12 Angry Men: The Knife Argument

There are many examples of all three rhetorical appeals in the film 12 Angry Men.  In this blog post, I will be choosing a scene from the movie and identifying which rhetorical appeals are used and how.  In the clip that I am using, juror number four uses logos when he discusses all of the facts that would prove the boy on trial, guilty.  He explains how the boy was in the building in possession of a switch knife during the time that the murder took place.  The man explaining his point of view provides a logical explanation that because the boy was in the building during the time of the murder in possession of a knife, he was the one who committed the murder.

After this, juror number eight talks about how it is not certain that the boy was there during the time of the murder.  He states that it is possible that the knife fell through the boy’s pocket.  By saying this, juror number uses the rhetorical appeal logos.  Juror number four replies by explaining how unusual the knife is and that he has never seen another one like it.  Juror number eight then pulls out the exact same knife out of his pocket and stabs it into the table.  This action causes a big shock in the room and even changes some point of views towards the trial.  By doing so, this uses ethos.  This also includes logos because it helps juror number eight’s argument that someone could have bought the same knife and killed the boy’s father.

These two rhetorical appeals of ethos and logos demonstrate valid disproof to what juror number four said about the knife.  Juror number four simply uses logos to connect the facts.  Juror number eight not only uses logos, but also ethos to present the facts.  This helps juror number eight prove that not all of the facts presented in the court are indeed fact.  Here is the link for the clip that is titled, "The Knife Argument."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNs6yZ78Ik4

What Defines You?

I recently created my very own infosphere for an assignment in my Comp I class.  I’ve always known that I rely on technology for certain things.  It wasn’t until this assignment though, that I realized how many things I rely on technology for.  Like most people, I don’t go anywhere without my cell phone.  I think that is a piece of technology that I rely the most on. 

I’ve noticed that I always find myself listening to my iPod while walking to class.  It isn’t just recreational use in which I use technology for.  I get daily assignments and can check my grades on the OSU class website.  I also check my OSU email to get information on upcoming school events, get notified when I can take quizzes for certain classes, and other things.  I would consider myself “attached” to my technological devices. 

I believe the information that I get through technology both sustain and challenge my ideas.  When I am willing to learn, I am also willing to acknowledge different ideas.  Advances in technology are inevitable.  When technology changes, I believe that our infospheres do the same.  As we age, our infospheres will change based on what we lose and gain interests in. 

I wouldn’t say that it is the actual technological devices that influence my identity.  I think that it is more the information that I get from them is what influences my identity.  Anyone can own technological devices, but it’s what is on those devices that influence who you are.

Ethos On the Internet

Ethos is the least used rhetorical device on Facebook.  Very few experts or authorities try to persuade people through social networking.  Sites like Facebook and Linked In aren’t designed to persuade a group of people.  They are designed for things like socializing with friends and finding jobs.  When I log on to Facebook, I don’t post status updates to try and convince people what I think.  Yes, I will post what I am thinking or what I think of a situation but the purpose is not to try and persuade someone to think the way I do. 

Many Facebook users portray bad ethos.  Usually, the person will not be an expert on the topic they are discussing, therefore, they will not have all the facts.  Looking at my newsfeed on Facebook, I have noticed many bad examples of ethos.  A lot of teenagers seem to think that they know a lot about a topic, even if they don’t.  I have read many statuses of people complaining about things and how it is so simple to fix whatever it is they are complaining about.

The problem with Facebook and other social media is that there is no accountability.  For example, anyone can make a fake account for a celebrity and make up rumors.  Nothing bad will happen to the person for doing this because like I said earlier, there is no accountability. People are free to say whatever is on their mind.  In the real world, you might get punched in the face for saying some of the things that you would on the Internet.  If you were to go to several political parties’ Facebook pages, I am sure there would be examples of ethos.

People will continue to use bad examples of ethos through social media.  I think that finding a good example of ethos on a social networking site is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Pathos, Such A Powerful Tool

The word pathos is categorized with emotions.  It is used to persuade by appealing to the audience’s emotions.  People most likely see things that use pathos everyday and may not even be aware of it.  It can be found in almost anything, books, movies, commercials, and billboards.  Those examples are only a few of many more. 

There is a commercial that uses pathos to accomplish its goal.  The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) uses pathos in their commercial that states facts about animal cruelty and even shows some animals that have been abused.  It is a very sad commercial and does a great job of making the viewers feel sympathetic towards the animals.  It is not only the images that are shown that make the viewers feel bad, but also the song.  It is amazing how much emotion a commercial can bring to the audience watching with simple things like the song playing in the background. 

What this commercial is arguing is that no animal deserves to be abused and if it does happen, people should try and help any way they can. The SPCA tries to get the viewers to feel enough emotion to call the number and donate money to the organization.  The targeted audience can be anyone.  Even if you are not an animal lover, this commercial will probably make you feel sympathetic for the animals.  When I was reading the comments for this video on YouTube, I noticed that a lot of people were saying that they would not even watch this commercial.  These people won’t watch the commercial because it is so sad.  Obviously, whoever created this commercial wants people to see it but in a way, the objective is being complete.  Yes, the main objective is to get the audience to send money to the organization, but the other objective is to get the audience to feel something.  People saying that they won’t even watch it shows how much emotion this commercial can bring to people. 

Like I said before, there are many other things that use pathos.  If you pay attention, you will start to notice how common this tool really is.  

This link will lead you to the SPCA commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO9d2PpP7tQ

The Infosphere and the World Around Us

In the article, “Entering the Infosphere”, writer Michael Vlahos explains what the Infosphere is and how people are using it.  The infosphere is defined as, “shorthand for the fusion of all the world’s communications networks, databases and sources of information into a vast, intertwined and heterogeneous tapestry of electronic interchange.”  This article stresses the importance of the infosphere and how often we use it, which is every single day!  It seems as if the Infosphere is replacing office meetings and face-to-face get-togethers.  Vlahos states, “Business transactions and financial exchange are already migrating to the Infosphere.”  It is being used more and more for communication purposes. 

As Vlahos states early in the article, “The migration of people to the Infosphere depends in part on people seeing it as important to their life and work.  Vlahos’ arguments throughout the article pertain more to a personal infosphere.  Like I said earlier, the Infosphere is used every single day.  People rely on this to answer questions, conduct business, socialize, and so on.  It is truly amazing that the Infosphere is always there, regardless of the changes that occur.  People will always use it as their own personal archive. 

Along with many others and myself, the analysis of the Infosphere applies to me because I use this tool every day.  I find myself using the Infosphere to ramble about my personal life, socialize with others, look up research for school, and much more.  The Infosphere is a driving force that cannot be stopped.  What Vlahos is trying to do in this article is establish how important the Infosphere really is.  The Infosphere is apart of everyone’s life.

What Do You Do?

Today I will be discussing what my ideal writing environment is.  There are so many different styles of writings that are written in different ways.  I will start with something that many people are not too fond of, homework.  Since college, I have found myself writing homework often during the evening.  When I say evening, I don’t mean one or two o clock at night.  What I mean is around the hours of seven through twelve o clock.  Just last night, I completed writing a worksheet for my Freshmen Experience class at midnight.  I think that it would be more beneficial if I tried to complete things like this at an earlier time.  One reason is so I can get better sleep.  One good method would be to complete my writings during the afternoon or early evening, and then review them before bed, doing this would help me remember what I wrote about.

When it comes to food, I consider myself a pretty picky eater.  Homework on the other hand, I can be quite flexible.  There are certain times when I will listen to music or have the television on while writing a paper.  I’ve noticed that when listening to music while writing, the music must have little or no words.  There is a genre known as dubstep that I think is perfect to listen to while writing.  Most of the time, I will have a drink with me when I am writing.

Like I said earlier, there are so many different styles of writings that are written in different ways.  I am a musician.  When I am writing music, the general atmosphere is completely different from when I am writing something for school.  I feel freer to express myself while writing music.  Sometimes, I will have music playing to help inspire me to write something. 

These are only a few examples of the different styles of writing there are.  I’m sure that there are other blog posts with methods for doing things similar to mine.  There are also ones that will be the complete opposite.  This could be considered something that makes you who you are.  It sounds cheesy, I know, but what you do while writing can be your greatest help or your worst enemy.

Web 2.0 Fact or Fiction?

Throughout the first chapter of Andrew Keen’s The Cult of the Amateur, Keen expresses his thoughts and feelings about Web 2.0.  Keen begins by explaining the positive benefits that the new and improved Internet will have.  Shortly after, Keen seems to develop a different viewpoint after attending the FOO (Friends of o’Reilly) Camp.  Keen realizes that his fantasy to have, “music playing from every orifice” was not even close to the goals and fantasies of any of the other campers.  According to Keen, “FOO Camp is where the countercultural Sixties meets the free-market Eighties meets the technophile Nineties.” 

Keen makes a good point when explaining how the things being posted on Web 2.0 seem to be all user-produced material, leaving the honest reviews left in the dust.  More and more things are being published anonymously, making it harder to track down the author.  In this chapter, it is also stated that the community agrees on consensus.  It doesn’t matter if the statement is true or false.  It is hard to find the truth these days.

I think that Keen uses the argument of evaluation in, “The Great Seduction.”  He had a vision of what Web 2.0 would be like and had to watch it change.  There was nothing he could do about it.  Keen also uses a few standpoints of proposal, as well as fact.  Keen proposes his facts and uses his opinions to try to back up those facts.  I noticed myself beginning to agree with Keen while reading this chapter.  It is no secret how much of an impact social media has on our culture.  We trust search engines with information more than we would with loved ones or family members.  We also trust that our information is kept private when it is really being sold to advertising companies.  This truly shows how much of an impact social media has on our culture.