The concept of a ‘Paradigm Shift’ was created by philosopher Thomas Kuhn. Cambridge Dictionary defines the term as “a time when the usual and accepted way of doing or thinking about something changes completely.” With this information known, what classifies as a Paradigm Shift?

Historically the term refers to scientific theologies that have become outdated and replaced with new, better theories. An example of this could be the concept of a flat earth. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle was the first to propose an observation that the earth was round. However, this theory did not publicly replace the original paradigm theory until Ferdinand Magellan sailed around the world in 1519. This fundamental change in scientific theories proves a Paradigm Shift has taken place.

In recent times, Paradigm Shifts have been associated with sociological changes amongst generations. Jean M. Twenge’s article, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” is a great example of a modern-day Paradigm Shift.

Image by Jasu Hu

The article poses a series of questions that develop a theory that the younger generation’s reliance on cellphones relates to a major societal shift from previous eras. In general, paradigm shifts are created by the young. The changes in ideas usually take the lifetime of a generation. These two characteristics can be found in Twenge’s article. The writing states:

At first I presumed these might be blips, but the trends persisted, across several years and a series of national surveys. The changes weren’t just in degree but in kind. The biggest difference between the Millennials and their predecessors was in how they viewed the world; teens today differ from the Millennials not just in their views but in how they spend their time. The experiences they have every day are radically different from those of the generation that came of age just a few years before them (Twenge).

In this quotation, the usage of the word ‘radical’ provides a clear understanding of the severe change the younger generation is facing. The lapse in time and the cause of the change being related to the young, proves that a paradigm shift has taken place.

The Paradigm Shift described in Twenge’s article relates to the drastic downward trend of teens’ mental health with the increased usage of smartphones. This new theory, that smartphones cause mental illnesses, has a wide array of supporting evidence. Therefore, it debunks the prior paradigm theory causing a Paradigm Shift.

Image by nbcnews.com

This image was captured in the aftermath of a major humanitarian crisis that shook the world.

On April 21, 2014, 276 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorist organization. In response to the Nigerian government’s poor handling of the situation, protests erupted from parents and their communities. Their signs were painted with the words, “Bring back out girls”. News of the horrific event spread across the globe. Western celebrities began joining the conversation, begging their country’s government to intervene. NBC news arrived on the scene to record the uproar of events that followed and captured this image that shows the critical nature of the situation.

This photo is commanding the Nigerian government to take action and save the school girls that they have sworn to protect.

I am drawn to this image because I can sense the despair and desperation these women feel. These girls are their children. I feel there is so much historical context behind this photo. What has occurred is arguably one of the worst events in human history. Hundreds of lives are lost. Physically lost. These families do not know if their daughters are dead or alive. The image also poses questions. It makes accusations against those in control. How could a government fail its people like this? I expect to explore how this image is meant to impact more than just the Nigerian government. The women holding the signs will take any countries’ aid. They just want their daughters back.

This image has a strong comparison to the artifact I chose for my civic engagement speech. Both images deal with children, and the failure of a government to protect them. I feel I can expand upon the ideas I present in my speech to strengthen my argument for the essay. I plan to focus on the images failed appeal of ethos, and how they both present a call to action. My primary goal is to correctly analyze the nature of this photo and how it affected communities around the world.

Logical appeals can be found in the most unexpected places. One may see a bumper sticker on their drive to work that affects their viewpoints on the Republican Party. A meme on Instagram could raise awareness for climate change. Anything from a t-shirt slogan, Facebook post, to a Redbubble sticker on a Hydro Flask can influence opinions. The one similarity all of these platforms share is the literary appeal of Logos.

Take this Twitter meme as an example:

This post made by an ordinary woman tackles the issue of littering.

Mistreating planet Earth is a huge societal problem. Human civilization has turned the oceans into trash pits, vanquished thousands of native forests, and taminated the air quality in many parts of this world. Approximately 75% of the American population have admitted that they littered in the past five years. The most common items littered are cigarette butts and fast food wrappers. These objects harm wildlife and disrupt natural ecosystems. While littering may not seem a serious issue compared to the mass waste that corporations are producing, the mentality that the earth is a garbage can is toxic and results in disrespect for the environment.

To try and spread awareness for the ill effects of littering, this woman uses a logical appeal to connect with Generation Z. By comparing ex-boyfriends to trash, the social-media influencer establishes an easily understood platform. Here is the logic: why should one litter if they can’t even throw their old boyfriends out of their lives? To this young generation of women, many relationships with men are toxic, just like litter.

A surprising 43% of college women report that they have experienced toxic, or abusive, dating behaviors. This statistic develops ground for a commonplace among females. It is a well supported idea that not all young men treat women with an appropriate amount of respect. This view is shared by a community of females that has been gaining momentum over the past years with the rise of feminist movements. Not only does this image present a commonplace, but also a strong established ideology. The groups of idea created by the feminist movement have been directly related to the logic in this meme. The audience automatically thinks that littering is just as terrible as toxic relationships.

By linking a relatable, and logical approach, the author of the tweet is able to effectively convince her readers to stop littering, and respect the environment. The short message is clear, concise, and proves a point due entirely to the literary appeal of logos.