they dress just to be accepted. Although adults make it seem as though peer pressure is simple and easy to avoid or rise above, nothing could be farther from the truth. Joss Whedon recognizes this and sympathizes with America’s teens by showing through Buffy how difficult it can be to deal with. Adults make it seem as though peer pressure is easy to rise above. However, oftentimes, teens do not even realize that they are being pressured, so how can they effectively rise above it? Throughout the pilot episode of season one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there are countless examples of main characters, like Buffy and Willow (Buffy’s best friend), facing peer pressure and just being pressured to do things they don’t want to. These examples range from Buffy feeling pressured to dress a certain way when she goes to the club in order to be accepted to Willow acting out of character and approaching a random guy, initiating a conversation with him so that she doesn’t feel as though she is a loner and so that she can be seen as “normal”. A perfect example of a teen not realizing that they are being pressured is when Buffy is talking to Giles at the club. He is pressuring her to resume her position as the slayer, even though she does not want to. I was thinking about relating some of these examples from Buffy to examples from real teenagers in America, like the one I talked about in class today about the middle school girl who came home from school on the first day and told her mother that they needed to go buy her clothes that looked “cool” so that she wouldn’t be made fun of. Let me know what you think of these ideas, it’s just a start.
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I think you definitely are on the right track, and i like how you mentioned being timely and compelling, which is what commonplace as all about.
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely right that peer pressure is more difficult to deal with then some may confess. Good luck with your paper Mike!
You seem like you're at a good place to write your CP. Your topic seems pretty compelling, so you are definately following the commonplace scheme. Also, by keeping the same topic as your ARP, you get rid of a lot of extra work for yourself, which doesn't hurt either =]
ReplyDeleteI like where you are getting with your idea and working with the topic of peer pressure. It offers you many ways you can tie your CP paper and ARP. Just don't forget to back it up with examples to give the reader a better picture!
ReplyDeleteKeeping the same idea of your ARP should make it a lot easier on you. You have a good topic and it should be a good paper.
ReplyDeleteThis is a cool idea. I think that peer pressures are HUGE in highschool. But adults seem to think it all disappears when we get to college. Guess what? nope. Maybe you could talk about once Buffy gets to college too... it might make it even more relevant.
ReplyDeleteI think since your original topic was more timely than most, it makes it easier to stick with for CP. This helps start you off on the right track and based on your writings above I'd say your off to a good start.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that this would be a paper that a lot of people will be able to understand and relate to. Peer pressure is a huge topic and it seems as though it's getting worse and not better because adults dont see the amount that it's happening.
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