What do Senator Barry Goldwater and Pop Superstar Michael Jackson have in common? The easy answer is absolutely nothing! But wait! Both Goldwater and Jackson provide excellent examples of the SAT word EPITOMIZE. Let me explain:
EPITOMIZE means to serve as an example or embodiment of a specific quality or idea. During the 1960s and 70s, Senator Goldwater EPITOMIZED the rugged individualism admired by Sun Belt conservatives. During the 1970s and 80s, Michael Jackson EPITOMIZED the scintillating rhythms and dancing of pop music.
Special note to my APUSH subscribers: I’m writing an important essay on the rise of the Conservative movement from 1960 to the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. Senator Goldwater played an important role in a surprising sequence of events that has generated a number of APUSH questions. So stay tuned!
Special note to my SAT subscribers: The movie Michael is setting box office records. Although critics have given the biopic lukewarm reviews, music fans around the world love the movie. I’m hope to use the film to illustrate key SAT vocabulary words. So stay tuned!
EPITOMIZE – to serve an example or embodiment of a quality or idea