The Rhetorical Analysis of Place

During my rhetorical analysis of Mirror Lake I noticed many aspects of how people interacted in the space. During my time there I noticed many people interact with the space differently. Some people pass by the lake on their way to classes, others stop by and sit down to relax, some come feed the ducks and interact with the wildlife. 

The majority of the people pass by, paying little attention to the lake, many times they have headphones in listening to music. They may glimpse over at the ripples in the water for a moment, however many of them are in too much of a hurry to sit down and relax by the water. People tend to be overly consumed by technology and school, and pay little attention to the gift of nature. 

While at Mirror Lake I also noticed many people who, like myself, stop and relax in the glory of nature. These people release from the rush of everyday life by relaxing at the lake. This is the aspect of Mirror Lake that makes it very special to me. Mirror Lake for myself is like a release from everyday life and reality. When I have a lot on my mind, I like to go there to simply think and relax. Mirror Lake is so relaxing because the trees are all green and luscious this time of year; the lake's surface reflects the sunlight in it's ripples. The birds are chirping. The fountain on the water also creates a peaceful sound of water falling in the lake adding to the serenity of the lake. Another aspect of the lake that appeals to me is knowing the lake has been on campus since the universities origin, so my parents who came before me at The Ohio State University also stood on the lakeside. Thinking about all of the notable people who have attended this university it adds to the nostalgic that makes the lake so great.

The Rhetoric of Place and Identity

            Where we come from is an essential to our lives in that it defines us. Everyones identity is determined by our surroundings, whether its your family, friends, home, school, neighborhood, etc. Culture, which can be related to place, affects who we are in our actions, beliefs, attitudes, and behavior. Nature versus nurture is a great example of place affecting identity because it demonstrates how both the people you are with, along with the the place you live deeply effects the person who you become. This example is noted in numerous psychological studies when learning about people. I know simply from my own experience that where I come from has impacted who I have become.  I grew up in a middle class family, in Cincinnati. My roots being from ohio, brought me to The Ohio State University. I grew up in a family that is very passionate in sports and it has brought me to become very competitive and sporty. Growing up with few neighbors in a more country atmosphere, I have a deep appreciation for nature and land. My experience in school up to now will greatly impact my future aspirations and goals. It has already brought to Ohio State to study and will impact my life in many others ways, such as finding a career. In spite of this, it must also be said that place does not determine our identity in its entirety. Due to the fact that individuals are all different, no one is the same. Our environment affects us in different ways. In addition to place there are numerous different factors to which our identity is formed, such as genetics and personality.