Clara Hammer's Writing Blog

In this classic bit from 2015, what essential points does Trevor Noah make about how smartphones have changed us as human beings? Do you agree? Smartphones have changed the way we physically call people and the “sense of power” that certain aspects of a landline provided, according to Noah. Cellphones are helping us “devolve” because they are changing the way we carry ourselves, our posture, the way we connect with others and ourselves, and our ability to articulate ourselves. I agree that there are dangers to cellphones, but I hope we begin to rely on them less soon.  In chapter six, Noah relates how his connection with his mother was like “the relationship between a cop and criminal in the movies—the relentless detective and the devious mastermind she’s determined to catch” (80). What were some notable events in this chapter that illustrate this?   The notes that Trevor and his mother wrote to one another are a great example of their dynamic. These notes primarily serve...

1. In this section, he was explaining the way he would often be spoken about in other languages when people did not know he spoke their language. Noah noticed that their attitude would consistently change when they realized he was “like them.” 2. Because Noah was not fully black, he was often treated differently within his community growing up and even by people like his grandfather. Due to Noah being mixed race he was able to change the way he acted, the language he spoke, and who he interacted with to “fit in” with a variety of groups. 3. The “black tax” is the burden black families suffered from due to remnants of apartheid and systematic racism. Many families are financially burdened due to their older relatives having missed opportunities and disadvantages caused by racism.  Noah's mother was responsible for paying for things older family members needed because she had the highest-paying job. Noah’s mother told him not to “cry about the past” but to learn from it and “let the ...

1. I do not make a point to watch stand-up comedians, but I have seen some of Trevor Noah’s work and I enjoyed it. Humor is a very powerful way to connect to people, it can allow you to develop a relationship and understanding with another person in a matter of seconds. Humor also helps us process and avoid complex topics we currently lack. 2. The “genius of apartheid” was deceiving the group of people who comprised the “overwhelming” majority to hate one another so they could be easily controlled. The main difference Trevor Noah points out is that the Zulu are relentlessly focused on combat; they fought colonial powers with “spears and shields.” The Xhosa also tried to fight the colonizers physically but were more focused on the intellectual side of the conflict. After apartheid fell, South Africa began a civil war. Noah’s birth represented a mixing of two groups who were starkly divided and despised one another. By being born, he forced the Zulu and Xhosa to attempt to mesh. 3. Trevo...

 1. Single-use plastics are all around us and they shouldn’t be. In any grocery store you can find bags and packages made of flimsy, unrecyclable plastics that end up in landfills, forests, oceans, and other places they do not belong. These plastics slowly break down and turn into microplastics which pose great threats to our health and our planet. Skeptic: You don’t think you could ever really do anything about it, do you?  Me: Of course I do, and with the help of others I know we could convince lawmakers and corporations to change (or make them). Skeptic: How would you even go about doing that? Me: Well, every bit helps. I would start by limiting my own consumption of plastic products even more, then I would be vocal about my choice and help educate others. Skeptic: Why would they listen to you? Me: They might not have much of a reason to, but I know I can make a compelling enough argument that some people will listen. A few people is all that is needed to start a movement a...

  Part One:   A single story leads one to believe that there is a right way to be. Similar to what Chimamande Adichie believed about the British books she read when she was young. Telling a one-dimensional story about a person makes it “impossible for [one] to see [people] as anything but” whatever your preconceived belief about them was, as Chimamande Adichie explained about the house boy who she only saw as poor because that is all she was told about him. A single story leads to great misunderstandings about others and our world as a whole.  Nkali means “to be greater than another” as Chimamande Adichie said. This belief leads people to view all situations as hierarchical and singular. When one views a citation in this way they miss the depth that other people have in their identities and actions. Chimamande Adichie mentioned that stories are defined by how they are told and who tells them, meaning that only listening to a single story does not allow one to understand a...

 I could not access the entire Atlantic article because I do not pay for a subscription to them, but I found a summary elsewhere that was hopefully adequate. When I first got a phone it was before 6th grade. My parents figured I should at least have a way to talk to friends and contact them, but I was not allowed to use social media till maybe 7th grade. The main thing I enjoyed about getting a phone was having the ability to take photos so easily. My phone has become a huge part of my life. It’s my main source of information and how I find creative inspiration. Using social media has its many downsides but it does provide interesting information and displays art accessibly.  I was intrigued by Jean M. Twenge’s article because I myself am part of “iGen.” From the beginning, I assumed Twenge would be biased and take the typical stance that many people from older generations do. It does seem like her aim was to inform, but the excerpts I saw seemed to mold facts. She used studie...