Month: September 2019

This article can be considered a paradigm shift piece because it takes one perspective and attempts to use persuasive language in order to change or influence one’s opinion about the subject. The article is about the use of social media and technology in this new generation dubbed “iGen”. The article begins by discussing and comparing trends between the generations of the 20th and 21st century. While not yet criticizing technology, it points out that activities that were considered normal for teenagers and adolescents are ever declining when analyzing this generation versus previous ones. It uses an anecdotal story from an unnamed girl to demonstrate how attitudes have changed when looking at socializing publicly. Instead of going out with friends all the time whenever possible, of age children today prefer to communicate by way of social media apps.

The article then shifts to heavy analytical data to do much of its persuasion. In attempt to prove an argument that the use of social media has links to poorer health, the article deploys graphs, numbers, and undertakes a much more serious tone than the opening of the article. The second half of the article has a strong logos appeal and may be the most effective part because it uses the context provided in the beginning and combines it with facts to push a point across. This is the article trying to convince the reader that there is another way to look at the subject and that in looking at it this way, their perceptions may change.

 

De-Evolution T-Shirt; end to gun violence

This t-shirt slogan is contains man’s accepted path of evolution from primate to human as we are today. On either side, as man evolves and is able to stand upright, they each get a weapon to protect themselves. However, the last two are humans with one facing holding his hands up in self defense, and the other facing him with a gun pointed at him. Under the path of evolution is the word “de-evolution”.

On the surface, in using the word de-evolution, the maker suggest that killing each other with guns is a primitive way of thinking and acting, hence the juxtaposition of the word and the primates. Of course, what’s implied is the political message of ending gun violence. The intended audience sees has the pre-existing  ideology that guns are dangerous weapons and harmful to our society. However, this slogan would only be effective to a narrow audience, as it does not have the logical appeal to sway someone who is a strong believer in gun rights.

Image by “Ads of the World”

This image combines the rhetorical strategies of kairos, pathos, and to a lesser degree logos in order to portray the urgency of global warming. The intent of this ad is to show that global warming is causing water levels to rise, and in turn will push our cities under water if we do not work to combat it.

The appeal to kairos comes in the image in that the water almost completely submerges Lady Liberty. The goal of this is not to say that our cities are already flooded, but to create a sense of urgency on the issue by demonstrating that we are heading to this result if we do not act now by creating better environmental habits. Along with kairos is a strong appeal to pathos. Targeted most likely at American citizens, the image shows not only one of our national landmarks under water, but on a larger scale one of the most important cities in this country in New York being affected. This strategy is effective because it is intended to appeal to a wide audience by playing to the emotion that we could lose one of our beloved American cities. Lastly, there is a smaller appeal to logos in that if this can happen to a powerful city such as New York, then we should all be worried as major cities all across the country from the east to west coast are vulnerable as well. These appeals again all play into the idea of kairos and that the timeliness of this issue exists now and must be acted on now.

In the bottom left corner of the image is the phrase, “Stop global warming”. While the message is commonplace, I think this ad backs up its cosmopolitain phrase with a strong image that does most of the talking. With that, the intended audience, which is American citizens, is likely to see the point of the message being displayed in this ad. However, I do not believe the ad is powerful enough to “motivate” people who are of a different opinion when it comes to global warming, rather just encourage those who do see the harmful effects to take some kind of action.