Sunday, January 29, 2012
Kroll and Mencken Articles
I find the Kroll article more persuasive. Its use of pathos has more of an impact than Mencken's weak attempt at logos. Mencken fails to use any hard facts that would tend to persuade the logos-minded, rendering his piece ineffective. Kroll, however, has mastered the use of emotion to persuade. He makes every effort to paint Harris in the light of a victim, and depict the families of the victims as cruel and heartless people. He effectively describes the whole scene as "indescribably ugly", and leaves the reader with a disturbed feeling that works much better than Mencken's attempt to persuade.
"Sixteen Military Wives" by the Decemberists
What is the song talking about (subject matter)?
The overt subject matter of the song is sixteen wives whose husbands go off to war and die there, and the widows are left to mourn their deaths. The song goes on to describe celebrities, and the final stanza depicts a group of "cannibal kings".
What is the theme (about what is the audience supposed to think)?
The theme is that the American people have come to thrive off depressing news and become attached to the media, but aren't actually emotionally impacted by the harshness of what really goes on in the world. The newsanchor talks about the widowed women without showing any real signs of caring about them, and the song depicts America going to war without the people really caring about its impact.
The overt subject matter of the song is sixteen wives whose husbands go off to war and die there, and the widows are left to mourn their deaths. The song goes on to describe celebrities, and the final stanza depicts a group of "cannibal kings".
What is the theme (about what is the audience supposed to think)?
The theme is that the American people have come to thrive off depressing news and become attached to the media, but aren't actually emotionally impacted by the harshness of what really goes on in the world. The newsanchor talks about the widowed women without showing any real signs of caring about them, and the song depicts America going to war without the people really caring about its impact.
"Race for the Prize" by the Flaming Lips
What is the theme of the song?
The theme is that individual people can take action to benefit the whole of humankind, but it requires taking risks and the dedication of one's life to the cause.
Write a paragraph to persuade as to what the theme of the song is.
The lyrics that support the first half of the theme are "two scientists were racing/for the good of all mankind/both of them side by side/so determined/locked in heated battle/for the cure that is their prize". The two scientists are racing to find the cure for a disease, "for the good of all mankind". These two individuals were not much different from anyone else, as evidenced by the lines "they're just humans/with wives and children", but they still had the ability to change the world. At the same time, their endeavors are accompanied by great risks. This is evidenced by the lines, "but it's so dangerous" and "forging for the future/but to sacrifice their lives/both of them side by side". Their "forging for the future" is what's creating danger for the both of them. The second half of the theme is also shown through the lyrics "if it kills them/they're just humans/with wives and children". These lines illustrate that the two are at risk of losing even their wives and children.
The theme is that individual people can take action to benefit the whole of humankind, but it requires taking risks and the dedication of one's life to the cause.
Write a paragraph to persuade as to what the theme of the song is.
The lyrics that support the first half of the theme are "two scientists were racing/for the good of all mankind/both of them side by side/so determined/locked in heated battle/for the cure that is their prize". The two scientists are racing to find the cure for a disease, "for the good of all mankind". These two individuals were not much different from anyone else, as evidenced by the lines "they're just humans/with wives and children", but they still had the ability to change the world. At the same time, their endeavors are accompanied by great risks. This is evidenced by the lines, "but it's so dangerous" and "forging for the future/but to sacrifice their lives/both of them side by side". Their "forging for the future" is what's creating danger for the both of them. The second half of the theme is also shown through the lyrics "if it kills them/they're just humans/with wives and children". These lines illustrate that the two are at risk of losing even their wives and children.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
JFK Speech Fallacy
1) Write a quote from the speech that commits a fallacy. 2) Tell what fallacy it commits and explain why it is guilty of committing that logical flaw. 3) Explain why a speech that blatantly commits so many fallacies can still be so effective and so famous.
1) "If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich." page 1, paragraph 8
2) This statement commits a non sequitur fallacy because there exists a disconnect between the premise ("a society can't help its poor") and the conclusion ("therefore, it cannot help the rich"). While the two statements both discuss an economic class, and therefore may appear to be related, in reality they have nothing to do with each other. A society being unable to assist the "many poor" does not guarantee that they will also be unable to help out the "few who are rich".
3) JFK manages to use rhetoric in such an inspirational, patriotic manner that people are riled up before they even have time to think about the many fallacies in the speech. The speech is designed to breed feelings of "Americanism" and pride for both the president and the country; listeners aren't exactly looking to the speech as a source of evidence-supported argument. Finally, after a president is elected, the majority of people are still focusing their attention and topics of discussion on the president himself and what they think he will do in office; they aren't absorbing the inauguration speech critically, looking for logical errors.
1) "If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich." page 1, paragraph 8
2) This statement commits a non sequitur fallacy because there exists a disconnect between the premise ("a society can't help its poor") and the conclusion ("therefore, it cannot help the rich"). While the two statements both discuss an economic class, and therefore may appear to be related, in reality they have nothing to do with each other. A society being unable to assist the "many poor" does not guarantee that they will also be unable to help out the "few who are rich".
3) JFK manages to use rhetoric in such an inspirational, patriotic manner that people are riled up before they even have time to think about the many fallacies in the speech. The speech is designed to breed feelings of "Americanism" and pride for both the president and the country; listeners aren't exactly looking to the speech as a source of evidence-supported argument. Finally, after a president is elected, the majority of people are still focusing their attention and topics of discussion on the president himself and what they think he will do in office; they aren't absorbing the inauguration speech critically, looking for logical errors.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
"Duck and Cover" Video
What is the overt message?
The overt message is instructions on what to do if an atomic bomb is about to hit.
The overt message is instructions on what to do if an atomic bomb is about to hit.
What is the covert message?
There is no covert message, because this video is not quite propaganda. It is meant to be informative in nature.
There is no covert message, because this video is not quite propaganda. It is meant to be informative in nature.
Is this propaganda or persuasion?
I don't think it is either. I don't see any message that the video is trying to convince people of, nor is there any below-the-surface message that would make it propaganda. I think the video is just trying to instruct children in a memorable way what to do if an atomic bomb hits.
"Destination Earth" Propaganda Video
What is the overt message and how do we know?
The overt message is that making products with oil and competition between oil companies both promote the wellbeing of a society. This is demonstrated through the alien's praise of American society for making products with petroleum and allowing competition in the oil industry.
What is the covert message and how is it known?
The covert message is that oil use and oil competition equates to patriotism and anti-petroleum industry sentiments equate to communistic thinking. The use of petrol is noticeably paraded as a distinctly American achievement, while the alien leader, who opposes the competition between oil companies, is personified as a communistic dictator. Before the Martian society is introduced to oil, everyone looks and acts like one another (a reference to communist society). After being introduced to oil, they diversify and begin to resemble American society, and subsequently are made to look much happier.
How is it propaganda?
This video is propaganda because it contains a hidden, covert message that isn't communicated on the surface level. It also uses propaganda techniques, such as transfer (patriotism -> oil), to get across its message.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
"Eat Less Bread" ~ WWI Propaganda
1. What is the overt message in this piece?
The overt message is a woman standing in a kitchen, and a message that says "the kitchen is the key to victory - eat less bread".
2. What is the covert message?
The covert message is that people can help the war from home by conserving resources that can be sent to the troops. In 1917, wheat rations were steadily depleting, and in order to have enough to supply the soldiers with, the government asked people to cook other things at home instead of making bread.
3. Explain how the disparity in the two of those makes it propaganda, and not simply persuasion.
The motive of this poster is to persuade, but no indication is given in the poster of what the government was actually trying to get people to do. Because it does not outright give any reasons for saying "eat less bread", the poster is propaganda.
The overt message is a woman standing in a kitchen, and a message that says "the kitchen is the key to victory - eat less bread".
2. What is the covert message?
The covert message is that people can help the war from home by conserving resources that can be sent to the troops. In 1917, wheat rations were steadily depleting, and in order to have enough to supply the soldiers with, the government asked people to cook other things at home instead of making bread.
3. Explain how the disparity in the two of those makes it propaganda, and not simply persuasion.
The motive of this poster is to persuade, but no indication is given in the poster of what the government was actually trying to get people to do. Because it does not outright give any reasons for saying "eat less bread", the poster is propaganda.
"Clampdown" ~ The Clash
1. What is the song about?
This song is about Nazi Germany and the Nazis' efforts to indoctrinate the country's youth with their political ideology.
2. How do you know what the song is about?
The speaker says, "we will teach our twisted speech/to the young believers/we will train our blue-eyed men/to be young believers". "Twisted speech" refers to the corrupt political ideology of the Nazis, the "young believers" stand for the Hitler Youth, and "our blue-eyed men" refers to the ideal race of the Nazis, the Aryans, who were supposed to be blonde-haired, blue-eyed people.
3. What musical elements emphasize this interpretation of the song?
The stanza beginning with "the voices in your head are calling/stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming/only a fool would think someone could save you" is sung in a very hushed yet manic tone, with an edge of panic in the speaker's voice. My interpretation of these lines is that the subject of the song is beginning to have some doubts about his political ideology and the whole Nazi movement he's bought into. This stanza sounds like he's trying to frantically hush his suspicious mind, because the "voices in his head" remind him that going against what's become the accepted ideology would most likely result in his death. The hushed and frantic musical style of this stanza reflects the subject's inner struggle with his thoughts.
4. Example of rhetoric, propaganda, or persuasion in the song.
The line, "they put up a poster saying they earn more than you" demonstrates a use of propaganda. It shows how displaying that you belong to the "winning side" can be an effective way to get someone to agree with you. In this case, the song is referring to how the Nazis might have used "winning team" psychology to take advantage of people.
This song is about Nazi Germany and the Nazis' efforts to indoctrinate the country's youth with their political ideology.
2. How do you know what the song is about?
The speaker says, "we will teach our twisted speech/to the young believers/we will train our blue-eyed men/to be young believers". "Twisted speech" refers to the corrupt political ideology of the Nazis, the "young believers" stand for the Hitler Youth, and "our blue-eyed men" refers to the ideal race of the Nazis, the Aryans, who were supposed to be blonde-haired, blue-eyed people.
3. What musical elements emphasize this interpretation of the song?
The stanza beginning with "the voices in your head are calling/stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming/only a fool would think someone could save you" is sung in a very hushed yet manic tone, with an edge of panic in the speaker's voice. My interpretation of these lines is that the subject of the song is beginning to have some doubts about his political ideology and the whole Nazi movement he's bought into. This stanza sounds like he's trying to frantically hush his suspicious mind, because the "voices in his head" remind him that going against what's become the accepted ideology would most likely result in his death. The hushed and frantic musical style of this stanza reflects the subject's inner struggle with his thoughts.
4. Example of rhetoric, propaganda, or persuasion in the song.
The line, "they put up a poster saying they earn more than you" demonstrates a use of propaganda. It shows how displaying that you belong to the "winning side" can be an effective way to get someone to agree with you. In this case, the song is referring to how the Nazis might have used "winning team" psychology to take advantage of people.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Propaganda, Persuasion, Rhetoric, and Argument
#656, 662, 723, 740
723. The most effective way of attacking vice is to expose it to ridicule. We can stand rebukes, but not laughter; we don't mind seeming wicked, but we hate to look silly. ~ Moliere, 1622-1673
I think this quote reflects very accurately an aspect of human nature that we tend to sweep under the rug. We like to think that we are well thought-out, logical people at heart, persuaded only by stone-cold results and pure, hard fact. In reality, humans are predominantly social animals, and are thereby chiefly swayed by propaganda and rhetoric that emphasize social acceptability. Being laughed at or ridiculed indicates a deviation from the accepted social 'norm', and any argument that appears too far outside of these accepted social boundaries is bound to be judged negatively by the people. With his quote, Moliere points out that people are more subject to social and emotional cues than they would like to think, rather than purely swayed by rational, structured argument.
A real-life example is our approach to political candidates. If a candidate has some embarrassing history he or she has kept private that is then brought into the open, any fact-based platform they've chosen to run their campaign on will be swept aside in favor of media coverage on their history. People will no longer see the candidate for what they stand for, but will instead recognize them by whatever embarrassing thing they're known for. That candidate is much less likely to be elected, because they've been put in a position where their poor social stance outweighs their political platform.
723. The most effective way of attacking vice is to expose it to ridicule. We can stand rebukes, but not laughter; we don't mind seeming wicked, but we hate to look silly. ~ Moliere, 1622-1673
I think this quote reflects very accurately an aspect of human nature that we tend to sweep under the rug. We like to think that we are well thought-out, logical people at heart, persuaded only by stone-cold results and pure, hard fact. In reality, humans are predominantly social animals, and are thereby chiefly swayed by propaganda and rhetoric that emphasize social acceptability. Being laughed at or ridiculed indicates a deviation from the accepted social 'norm', and any argument that appears too far outside of these accepted social boundaries is bound to be judged negatively by the people. With his quote, Moliere points out that people are more subject to social and emotional cues than they would like to think, rather than purely swayed by rational, structured argument.
A real-life example is our approach to political candidates. If a candidate has some embarrassing history he or she has kept private that is then brought into the open, any fact-based platform they've chosen to run their campaign on will be swept aside in favor of media coverage on their history. People will no longer see the candidate for what they stand for, but will instead recognize them by whatever embarrassing thing they're known for. That candidate is much less likely to be elected, because they've been put in a position where their poor social stance outweighs their political platform.
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