SNL Context Analysis

In this SNL skit, one must know about certain aspects of the jokes and the culture in which it's being told. First of all, people have to know that Sarah Palin is the running mate for presidential hopeful John McCain, and Hillary Clinton was once running for the democratic nomination for president. In one of the jokes, Clinton talks about how she was called some type of colloquial name, and she googled it to find out what it really meant. One must know that google is a search engine on the internet. Also, one must know the background of the two woman. Take Sarah Palin's accent for instance, she is speaking in a deep Canadian-like accent because she is from Alaska. Also, Sarah Palin tells how she is one "heartbeat" away from being president, but one must know that she is running for vice-president and that the presidentail hopeful she is the running mate for, John McCain, has very bad heart problems.

Opposite Sex for a Day

If I could be the opposite sex for one day, the first thing I would accomplish would be to write down most of the thoughts I have, so when I turn back into a male, I would know more of what females think about half the time. I would also pray that it isn't "that time of the month." Then I would apply makeup so people don't think I'm ugly. I would also have to realize I have to go into the "She Moes" instead of the "He Moes" at Moe's Southwestern Grill. Life wouldn't be very joyful for me during that day.

Rhetorical Analysis of Trash

Observations:

• Simple statement
• Audience is everyone
• Environmental
• Seems to be effective
• The box is full of trash

Inferences:

• Trash is very prevalent
• Litter is a problem in today's society
• The box is making a relatively large impact on litter

The picture of the "Reduce Litter" box is an image that captures the truth about the problem of littering and the overflow of trash in today's society. Pathos and logos are seen in this image; however, ethos cannot be found. Pathos and logos are both captured in the same aspect of the image. The fact that the box is overflowing with trash shows the quantity of trash throughout the area, and that fact shows many people that litter is a relatively large problem.

Labor Day Weekend

Dear Friend,

During the 2008 Labor Day festivities, I engaged in numerous activities. On Friday, I drove three hours back home, and when I arrived, I managed to get my vehicle stuck in a rut during the high school football game. While the tow truck was pulling it out, my truck almost flipped, but the tow company got it out and billed the school for the incident. On Saturday, I enjoyed time with my family and later went out on the lake with my girlfriend and her family. We inner tubed, wake boarded, and swam. Later, on Saturday night, I went to my girlfriend's house and watched Alabama defeat Clemson in Saturday night college football. Sunday was the best day because I just went to church and later went home with my girlfriend and we watched all of the Bourne movie series. On Monday, my girlfriend came over again, and we played Wii Fit, cooked dinner, and then watched the University of Tennessee Volunteers get defeated against the UCLA Bruins.

Cody Stricklin

Dear Meemaw,

I had a lot of fun this past Labor Day weekend. On Friday I went to a football game and got my truck stuck in a deep rut. On Saturday, I went to the lake with Sarah's family and then watched the Alabama/Clemson football game. On Sunday, I went to church and later came home to watch a new movie series. On Monday, I watched the Tennessee Vols lose against the UCLA Bruins. It was horrible. Have a great day.

Love,
Cody
PS: Could you please make me some cookies? I like cookies.

Your brain on drugs and it's rhetorical outlook

Movie 1
Observations

• Everyone is it's audience
• Serious, analogous tone
• oil represents drugs
• egg represents brain
• simplistic yet effective

Inferences

• Don't do drugs
• Made to make the audience aware of the seriousness of doing drugs
• Appeals to the emotions of the audience
• Very simple way to get point across

As for the first video, it captures the audience through a simplistic metaphor. By using a single egg and hot oil, the creator of this public service announcement is able to reach a more vast audience; it's something everyone can understand. The tone is of utmost seriousness, yet it gives the audience something tangible to relate to. The video's dominant rhetorical strategy would be pathos since it evokes a plethora of human emotions; however, pathos is not the only strategy used. Although ethos is almost non-existent because the audience neither knows the narrator or the company producing the ad for it's credibility, the video does contain logos. It's common knowledge to know that your brain being fried is obviously a poor choice, and that is why this public service announcement uses this approach to logos.

Movie 2
Observations

• Everyone is the audience but it leans more towards youth
• Serious, abusive tone
• Frying pan represents drugs
• Egg represents brain/body
• Very dramatic
• Only one type of drug is mentioned
  

Inferences

• Geared toward younger audience
• Used to make public aware of the effects of heroine
• Using heroine can ruin not only your body, but your family and your entire life
• Appeals to emotions of the audience

In the second movie, an egg again is used as a metaphor for the brain, but also the body; however, this movie only targets the use of one drug: heroine. Unlike the first video, it only discusses one drug. The second movie is also more effective because of it's use of more rhetorical strategies. Once again the major strategy used is pathos, but ethos is used in this movie. A reasonably attractive teenage female is used to describe the effects of heroine to the audience; thus, appealing to the audience and giving them someone they can see instead of just a voice, and this fact gives the video credibility. The tone is somewhat of an abusive tone giving the audience a feeling of uneasiness. This abusive tone also gives the video it's logos because logic tells the audience that, they too, could end up ruining everything by using heroine.