As I think back to the two film clips we watched I easily noticed the logostical appeals present. Testimonials, the first-hand accounts of certain events of the civil rights movement appealed to the viewer's logic in that it serves as evidence, to some degree, of the given actions. The films display scences of marches, picketts, and even sit-ins to demonstrate the non-violent manner in which many African Americans protested their limited rights within American society. Also present were examples of pathetic appeal, as images ran across the screen showing peaceful protestors physically harmed and imprisoned for their demonstrations. As a result, the viewer feels pitty for those peacefully protesting and likely has sympathy for the victims. I believe that the clips encourage the viewers to re-think previously held judgements and consider the positive progress in civil rights made by the individuals of the protests.
The speech made by Stokely Carmichael is another example of how appeals can influence the perspective of an audience. He establishes the fact that he is a proven leader and effective organizer as he states his involvement with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), thereby gaining not only the trust, but also the respect from his audience. His appeal to his own credibility strengthen his argument and allow the audience to maintain confidence in his agruments and claims.
Fannie Lou Hamer's speech also establishes ethical appeals as she offers a first hand account of her beatings and physical abuse. Her audience is very likely to believe her story and therefore they will be more receptive to her claims. Hamer also demonstrates her ability to apply pathetic appeals in her speech as she describes the harshness and brutality she faced while imprisioned. I think that sympathy and a desire for change is stirred in those that she speaks to and is a consequence of her articulation and basic diction.
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3 comments:
I agree with the fact that the films carried a great deal of pathos. The scenes where individuals talked to the camera man by themselves were very emotional. I felt that you blog was very well written and I agree with many of the other points you made too.
the people marching and being harmed for no reason was really effective pathos but i also think that the footage of how racist the segregationists were was also a means of pathos just to give you all the opposite emotions as the other.
When I read D'Lexis' blog, what stands out for me (and is mentioned in several other blog posts), is how sure are the people who oppose the protesters. They seem very comfortable with their value priorities, and don't want or can't consider adopting a different set of values. As always, values are at the root of much of our behavior and who we are willing to believe/act for.
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