Comedian Jon Stewart gives a speech on the Daily Show during the “Rally to Restore Sanity/Fear”. He wants the viewers of the Daily Show to realize the difference between the real and fake threats and to take a humorous perspective on most of America’s “problems”. Stewart also emphasizes to his audience not to take every person on the media by his word and not to overreact to everything they hear. He uses metaphors, comparisons, and hypothetical examples to get his point across. In the beginning of the speech, Stewart uses the metaphor of a magnifying glass to impart to the public of the effect the press can have on them. The media can either “hold [the magnifying glass] up to our problems,” or use it to “light ants on fire.” In other words, …show more content…
by comparing the magnifying glass to the press and the ants to the public, the author highlights the fact that the press has a tendency to overemphasize America’s problems because it gives them better ratings and publicity. The press can either shed light on problems going on in the world, or they can put a spin on the stories to make them sound worse than they actually are, causing unnecessary panic in the process. Stewart uses the magnifying glass to portray that the press is a huge source of information that often over exaggerates the severity of a problem. By using this metaphor, he warns his viewers of the impact the press has on the way people view an issue. The author further extends his idea by comparing the reactions of American People to an immune system.
He points out that if our immune system “overreacts to everything, we actually get sicker.” By comparing us to an immune system, he is highlighting that, like our immune system, if we freak out over every little thing, we can actually begin to hurt our country, rather than focus on the issues that matter. That is, if we continue with our melodramatic ways, we will begin to suspect everyone as a threat, slowly making our country (the body of the American people) “sicker”. This comparison makes Stewart’s viewers think, “am I really overreacting to the things I see or hear on the media?” With this reaction, the author achieves this purpose by making his listeners reflect on how much they may be taking the media by its word. As a result, this self-reflection will most likely result in them “waking up” and looking at problems from a more analytical point of view, rather than just believing everything they hear, thus creating a society in which the author wishes people to value American “values and principles” over what they experience on …show more content…
TV. Stewart wraps up his speech by emphasizing the complexity of each individual person; and, how most people “don’t live their lives solely as democrats, republicans, liberals, or conservatives,” that they are just different people with different beliefs, which, in the end, won’t matter.
He creatively conveys this idea by using an example of various people in their unique cars with different bumper stickers to represent their diverse beliefs. By doing so, he paints an image that portrays all of these people in their cars, with their passionate opinions, are normally traveling through traffic, not caring who believes what. This descriptive portrait show the author’s ideal versions of society, where people don’t blow things out of proportion just because they hold different opinions. In the example he adds that, of course, “there will be a selfish jerk who zips up the shoulder and cuts in a the last minute” to represent a “real” problem of America and stating that the individual “is scorned. This crazy driver is meant to highlight that, yes, there will be some real threats in the world, but America will be more apt to dealing with them if Americans put aside their minor differences and focus only on the problems that are a real danger to the country. Stewart’s traffic example contributes to his purpose by displaying every day people that get along just fine, despite what they might believe, thus showing his viewers that different people are able to get along just fine on a daily
basis. By using this example, he implies that he wants his viewers to accept that different people have varying beliefs without suspecting them, automatically, as a threat to the country. Overall, Jon Stewart wants his viewers to accept that people have different views without being suspicious. He also wishes that his readers realize that not everything on the media is true, and that most of it is exaggerated so that the press can have more attention and therefore make more money.
South Park is an animated TV series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, which first aired on Comedy Central in 1997. The show features four boys Eric Cartman, Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick. South Park has been seen as one of the most controversial shows due to its raunchy humor and obscene depiction of characters in the show. South Park deals with many current issues in the news surrounding anything from in politics to religion. In dealing with these issues South Park involves adult comedy that parodies current issues going on in the United States and around the world. South Park also uses many other rhetorical deceives, such as
“The Onion’s” mock press release on the MagnaSoles satirical article effectively attacks the rhetorical devices, ethos and logos, used by companies to demonstrate how far advertisers will go to convince people to buy their products. It does this by using manipulative, “scientific-sounding" terminology, comparisons, fabrication, and hyperboles.
In 102 Minutes, Chapter 7, authors Dwyer and Flynn use ethos, logos, and pathos to appeal to the readers’ consciences, minds and hearts regarding what happened to the people inside the Twin Towers on 9/11. Of particular interest are the following uses of the three appeals.
If you’ve ever noticed, people tend to make comments about the media and the things they put out all the time, “the media is full of crap,” “everything they put out for us to view are lies,” and many more vulgar remarks, but you also notice that these people never seem to walk away from the media. Instead, they continue to go and constantly check the news sites and their social medias and this is because the media has taken control over them and their minds. Today’s society is extremely wrapped up in the media world, so wrapped up in it that if one even tried to give up on it they wouldn’t be able to. This example shows that media is like a drug and society is addicted to it, which further supports the irony Gladstone speaks
Jared Diamond makes a great and compelling argument about how inequality across the entire globe originated. The main components that were agreeing with this argument were guns germs and steel. Guns meaning the advancement in weaponry, military warfare and military sophistication. Germs meaning the harmful disease and other foul illness that wiped out humans throughout History. Then the third and final point steel, which was about the advancement in societies and the complex sophistication with their technology, which lead to building great architecture and devices that were completely impactful.
What prompts him to write this essay, is from constantly having to deal with the same types of drivers that cause him to get angry, or rage. He was living in Miami whilst writing this, which is a city of a large population, with lots of traffic. The immediate audience targeted would be other drivers, as reading this would get his points out and maybe they’d stop doing certain things he mentioned. The secondary audience would be future drivers, as they would now know what they should maybe sometimes avoid doing. Like when he mentions “-the aggressive young male whose car has a sound system so powerful and the driver must go faster than the speed of sound at all times-”. Future drivers may read this and think twice about doing it.
A town, a team, a dream. Friday Night lights document the 1988 football season of Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. Bissinger explores the various themes of the novel and uses conceit to colorfully describe the contrasting attitudes towards sports and academics. In the small town of Odessa bases Fridays nights in the fall are dedicated to Permian football. As a result of the obsessive attitude towards football a ridiculous amount of pressure is thrusted upon the coaches and players. Bissinger tackled the many problems in the town such as extreme pressure to perform, racism, and the relationship between parent and child. While Bissinger had several preconceived notions, he was ultimately proven wrong and through analysis of themes and incorporation of comparisons in the form of conceits he was able to develop his understanding of the town and accurately depict the events that transpired.
In the book Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer wrote about Christopher McCandless, a nature lover in search for independence, in a mysterious and hopeful experience. Even though Krakauer tells us McCandless was going to die from the beginning, he still gave him a chance for survival. As a reader I wanted McCandless to survive. In Into the Wild, Krakauer gave McCandless a unique perspective. He was a smart and unique person that wanted to be completely free from society. Krakauer included comments from people that said McCandless was crazy, and his death was his own mistake. However, Krakauer is able to make him seem like a brave person. The connections between other hikers and himself helped in the explanation of McCandless’s rational actions. Krakauer is able to make McCandless look like a normal person, but unique from this generation. In order for Krakauer to make Christopher McCandless not look like a crazy person, but a special person, I will analyze the persuading style that Krakauer used in Into the Wild that made us believe McCandless was a regular young adult.
McCain starts off his speech by using self-disclosure and describing his time as a young man as a navy liaison, and eventually senator, on the senate and working alongside former vice president Joe Biden. “Joe was already a senator, and I was the navy’s liaison to the Senate. My duties included escorting Senate delegations on overseas trips, and in that capacity, I supervised the disposition of the delegation’s luggage, which could require – now and again – when no one of lower rank was available for the job – that I carry someone worthy’s bag” (McCain 2017). Self-Disclosure is the the speaker telling the audience of their personal experiences and tells the audience why they have the personal convictions that they have. (Hamilton 2017)
In his essay, “The Good, The Bad, and The Daily Show,” Jason Zinser explores the vices and virtues of so-called “fake” news programs. “Fake” news, as Zinser explains, are those programs that blend newsworthy events with comedy. By examining The Daily Show, Zinser reveals both positive and negative impacts that “fake” news could have on society. As a result, Zinser concludes that there are benefits as well as potential problems with “fake” news programs but insists that the true challenge is determining the net impact on society. The essay, which first appeared in The Daily Show and Philosophy: Moments of Zen and the Art of Fake News in 2007, challenges experts on both sides of the argument who either claim fake news is for entertainment only or that fake news is an acceptable source for information on current events. On one hand, Zinser uses expert testimonies to support his argument that the end result is a better informed public but on the other, he makes logical arguments enhanced by examples to illustrate the potential impacts “fake” news can have on its viewers and mainstream media.
For example, the comedy shows The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon expresses satirical humor concerning politics. His show also demonstrates political satire by telling jokes and even impersonating political figures for the audience. He creates humor through sarcasm that focuses on real issues. His sarcastic humor causes others to feel more confident in their criticism toward politicians. For example, “Jimmy Fallon expresses his humor about Donald Trump, impersonating his appearance and imitating his voice while talking about politics. He uses his humor by impersonating Donald Trump and his sweeping generalizations with Madea (Rogo).” Jimmy Fallon shows people his views through humor and it creates a sense of community to express their agreeable and disagreeable views. As we discussed some ideas about satirical humor that affects political changes, it was important to reveal their feelings about changes in life and drove them to look upon their society or government more
From the Golden Dome of the Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, comedian Jim Carrey astounded the students of MUM’s Class of 2014 along with their parents and faculty with his commencement speech. In his speech, Carrey gave some serious advice about self-discovery, fear and happiness sprinkled liberally with humor to the graduating students while remaining true to himself. It employed several non-verbal communication techniques as well as the three modes of persuasion that we learned in class.
“The beauty of me is that I am very rich” according to Donald Trump. His ignorance has lead him to do things that he shouldn’t being doing or has done. In the past few months he has been racist man that would insult people that are from a different race. When Trump started running for president he would insult and bully everybody in general not knowing the people’s stories. He made people seem like they are poor and have nothing to live for, Trump’s inability to see past his greed. He wants to separate the United States and wants people to think he is the best of the best; Trump should not be President.
Satire is the most powerful democratical weapon in the arsenal of modern media. Sophia McClennen, the author of America According to Colbert: Satire as Public Pedagogy, describes it as the modern form of public pedagogy, as it helps to educate the masses about current issues (73). In fact, ”a Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey in 2004 found that 61 percent of people under the age of thirty got some of their political 'news' from late-night comedy shows” (McClennen 73). This statistic shows how influential satirical shows such as The Colbert Report or South Park can be. Satire invites critical self introspection from us in a way that no other media can. It also acts as an unbiased mirror that reflects the mirror image of the flaws of our society. This beautiful process, when unhindered and uncensored, is the epitome of western freedom of speech, which is the single most significant right that deserves to be cherished and defended.
From the beginning days of the printing press to the always evolving internet of present day, the media has greatly evolved and changed over the years. No one can possibly overstate the influential power of the new media of television on the rest of the industry. Television continues to influence the media, which recently an era of comedic television shows that specialize in providing “fake news” has captivated. The groundbreaking The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and its spin-off The Colbert Report have successfully attracted the youth demographic and have become the new era’s leading political news source. By parodying news companies and satirizing the government, “fake news” has affected the media, the government, and its audience in such a way that Bill Moyers has claimed “you simply can’t understand American politics in the new millennium without The Daily Show,” that started it all (PBS).