Though I found neither essay to be persuading, I believe that Kroll's carried more sentiment and would more likely be persuasive. Mencken writes in an condescending and admonishing tone that alienates most readers from the get go with his statement of the arguments he presents against the death penalty are "plainly too weak and need serious refutation. This argument also relies heavily on his extreme case of "kartharsis" and using it as a fallacious example of a sweeping generalization that everybody would feel safe if a death penalty with the convicts death and also as a faulty analogy, comparing the death penalty to a tack on the teachers chair.
However, Kroll subtly presents his case without ever revealing his true purpose. Kroll depicts the inhumanity of the death penalty through a personal example of witnessing a death by gas chamber being carried out. He relies heavily on a pathos argument, describing death of his friend in detail with his statement of "[the convict's] head began to roll and his eyes closed, then opened again. His head dropped, then came up with an abrupt jerk, and rolled some more. It was grotesque and hideous...". I believe that using more pathos, such as in Kroll's argument, was more effective that of the fallacious logos found in Mencken's argument.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
"Sixteen Military Wives" -- The Decemberists
What is this song about?
This song is about America, the people in it, and their beliefs.
What is the theme? (Big picture)
The theme of the songs is the different views of the American people on war. The Decemberists use various "cliques" of the American people to show this. At the beginning of the song, The Decemberists sing of the the military wives and their husbands away at war, demonstrating their real care for the war. The anchorperson on TV is a representative of the repetitiveness and the lack of consideration of the majority of the American people have of the war with the "La de da de da" the anchorperson says. Then, the Decemberists depict celebrities giving their two cents on subjects with their "pristine moderate liberal minds", illustrating that the American people only care about what the celebrities have to say. This is furthered by their metaphor of cannibal kings (American consumers) waiting for their plate of "fifteen celebrity minds severed on a leafy bed of sixteen military wives". Much like a plate, the military wives concern is the basis of the celebrities concerns, though they are pushed to the side by the "main course" of the dinner.
This song is about America, the people in it, and their beliefs.
What is the theme? (Big picture)
The theme of the songs is the different views of the American people on war. The Decemberists use various "cliques" of the American people to show this. At the beginning of the song, The Decemberists sing of the the military wives and their husbands away at war, demonstrating their real care for the war. The anchorperson on TV is a representative of the repetitiveness and the lack of consideration of the majority of the American people have of the war with the "La de da de da" the anchorperson says. Then, the Decemberists depict celebrities giving their two cents on subjects with their "pristine moderate liberal minds", illustrating that the American people only care about what the celebrities have to say. This is furthered by their metaphor of cannibal kings (American consumers) waiting for their plate of "fifteen celebrity minds severed on a leafy bed of sixteen military wives". Much like a plate, the military wives concern is the basis of the celebrities concerns, though they are pushed to the side by the "main course" of the dinner.
"Race for the Prize" -- Flaming Lips
What is the theme of the song?
Though advancing mankind and it's achievements are goals everybody tries to meet, there should be more awareness of the consequences that it may carry. In the first stanza of the song, the artist sings "Two scientists were racing for the good of all mankind... But it's so dangerous... Theirs is to win if it kills them". This shows reckless abandonment, a trait that humans innately have. It also shows the determination that the human race has for success and achievement. The artist continues to sing "Forging for the future but to sacrifice their lives... So determined", again reiterating the determination for success without care for anything else.
Though advancing mankind and it's achievements are goals everybody tries to meet, there should be more awareness of the consequences that it may carry. In the first stanza of the song, the artist sings "Two scientists were racing for the good of all mankind... But it's so dangerous... Theirs is to win if it kills them". This shows reckless abandonment, a trait that humans innately have. It also shows the determination that the human race has for success and achievement. The artist continues to sing "Forging for the future but to sacrifice their lives... So determined", again reiterating the determination for success without care for anything else.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Fallacy in Patrick Henry's "Speech to the Virginia Convention"
"There is no retreat but in submission in slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be head on the plains of Boston!"
This quote commits the fallacy of excluded middle. The fallacy of excluded middle is when only two alternatives are considered, in this case, there is 1. America fights in order to obtain freedom and 2. America submits to being enslaved by the British.
Even though Henry's speech commits fallacies, it still is extremely effective and famous because of the passion and fervor that he used to deliver it. One must also consider the time when the speech was delivered. Though many senators were speaking of reasoning, when Henry described how the British would enslave them, the evidence of treating the colonists as dirt was known, and experienced, by everybody. By only giving the possibility of two extremes, it not only instilled fear into the convention, but also seemed to give the convention an ultimatum that seemingly couldn't be ignored.
This quote commits the fallacy of excluded middle. The fallacy of excluded middle is when only two alternatives are considered, in this case, there is 1. America fights in order to obtain freedom and 2. America submits to being enslaved by the British.
Even though Henry's speech commits fallacies, it still is extremely effective and famous because of the passion and fervor that he used to deliver it. One must also consider the time when the speech was delivered. Though many senators were speaking of reasoning, when Henry described how the British would enslave them, the evidence of treating the colonists as dirt was known, and experienced, by everybody. By only giving the possibility of two extremes, it not only instilled fear into the convention, but also seemed to give the convention an ultimatum that seemingly couldn't be ignored.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Duck and Cover
What is the overt message?
The overt message is that you must be aware of the dangers of the atomic bomb know the precautions to take. The video also says to obey civil service.
What is the covert message?
There isn't a distinct covert message; the video was purely persuasive and informative. However, I feel like there may have be in unintended covert message of always fearing communists.
Is the propaganda, persuasion, or informative?
I believe that this was intended to be an informative video for younger kids in the elementary to middle school range. This is because it uses a cute little turtle and a catchy song to grab their attention; it also uses high school aged kids and adults, which younger kids would more likely follow and listen to.
The overt message is that you must be aware of the dangers of the atomic bomb know the precautions to take. The video also says to obey civil service.
What is the covert message?
There isn't a distinct covert message; the video was purely persuasive and informative. However, I feel like there may have be in unintended covert message of always fearing communists.
Is the propaganda, persuasion, or informative?
I believe that this was intended to be an informative video for younger kids in the elementary to middle school range. This is because it uses a cute little turtle and a catchy song to grab their attention; it also uses high school aged kids and adults, which younger kids would more likely follow and listen to.
Propaganda Alien Video
What is the overt message?
The overt message is that oil and competition good and makes America superior. The alien that travels to Earth explicitly says this during his presentation back on his home planet.
What is the covert message?
America is the society to strive for. This is shown by the admiration that the alien shows for American cars and society. Oil is also shown as patriotic, because everything American's use seems to stem from oil, as shown in the video.
Propaganda or persuasion? Why?
This is propaganda because it has both an overt and covert message; it also uses glittering generality and transfer to push it's covert message.
The overt message is that oil and competition good and makes America superior. The alien that travels to Earth explicitly says this during his presentation back on his home planet.
What is the covert message?
America is the society to strive for. This is shown by the admiration that the alien shows for American cars and society. Oil is also shown as patriotic, because everything American's use seems to stem from oil, as shown in the video.
Propaganda or persuasion? Why?
This is propaganda because it has both an overt and covert message; it also uses glittering generality and transfer to push it's covert message.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Propaganda during WWII
What is the overt message?
The overt messages are to eat less bread (as stated by the poster) and that women are the homemakers/ housewives.
What is the covert message?
Covert messages may include that even as a woman, you can still help with the war effort or that by sacrificing something as commonplace as bread, it would be able to help the Allied forces.
How does the disparity between the two of these make it propaganda?
Though the the poster says "The Kitchen is the Key to Victory. Eat Less Bread", it never tells of how eating less bread would benefit the war effort, thus making it propaganda.
The overt messages are to eat less bread (as stated by the poster) and that women are the homemakers/ housewives.
What is the covert message?
Covert messages may include that even as a woman, you can still help with the war effort or that by sacrificing something as commonplace as bread, it would be able to help the Allied forces.
How does the disparity between the two of these make it propaganda?
Though the the poster says "The Kitchen is the Key to Victory. Eat Less Bread", it never tells of how eating less bread would benefit the war effort, thus making it propaganda.
"Clampdown" -- The Clash
What is the song about? How do you know? (lyrical evidence)
The song is about the how capitalism can be flawed. The lyrics refer to workers wearing blue and brown with the men in the factory who are cunning. The lyrics show how somebody may be trapped withing the capitalist society, especially with the line "you got someone to boss around; it makes you feel big now" which shows a how capitalism is a never ending cycle.
"The men at the factory are old and cunning
You don't owe nothing, so boy get runnin'
It's the best years of your life they want to steal
But, you grow up and you calm down and
You're working for the clampdown
You start wearing the blue and brown and
You're working for the clampdown So you got someone to boss around
The song is about the how capitalism can be flawed. The lyrics refer to workers wearing blue and brown with the men in the factory who are cunning. The lyrics show how somebody may be trapped withing the capitalist society, especially with the line "you got someone to boss around; it makes you feel big now" which shows a how capitalism is a never ending cycle.
"The men at the factory are old and cunning
You don't owe nothing, so boy get runnin'
It's the best years of your life they want to steal
But, you grow up and you calm down and
You're working for the clampdown
You start wearing the blue and brown and
You're working for the clampdown So you got someone to boss around
It makes you feel big now"
What musical elements add to your interpretation?
The emphasis of the phrases that comes out of a predominately muddled and muffled style of singing with the addition of instrumental emphasis adds to my interpretation.
How does the song related to propaganda, persuasion, argument, deception, and rhetoric?
The song uses rhetoric such as the repetition of the word "clampdown".
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Rhetoric, Propaganda, Persuasion
859. If you have a weak candidate and a weak platform, wrap yourself up in the American flag and talk
about the constitution. MATTHEW QUAY (1833-1904).
This quote by Matthew Quay demonstrates how the use of rhetoric is undeniably important in life, even things with things of great magnitude, such as a presidential campaign. Time and time again, the use of rhetoric persuades an audience more than the cold, hard facts. A rhetoric that many companies use in TV commercials are catchy and repetitive jingles. This tune sticks with a person more that a man or woman spewing out information about the product on TV. For instance, McDonald's had a Fillet O Fish campaign using a singing bass on a wall. This commercial had an obvious impact on the population; I remember that everywhere I went, everybody knew, or at least heard of, that jingle. Another example would be Subway's $5 Foot Long jingle. The simple tune, accompanied by a dance move, easily is ingrained into one's memory and easy to pass along to friends.
In Matthew Quay's quote, he describes a presidential candidate using rhetoric to create a better campaign. Who doesn't love an all American person running for leadership of the country? All candidates try to use rhetoric to associate themselves to something quintessentially American. For instance, in the 2000 elections, John McCain incorporated the fact that he was a prisoner of war in the Vietnam War and how he's unable to completely lift his arms because of the maltreatment and torture he received as a POW. This brought him a lot of sympathy and admiration support from Americans because he had protected the country and had suffered through torture. Another presidential candidate, John F. Kennedy, also used rhetoric in his campaign. Although Kennedy was less knowledgeable on the affairs of the nation, his charisma and charm won the hearts of the American people. This accurately reflects Quary's idea of "If you have a weak candidate and a weak platform, wrap yourself up in the American flag and talk
about the constitution." Using rhetoric, Kennedy won the presidential election and beat the incumbent Ronald Reagan.
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