The essay “Never Just Pictures” by Susan Brodo is one that uses objectivity as a style to present cultural criticism. Her reaction to other works such as the “cult of the cadaverous” is her way of showing her criticism to bizarre American cultures. On never analyzing just pictures, it is easy to think of popular advertisements that have influenced the lives of people. Advertising is one of the most popular ways in which manufacturers can increase awareness on their commodities. However, easy it is for advertisements to convince people in the public to purchase things, but they do not appear overly concerned to cater for the needs of the society.
The essay “Never Just Pictures” is a means through which Susan Brodo talks about eating disorders, the associated problems and the role of the media in further spreading the problem (Brodo, 2011). The purpose of the author is to warn the audiences of the effects of the advertisements. Brodo uses a variety of mechanisms in order to put her ideas through accordingly.
First, she uses pathos, ethos and logos to convince the readers on her ideologies. She uses pathos to convince the reader using her emotion and responses (Morgan, 1974). She uses ethos by referring to her previous article and newspaper articles (Baumlin, 1994). Logic or logos is used by the author by employing facts she has obtained from various credible sources.
One of the most prevalent means that the author uses is by building an intrinsic ethos. Since the audience can relate to the topic that the author is addressing, the author can create ethical resonance with the audience. The author begins the story with referring to a celebrity (Alicia Silverstone) that the audience can relate with (Brodo, 2011). This enables the audience to relate and sympathize with the plight of the author. This is because the reader can recognize a common belief that they held before they read the article. The introduction enables the author to build a relationship with the audience and be able to engage them for the entirety of the essay.
Throughout the essay, the author tries to appeal to the ethical side of the reader. Susan Brodo achieves this by carefully maintaining the distance between herself and the reader. She does this by making sure she uses an active voice throughout the essay. The use of this voice and active verbs in the essay ensures that she can maintain a sense of authority over the audience and in so doing the audience is engaged throughout the essay. Quoting her work enables the author claim responsibility which increases the readers' opinion on his expertise. Additionally, the use of an active voice gives the reader a sense of urgency. The dynamic state of the persona in the essay ensures that the author resonates with different readers (Adlin, 2010).
In some instances, the author exchanges between grammatical personas to enable the author and the audience to form a sort of alliance on one side of the argument and the manufacturers and media on the other (Adlin, 2010). This further enables the audience sympathize with the plight of the author. The usage of this grammatical persona also enables the author and the reader become on equal footing. Since the author does not portray himself to be superior to the audience, she can create goodwill with the audience, therefore, connecting with her audience more.
The body of the essay is devoted to logically appealing to the audience. Susan uses logic to appeal to the reader. For instance, she refers to articles and individual, like celebrities, that the audience can identify with in order to make his point. This ensures that the audience can sympathize with her plight. The author further explains why the logic behind the media criticisms of the overweight people and why it does not adhere to reality hence her reason for discouraging the reader.
Susan concludes by appealing to the readers’ emotion and building his pathos. She uses dramatic language such as “eating disorders are deeper than just obedience to images” (Brodo, 2011). The sudden change of the author’s language enables the audience to associate further with the author. It also enables the readers’ to get a sense of urgency by invoking a sense of unease within the audience.
Works Cited
Adlin, Tamara. The essential persona lifecycle your guide to building and using personas. San Francisco, Calif.: Morgan Kaufmann ;, 2010. Print.
Baumlin, James S.. Ethos: new essays in rhetorical and critical theory. Dallas, Tex.: Southern Methodist University Press, 1994. Print.
Brodo, S. (2011). “Never Just Pictures." The Chronicle Review.
Retrieved from http://www.alanrobbins.com%2FUI%2FReadings%2520PDFs%2FBordo.pdf
Campos, Paul F. The obesity myth: why America's obsession with weight is hazardous to your health. New York: Gotham Books, 2004. Print.
Connors, Robert J.. Essays on classical rhetoric and modern discourse. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1984. Print.
Morgan, Elizabeth Johnson. John Bunyon's rhetoric: ethos, logos, and pathos in selected treatises. New York: G Books, 1975. Print.
