Rhetorical Analysis Essay “Why We Crave Horror Movies by Stephen King” This is a Rhetorical Analysis essay analyzing an article that was published by Playboy in January 1981 by the author Stephen King “Why We Crave Horror Movies”. I will be analyzing the purpose, audience, and context of the situation in which he was writing in order to make his article persuasive and user-centered. Many people have heard of the rhetorical concepts of logos, ethos, and pathos even if they do not necessarily know what they fully mean they are most familiar with logos because of its biblical ties and love languages. I will provide examples of each during my analysis. Logos is frequently translated as some variation of “logic or reasoning,” but it originally referred to the actual content of a speech and how it was organized. Today, many people may discuss the logos …show more content…
qualities of a text to refer to how strong the logic or reasoning of the text is. But logos more closely refers to the structure and content of the text itself. In this resource, logos means “text.” Logos or the appeal to reason relies on logic or reason. Logos often depends on the use of inductive or deductive reasoning. Ethos is frequently translated as some variation of “credibility or trustworthiness,” but it originally referred to the elements of a speech that reflected on the particular character of the speaker or the speech’s author.
Today, many people may discuss ethos qualities of a text to refer to how well authors portray themselves. But ethos more closely refers to an author’s perspective more generally. In this resource, ethos means “author.” Ethos or the ethical appeal is based on the character, credibility, or reliability of the writer. There are many ways to establish good character and credibility as an author: Pathos is frequently translated as some variation of “emotional appeal,” but it originally referred to the elements of a speech that appealed to any of an audience’s sensibilities. Today, many people may discuss the pathos qualities of a text to refer to how well an author appeals to an audience’s emotions. Pathos as “emotion” is often contrasted with logos as “reason.” In this resource, pathos means “audience.” Pathos, or emotional appeal, appeals to an audience's needs, values, and emotional
sensibilities. Here are three examples of Ethos with a mixture of pathos in the article. “I think that we’re all mentally ill: those of us outside the asylums only hide it a little better— and maybe not all that much better. We all have fears.” “It may be that horror movies provide psychic relief on this level because this invitation to lapse into simplicity, irrationality and even outright mad- ness is extended so rarely. We are told we may allow our emotions a free rein . . . or no rein at all.” I don’t think there is creditability for this is only his opinion. “When we exhibit these emotions, society showers us with positive reinforcement; we learn this even before we get out of diapers.” Stephen Kings has a very convincing approach in his writing for those who enjoy horror movies. He is very in tune with others emotions with effectiveness of speech. He seems to be making a very straight forward difference between good and bad horror if there is a difference.
To begin, ethos is the appeal to credibility. Ethos use of persuasion to show the writer has a full knowledge of what is being said. Amanda Coyne displays this rhetorical device when she notes she has a family member is prison. This small amount of information credits her knowledge on the emotional effects and the experiences one may have inside a federal prison visitation room. Ethos also promotes the ethical appeal to the reader through the text. For example,“The Long Goodbye: Mother’s Day in Federal Prison” tells the tale of a woman in jail for conspiracy. “Ten years. That boyfriend talked and got three years. She didn 't know anything. Had nothing to tell them. They gave her ten years. And they called it conspiracy. Conspiracy? Aren 't there real criminals out there?” (62). This pulls the reader to start to question the ethics of the justice system and if the system truly beneficial to all who fall under and are held accountable to its standards. Amanda Coyne puts this litotes into this essay to make you question if this woman is a criminal or someone who was caught up in the wrong place and couldn 't get
Clinton uses logos to support her ideas on how to run the country. Logos is the appeal of using logic to assist a statement
Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle links three elements of arguing together: the speaker, the story, and the audience. The relationship between the elements determines the speaker’s argument and whether it will be successful in oratory or literature. Ethos, Logos and Pathos are each different aspects of the argument that must be balanced in order to succeed in persuading or convincing an audience. Ethos, or character, relates to the speaker’s credibility that the audience appeals to: it is useful when persuading a group of people to trust what you are saying or doing. Logos, or logic, is a way of convincing and appealing by reason, truth, and facts. Pathos relates to the audience’s emotions and their response to what the speaker is saying.
The article Why We Crave Horror Movies by Stephen King distinguishes why we truly do crave horror movies. Stephen King goes into depth on the many reasons on why we, as humans, find horror movies intriguing and how we all have some sort of insanity within us. He does this by using different rhetorical techniques and appealing to the audience through ways such as experience, emotion and logic. Apart from that he also relates a numerous amount of aspects on why we crave horror movies to our lives. Throughout this essay I will be evaluating the authors arguments and points on why society finds horror movies so desirable and captivating.
In Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, pathos, logos and ethos are evidently and effectively used to persuade the audience into believing Caesar was not ambitious and that he was an innocent man. Throughout the speech the citizens were easily persuaded, but Anthony’s intellectual speeches made the audience question and imagine what they have turned into. Anthony used these three rhetorical appeals to win back the citizens just like many people do today. The power of pathos, logos and ethos in a speech can change one mind in an instant and if successfully used can change a mind to be fully persuaded without confusion.
The unsuccessful use of ethos makes the reader feel like the author’s piece is irrelevant to read. What’s going to make them believe this author has something to say that is actually worth listening to? It goes as far as the process it took for the author to make the article. Little things like the ones mentioned in this analysis: demographics of the subjects, interview styles and experience, which contribute to the process of making her article, could become big things when it comes to the author’s use of ethos, because it’s all about credibility. The process is where ethos is established for the most part and that’s where Anderson made most of her “little” mistakes.
Ethos is defined as appeal to ethics, and without ethics the audience may look to the writer as someone who is not credible to speak about their argument, but if the writer finds credible sources then he/she may appeal to the audience by what knowledge they learned from the sources they have. In the movie Milk (2008) directed by Gus Van Sant, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) who is the first openly gay elected Political Official, battles for the rights of gay people in San Francisco, California. The use of Ethos is in the scene when Senator Briggs (Dennis O’Hare) tells Harvey Milk that he has the public vote and the people would vote for him because he is the
One of the appeals is ethos, which is the character of the speaker/writer. This refers back to how credible the writer’s knowledge is. An example of this is that Wright speaks about his experience trying to purchase a home in America as well as in France. In the text, he states, “In the home of my
Ramage, John D., and John C. Bean. "Ethos, Pathos, and Logos." Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 1998. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.
Ethos can be defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary as, “the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution.” Famous Greek philosopher and teacher Aristotle studied and taught the concept of ethos. In The Rhetoric, Aristotle identifies ethos as:
Ethos is a Greek word that means credibility. However, most philosophers link the word ethos to ethical appeal. Ethical appeal means that a person is convincing by the virtue of his character. The society is pulled and attracted towards appeal. As a result, most individuals are attracted, and listen, to people that they respect. One of the crucial challenges in any argumentation is to convince the reader that you are worth listening to. Additionally, it is challenging for any author to portray himself as an authority in the subject of discussion. The principle of ethos also d...
While there are many ways to persuade, convince, and motivate a person, the acts you can try to prevail are pathos, ethos, and logos. pathos, ethos, and logos are rhetorical appeals, Which means that the rhetorical appeals will strengthen an arguemental essay. Furthermore, pathos means a person who try to emotionally connect and persuade someone based on their emotions. ForExample, there is a commercial or an ad on Television about an adoption center, They try to capture your emotions by showing the viewers sad looking animals. Also, how an animal are living in a bad environment, so that a person can have emotion of sadness about the way that they live, and try to make the person to adopt a pet, and tell people about their adoption center.
Next, when an author appeals to the emotion of the audience, that is called pathos. A speaker using
Ethic is connected with what the correct conduct within society is. It relies on what the majority is doing or saying instead of laws or what is right or wrong in a situation. Ethics derived from the Greek word ethos meaning character, which refers to my previous statement of the major concerns for the upright people, those that are reliable, and the ones that exemplify the appropriate conduct suitable within society’s line of approval. “Ethics challenge us to use the difficult practical task of applying norms and standards to ever new and changing circumstances”(Center for Journalism Ethics, 2015).
We all have cravings, be it for snacks or sweets, there is always something we desire. We crave horror in the same way. In Stephen King’s essay, “Why We Crave Horror Movies,” he argues that people need to watch horror films in order to release the negative emotions within us. King believes that people feel enjoyment while watching others be terrorized or killed in horror movies. King’s argument has elements that are both agreeable and disagreeable. On one hand he is acceptable when claiming we like the thrill and excitement that comes from watching horror movies; however, his views regarding that the fun comes from seeing others suffer cannot be agreed with because the human condition is not as immoral as he claims it to be.