Inquiry one

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!! A slogan I had heard and seen many times, but it wasn’t until I went to the movie theatre to see Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows back in December that I got my first real glimpse of what was being hyped to be the biggest blockbuster of all time.  Well, that is what the marketing slogan and strategy were leading me to believe.  After seeing the Preview trailer for The Avengers, I knew immediately that I had to be a part of the phenomenon and be at the midnight showing when the movie premiered.  In the months leading up to opening night, I was given snippets of the movie plot on different web sites; cast members were conducting on-line interviews, the director’s previous work was being featured, and online critic reviews were being posted.  (If you haven’t guessed it already, I really like movies!)

The reviews were describing the movie as outstanding.  The Avengers was bringing together characters from other movies that I loved, which to me represented marketing genius.  As the months went by, more and more advertisements appeared.  It seemed like every time I logged onto Facebook, someone else I knew was showing up on my newsfeed proudly posting the Avenger superhero an online game had determined they were most like. And speaking of “Like”, I can’t tell you how many times I was prompted to “Like” the official Avengers Facebook page, a Fan Club page, or simply post to one of my friends comments about the movie and the actors.

So the night finally arrived and not only did I have my ticket for the midnight showing, I had bought the ticket for the Deluxe theatre with the luxurious seats because of course the movie was going to be that much better if I got to see it in 3-D, sitting on basically my own personal Lay-z-boy recliner.  Well, I am happy to say, I was not disappointed, the movie did live up to the hype.  Now, am I saying this because that is how I really felt at the time or because that is how I was programmed to feel before I even set foot in the theater?   I guess I like to think that I am not easily influenced, but I can’t deny that all the exposure to everything “Avengers” before the movie definitely did impact my reaction to the movie. 

Thoughts on Rhetoric

As I sat down to write about my thoughts on rhetoric, the first thing that came to mind is that in writing this I am trying to persuade your thoughts or opinions regarding rhetoric.  How can I persuade you to see this very idea the way I do?

To me, rhetoric is the ability to present an idea in a persuasive and effective way that either leads you to agree with me or starts a dialogue or argument between us. The First Chapter of Everything’s an Argument showed me all of the ways argument is used every day by every one; to persuade, inform, convince, explore, make decisions, or meditate and pray.  When I opened the local paper this past Sunday I couldn’t believe my eyes, as the very timely article “Rhetoric defines economic fight” was on the front page of the Forum section, with a large picture of Barack Obama.  The article described how both Obama and Mitt Romney have established their own individualized brand of rhetoric in their political campaigns.  It also emphasized how important it will be for their credibility that the voters believe the candidates are staying true to the rhetoric they have contrived as their political platform.

  

Moving from a specific example like a political campaign to the various ways persuasion may be used, I was intrigued by the breakdown of persuasion into the three basic methods: logos, pathos, and ethos. Without even realizing it, we move between these different methods to meet or accomplish our goals or personal agendas.  Logos appeals to logic, pathos appeals to emotion, and ethos appeals to character.  Does the perfect argument really exist? Can a single argument, be logical, appeal to values through emotion, and be spoken from a place of authority, probably not.  However, there is one last term that is important to know from the lecture and that is kairos, which represents the opportune or most supreme moment. So the final thought I want to leave you with in regards to persuasion or rhetoric is that… Timing is everything! Even the best argument will be rejected if it is delivered at an inopportune time.