Kyndal Howie

Major Assignment 2 Rough Draft

February 21, 2017

The term American Identity is something that has a different

meaning for each individual. While many, including myself, think

diversity is the most prominent answer; it is certainly not the only.

Americans not only define themselves by their religious, racial, or

cultural identity, but by their common values and belief in individual

freedom. While we are a nation of many differences and opinions, most

Americans can agree that its core secular value is independence. This

idea was made stronger by the paralyzing attack that happened on

September 11, 2001, universally known as 9/11. After the terrorist

attack on the United States, Americans felt an incline to protect and

spread freedom abroad. While this strengthened many human beings

American identity, it also left many demented. One particular text that

left a huge impact on me was the YouTube video, Lake Norman Dance

Gallery Senior Lyrical- Remember. It is a dance tribute to all who were

affected by the tragedy of 9/11. The argument this text makes about

America identity is that September 11, 2001 was not the end of the

journey for Americans, as it may have seemed. Although it was a day

that reshaped American identity, it was also one that brought

patriotism, unity, and pride to everyone in the United States.

Adolescents of a local dance studio, Lake Norman Dance Gallery,

performed the dance Remember. I think that while this particular age
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Major Assignment 2 Rough Draft
February 21, 2017

group may not recollect every moment of this day, it was intended to

show gratitude and respect to those who do. This piece was

constructed and performed in 2014. Although the dance was not

created right after the incident, it shows that even thirteen years later

this day still has a huge impact on peoples lives. This piece was

created to honor those who were affected, and to show we will forever

remember the day that reshaped American identity.

The choreographer of this dance, Tyler Malone chose the heart

wrenching song God Talking 9/11 to help get his message across. The

lyrics in this song explicitly vocalize the tragedy of 9/11 and how it

altered American identity for good. The song tells the stories of many

different people who were in the building the time of 9/11 from the

perspective of God. He says, I was with a man who called his wife to

say goodbye; I was in a stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried

out to me for help; I was on all four of those planes. Because

thousands of different lives were taken, 9/11 was a day that showed

many people what loss really was. This day in history united Americans

like no other.

Although, the speaker in this explicitly shows us the tragedy and

loss of 9/11, it also implicitly shows us this through the dancers.

Watching the dancers perform, you have to read between the lines to

understand what they are trying to convey. The sharp and fast
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Major Assignment 2 Rough Draft
February 21, 2017

movements of the dancers help communicate the pain and suffering

that Americans felt on this day. Because they do not have words or

written text to explain this, you imply it by their costumes, facial

expressions, and gestures. Additionally, the music also helps to get the

message across. In the background of the lyrics plays the instrumental

version of the song Silent Night. The original lyrics of this song say,

Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. Although the song

does not explicitly say this due to the fact that it is instrumental, the

music helps to create calmness and security. For people who believe, it

allows people to know that this was in Gods hands, just as the speaker

of the dance is saying.

The lyrics, dancers, and music combined help to get Malones

message across that September 11, 2001 did not terminate the United

States and the people in it. While the integration of these aspects

really assists in showing the pain and suffering of this day, it also

shows how this led to patriotism, unity, and pride to everyone in the

United States. Malone tries to dig deep to touch the very core of the

audience through each and everyone of these aspects.

The choreographer of Remember uses many persuasion

methods to convey its message about American identity. One factor

used is ethos, or the means of convincing someone of the credibility of

the persuader. The dance does so by using a song written by someone

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Major Assignment 2 Rough Draft
February 21, 2017

who actually experienced the encounters that were told in the lyrics.

This helps people empathize with the songwriter and to really show

how this day reshaped many peoples lives, including himself. In

addition to ethos, the creator uses logos, or appeal to logic. Logos is a

way of persuading an audience by reason. For people who believe,

having the speaker take the perspective of God tells them that

although no one knows why this day happened, God does. This helps

people understand that although this was a devastating day, it also

united Americans and brought pride and patriotism.

Another factor, kairos, refers to the timeliness of an argument.

The choreographer uses this factor numerous times throughout the

video. For example, in one part of the song the speaker says Some

chose for the final time to ignore me. At this point in the dance, the

dancers firmly turn their backs to the audience to give the sense of

disregard. Also, the speaker says The 110th floor as a dancer climbs

on someone else to give the illusion of a building or stairway.

Incorporating this in the video helps the audience understand the story

through the movements, rather than the words. Furthermore, the video

uses another important factor, pathos, or the appeal to emotion. For

example, in the beginning of the dance, the dancers make motion as if

they are sighing very hard. This helps to show to pain and sadness

Americans felt during this time, which was Malones goal in this dance.
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Major Assignment 2 Rough Draft
February 21, 2017

Another example of this is having a large group of people perform the

dance rather than one. Having many people in this performance shows

the unity and togetherness. Malone created a lot group parts in which

they worked together, which is what America came together to do

during this time. Having one person perform this would not have the

same effect as a group, because it would not create the same emotion

as having all of them work together. All of these factors put together

convey the overall message of the tragedy of 9/11 and how it changed

American identity and the way people went about their lives.

The creator of this text took advantage of getting his message

across of 9/11 through the use of a dance. Just having the song and no

dancers would not have the same effect on the audience, just as the

dancers with no music wouldnt either. Having both of these combined

help to emphasize the cataclysm of this day. He also takes advantage

of putting this dance not only on a stage at a dance performance, but

also on YouTube. Because people use technology every single day,

having his work placed on YouTube will help it more likely be seen.

Also, videos on YouTube can easily be shared onto other social media

sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The video was created as a tribute

to all that were affected by the tragedy of 9/11. His purpose of this

dance was to show gratitude and respect to all who were affected and

he gets to do this through the use of YouTube.

 Kyndal Howie
Major Assignment 2 Rough Draft
February 21, 2017

9/11 marks a solemn day in our nation's history. It was a day

that took many lives and left others demented. However, it led to our

nation coming together stronger than ever. People became more

patriotic and prideful than ever, and what it meant to be an American

became more than just diversity. While we all come from different

backgrounds, being an American means one thing. Although

September 11, 2001 was a day that reshaped American identity, it was

also one that brought patriotism, unity, and pride to everyone in the

United States.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaG_RTt9gt4