Why New Orleans Matters, continued...

      The next couple of chapters in Piazza's Why New Orleans Matters focus on the music of New Orleans, which is vital to the spirit of the city.  Piazza's love of jazz music, and a lot of other styles of music in New Orleans is apparent in the way he first went to New Orleans, to go to Jazz Fest.  Live music is a way of life in New Orleans.  It can be heard all over the city.  It even is heard at traditional funerals, in which Piazza explains how the band starts of solemnly, then speeding up the march and going into a swing-type march with the loved ones of the deceased dancing (among others who join the procession).  It is a uniquely New Orleans tradition of honoring the deceased and the living enjoying one's time on earth.
       The chapters were mainly about the music of New Orleans and how it is such a part of the city.  It is enjoyable reading about the authors love of the music of New Orleans.

Comments on "Why New Orleans Matters"

          So far for the book club assignment, I have read the first two chapters of Tom Piazza's Why New Orleans Matters.  The book was written in 2005, shortly after Hurricane Katrina struck.  Piazza introduces the book with details of the situation after the Katrina occurred and the devastating effect of the levees breaking.  The sense of frustration is apparent when he mentions that for years experts were sounding the alarm over the vulnerability of New Orleans to a massive storm rupturing the levee system there.  Piazza mentions early on that experts were talking about when the levees would break, not if they would.
          The early chapters focus on the author's beginnings in New Orleans.  He then looks at the troubles the city has, but mentions that people love the city, warts and all.  This is mainly because of the unique culture New Orleans has.  The people there, along with the music and food, create a culture that isn't seen anywhere else in the world.  Early on in the book, Piazza has introduced his favorite city, and explains effectively to outsiders how important New Orleans culture is, and why it is so vital to keep alive.  
          When reading this book five years after Hurricane Katrina, it is important to put the book in its proper context.  There were many uncertainties facing New Orleans after the storm.  Would the city ever be the same?  Would people come back to visit knowing of the death and destruction that occurred?  Thankfully, many people have returned to the city they love, but there are still many more that were displaced.  The positive aspect of reading the book five years later is the ability the reader has to appreciate how the beloved city has responded to the multitude of problems it faced then, and still does to this day.
 

Specifics of a Profile

        In the Featured Writing book, the section on "The Profile" contains different elements of effective profile pieces in magazines or newspapers.  My focus was mainly on magazine profiles because of the essay I'll write with be in that form, longer and more detailed than a simple interview you will see in a newspaper.  The definition stated in the textbook stresses that depth is the major ingredient of a well-written, interesting profile.  
        The amount of depth a profile piece has will determine how interesting, or not, the piece is.  With the proper amount depth, people will get to know the person you're writing about.  "Depth" is achieved in a profile when the writer researches and observes the subject.  A writer needs strong interviewing skills in order to describe the subject.  A way to have productive interviews is to research the person thoroughly, know the basics before the interview takes place, and be able to get interesting answers that will form the foundation of a successful profile.