Punks and the Yes Men

Both the Yes Men and punks take advantage of appearance to affect the images they present to people. However, while the Yes Men use appearance to achieve what they call “image correction,” punks style uses images to set the group apart from social norms and force others to notice things about their own lifestyles. Both groups are similar in their sense of rebellion. The Yes Men, for instance, make use of pranks to bring attention to consumerism and the misdeeds of major conglomerates. Their appearance is largely a result of this, as they attempt to appear as legitimate business men in order to be associate with the groups they are fighting, and then use more obnoxious images (such as the golden suit and the hamburgers) to point out the problems of these groups. Punks are equally rebellious, but are associated to a much larger degree with degeneracy. They present hostile, shocking images through their use of hairstyle, clothing, and piercing. These shocking images poke fun at social norms, at point out issues of gender roles, stereotypes, and consumerism. The punk movement is far less organized than the Yes Men, and doesn’t have as focused of a goal. While this allows the Yes Men to focus their efforts more on the success of their projects and the attacks on specific people and organizations, the open minded sense of punk culture allows individuals to make it their own, and use it to express themselves through punk style in original, creative ways.

Peta and guerilla girls

After discussing the groups PETA and the Guerilla Girls so close to each other, certain similarities. Despite PETA being a group promoting Animal rights, and Guerilla Girls being a feminist group, both make wide use of billboards, posters, stickers, and other forms of signs to attract members and get peoples’ attentions. However, a further comparison between the groups reveals even more differences than at first noticed.
One difference between the groups is the use of comedy. Guerilla Girls pride themselves on their sense of humor, examples of which can be found throughout their works and website. PETA, however, is usually extremely somber, and often attempts to convert people by showing gruesome and tragic videos and images. Another difference that is especially important from the perspective of an audience member, is the actions necessary in order to align oneself with the groups. Although PETA offers less extreme options for members not prepared to commit fully, it advocates a drastic lifestyle change in its audience. In order to consider oneself a true supporter it is necessary to eat at least less meat, although it is expected for members to cut not only meat, but often all dairy products out of their diets. Guerilla Girls, on the other hand, seek largely to increase awareness of issues of oppression and under-representation of women and minority groups. They pressure major companies, industries, and museums to change, but demand little more than awareness from individuals. Their website even states that all it takes to be a feminist is to believe that men and women should have equal rights.

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Critical Mass

After watching We Are Traffic, I found that there where several aspects of Critical Mass that most impressed me. I found the biker’s unique form of protest amazing, especially the ways that they were able to make a protest without anger. Their joy and excitement in the ride was obvious to me and hopefully to the drivers who saw them. Although their protest was unorganized, Critical Mass clearly had statements to make, especially on environmental issues. However, the aspect of Critical Mass that impressed me the most was the concept that the bikers could make the streets a place for community. Riding in masses, the bikers could talk and meet each other, unlike drivers who were boxed away from everyone else on the streets. I was also impressed by the clip from Return of the Scorcher. It was fascinating how the bikers could make their way through the streets without the use of traffic signals, but could ensure their own safety by forming enough bikers to push through the cars.
Although Critical Mass does not have a clear goal, and it seems unlikely that the movement will ever sufficiently change the world in terms of state policies, it has what is perhaps a greater power. Critical Mass has the ability to change the mindsets of people, and, with the spread of Critical Mass, to affect the lives of millions.

which ethos

Ethos can be one of the most persuasive rhetorical strategies, and most protesters are keenly conscious of the ways in which they present themselves. As observed in the speeches of Civil Rights Activists Fanny Lou Hamer and Stokely Carmichael and the modern protests of Malachai Richter and Cindy Sheehan, a wide variety of ethos can be useful. Fanny Lou Hamer and Cindy Sheehan are both try to appear to be everyday, ordinary people who have been strongly affected by the forces they are protesting. They appeal to a sense of familiarity and normalcy, in the hopes that their audiences will be moved by their commitment. Carmichael, on the other hand, speaks with intelligence and experience, citing his activity with well known civil rights groups.
In some ways, however, the ethos of Sheehan and Carmichael are more similar to each other than to that of Hamer. Hamer tells her tragic story and hopes to appeal to the goodness in her audience. Sheehan also presents herself of having first hand experience of the tragedies of war, as her son was killed in the Iraq war. However, she speaks loudly and attempts to incite crowds to radical changes in ways that Hamer does not, often blaming politicians and the White House for policies. Stokely is similarly radical, sternly blaming the racial problems of America on stubborn and ignorant whites. The ethos Malachai Richter’s protest is far more difficult to discern. His self immolation definitely presents him as being extremely committed to his cause, so much so that he was willing to endure excruciating pain and death in order to convey his message. His protest is problematic however, as it raises questions of the morality of suicide, even of self sacrifice, and of insanity.

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Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in the Civil Rights Movement

Discovering the rhetoric used by certain protesters is an excellent way to analyze the way in which they make their arguments. The rhetorical concepts logos, ethos, and pathos, are often used to strengthen or create an argument. Exploring the ways they are used by certain protesters or within certain arguments allow for a better understanding of them, and can be helpful in trying to understand what makes protest or argument successful. Fannie Lou Hamer and Stokely Carmichael were both civil rights activists who sought equal rights for African Americans. Their different uses of these concepts of ethos, pathos, and logos demonstrate the differences between their approaches and arguments.

Both Hamer and Carmichael put clear effort on creating a specific ethos. Hamer, in a speech before the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, told her story about registering to vote in Mississippi. She spoke plainly and clearly, preferring familiarity over formality. This created a strong ethos of honesty, suggesting that she only wanted tell the truth, devoid of flowery language. Carmichael, however, in a speech at Berkeley University in 1966, spoke with confidence and formality. His speech was deeply structured and clearly well prepared, and he referenced famous existentialist authors Camus and Sartre. This created a completely different ethos; one of an intelligent and educated man. He also repeatedly referenced his affilation with the SNCC, which was very well known and added to his credibility. Both these uses of ethos, although very different, were suited to the different audiences. Hamer, who hoped to be elected to congress, wished to appear trustworthy and honest, while Carmichael, who spoke before educated college students at Berkeley, wished to appear equally educated and intelligent.

Both protesters similarly used the devices of pathos and logos in creating their arguments. Hamer gave implicit details on the more devastating portions of her story, intricately explaining how terribly she and the other blacks who attempted to register with her were treated. The speech is emotionally stirring and is designed to help the audience relate to her plight as a black woman. Carmichael speech also had a strong emotional appeal. His repetition of short, important lines brought attention and emotion to them. He harshly attacked white leaders, calling them sick and accusing them of the murder of women and children. The success of these appeals is evident in his speech through the signified applause at the most emotional moments.

Hamer and Carmichael also used logos in their protests, but again in different ways. Hamer quoted the screams of victims and the taunts of her white captors word for word, emphasizing that she was not exaggerating or inventing her story. Carmichael’s elegant and intricately developed speech used powerful reasoning and clear, straightforward, arguments, and referenced current events such as the Vietnam War and the actions of President Johnson.