For my first formal writing project, I plan to elaborate on the topic I chose for Blog #2. Instead of just focusing on fidelity and schistosomes, however, I would like to branch out to love, of several forms, and parasites. As of now, I have schistosomes to represent fidelity and romantic love; I also have a species of tick that carries its babies around, protects them, and helps them find hosts to represent maternal love. I am not sure if I am going to stick with these two, or if I will include two other interesting parasites, a nematode that sacrifices itself for its young (another maternal love example) and the chemical communication between plasmodia (friendship/camaraderie). My goal is to get people to think about parasites in a new way. I feel that the juxtaposition between something that all humans find beautiful (love) and something that all humans find repulsive (parasites) will be interesting as well as emotionally challenging for prospective readers. I would also like to awaken in the readers' minds this subtle sense of conviction, like, if these brainless little monsters squirming around in guts and poo can figure out love and selflessness and loyalty, then what excuse do we, as intelligent, spiritual beings, have? In the end, maybe it'll prod some people into self-reflection and, ultimately, better treatment of his/her fellow man.
A challenge that I have come across with this essay is the notion of scenes. I noticed that my Blog #2 was pretty much all "telling" without painting any scenes. I am trying to change that for the essay. The problem with my topic and scene-painting is that certain readers may be immediately turned off by images of ticks or worms, regardless of the information/message I'm ultimately trying to convey. I will have to gauge how far onto the gross-o-meter most folks are willing to go before turning away. That, or use purposely vague descriptions that don't reveal up-front the creatures that are doing the loving. But that's not really painting a scene, though, is it?
Incorporating parasites in this essay is very clever. Like you said many people find them repulsive and love is something seen as beautiful. Showing how something beautiful can be found in something people find "repulsive" will be very interesting.
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