And Yet, More Grammar

Grammar is not just what you saw in second grade about where to place a point. There are many tricks about grammar that we should know about but our consumed selves don't let us understand that there is more to grammar that correct punctuation.

In the essay Q As In Quotation, by The Bars of Atlantis, this is demonstrated through the meaningfulness of quotation marks. I bet you only thought of quotations as a way of citing text. Well, beyond that "once the first quotation has penetrated, you are no longer your own master" (page 75). As soon as the reader has seen the  first quotation, he will understand the text not to be yours. Thus, making different suppositions about originality in the author. It is very important to make it clear that quotations aren't like semi colons that shouldn't be used with frequency. But like all things, they are bad in excess. Too much of just one quotation may be to exhausting to read, leading the reader off track of what was meant in the original text.

Just remember: quotations are very useful, but use them moderately and correctly.

There is no statement without some history, of course. This is why Nicholson Baker decided to tell it. Yes, the history of punctuation: Survival of the Fittest. With and without punctuation there are many puns and jokes made. This means that the lack or the correct use of punctuation defines what the author is saying.

Back to the Beginning

-It's like, why did you want to end your life man? Oops. Oh wait, I didn't actually say it. Whew. It would have been so awkward having to like...apologize or something.

-Well um not much has happened. I mean, I feel the same person I was in middle school. The only thing that has really changed is Brent Runyon. Like him physically and his presence. It's so awkward. It's like awkward  awkward awkward. Like, what am I supposed to say? Welcome back? It sounds like if he just arrived from a trip. Let's just not say anything, like he would notice or care.

-Oh man, I feel so sorry for the guy. I heard he set himself on fire because he couldn't bang a chick.

-Hey you guys! Did you see Brent? O.M.G where is he? I've been looking form like for years. It's gonna be so cool when he sees me! I'm gonna give him this. And this. Ooh! And look at this. It totally matches his skin. Like, perfect outfit for just returning to school after an accident.


Back to school. Don't get confused, this isn't his automatic recuperation. This is a task that will prove if the return to school is the beginning or the end of the first part of the psychological process. (The acceptance)

Having Fun With Rhetoric

Why need a friend when you have The Burn Journals?

Because humans were biologically made to interact with other creatures within the same species. 

There. 

Actually, I don't think this memoir has the capacity to replace a human being with whom I share my thoughts, just to fill me with eternal laments. I always have a strange impulse of criticizing poorly an author that didn't captivate my whole attention. No. What am I doing. Focus. 

But let's not be fully modest. I am not entirely wrong...? Can't be. I mean, think about Brent Runyon's intention. And the audience. Think about the most amazing triangle ever used by society. Nope, not the isosceles...it's the rhetorical triangle. Wee.

Who and why? Yes, it is possible. Authors sometimes do write experiences as a way of therapy. But...this case? I wouldn't say so. He took time to write down every single thing. It is pretty interesting how he intends to capture the audience's attention. It's a bit twisted though. My point is that the writer who you thought was special and helping you through life with such beautiful piece of literature, forms part of the typical group of adults that tell you "you're not doing it right, kid" or "I was just like you when I was young."

I'm sorry, but I've got to give it to the adults this time. We aren't doing it right. Precisely, because we think we are. Once we start growing up, we either are against everything or anything, and it's when you understand that the thoughts that surround your mind about certain things all day, are already implanted in adult minds. We think we are always right, but we're all humans and go through the same cycle.

So, frankly, I believe this book would come to be merely persuasive. That is indirectly, of course.

I mean, do you want to go through the same experience he went through?

He has done his job.

Contemporary Writing

If I were to describe this book, I wouldn't say it is about suicide. It's not. First of all, it is about how to deal with issues in our teenage hormone-unbalanced years. (Or a sentimental attachment to something when you are going through rough times.) Second, getting into a much deeper meaning, it's a book that knows how to relate to people. And through pathos, touches their emotions. 

As we well know, pathos is a form of rhetoric. If you were told to find an example of it in The Burn Journals, you would have no problem. Actually you would, but in finding logos. The reason why this memoir reaches us so much, is because it uses empathy in an extreme way. He confesses every single thing he felt when he got burnt, when he was treated, while he was in the rehabilitation center; everything. As you read the book it feels as if someone was harming a five-year-old boy and he was not aware of it, searching for a way to ask for help. Well, at least that is how I feel.

The confessions Brent makes, make us part of the book. He tells us everything that goes on in his dirty mind. As soon as we read the word "penis" our mind immediately recognizes the word as being bad, thus leaving us astonished and freezed, for a while. We process the fact that he just said the word and we continue reading having unconsciously rated the book from one to ten already. That is, for people that have never read an honest, real book before. 

Exceptional literature contains these type of things that are socially unacceptable and submitted. By Brent opening up, he digs a big cave inside us in which we despise him and appreciate him more and more each time. 

Trend: Fire

"Tonight, we are young. So we set the world on fire, we can go higher than the sun." (We Are Young - Fun) This song represents youth. Youth is generally when most suicides occur. It is literally suggesting for a group of teenagers to burn the world because they are young.

"Somebody call 911, shawty's fire burning on the dance floor." (Fire Burning - Sean Kingston) There is an adolescent girl being burnt whilst dancing on the dance floor. People are watching since there is a clear witness. 


"Cause I'm T.N.T., I'm dynamite." (T.N.T. - AC/DC) There is a man that could potentially explode since he is or at least has dynamite in his system. 


"'Cause I told you once. Now I told you twice. We gon' light it up like it's dynamite." (Dynamite - Taio Cruz) Again, the artist suggests for the people to set something on fire. He told you two times already. 


"'Cause baby you're a firework...make them go ah ah ah as you shoot across the sky." (Firework - Katy Perry) I really hope you do not take this one literally; you are an explosive, and you are supposed to blow everybody's mind as you blow yourself up.


First, to make some things clear, I would like to say I am not saying music is cynical because of its lyrics. (Although, in some way it is, but I don't mean this entry that way. Plus, I'm not against music being cynical.) 


I know Burn Journals is not entirely related with the actual, physical fire he used to kill himself. I am not sure if the author interprets the fire as I do. But what I have encountered is that the fire is a metaphoric tool understood as what made him comprehend his life, and what it really was. 


These quotes just demonstrate the impulse humanity has on fire. Why is fire always used as a metaphorical device?

Pfff...Purpose?

I figured it out. He is writing as his mental age was when it all happened. Whew, there had to be a reason to why Runyon built such long sentences with too many "and"'s.

"When there is nothing left to burn, set yourself on fire." (Anonymous)




Or, when you are done with your purpose in life just kill yourself. Do we really have a purpose in life? What if there is no purpose at all and we just make this up to make sure it is worth living? What if.



What would you do when all is gone? That is, family, money, work and everything you were potentially "living for." Would you, at such desperation, kill yourself? Really, you would? Oh, so...you wouldn't. I would not do it. Why waste the only opportunity you have of starting something new? Why waste anything? We are blind to the fact that there is actual life behind that idealized loneliness. Actually, it all goes back to the rise of Christianity, when Jesus came along and freed everyone from Hades. (Not offending Christians). That was when everyone began to believe that true life lies in heaven and once we serve the world, we can have eternal happiness. In Greek mythology, on the other hand, good and bad people went to Hades, therefore you had to make the most out of life.

I really don't understand humanity. Or that aphorism, is it being sarcastic, or is it stating the truth we live in? 


Yes, that means you, Brent. You made up your own problems, just to have something to "live for." What I mean by this, is that you needed to have an occupation because you felt your life didn't have a purpose, which was precisely what caused you to kill yourself numerous times. You realized what you had done when you had already done it. Face it, face it, face it. Fine don't face it, illuminate your painless body. Barely five seconds was what it took for you to understand you had problems, and it has taken you an eternity to face them.





Just saying.