Vivan Waghela Week 9 - nothing to something

nothing to something

    I know bog posts are supposed to have titles, but I have no clue what to write about. I can talk all day about language and all but there's like no way to add power into it. Like look at the image above. Searching up articles about the topic is what I would do normally, but this?? I am not looking for the power of language I am looking for things about Language and Power. But I guess that's the only way the two can fit.

    Now talking about power comes with one problem: politics. I have absolutely no interest in politics whatsoever but it is almost impossible to talk about power without politics. When it comes to power, many people have different opinions about it: many say that power is gained, and I really agree with this. Nobody is ever born powerful, they earn their respect with comes with power as well. But like always, "Great power comes with great responsibility."

    When someone is in power, the first thing they will obviously do is talk, and this is the connection between language and power: to get power you use language and to keep power you use language. They will use all sorts of propaganda and speeches but it all depends on their language if they stay in power: if their language is persuasive then they will stay, otherwise they will not.

    But what is power? This is a great question but as I run out of things to talk about I would like you guys to answer this great question.

Comments

  1. Faith QiaoJanuary 23, 2022 at 5:55 PM

    I think language is not necessarily the means of obtaining and retaining power though it is a helpful skill. Obtaining power is about exploiting connections with the powerful and maintaining a clean reputation that may be an easier task with a good handle on language. I was thinking about language and power and the first person I thought of was Ronald Reagan (my POAS topic) who’s inherent charisma and his jokes helped him rise to power without much if any political experience. Even then, Reagan was lucky to meet the right people at the right time: his talkative nature and charm gave the people around him the impression of being capable. His speeches that ignited partisan sentiment I would argue never gave him true power, it just gave him influence. Influence and power go hand in hand (anyone with influence has power), but power I would say has no meaning without autonomy. Reagan from what I have been reading seemed powerless against the misinformation that plagued his life.

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  2. Anwika PalleJanuary 25, 2022 at 11:14 AM

    Hi Vivan,
    You made many interesting points, though I would have to disagree with your stance that power is always gained. The phrase used to describe people born into money, "born with a silver spoon," is a prime example of how power can be with someone from their birth. Standings in society also reflect this. When social standing was a prominent social construct in the United States, those who were born into a family of nobles were well off and were given high standings in government. On the other hand, those born into the middle class or lower classes were not given these opportunities of authority. Although it is unfair and can often lead to corruption, being born into power is a very real thing.

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  3. Krish ParikhJanuary 25, 2022 at 12:57 PM

    Hey Vivan,

    It seems that not knowing what to write about this quarter's topic is a common theme among many blog posts, including yours. I like how you broke the fourth wall in your blog by writing about the process of blogging itself and even posing a question to the audience.

    To answer your question, I believe that power is the ability to exert control over something, whether that be money, other human beings, or society as a whole. I agree with your point that language begets power, and I look forward to exploring this connection in the rest of my blog posts throughout the quarter.

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  4. Sean WangJanuary 25, 2022 at 6:46 PM

    Hi Vivan,

    I see power not as domination and distinct “rule” over a party, but as the ability to influence others and cause change. Society has long realized that the “greatest” power comes from human beings and the things that we say and do, not from the material things around us. This isn’t to say that power is the equivalent of charisma, although a charismatic aura does wonders for people we deem to be “powerful”. Just look at America. Sure, not every leader is perfect. Nearly every leader has one or more points of criticism that would render them unpopular amongst the public. Nevertheless, they remain powerful and influential because of the things they do and promises they make.

    Sincerely,

    Sean Wang

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  5. RaymondJanuary 25, 2022 at 9:50 PM

    Hi Vivan,
    I believe that power is influence. For example, many people agree that the President of the United States is very powerful, but how so? Their power comes from their ability to influence America and therefore use that to influence the entire world. What do they have to have that power? They are able to use their renown and media coverage to sway public opinion in America. With public support, they can use America's greatest resource: its people to achieve their goals.
    To have no interest in politics is a very dangerous stance since politics is what determines the future of the society that you live in. It is important to take part in it so that you can control the future that you live in.
    Sincerely,
    Raymond Yu

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  6. Sierra DellenbaughJanuary 26, 2022 at 6:08 PM

    Hey Vivan, so far, you are the third person who is upset with our new prompt, and as I am one of those three, I completely agree. It is very hard to talk about power without involving politics, and I honestly don't think there's much to say about power other than the obvious. Hopefully some inspiration will come for the next three blog posts. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Yi-Kuan CJanuary 26, 2022 at 6:09 PM

    Hello Vivan,
    I was also faced with the same dilemma when I realized that power was the topic of this quarter. Power is such a vague topic to even begin to try and encapsulate. At first I was also scared that I would have to face the relentless topic of politics. However, as I thought about it more and more, power is something that is more present in day to day life than I realized. Instead of trying to encapsulate power as a whole, I will simply try and pinpoint how language and power affects me. I hope this little tip helps you.

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  8. Sophie Minh Thy C NguyenJanuary 26, 2022 at 7:12 PM

    Hi Vivan,
    Reading other blogs, it seems other people believe power is how much control a person has over something. But I believe power could be many different things. It could mean strength, physical or mental. It could also mean the amount of control a person has or influence on another. I disagree on the fact that no one is born with power. In the case of someone born into a royal family or a person born into a family owning a big company. In both cases, the person is set up to be a powerful person. In both cases, the person is also probably very rich. I generally think money is equal to power in today's world, as it can do a lot for a person.

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  9. DeetaMarch 11, 2022 at 9:39 PM

    Hey Vivan!
    I think that language and power both play key roles in politics. Power asserts what position you play in the grand scheme of politics. This determines your roles and biases and what you stand for. Language is what politics needs to advance and impact society. Language is not only needed for cross-communication but also communication with the public. All and all, both of these are key elements in the world of politics. Thanks for sharing:)

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