Strengths and Weaknesses of the Titled The 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests - Essay Example

One of the strengths of the essay is that I believe that I made a good connection between my main points and thesis. Every paragraph has a primary point that supports the thesis. For example, my first point is: “Witty uses four photos of the Tank Man…where these images try to underline that this man symbolizes the struggles of all ordinary people against government repression and corruption.” (3). This point supports the thesis, where I asserted that Witty represents the cultural memory of these protests. My next point supports the thesis too because it shows the implications of the image to modern society.

I wrote in the third paragraph: “Witty’s article, the Tiananmen Square protests continues to make history because it portrays an ordinary man’s greatest act of courage and integrity against symbols of oppression” (4). . For instance, in the fourth paragraph, I wrote: “After discussing Witty’s article, the paper explores Calhoun’s text…” (5). Through these transitions, I prepared readers on what they will expect next, by connecting every paragraph to the thesis and the past paragraph.

Moreover, within each paragraph, I made use of the right conjunctions to ensure the smooth flow of my ideas. To illustrate, I used the words “moreover” and “also” to connect these claims that support each main point. These transition sentences helped me organize my ideas and ensured consistency in presenting and arguing my thesis. The final strength of the essay is its clear description of the photo’s meaning and implications to its time and to present times. The essay shows how the photo stands for the original memory.

For example, I wrote in the second paragraph: “The cultural memory focuses on four tanks that are ready to crush all those who oppose and criticize the state and one man who will not be crushed at all” (4). This description of the photo serves to analyze what the Tank Man’s actions meant to his time. Furthermore, I explained the implications of the image to current society. In the sixth paragraph, I wrote: “…Calhoun understands that the events of Tiananmen Square Protests endure because the silent dead continues to tell their stories through the lives of people in present times who feel oppressed in China” (6).

This statement shows the relationship between memory and current memory because of enduring struggles for empowerment. Hence, the essay connects the image to its cultural representation for past and present generations.