Harris’s “Taking an Approach”

Harris describes “Taking an Approach” as transforming a work into something new while keeping the essence of the original. Harris also makes a distinction between taking an approach and forwarding in which forwarding is simply adding to a dialogue about an event, and taking an approach is about citing an entire style of writing rather than just a phrase.  He describes that to take an approach on another author’s work means to follow their method of thinking throughout his or her work.  Harris describes this in terms of, “a mode is not so much a style of writing as a style of thinking” (Harris 77). I think the best example that Harris supplied when explaining how to take an approach was about music. He relates the way singers take a song that isn’t their own and refurnishes it into their own approach and technique. Harris writes that, “reworking familiar materials is a standard artistic practice” (Harris 76).

For some time now I have been visiting a blog, titled, “Brown Eyed Baker”. The author of this blog began with posts mostly of dessert recipes and directions on how to complete her unique goodies. She has since expanded to her favorite appetizers and comfort food all that are doable regardless of prior cooking knowledge. I think she takes an approach between a cookbook and food network show that allows her personality to come through in her writing and be instructive about her process. Both of these approaches she has adopted into her style and method of thinking not just writing when preparing and creating her blog posts. She expertly uses a series of photos for many of her recipes to further guide constituents and personify a cooking show on her blog.