Christopher Hitchens s Views On Politics, Culture,...

Christopher Hitchens was a British-American intellectual and writer who was known worldwide for his controversial opinions and provocative forms of expression. His works were published in a number of books and in multitudes of magazines, such as Vanity Fair, Slate, and The Atlantic, just to name a few. However, a large portion of his time was spent actively expressing his opinions in televised debates, public forums, and university speeches. His interest in political science after graduating from Balliol College in Oxford molded his ideas into a general theme of â€Å"anti-authoritarianism.† This theme was very well imbedded into his career, for he wrote much about politics, culture, religion, and literature. As a critic of both society and†¦show more content†¦This, in turn, gives his argument much more weight and validity. The ability to capture such an audience requires a great deal of scholarly language, which he accomplishes by utilizing his wide vocabulary. His work is loaded with words like â€Å"scrupulous,† â€Å"refractory,† â€Å"sanguinary,† (The Real Mahatma Gandhi), â€Å"fatuous,† and â€Å"invocations† (â€Å"Free Speech†). The use of such words gives his arguments a sense of sophistication, which serves to make his arguments sound legitimate. Furthermore, through scathing remarks about his subject, his humorously brutal tone serves to engage and entertain his audience. Witty comments, such as â€Å"But the two greatest achievements of Austria are to have convinced the world that Hitler was German and that Beethoven was Viennese,† allow Hitchens to discredit his subject and say that it has not had any â€Å"real† accomplishments. Altogether, he demonstrates that valid criticism of anyone can be entertaining, yet scholarly. One distinct style that set Hitchens apart from most thought-provoking scholars is his use of obscene and politically incorrect language. This works to â€Å"shock† the reader and to engage them even further. In his Vanity Fair essay, â€Å"Why Women Aren’t Funny,† he discourteously insists that most humorous women are â€Å"hefty or dykey or Jewish, or some combo of the three† (Why Women Aren t Funny). Hitchens is knownShow MoreRelatedRelationship Between Science And Religion3252 Words   |  14 Pageshe relationship between science and religion is a very interesting and complex one, and has changed quite a lot over the course of human history. In order to competently understand this relationship, it is necessary to have a rudimentary knowledge of the fundamental methods and aims of each discipline. Though the relationship between science and religion has changed a lot over time, what has not changed is the fact that the two disciplines are diametrically opposed to each other in many ways, having