I didn't think that either essay (Mencken or Kroll) was persuasive.
The first essay by Mencken wasn't persuasive because of the incorrect usage of logos. Mencken took an extreme opinion on the death penalty, and basically only used two points throughout the essay. The main one depicted Americans as greedy vultures who only wanted revenge. "The thing they crave primarily is the satisfaction of seeing the criminal actually before them suffer as he made the victim suffer." He didn't have enough real facts to support his claims, plus he didn't appeal to any audience. After all, what American is going to agree that we just want to see people suffer?
The second essay by Kroll wasn't persuasive to me probably because I need facts in order to be convinced. Kroll's essay was strictly pathos, with no facts. He used an anecdote that was filled with bias, which could put some people off. For instance, his bias toward his friend pushed him toward making the victim's family seem like sadistic monsters. He uses a slight fallacy in that he only mentions the victim's family in a bad light, not the whole truth--that one of their family members had been murdered by Harris. I think it's possible that he could have exaggerated on the story, especially when dealing with the victim's family. "I saw the witnesses from the victims' families being led past our window toward the chamber. Some were laughing." Maybe if he had supported his idea with some statistic and facts, he could have appealed not only to the people who are persuaded by pathos, but also the people persuaded by logos.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
1/25/12--"Sixteen Military Wives" by the Decemberists
Questions for blog:
1. What is this song about?
2. What is the theme of the song?
Answers:
1. The song talks about the wives of men in the military, the minds of celebrities, and cannibal kings.
2. The point of this song is to point out the flaws of America. The "cannibal kings" represent the people, who like to devour the news (the military wives and celebrity minds). "Fourteen cannibal kinds wondering blithely what the dinner bell will bring. Fourteen celebrity minds served on a leafy bed of sixteen military wives." The cannibals "eat" the news. The seven people who show up to the eighteen academy chairs represent the small percentage of people who actually care about the military wives and celebrity minds. "Eighteen academy chairs out of which only seven really even care." Also, the anchorperson represents how a lot of what people think isn't even important. "La de da de da de-dadedade-da," is the unimportant things most people talk about.
1. What is this song about?
2. What is the theme of the song?
Answers:
1. The song talks about the wives of men in the military, the minds of celebrities, and cannibal kings.
2. The point of this song is to point out the flaws of America. The "cannibal kings" represent the people, who like to devour the news (the military wives and celebrity minds). "Fourteen cannibal kinds wondering blithely what the dinner bell will bring. Fourteen celebrity minds served on a leafy bed of sixteen military wives." The cannibals "eat" the news. The seven people who show up to the eighteen academy chairs represent the small percentage of people who actually care about the military wives and celebrity minds. "Eighteen academy chairs out of which only seven really even care." Also, the anchorperson represents how a lot of what people think isn't even important. "La de da de da de-dadedade-da," is the unimportant things most people talk about.
Monday, January 23, 2012
"Race for the Prize" by the Flaming Lips
Question for blog:
What is the theme of this song?
Answer:
The theme of the song is that everyone is trying to find a cure for cancer. It doesn't affect just the two scientists mentioned in this song, but rather all who want to eliminate cancer. The two men represent the population. "Forging for the future but to sacrifice their lives." This quote states something that people have been trying to do for generations. "It will kill them. They're just humans with wives and children." This represents how people have suffered while trying to fight and cure cancer.
What is the theme of this song?
Answer:
The theme of the song is that everyone is trying to find a cure for cancer. It doesn't affect just the two scientists mentioned in this song, but rather all who want to eliminate cancer. The two men represent the population. "Forging for the future but to sacrifice their lives." This quote states something that people have been trying to do for generations. "It will kill them. They're just humans with wives and children." This represents how people have suffered while trying to fight and cure cancer.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Fallacy in JFK's Speech
"Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?"
This quote represents the fallacy "begging the question." This is because he is saying that if we join in that historic effort, it will automatically lead to a more fruitful life for all mankind. He assumes that one thing (us joining him) will result in something else (a more fruitful life), when the assumption might not be correct. Do we know that joining him will result in this, for sure?
Though this speech contains numerous fallacies, it still remains famous and convincing. When people heard this speech, they weren't thinking about logical flaws that it might contain. In fact, those logical flaws might be exactly what convinced them. Fallacies can be very convincing, and people don't tend to look deep into the meaning of what is wrong or right, but rather what sounds wrong or right.
This quote represents the fallacy "begging the question." This is because he is saying that if we join in that historic effort, it will automatically lead to a more fruitful life for all mankind. He assumes that one thing (us joining him) will result in something else (a more fruitful life), when the assumption might not be correct. Do we know that joining him will result in this, for sure?
Though this speech contains numerous fallacies, it still remains famous and convincing. When people heard this speech, they weren't thinking about logical flaws that it might contain. In fact, those logical flaws might be exactly what convinced them. Fallacies can be very convincing, and people don't tend to look deep into the meaning of what is wrong or right, but rather what sounds wrong or right.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Duck and Cover
Questions for blog:
1. What was the overt message? The covert message? How did you get these?
2. Was this propaganda or persuasion, and why? (Include any specific techniques used.)
Answers:
1. This overt message was to duck and cover, so you will be prepared for the atomic bomb. I figured this out because the entire video was about what to do in the case of an atomic bomb. I didn't think there was a covert message, since the video was outright and open with what would happen in it.
2. I think this was just an informative video, stating what people need to do if there's an atomic bomb. The people who made the video weren't pushing people to buy something or believe something intentionally.
1. What was the overt message? The covert message? How did you get these?
2. Was this propaganda or persuasion, and why? (Include any specific techniques used.)
Answers:
1. This overt message was to duck and cover, so you will be prepared for the atomic bomb. I figured this out because the entire video was about what to do in the case of an atomic bomb. I didn't think there was a covert message, since the video was outright and open with what would happen in it.
2. I think this was just an informative video, stating what people need to do if there's an atomic bomb. The people who made the video weren't pushing people to buy something or believe something intentionally.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Destination Earth Propaganda
Questions for blog:
1. What was the overt message? The covert message? How did you get these?
2. Was this propaganda or persuasion, and why? (Include any specific techniques used.)
Answers:
1. The overt message is that if you use oil, it will bring motivation and happiness. I realized this when the Martians began using oil, and their town became prosperous. The covert message is that with oil and capitalism, a country will prosper. I think this because when the video was showing the happy American families getting gas, it portrayed how life is good with oil. Also, America was depicted as the best country since they had competition between oil companies.
2. This was propaganda because there was a covert message saying what wasn't outright or obvious. This video used bandwagon and glittering generalities to get its message across. The bandwagon is used when the Martians see that every American has a car, and every American uses oil. When the Martians are exposed to this, every Martian went out and started making their own companies. Glittering generalities is used since the video just depicts oil as being great, and no one really investigates more facts on it.
1. What was the overt message? The covert message? How did you get these?
2. Was this propaganda or persuasion, and why? (Include any specific techniques used.)
Answers:
1. The overt message is that if you use oil, it will bring motivation and happiness. I realized this when the Martians began using oil, and their town became prosperous. The covert message is that with oil and capitalism, a country will prosper. I think this because when the video was showing the happy American families getting gas, it portrayed how life is good with oil. Also, America was depicted as the best country since they had competition between oil companies.
2. This was propaganda because there was a covert message saying what wasn't outright or obvious. This video used bandwagon and glittering generalities to get its message across. The bandwagon is used when the Martians see that every American has a car, and every American uses oil. When the Martians are exposed to this, every Martian went out and started making their own companies. Glittering generalities is used since the video just depicts oil as being great, and no one really investigates more facts on it.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Propaganda (WWII 1941-1945)
Questions for blog:
1. What is the overt message?
2. What is the covert message?
3. How does the disparity in the two of these make it propaganda?
Answers:
1. The over message is that people need to eat less bread. We know this because at the bottom of the poster, it plainly says, "eat less bread." Also, there aren't any pictures of bread on the poster, which contributes to the statement made.
2. "The kitchen is the key to victory," represents the jobs that women need to do while their husbands are away at war ("kitchen" symbolizes various jobs women need to perform). While the men are away, the women need to take action and help the country during war time just as the men are. "Eat less bread" represents how people need to cut back on the things they buy and the money they spend. That way, they can save those resources for the war.
3. The messages make propaganda because "eating less bread" won't guarantee that the country will win. They make a promise that might not be fulfilled.
1. What is the overt message?
2. What is the covert message?
3. How does the disparity in the two of these make it propaganda?
Answers:
1. The over message is that people need to eat less bread. We know this because at the bottom of the poster, it plainly says, "eat less bread." Also, there aren't any pictures of bread on the poster, which contributes to the statement made.
2. "The kitchen is the key to victory," represents the jobs that women need to do while their husbands are away at war ("kitchen" symbolizes various jobs women need to perform). While the men are away, the women need to take action and help the country during war time just as the men are. "Eat less bread" represents how people need to cut back on the things they buy and the money they spend. That way, they can save those resources for the war.
3. The messages make propaganda because "eating less bread" won't guarantee that the country will win. They make a promise that might not be fulfilled.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
"Clampdown" by the Clash
Questions for blog:
1. What is the song about? How do you know?
2. What musical elements add to your lyrical interpretation?
3. How does this song relate to propaganda, persuasion, argument, deception, or rhetoric?
Answers:
1 and 3. This song is about the power of Hitler and the Nazi. I first began to realize this when they sand, "Taking off his turban, they said, is this man a Jew," followed by, "working for the clampdown." The clampdown represents the government Hitler is trying to create, and in the first line I mentioned, "they" represents the Nazis. The people who work for the "clampdown" are being tricked into doing what they're doing by persuasion, propaganda and deception. "The voices in your head are calling. Stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming," is the narrator's point of view on how the Nazis should respond to the propaganda ("the voices in your head").
2. The chorus's beat was harder and louder, showing how the narrator doesn't like these people "working for the clampdown." It makes his words (his opinion) sound harsh and strong.
1. What is the song about? How do you know?
2. What musical elements add to your lyrical interpretation?
3. How does this song relate to propaganda, persuasion, argument, deception, or rhetoric?
Answers:
1 and 3. This song is about the power of Hitler and the Nazi. I first began to realize this when they sand, "Taking off his turban, they said, is this man a Jew," followed by, "working for the clampdown." The clampdown represents the government Hitler is trying to create, and in the first line I mentioned, "they" represents the Nazis. The people who work for the "clampdown" are being tricked into doing what they're doing by persuasion, propaganda and deception. "The voices in your head are calling. Stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming," is the narrator's point of view on how the Nazis should respond to the propaganda ("the voices in your head").
2. The chorus's beat was harder and louder, showing how the narrator doesn't like these people "working for the clampdown." It makes his words (his opinion) sound harsh and strong.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Propaganda, Persuasion, Rhetoric, and Argument
I found quotes 1050, 1052, 1091, and 1098. The quote I chose to analyze was 1098:
"It has been said that the camera does not lie. But the camera does lie. It is a notorious, compulsive, unashamed and mischievous liar." ~RUSSELL WIGGINS
This quote is a metaphor for propaganda--the camera represents propaganda. One can tell this because propaganda can use the camera to present itself, and the two items are therefore connected. While propaganda doesn't always lie, it can and has. Even if it doesn't, it might not tell the whole truth. It convinces people something without giving a lot of information on the topic.
I agree and disagree with the quote. While propaganda can lie, I more often see things that simply don't depict the entire truth. There often isn't enough credible information about a certain piece of propaganda to be able to fully believe or endorse it.
"It has been said that the camera does not lie. But the camera does lie. It is a notorious, compulsive, unashamed and mischievous liar." ~RUSSELL WIGGINS
This quote is a metaphor for propaganda--the camera represents propaganda. One can tell this because propaganda can use the camera to present itself, and the two items are therefore connected. While propaganda doesn't always lie, it can and has. Even if it doesn't, it might not tell the whole truth. It convinces people something without giving a lot of information on the topic.
I agree and disagree with the quote. While propaganda can lie, I more often see things that simply don't depict the entire truth. There often isn't enough credible information about a certain piece of propaganda to be able to fully believe or endorse it.
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