English Writing Garden (Writing Portfolio)

PORTFOLIO 2021-2023

ENGLISH WRITING GARDEN

CHI CHIEN HUANG

E N G L I S H W R I T I N G G A R D E N

English Writing Garden

By Chi Chien Huang

Copyright © 2023 by Chi Chien Huang All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

E-BOOK EDITION

—CONTENTS— 1

p. 06-13

2

p. 14-22

3

p. 24-32

4

p. 34-37

5

p. 38-41

6

p. 42-45

7

p. 46-49

Biography

Andy Warhol: The Man Who Created the Extraordinary out of the Ordinary Narrative Scholarship

Savoring: The Key to Increase Happiness and Well-being Expository Writing

Successful Advertising Created with Emotional Appeals Book Review

A Personal Review of Christmas Shopaholic

by Sophie Kinsella Book Review

A Critical Review of Chinese Railroad Workers in North America: Recovery and Representation by Hsin-ya Huang Creative Writing

Ten Minutes Bilingual Poetry

A Collection of Poems

1

Andy Warhol: The Man Who Created the Extraordinary out of the Ordinary Biography

Chi-Chien Huang

Jan. 5th 2021

Andy Warhol has changed the art world and loved by many generations since 1960s. First, Warhol’s uniqueness and charisma made him an influential figure. Second, Warhol was the key contributor to the pop art movement. Third, Warhol bridged the chasm between fine art and commercialism.

Fourth, Warhol’s works reflected the ordinary life, making them easily understood by people. Fifth, Warhol’s ideas and art works inspired later generations around the world.

6

Andy Warhol with Archie, his pet Dachshund – Jack Mitchell, 1973

7

S

oup cans, a banana, and massive copies of celebrity portraits— these ordinary objects became art works that sell millions of

dollars in the hands of Andy Warhol, the iconic Pop artist. He made an art form out of advertising and brilliance out of banality. He made people pay attention to the trivia of lives, and rethink about the essence of living. His uniqueness and charisma made him an influential figure in the 1960s, and he continues to inspire people around the world in the 21st century.

Andy Warhol Grew up in the Pittsburgh suburb in the 1930s, his parents were immigrants from Slovakia. As a child, he loved wandering through the “Czech ghetto with the babushkas and overalls on the clothes lines” (Ingram 6).This experience developed into his insight to the ordinary lives. Every week, the Warhols went to St. John, the Catholic church, where the young Andy stared hour after hour at its colorful icons on the gilded wall. Little did he know, later he would become a New York icon himself, and his artworks would shine out for many generations to behold.

Hiding behind sunglasses and wearing an enigmatic smile on his face, Warhol had a mysterious charisma. When he was eight, Warhol contracted chorea, a rare disease of the nervous system that kept him in bed for three months. When other kids were playing around outside the house, Warhol was soaking in the world of comics and posters in his bedroom and drawing all day long. As if life wasn’t cruel enough for him, his father tragically died from poisoned water when he was fourteen. Therefore, the tragedy resulted 8

in his taciturnity. He talked little and always showed up with his iconic look— sunglasses, leather jacket, and ripped jeans. Just as the writer Steven Shaviro once said, “The best work of Warhol is himself.” It was clear that the name of Warhol represented a unique, avant-garde and mysterious brand (Ingram 34).

Warhol was the key contributor to the Pop Art movement. Named for its appropriation of imagery from popular culture, Pop Art is transient, expendable, and witty. Pop artists used repetition, mass production, and mechanical techniques to overthrow the ideas of artistic originality. Additionally, it challenged the elitism of high art by introducing the ordinary and secular subject matter— advertisements, comic books, product packaging, and even money— into the category of fine arts.

Though Pop Art originated in the 1950s in Britain, it was not prominent until the ‘60s in America. In the late ‘50s, a wave of artists started to question the main art style at the era —Abstract Expressionism (Madoff 16). Since the style focused on the matter of spiritual searching, it was unrealistic and out of touch with everyday life. In the early ‘60s, Warhol became the most influential one among those artists, and translated the ethos of Pop Art into an entire lifestyle.

He believed that art is not a privilege for the elite but a gift for everyone.

9

Campbell’s Soup Cans – Andy Warhol, 1962

In 1962, Warhol presented the beauty of the ordinary in one of his most representative work— Campbell’s Soup Cans. It was a collection of Campbell’s soup cans in the complete thirty-two flavors. Each can was silkscreen printed on a canvas in 16 x 20 inches. This work was a joke to the critics when it was published. To them, those cans were too mundane to be entitled as “art.”

However, it was their accessibility to all human that attracted Warhol, along with the simplicity and boldness in their bright red covers.

Warhol not only showed his embrace of everyday life but also revealed the pursuit of equality in his works. He once quoted, “What’s great about this country is America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest. You can be watching TV and see 10

Coca-Cola, and you can know that the President drinks Coke, Liz Taylor drinks Coke, and just think, you can drink Coke, too. A Coke is a Coke and no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking” (Warhol 100-101). His idea of bridging the chasm between fine art and commercialism served as a pivotal turning point in 20th century art.

Ethel Scull Thirty-six Times - Andy Warhol, 1963

Warhol's works were like mirrors, they reflected the minute details of ordinary lives. He reveled in capturing the moment of living by his camera. Ethel Scull Thirty-six Times, is among the best known of Warhol’s early Pop portraits and was one of his first commissioned ones. Warhol took art collector Ethel Scull to a photo booth in Times Square and photographed her, creating twentyfour sheets each of four photographs. Then he chose the best shots to make a 36-frame portrait. “What I liked about it mostly was that it was a portrait of being

11

alive,” said Ethel. In one photograph she was playing with her large round sunglasses, looking silly, and in another one she was laughing because Warhol was tickling her. The portrait radiated energy and liveness. With the usage of repetition and vibrant colors, it seemed that Ethel was about to jump out from the frame in anytime.

Marilyn - Andy Warhol, 1964

However, life isn’t always as bright as the colors shown in Ethel’s portrait. Warhol didn’t only display the moment of living, but also reveal the melancholy of death. One of his most representative portrait— Marilyn, was created after the death of Marilyn Monroe. Underneath the glamorous features of the Hollywood super star, one can sense the tension around her mouth.

Her lips were tight, and her teeth clenched firmly. According to cultural critic Roland Barthes, a great photograph has its “punctum”, which is the sensory,

12

intensely subjective effect of a photograph on the viewer: “The punctum of a photograph is that accident which pricks me,” said Barthes. The punctum that lay in Marilyn’s smile revealed her sufferings behind the curtain of fame and the tragic death she faced.

Andy Warhol deeply impacted the course of art history. He changed the definition of art by choosing the ordinary as the subject matter of his works.

He combined high art and consumerism, opening a door for modern artists.

Moreover, he reveled in the details of ordinary lives, effectively collapsing the boundary between high and low culture. Even though he died at 58, his ideas and art works have kept on inspiring later generations around the world.

Work Cited Ingram, Catherine. This is Andy Warhol. Laurence King Publishing, 2014.

Madoff, Steven Henry, ed. Pop art: a critical history. Univ of California Press, 1997.

Mitchell, Jack. Andy Warhol with Archie, his pet Dachshund. 1973, photo, Wiki Commons, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Andy_Warhol_by_Jack_ Mitchell.jpg Warhol, Andy. Campbell's Soup Cans. 1962, Silkscreen on canvas, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, origins.osu.edu/milestones/ november-2012-andy-warhol-s-campbell-s-soup-cans-1962?language_ content_entity=en Warhol, Andy. Ethel Scull Thirty-six Times. 1963, Silkscreen ink on synthetic polymer paint on canvas, The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, www.whitney.org/collection/works/692.

Warhol, Andy. Marilyn. 1962, Silkscreen, WikiArt, www.wikiart.org/en/andywarhol/marilyn-1.

Warhol, Andy. The Philosophy of Andy Warhol, From A to B and Back Again.

Harvest, 1977.

13

2

Savoring:

The Key to Increase Happiness and Well-being Narrative Scholarship

Chi-Chien Huang

Dec. 26th 2022

Toward the end of the last semester, I was overwhelmed by the approaching deadlines of numerous papers and the upcoming final exams.

When I tried to sit down and get on with the work, the anxiety would kick in, and my heart would start racing, causing a feeling of uneasiness as if tons of heavy stones were pressing against my chest. After realizing that there was no use in struggling, I left my desk and headed to the Sizi beach for a walk.

It was a cozy evening, the sun, about to set, painted the sky with the color of orange. I stood on the shore barefooted, feeling the cold waves gently washing away the soft sands under my feet. The sea washed against the shore, creating a sound of consistency and peacefulness. As I closed my eyes and let my senses wander in the presence, my pulse began to slow down, and the

14

heavy stones on my chest were carried away little by little with the waves and the breeze. I felt a sense of liberation as if I was just released from a cage. After spending about an hour at the beach, I went back to my room, trying to hold on to the feeling I experienced at the beach, and I was able to get back to work again.

What was the magical power that eventually took away my pressure?

Was it the embrace of nature? the sound of waves? or the view of sunset?

The answer lies in the practice of “savoring”, or the ability to acknowledge and appreciate the wonderful moments in life. According to Maggie Pitts, a professor at the University of Arizona, savoring is the process of lingering in a pleasant experience, in which people immerse themselves in a positive moment and focusing on the enjoyments it generates. Subjects to savor can vary from sensory experiences, such as the smell of coffee in the morning, to social experiences, such as a meaningful conversation. Studies have shown that savoring can increase an individual’s psychological well-being (Smith & Hollinger-Smith 192-200). Moreover, savoring is not limited to the present, it also takes people to the past as well as to the future to generate gratification in the moment (Bryant & Veroff 154-57). When challenges and problems overwhelm us in life, it is hard to stay positive and content all the time. Thus, we should learn to maintain positivity by practicing savoring for better mental well-being.

15

For starter, paying close attention to a pleasurable experience in the present prolongs and intensifies the feeling of happiness, which cultivates a positive mindset. Savoring the present is about attending to a present joyful moment, and becoming aware of the positive emotions that come along.

Present savoring requires people to pay high attention to the details of the surroundings and the positive feelings they feel. Focusing on the surroundings allows us to be more accessible to happiness. The sound, the smell, the atmosphere, and even the people in the moment can be the stimuli that bring about delight. Thus, the more we are aware of the present, the easier we can find joy. In addition, when we pay more attention to the positive feelings derived from the pleasurable event, we can prolong those feelings in our memories.

Therefore, we are able to cling onto the pleasure even when the moment where joy arises has passed. For instance, since I paid close attention to the wonderful moment at the beach — the sound of waves, the splashes on my feet, and the spectacular view of the orange sky — and focused on how I felt inside, I was able to prolong the feeling of liberation as I got home. Moreover, when we center our attention on positive experiences, our minds are able to block out negative stimuli and emotions (Pitts n.p.). As a result, savoring boosts happiness and heightens positive thoughts, preventing us from falling into pessimism.

16

Next, recalling the delightful experiences we have been through in the past uplifts our moods, strengthening our mental health. Besides savoring the present, we can also savor the past. Savoring the past, or savoring through reminiscence, is to imagine ourselves being in the presence of a pleasing moment that has passed, such as the places we have been or the interesting things we have done, and focus on the feelings the memory produces.

Savoring through reminiscence brings people joy. According to Maggie Pitts, individuals can derive pleasure and meaning from delightful memories (n.p.).

When people savor through reminiscence, they are not merely thinking about the joyful experiences they have gone through. Rather, they focus on the positive emotions they feel when remembering the past (Bryant & Veroff 145).

Moreover, savoring the past alleviates distress of the present, helping people cope with emotional pain. A study finds that people tend to reminisce about pleasant experiences when feeling somber in order to feel good again (Bryant & Veroff 146). That is, savoring the past can be seen as a coping mechanism to boost our moods. Another study shows that the ability to recall positive personal memories has intrinsic value, which may enhance psychological wellbeing and regulate positive emotions (Speer 847-56). It is inevitable that we encounter days that are dispiriting. Though we can not avoid frustration and sorrow in life, we can still find ways to soothe the pain and cheer ourselves up. If we take some time to recall the wonderful memories stored in our minds when feeling blue, we are able to regenerate the joy in the past and smile again.

17

Last but not least, imagining a joyful event in the future evokes anticipation, encouraging our motivations in daily life. Apart from reminiscing about the past, we can also find joy by savoring the future. Future savoring, or anticipatory savoring, demands one to construct a pleasant picture of the future in one’s mind and imagine how one will feel in that moment. Through future savoring, individuals are able to derive excitement in the present by visualizing a blissful experience that may occur in the future (Bryant & Veroff 154-57). Such experience could be something people expect to happen like an upcoming trip or something they wish to achieve like a promotion at work. When people savor the future, they actively search for little things that bring them joy to add on to the desirable result, sparking anticipation and gratification. For example, a person can imagine an upcoming trip to the beach, and construct the imaginary picture by adding details of the surroundings—the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves, and the laughter of people playing in the water. Portraying a concrete image of a delightful moment in the mind allows us to be aware of the upcoming wonders, urging us to start looking forward to the future. When anticipation arises, our motivations will increase as well. Research shows that anticipation increases dopamine, which initiates motivation (Salamone & Correa 470-85). Some athletes are trained to visualize their goals in a competition to spark motivation. They are asked to imagine the feeling when they hold a trophy in their hands, the sound of the audience cheering, and the way they will celebrate. Imagining the moment of victory encourages athletes to become

18

more motivated in their training in order to realize their imagination. Therefore, savoring the future induces anticipation, inspiring us to realize our dreams.

Some people may argue that even though savoring brings about happiness and well-being, it is hard to put into practice. Undoubtedly, finding contexts for savoring can be challenging. Even though we can savor every little thing in life, we usually become so occupied with our tasks in hand that we tend to ignore the wonders around us. Moreover, when trouble comes, it can be even harder for us to recognize the good things in life. However, savoring is just like working out— the more we practice the better we get. With persistence and the right strategies, anyone can learn to create opportunities to savor and transform ordinary moments into blissful experiences. We can cultivate the capability to savor by adopting some strategies—taking time out and practicing observation.

An effective way to create opportunities to savor is to take some time out from daily life. When we fill our schedules with endless tasks without making some time for relaxation, it’s hard for us to find any opportunity to savor.

Take the life of working mothers in Taiwan for example. According to a study, working mothers in Taiwan work approximately 8 hours per day (Chen 1-8).

After work they have to take care of their children and do household chores.

Seldom do they have time to take a rest let alone to search for things to savor.

Besides working mothers, anyone with obligations to fulfill and achievements to

19

reach can often find it hard to create savoring experiences. A solution for these people is to incorporate “minivacations” into their daily routines. A “minivacation” is a short period of time during which pleasurable experiences can be created.

We can create joy in everyday life by engaging in things we find enjoyable for at least 20 minutes per day (Bryant & Veroff 210). For example, going for a walk in a garden, drawing a picture, or hanging out with friends. Before starting the minivacation, we should set aside worries and tasks in hand so that we can enjoy the moment to the fullest. During the vacation, we should try to immerse our senses in the present and emphasize the association between the positive feeling and its stimuli to prolong the enjoyment in our memories. At the end of the savoring activity, we can make plans for minivacations in the next few days to build anticipation, enhancing motivations to continue our daily tasks.

Additionally, we can take some time to recall all the things we savor at the end of the week, filling our minds with delightful memories. It is reported that people feel happier during the weeks with daily minivacations, compared to the weeks without them (Bryant & Veroff 211). By scheduling some time to participate in activities that uplift our moods, we are able to not only create opportunities to savor, but also develop a habit of savoring, boosting our overall happiness.

When opportunities to savor are created, we should learn to open our eyes and mind to perceive beauty in ordinariness. An effective exercise to improve a person’s observation is “The Camera Exercise” (Bryant & Veroff 212), or precisely, taking photos of any subject without an explicit goal in mind. The exercise requires people to find a comfortable location and take pictures of 20

objects from different angles. Then, it recommends people to develop the film after taking about 30 to 40 shots, and scrutinize the images that please them.

Scholars suggest that taking photos turn people into better observers because it requires people to focus attentively on a target and its details. Taking pictures of the same object from different angles help people to break down their original thinking patterns and open their minds to new perspectives. When we see the world with our eyes, we passively receive what is in our presence, but when we try to capture the view with a camera, we start to pay attention to the lighting, colors, and shapes, trying to find the best angle for a satisfying image.

By repeating the camera exercise constantly, we can learn to derive meaning from ordinary subjects, and thus enhancing the capability to recognize and appreciate the beauty in everyday life.

Given the reasons above, we should practice savoring in order to increase well-being. Focusing on a pleasurable experience prolongs and signifies the feeling of happiness, which cultivates a positive mindset.

Additionally, remembering the wonderful experiences we have been through in the past creates a sense of gratification, strengthening our mental health.

Furthermore, visualizing a pleasurable event in the future sparks anticipation, encouraging our motivations in daily life. While some people may find it challenging to put savoring into practice, they can cultivate the capability to savor by taking time out and practicing observation. With savoring, we can live happier and enjoy our lives to the fullest.

21

Work Cited Bryant, Fred B, and Joseph Veroff. Savoring: A New Model of Positive Experience,Psychology Press, 2007. Taylor & Francis Group, https://doi. org/10.4324/9781315088426 Chen, Yi Chun, Ya-Chi Wu, and Wei-Chu Chie. “Effects of work-related factors on the breastfeeding behavior of working mothers in a Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer: a cross-sectional survey.” BMC Public Health vol. 6, no. 160, 2006, pp. 1-8, https://link.springer.com/ article/10.1186/1471-2458-6-160 Pitts, Maggie. “Savoring as a beneficial practice for later life.” International Network for Critical Gerontology, 5 Jan. 2018, https://criticalgerontology. com/savoring-later-life/ Accessed 23 Nov 2022.

Salamone, John D, and Mercè Correa. “The mysterious motivational functions of mesolimbic dopamine.” Neuron vol. 76, no. 3, 2012, pp. 470-85, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2012.10.021 Smith, Jennifer L, and Linda Hollinger-Smith. “Savoring, resilience, and psychological well-being in older adults.” Aging and Mental Health vol.

19, no. 3, 2015, pp. 192-200, https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2014.9866 47 Speer, Megan E. et al. “Savoring the past: positive memories evoke value representations in the striatum.” Neuron vol. 84, no. 4, 2014, pp. 847-56, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2014.09.028

22

23

3

Successful Advertising Created with Emotional Appeals Expository Writing

Chi-Chien Huang

Jan. 16th 2022

With the advent of technology, the wide varieties of media have easily allowed advertisements (the advertising messages) to pervade the daily life of the audience. Nowadays, the advertising messages are being delivered through various channels such as television, the Internet, and marketplaces. In 2006, the marketing firm Yankelovich estimated that each American was exposed to an average of 5,000 ads per day. Currently, the number of ads according to Red Crow Marketing Inc. is between 4,000 to 10,000 ads per day. Thousands of ads pass through people’s eyes when they are scrolling their phones, or shopping in a store where ads are printed on numerous products. However,

24

people seem to be unaware of themselves encountering such a large number of advertisements daily. Chances are people would pay scant attention to or simply ignore most of the ads. Therefore, creating impressive advertisements can become a great challenge for advertisers. One of the most effective ways to outshine the ads from the competitors is using emotional appeals.

An emotional appeal is a creative tactic in marketing, aiming to evoke certain emotions of the receivers. It can be achieved through words, images, sounds, etc. Marketing experts suggest consumers who tend to express feelings such as hilarity, shock, and anticipation on viewing advertisements, would pay more attention to the brand and products. Additionally, they would remember the messages more easily. That is to say, stirring up consumers’ emotions can enhance their awareness of the ads and the ability to recall them. When the ads are well-received by consumers, marketers are more likely to reach their advertising goal such as persuading consumers into purchasing products or building a positive brand image. Below are three of the most effective types of emotion appeals: humor appeal, shock appeal, and curiosity appeal. Such emotional appeals would help marketers to create eye-catching and goalreaching advertisements.

Humor appeal is one of the most effective tools to catch consumers’ eye, and to enhance consumers’ purchasing intention. Advertisers show funny content through words or images in advertisements to enlighten consumers’ mood. According to McGraw-Hill, consumers tend to pay more attention to

25

advertisements with humorous content. In North America, it is estimated that 69 percent of the most impactful advertisements are conducted with humor appeals. Therefore, if an ad makes a consumer laugh, it’s likely that it will draw more attention from the consumers. Moreover, humor can elevate consumers’ purchasing intention of products. According to experts, Humor in ads would create a positive emotional link between a brand and a consumer. When consumers consider an ad humorous, their mood would be enlightened, and they would associate the positive feelings with the brand and products. Such feelings will turn into consumers’ fondness for the product, increasing their willingness of purchase. For instance, Boeri—a company that sells snowboard helmets, is famous for using humorous ads to make consumers feel good about its products (Boeri Sport USA, 2000). Generally, helmet advertisements are serious and similar, they emphasize on the functionality of the product or warn consumers about the danger of not wearing a helmet. However, Boeri inserted humor in its advertising campaign “It's your head,” and changed the way consumers feel about the helmet industry. One of the ads in the campaign showed four chocolate bunnies—with three of their heads being bitten off, and one protected by the Boeri helmet. The message that the Boeri helmet protects a chocolate bunny’s head is quite nonsensical. However, the ad successfully entertained the consumers, enhancing the likeability of Boeri helmets. The company’s immediate sales spike proved that humor is an effective approach in advertising.

26

CHOCOLATE BUNNIES - Boeri Sport USA, 2000

Another way to impress consumers and increase their awareness of a company or a certain issue is to “shock” them with ads. Ads conducted with shock appeal tend to display outrageous content that challenges conventional values to catch people’s attention Precisely, graphics or words expressing violence, vulgarity and profanity, or sensitive topics such as sexuality, disease, and death are often shown in the shocking ads. Since these contents tend to violate religious and other social values, people would be astonished by the boldness of the ads. While humor appeal makes consumers laugh, shock appeal makes people think. It is suggested by the marketing experts that

27

as consumers are “shocked”, they will pay more attention to the ads and take time to contemplate on the messages behind them. Thus, shocking ads are not only eye-catching but thought-provocative. When the messages are considered imprudence, the ads would create discomfort among the consumers, and thereby lead to complaints. Sometimes, such complaints can bring about controversy to the brand. For example, when Christians see an ad demonstrating religious and sexual conflict with an image of a priest kissing a nun, it is likely that they would be offended because the ad seems to profane the religion. However, controversy may not necessarily be a bad thing because it can increase the exposure of a brand. Just as numerous celebrities use controversy as an approach to increase fame, controversy in advertising can be an effective tool to enhance consumers’ awareness of a brand. Some of the most controversial advertising campaigns in history were launched by an Italian clothing company—Benetton. One of the shocking ads “Cemetery” shows an image of a war cemetery during the Gulf War (Benneton Group, 1991). People living in wartime were shocked by the ad for forcing them to face the cruelty of warfare, and argued that the ad would diminish soldiers’ will to fight in battles. Therefore, the ad brought about controversy and hundreds of protest articles around the world. Since humanity is the core value of the brand, Benetton launched the ad in order to raise awareness of the casualties that war could cause. With shock appeal conducted in the advertisement, Benneton triumphantly achieved worldwide attention.

28

Cemetery – Benneton Group, 1991

Last but not least, curiosity appeal in advertising can prompt potential consumers to take action in learning more about a brand or products and enhance advertising memorability. According to Loewenstein (1994), curiosity appears when there is a gap between a person’s existing knowledge and the information the person wants to know. This “information gap” is the key to curiosity. Information gap can create dissatisfaction among consumers and urge them to find a solution to fill in the missing information and thereby diminishes their dissatisfaction (Berlyne in Chou & Lien, 2014). This theory is widely conducted in teaser campaigns. A teaser campaign is an advertising fragment used as an announcement of a product launch or a company update.

In a pre-launch product teaser, advertisers tend to create an information gap

29

by presenting limited but intriguing information to consumers. The teaser often relies on visual graphics with few words, revealing only a small part or the most innovative feature of the new product. Take Nike’s teaser campaign for example.

Nike launched the Air Max 360 on January 21, 2006. Before the product launch, Nike released a teaser campaign that showed the shoe in the dark with light beaming from its midsole, and the date of the product launch (Nike, 2006).

The information gap appeared when consumers knew about the upcoming

Air Max Teaser & Reveal – Nike, 2006

shoe and its new feature, but nothing about the design because the shoe was covered in the shadow. Curious about the new shoe design, consumers might pay a visit to the Nike stores when the product launched, or search for more 30

information online. When the shoes were available for purchase, Nike revealed the whole shoe design in the advertisements, satisfying the curious consumers by bridging the information gap. Additionally, showing the same product with teasers and ads would enhance the memorability of the product, because the ads could remind consumers of the teasers they had seen before. As a result, curiosity appeal can make consumers remember an advertising fragment more easily and demand for more product information.

Conclusively, humor appeal, shock appeal and curiosity appeal are three of the most effective tools for an advertisement to stand out from the crowd, and to reach the advertising goals. For starter, Humorous ads make consumers feel good, and such positive feelings create an emotional bond to the brand, leading to a positive attitude toward the advertising message. Ultimately, the brand would succeed in increasing consumers’ buying intention. Next, when advertisers insert striking content into advertising messages, the ads would make consumers think, and provoke controversy to the brand. Therefore, the brand will be exposed under a spotlight where consumers can hardly ignore. Finally, curiosity appeal uses an information gap to arouse consumers’ dissatisfaction about the limited product information, stirring up their desire to learn more about the brand. Therefore, the advertising messages would stay in their memories longer. When conducted properly, these three emotional appeals would transform a placidly humdrum advertisement into an eyecatching work of art.

31

Work Cited Benetton Group. (1991). Cemetery [Advertisement]. Benneton Group. https://www.benettongroup.com/en/media-press/image-gallery/ institutional-communication/historical-campaigns/ Boeri Sport USA. (2000) CHOCOLATE BUNNIES [Advertisement]. Reddit. https://i.imgur.com/qG4n2S9.jpg Loewenstein, G. (1994). The psychology of curiosity: A review and reinterpretation. Psychological bulletin, 116(1), 75. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0033-2909.116.1.75 Nike. (2006) Air Max Teaser & Reveal [Advertisement]. Adforum. https://www.adforum.com/creative-work/ad/player/12659297/air-maxteaser-reveal/nike Susanto, P. C. (2019). Curiosity as an Effective In-stream Advertising Appeal: Visual and Textual Study of Levi’s Circles Ad. KnE Social Sciences, 426434. https://knepublishing.com/index.php/Kne-Social/article/view/3927

32

33

5

A Personal Review of

Christmas Shopaholic

by Sophie Kinsella

Book Review

Chi-Chien Huang

June 12th 2021

From Sophie Kinsella’s worldwide bestselling series, Becky Brandon, the famous shopaholic, has returned— and this time, it’s the festive season!

34

Publisher:

Penguin Random House

Edition:

Black Swan

Publication date:

2020

Format:

Paperback

Pages:

445

ISBN (A format):

9781784165277

ISBN (B format):

9781784164874

Genre:

Contemporary Fiction

Series:

Shopaholic Series, #9 35

Christmas Shopaholic, the ninth sequel of the highly appreciated Shopaholic series, is undoubtedly the best holiday present a Christmas lover could ask for. Sophie Kinsella, the number one New York Times best-selling author, granted the readers a laugh-out-loud experience with her witty, lively narration. For anyone who is looking for a lighthearted, funny and heartwarming festive read, this contemporary fiction will definitely lift your spirits.

The book welcomes back the anchor of the Shopaholic series—Becky Brandon, who sees shopping at bargain prices as her mission and expertise.

Becky is looking forward to the upcoming Christmas. It’s always the same—her parents hosting, “Carols playing and Mum pretending she made the Christmas pudding”, and their neighbors showing up in terrible jumpers. Except for this year—Becky’s parents are moving to Shoreditch to experience the lifestyle of hipsters, leaving Becky no choice but to take over Christmas hosting duties for the first time. Obviously, the idea of shopping for the whole family sounds temping. But things soon become thorny when she is met with various odd requests from her family. For example, her environmentally conscious sister wants a vegan turkey and a broom tree instead of a Christmas tree to reflect her “non-consumerist, sustainable values”. The unexpected appearing of Becky’s ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend brings more chaos to the table. As always, Becky manages to shop her way out, and make sure everyone gets a joyful holiday experience.

I encounter Christmas shopaholic in a bookstore during a New Year

36

sale, and the only thing I regret about purchasing it was that I didn’t bought it early. It would’ve been wonderful to get into the Christmas spirit alongside Becky, if I got to read the novel during the holiday season. For longtime fans of the shopaholic series, you will not be disappointed of Becky’s return; for new readers like me, who hasn’t read the previous series before, it is completely fine to enjoy it as a standalone book since Becky is a character that everyone can easily relate to.

Becky is a capable wife, a mother, and a generous friend. She strives to spread joy for everyone, even though she messes things up sometimes, and often gets herself caught up in ridiculous scenarios—from having 30 pounds of smoked salmon on her front lawn under a duvet, to being stuck in a pet shop on Christmas Eve. At the end of the day, she is, just like the rest of us, doesn’t always get it right but willing to try.

The charms of Christmas shopaholic lie in not only the vivacious Becky but also the writer’s creative approaches in storytelling. Kinsella inserts different sources to support the main narrative, including emails, text messages, purchase receipts and such. These attachments deliver an insight into the storyline and heighten the comical essence of the tale.

Overall, Christmas shopaholic is a book that will fill you with plenty of laughter. It will warm your heart, and light up your day. So pack up, grab your vegan turkey and get ready for a sleigh ride with Becky Brandon and her folks.

I’m sure it will be a crazy, wild, and fabulous ride.

37

6 A Critical Review of

Chinese Railroad Workers in North America: Recovery and Representation

by Hsin-ya Huang Book Review

Chi-Chien Huang

Dec. 2nd 2022

Huang, Hsin-ya, et al. 北美鐵路華工：歷史、文學與視覺再現 [Chinese Railroad Workers in North America: Recovery and Representation]. Taipei: Bookman Books, 2017. xvii + 523 pp. NT$480, ISBN 978-957-445-746-5

The First Transcontinental Railroad completed in May 1869 stands as a milestone in the development of America as an economic power. The railroad connected America from cost-to-cost, reducing cross-country commute from months to days, facilitating the development of western America and bringing about enormous economic benefits to the country. However, while the significance of the railroad was widely affirmed, little credit was given to the Chinese laborers who devoted their heart and soul to the construction of the railroad and the prosperity of America. In 2012, Sanford University, as a beneficiary of the railroad construction, launched the “Chinese Railroad Workers in North 38

America Project”, and invited scholars across the world to help recover the lost history of the Chinese railroad laborers by creating a database together.

This book integrates studies from prestige scholars in the project, providing an opportunity for readers to dive deep into the lives of Chinese railroad workers, focusing on the role they played in the construction of the railroad, and their influences on America and China.

The book is significant in three ways. First, it offers a close examination into the history, literature, culture, and various fields of studies, manifesting the Chinese railroad workers’ contributions to the development of America. Next, the book presents the devotion of Taiwanes researchers in the study of Chinese American history, delivering great contributions to the Taiwanese academic field. Last but not least, the book helps Stanford University build a database about Chinese railroad workers, facilitating the development of Chinese historical and cultural studies.

The book combines 17 chapters of interdisciplinary studies, and it is divided into five parts based on different topics — Recovery, Home, Memory, Labor, and Representation. The fields of the studies range from art, history, literature, archaeology, politics, and so forth. The first two parts are demonstrated through the methodology of “recovery and reputation”, while the other three parts are presented through “representation and interpretation”. With the aid of images, stories, literature, and other resources, the book aims to recover the lost pieces in history and represent the lives of the Chinese railroad workers.

Among the 17 chapters, I’m going to focus on Chapter 15 for further discussions since I believe the chapter indirectly explains how the book contributes significantly to the preservation of Chinese migrant stories.

39

Chapter 15 explores the relationships between Chinese railroad workers and native Americans. The author — Hsinya Huang, recovers the image of Chinese railroad laborers from the memories of native Americans, focusing on the interview and poetry of native american writer — Simon Ortiz, and the verbal history of the Walker River Paiute tribe. Huaung opens the chapter with a brief introduction highlighting the contributions of the Chinese railroad workers, and pointing out the exploitation they encountered under American capitalism.

In the first part, Huaung combines historical paintings and tribal stories to demonstrate that Chinese railroad workers and native Americans formed a community of shared life through sufferings and material culture. Huang explains that Chinese railroad workers and native Americans encountered similar painful experiences under capitalism — the Chinese workers were exploited in the construction of the railroad, while the Indians were forced to sacrifice their land for the development of America — which creates a spiritual connection between the two communities. In addition, Huang uses vivid stories to show that the material culture of Chinese railroad workers and that of native Americans were interconnected. By sharing food and techniques with each other in daily life, the two communities developed a close relationship and a shared life together.

In Part two and three, Huang focuses on the history of intimacies between Chinese workers and Indians, manifesting the emotional connections and shared memories between them. Huang explains that stories and narratives construct the history of intimacies between the two communities, and she provides rich tribal stories and texts as examples. By unveiling the pain and sorrow behind each tribal story through masterful textual analysis, Huang offers a chance for readers to empathize with the Chinese railroad workers whose 40

tragedies mirror the lives of the Indians.

In many ways, Chinese Railroad Workers in North America: Recovery and Representation has made invaluable contributions to the restoration and preservation of Chinese migrant stories. First, The book restores the history of Chinese railroad workers in an authentic and unbiased way. It combines interdisciplinary and transnational studies by credible scholars and research of various methodologies, so that a crucial piece of history can be recovered. Next, The book continues the lives of Chinese railroad workers by transferring memories about them to readers. Just as Huang explains in chapter 15, stories and memories allow Chinese railroad workers to be remembered. Therefore, by passing on the stories and studies of the Chinese railroad workers to readers, the book allows them to be remembered and honored by one generation after another, so that their spirits will live on forever.

On the other hand, the book provides a chance for readers to reevaluate the influence of capitalism and the sacrifice behind. Capitalism brings about rapid development, economic growth, and numerous opportunities. However, such advantages usually result from the sacrifice of the minority. The book demonstrates the sufferings and difficulties Chinese migrant workers encountered under American Capitalism, provoking empathy in readers, encouraging them to value and respect the lives of the minority.

Chinese Railroad Workers in North America: Recovery and Representation will please those who wish to understand the lives of Chinese railroad workers from multiple perspectives, receive insight into American Capitalism in the 19th century, and cultivate themselves into a compassionate and respectful being.

41

8

Ten Minutes

Creative Writing

Chi-Chien Huang

March. 27th 2021

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have just been cleared to land. Please make sure your seat belt is securely fastened…”

“Mommy, are we landing?” asks the little boy who is sitting beside me.

This energetic kid has been asking the same question every ten seconds since he heard the captain announcing that we will be landing in five minutes.

“Yes, sweetheart, stop twisting and fasten your seat belt.” His mother sounds slightly annoyed but caring at the same time.

As the plane starts to descend, I lie back into my seat and start making plans in my mind. “I’ve got to go to the meeting earlier, and maybe there will be time to hang around in the city…”

“CRASH—”

42

A sudden jolt of the plane shakes me out of my thoughts. I feel like my heart has skipped a beat. I turn around and see most passengers frozen in their seats with their eyes wide open.

“Mommy! There’s smoke outside!” after a moment of silence, the little boy screamed and break the ice.

I turn to the window and see the black smoke coming from the wing side.

Suddenly, a sense of dizziness runs through my head and almost make me pass out.

“No... This can’t be…” I mumble in shiver.

Someone is shouting and crying behind me, but the noise seems faraway for I can only hear my own screaming now.

“…a fire...there will be ten minutes for you to put on your life jackets and prepare for an emergency landing. Please…”

I come into senses in the middle of the emergency announcement. As I begin to pay more attention, a shocking vibration penetrates the whole airplane and the announcing system is shut down. It seems like the airplane is electrified.

Ten minutes? Is it a countdown to my last breath? I stare palely at my watch.

Every tick feels like a death threat to me.

“Ma’am, please put on your life jacket” a flight attendant says to me firmly as she stumbles by. She looks pale as a ghost.

I manage to grab the orange jacket under my seat, put it on, and watch the

43

jacket expands as the air pumped in.

“Maybe, we will be landing on the water.” I try to convince myself, and refuse to think otherwise.

Three minutes have past. The plane seems to be steadier.

“It’s going to be okay.” says the mother who is holding the little boy beside me.

I look around and notice the other passengers—A man writing hastily on a piece of paper with his hand trembling. A woman sobbing quietly and some family members hugging each other.

There’re four minutes left. Another quake hits in.

Passengers gasp in terror, and my heart pounds like a desperate animal trying to escape the cage. Across my seat, there is an old couple praying with their eyes closed and hands holding together.

Out of nowhere, an image of my parents’ pops into my head. I feel a sudden thrust of pain piercing through my whole body.

All of a sudden the plane stops shaking. The noise of the engine halts. All the gasping and crying cease. The whole world seems to fall into a complete silence.

Next, the plane goes into a dive, squeezing my heart toward the back of my seat. The sunlight shines through the window and causes a flash on my watch, as if it is warning me of the last few minutes I’ve had.

I catch a glimpse of the sun. It reminds me of a summer time when my dad took me to an amusement park.

44

“One last ride?” my dad askes me with a smile after riding a roller coaster with me for the first time.

The plane dives faster and faster. I look into his eyes.

“Okay, one last ride.”

45

9

A Collection of Poems Bilingual Poetry

時間 /

Time /

惱人的聲音，

Annoying sound,

滴答，滴答。 從指尖滑過— 旋轉，

如細沙組成的旋過， 將我吞噬，

抽乾僅存的空氣， 消逝，

留下一個，

窒息在原地的， 凍結的我。

46

Chi-Chien Huang

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Slipping through my fingertips— Spinning, Like a whirlwind of sand, Engulfing me, Draining the last breath of air, Vanishing, Leaving me behind, suffocating, Frozen in time.

另一種叛逆 /

Another Kind of Rebellion /

像流沙，

Like quicksand,

深陷其中而無法自拔， 又或者，

I'm trapped within its hold, Unable to break free,

不想自拔。

Or perhaps, I choose not to be.

午後的綠蔭下 /

Under the Shades of Green

綠色，

Green,

瀰漫一股寧靜的氣息。 陽光，

從一片翠綠中灑下，

好比在青色天空中的繁星閃爍。 也許，

在眨眼的瞬間， 我們皆錯過，

一顆流星的滑落—

in the Afternoon /

Fills the air with an aura of serenity.

Sunlight, Streams down from the plain of emerald green, Like stars shining in the blue sky.

Perhaps, In a blink of an eye, We've both missed The falling of a shooting star—

47

香/ 像花—

像漫步在薰衣草田的芬芳，

自然而清甜，柔和而令人陶醉。 這香味是一切美好的總和。 我貪婪的吸取著—

甜美從鼻腔竄入腦海， 激起一波波浪花， 隨著血液，

迅速流入心臟，

最後，擴散至全身。 這是—

芬芳之水，

溫暖而迷人，

觸動我身體裡每一條經絡。 我貪婪的吸取著— 渴望將這芳香，

永遠封存於心底。

48

Perfume / Like flowers— like strolling in a lavender field of fragrance, Soft and sweet, gentle and intoxicating.

This scent is the sum of all things beautiful.

I greedily inhale it—

Sweetness rushes into the sea of mind through the pipelines of nose, Stirring up waves after waves, Running through bloodstreams, Flowing into the heart swiftly, Finally, spreading throughout the whole body.

This is— The stream of fragrance, warm and charming, Touching every meridian in my body.

I greedily inhale it —

Longing to preserve this fragrance Forever in the depths of my heart.

49

E N G L I S H W R I T I N G G A R D E N