- Yo-Yo Ma wrote the essay titled, “Necessary Edges: Arts, Empathy, and Education” and was first posted on the “World Post”. I noticed that he is a very educated man. He attended both Julliard and Harvard University as well as a very experienced musician and writing starting at a very young age. I find him to be impressive considering his knowledge.
- Ma’s imposed context is that art is a value in the world and could benefit everyone when used more. Through my personal reading experience, this article reaffirmed my opinion that art is necessary in the world. To me personally, I gathered from this essay that it is important to find an equilibrium in life. To be balanced in all aspects of life and to consider other aspects. The purpose of this essay was for Yo-Yo Ma to inform the audience of his thoughts on art and music’s impact on the world and creating an equilibrium between art and the math and sciences.
- The rhetorical situation was the “necessary edges”. The essay exemplifies that you need the necessary edges to have a core equilibrium. The scope is the entire world. Everyone can benefit from evolving and changing the traditions taken by other cultures. The equilibrium is the evolution of a certain song or dance taken from a prior culture.
Three Unfamiliar Words:
- Compartments: a separate section of a structure or container in which certain items can be kept separate from others. Ma uses this to describe the word separating into separate sections.
- Weary: feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep. Ma uses this to describe our civilization as run down in the text.
- Innovate: make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products. Ma describes art as a factor inspiring to us to innovate or make new changes.
Great job!