You're So Out of Style

“In taking an approach, you rewrite no passages or ideas from a text but another writer’s mode or style of working” (Harris 95).  In Joseph Harris’ chapter “Taking an Approach,” he focuses on more of the style and influences of a writer. There is a strong and weak way to take an approach. A weak way would be in...”which one assumes the role of a disciple, adopting (rather than adapting) the moves and interest of another thinker”(74). In other words, one who just adopts an idea from a writer (kind of like what I did just now). Using quotes is a way of a weak approach. A way to have a strong approach is to transform a piece of writing and use the writer as an influence. A few examples of this are movies and covers. Movie producers that use books as an idea for a movie is a way of taking a strong approach. In order to produce a book into a movie, the director has to be creative and use the book as an influence. The movie cannot simply be only the details in the book. The movie would never sell. Another example Harris used is when he was writing one of his books. He adopted the style of another writer. The influencing author used a style where he analyzed words. Harris did not just steal this man’s style, he also cited in his interests section of his book. I found it interesting that although he was not using a direct part of the author's writing, the man still needed to be recognized. Taking an approach can be described in three categories: acknowledging influences, turning an approach on itself, and reflexivity.

The New York Times uses more of a weak approach and has an interviewing style.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/18/business/energy-environment/obamas-keystone-pipeline-decision-risks-new-problems-either-way.html?hp&_r=0
The New York Times generally uses a lot of quotes in their articles. 

“It’s rare that a president has such a singular voice on such a major policy decision,” Mr. Brune said. 

They also receive these quotes from interviews and attending the events. A more diverse view is gained by having quotes but it also loses impact. It is more of a block form of writing rather than a good solid flow.

I have been reading the blog The Everywhereist. (http://www.everywhereist.com). This blog does not have weak approach, but I would also say it does not have a strong approach either. This blog is more of a free flow of thoughts. She does put in links whenever she finds something interesting. But she does have an original style. However, the style is not adopted from anywhere else. Her personality shines through her blog. By having her own style, she receives a lot more viewers on her website. But by having her own style, she cannot be used as a legit information source.  

Undeserved accolades:

TIME magazine’s Top 25 Blogs of 2011. (Proof that god occasionally gets drunk.)