View the TED Talk by Amy Cuddy (TEDGlobal, 2012). In light of her talk, your personal experiences, and what you have learned thus far from the course, write a response in which you:
State what it is about her talk that strikes you as most interesting.
Share something from your reading of the course text on nonverbal communication that made an impression on you.
Share what it is that you will take from her talk and/or the text as a way of improving your own nonverbal communication competence.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Response to Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk
Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk, “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are,” is a compelling exploration of the profound impact of nonverbal communication on our self-perception and interactions with others. One of the most striking aspects of her presentation is her emphasis on the concept of “power posing.” Cuddy asserts that adopting expansive body postures can not only influence how others perceive us but can also alter our own self-perception and physiological state. This idea resonates deeply with me, as it suggests that our physical presence can empower us in both personal and professional contexts. The notion that we can literally “fake it until we become it” offers a practical strategy for building confidence in challenging situations, such as job interviews or public speaking engagements.
In my readings on nonverbal communication, I encountered the concept of “kinesics,” which refers to the interpretation of body movements and gestures. One point that particularly impressed me was the idea that our body language can communicate emotions and intentions even before we say a word. For instance, maintaining an open posture can convey approachability and confidence, while crossed arms may signal defensiveness or discomfort. This insight emphasizes the importance of being mindful of our nonverbal cues, as they can significantly impact how we are perceived by others.
From Cuddy’s talk and my course readings, I have identified several strategies to improve my nonverbal communication competence. Firstly, I plan to incorporate power posing into my daily routine, especially before high-stakes scenarios. By standing in a confident posture for just a couple of minutes before an important meeting or presentation, I hope to enhance my sense of self-assurance and reduce anxiety. Additionally, I will focus on maintaining open body language—such as uncrossing my arms and making eye contact—to foster a more engaging and approachable presence in interactions with peers and colleagues.
In conclusion, Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk has inspired me to reflect on the power of nonverbal communication in shaping both self-identity and interpersonal relationships. By integrating the principles of power posing and being more conscious of my body language, I aim to enhance my communication skills and cultivate a more confident demeanor in various aspects of my life.
