Ritwik Deshpande - Week #9 - The Power of Rhetoric
Rhetoric is often defined as the ability or art of persuasive speaking and writing. However, this simple and barebones definition does not go to show the true power of it. Before I discuss the power of rhetoric itself, a quick history lesson is needed. The origins of rhetoric can be traced to the Classical period of ancient Greece, in which key philosophers like Plato and Aristotle played a fundamental role in defining various forms of rhetoric, and when/where to employ them.
As we have spent a lot of time learning this in our AP English class this year, I won’t go into the details of the forms of rhetoric defined by these Greek philosophers (ethos, pathos, logos). Instead, I’d like to focus on the power and influence that rhetoric has had throughout history. Even before the ancient Greeks defined rhetoric, people have made strong and evocative speeches toward their audience that are heavily persuasive.
Some notable examples of the power of rhetoric in both the modern day and the past include Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can” speech, which many credit to him winning the presidential election in 2008, which was quite revolutionary as a young, African-American man in a dome of politics ruled by older, white men.
More notable examples of rhetoric are in the form of slogans and memos that we tend to remember really well as humans. This includes the very well known slogan of Nike’s, “Just do it!” These short slogans serve as a form of rhetoric as well, since they most definitely fall into the realm of the art of persuasive speaking and writing. It would be really interesting to hear in the comments if you have any ideas regarding what does or does not constitute rhetoric, and how “powerful” different kinds of rhetoric can be!
Hi Ritwik! One of the things I really like about this class is how–by analyzing rhetoric in a bunch of different sources of media–we learn how to craft language to serve our purposes, too. For example, one of my favorite methods of persuasion is the use of descriptive language and imagery in order to evoke a variety of empathetic emotions, from resounding joy to deep pain to hope of a brighter future. In response to your question, I definitely think any piece of media can be seen as rhetoric–even if the piece was an impromptu speech instead of an address that was heavily deliberated on beforehand. This is because when someone speaks their mind, they may unconsciously choose a certain diction that reflects their inner motives. While this rhetoric may not be as strong as it could be with careful, thoughtful writing, it in and of itself can be analyzed in order to look at the subject through the eyes of the speaker. I agree that company slogans also fall under rhetoric–even more so their advertisements, as they usually have to incorporate the slogan somehow and the catchphrase eventually becomes something of a punchline at the end. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Ritwik, I vaguely remember learning the basics of ethos, pathos, and logos in sixth grade, having no idea how they could possibly be related to writing. Like you, I enjoy discovering the different ways the structure of writing can be analyzed through different rhetorical choices, one of the main reasons I decided to take this class. I like your focus on Barack Obama’s speech, as he is known to be one of the best presidential speakers, who made many memorable speeches to endorse his presidential campaign, like the few we have analyzed in our rhetorical analysis essays. I think memorable advertisements are the most effective forms of rhetoric. I remember the Cinnamon Toast Crunch advertisement playing in the background as my Spotify playlist paused, having notable changes in their tone of voice or how fast they speak. I agree with your statement that slogans are the easiest to remember, since they’re short and catchy, and I often find myself thinking of it when the brand is mentioned. I love your blog’s focus on the power of rhetoric and many of the modern examples that exist in our daily lives.
ReplyDeleteHi Ritwik! I love how you focused your blog on the very topic our APEng class is made to dissect or build upon. I do agree that rhetoric is an extremely powerful tool when used to serve the right purpose and in the context of a relevant exigence. I like how you addressed different forms of rhetoric, like the more contemporary Nike slogan versus Obama’s formal, more climacteric speech.
ReplyDeleteAs for other rhetoric I have noticed, I would like to present a visual form of it—specifically Coca Cola advertisements. Something I’ve noticed is that their visuals mainly include younger looking people and bold colors, like their signature Coca Cola red. I believe this enhances the quality of their visuals to make it more appealing in terms of vehemence.
Overall, you did a great job of getting straight to the point with specific examples (I’m sure that’s some form of a rhetorical device) and focused sentences. Thanks for sharing!