Abstract:

For the entire Spring semester of English 210, the class would be assigned Discussion Board posts for homework where Professor McIntosh would provide a prompt asking for specific questions based on an article or article of one’s choosing, videos, and more. These Discussion Board posts were usually assigned providing the class with a better understanding of new topics discussed as well as incorporate what was learned onto our future essays. Down below will be attached a prompt and my response to the prompt based on a new topic the class learned, Critical Analysis essay, assigned by Professor McIntosh. This Discussion Board assignment was the first step to understanding how to write a Critical Analysis essay, how to analyze a text and its meaning, and how to incorporate our own argument. With that said, from what the class learned, it will prepare the class for future assignments.

The Discussion Board Prompt:

“What is hooks’ central argument and how does she attempt to persuade the reader? Do you find her argument persuasive? Pick one passage from hooks’ piece (2-3 sentences) that you find to be particularly meaningful, and explain how and why the passage works well.”

The Discussion Board Response:

Throughout Hooks’ article, Hook starts off by sharing with her audience the kind of messages she saw/got from listening to and watching Beyonce’s album called Lemonade. At first, she starts off by sharing with the audience that the album did a great job at including a diverse range of black women’s bodies and beauties. For example, Hook says, “there are diverse representations (black female bodies come in all sizes, shapes, and textures with all manner of big hair)”. She also goes on to say that the album was made to challenge the way people from the past to present-day have viewed and still view black beauty and their bodies. Furthermore, as she is speaking about all the good, she slowly eases her way through and hits her audience with what the album fails to accomplish. For example, Hook goes on to say that the “radical repositioning of black female images does not truly overshadow or change conventional sexist constructions of black female identity.” Moreover, this leads to Hooks’ central argument which is to inform us that the album is a huge hit when it comes to showcasing a diverse representation of black women but what the album fails to cover is what the true meaning of feminism is.

I felt persuaded by her article because, towards the beginning of the article, Hook goes on to say, “Viewers who like to suggest Lemonade was created solely or primarily for black female audiences are missing the point”. For many people all over the world [including me], Beyonce is seen as an extremely talented African-American singer who makes women feel powerful, beautiful, and sexy through her music. With this said, when listening to her album or watching her music videos, viewers only see the surface but not the overall message. Therefore, Hook’s article was intended to give viewers a completely different perspective which can ultimately start up a conversation or can have viewers re-watch/listen to Lemonade. Moreover, she persuades her audience by pinpointing certain parts in Beyonce’s album and music videos. When providing examples, she goes into detail with what she believes that a specific part of the album means to her.