Journal 2 Assignment

Journal 2 Assignment

In lectures over the past week, we have talked about popular culture and the role it plays in reflecting wider beliefs, values, and assumptions. Culture is far from neutral, and can be a site for rhetorical action - making arguments, supporting beliefs, encouraging action and raising awareness.

Sellnow has proposed a method for analyzing such arguments:
(1) Select a text
(2) Select a rhetorical perspective
(3) Examine text via description, interpretation, evaluation

This is exactly what I would like you to do for this week's journal!

(1) Select a text:

You have a choice of 4 texts to analyze, dealing with quite a variety of topics and rhetorical goals:
a) Luke Muehlhauser - Video Games as Art
b) Steven Wilson - Music and Mass Culture
c) Two Little Girls (Human trafficking awareness ad)
d) ID&T: Release (advertisement)
See further below for links to videos and additional information about these texts.

(2) Select a rhetorical perspective

We already have a couple of perspectives to start with, and another one will be added during the following week. Feel free to choose any one or any combination of them - but be sure to cover the key details!
a) Classical Rhetoric: Aristotle (3 Appeals, Structure/Style), Cicero (5 canons), Rhetorical Fallacies
b) Toulmin Model: Claim, Grounds, Warrant, Backing, Rebuttal, Qualifier
c) Narrative: Coherence/Fidelity, Events, Organization (causal, temporal), Setting, Characters, Narrator, Intended Audience, Conveyed Morals
d) Dramatism: the Pentad, Absolution of Guilt, Implications

(3) Examine text via description, interpretation, evaluation

Describe the structure of the argument you are analyzing, consider the implied and stated messages, and evaluate how effective it is (and why/why not). You are welcome to take a stance on the issue yourself and add your personal take on the argument - but only after you analyze it!

As always, you should aim for 500 words (or more if you wish). This is not a formal essay and you are welcome to write in first person, add your own commentary and not have formal organization if you wish, but I do encourage you to be serious and organized in this one.
Hint: this is, in a sense, practice for the type of writing you will have to do on your midterm.

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Artifacts (choose one):

(1) Videogames as Art

By Luke Muehlhauser, AI researcher and logician, Singularity Institute
http://lukeprog.com/

Luke is involved in developing “Friendly AI”, i.e. intelligent software to help humans

(2) Music and Mass Culture

By Steven Wilson, musician and producer, leading member in bands Porcupine Tree, Blackfield and No Man.
http://www.swhq.co.uk/

This clip comes from the documentary film “Insurgentes”. You can also see this interview excerpt where Steven expands on the same theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys-ivbIRWu8

(3) Two Little Girls (human trafficking)
(caution - there is some rather emotionally-heavy and disturbing content in this video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udHSutTF4Us

Originally designed as part of the "not Natasha" exhibition, about the stories of Eastern European women trafficked abroad, at the Impressions Gallery in the UK. More info:
http://www.impressions-gallery.com/exhibitions/exhibition.php?id=30

(4) ID&T - Release

(caution - uncensored swearing in this video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na4kvmIa4LU

ID&T is an event-organizing company in the Netherlands, specializing in hosting electronic dance parties and raves.

http://www.id-t.com/ (website in Dutch)