Oh Aristotle, How You Make My Brain Hurt

First off, check out this video. Definitely one of the more ridiculous things I've seen this week for sure. At first I thought it was something that was going to spam my computer, but it's actually legit. I don't know if the content is legitimate, but someone put a lot of work into it trying to get their point across. It was even paid for by the Montana Democratic Party. Gotta love free speech in Murica'.

Finding an enthymeme was really difficult for me at first, but I think that's because I didn't fully understand the concept behind the term. Which, is what I think the whole point to this posting is. I could be way off, but I think I saw some enthymeme's in this video below. I guess I really just don't understand enough to know whether this is an example of enthymeme's or not. The whole concept just hurts my brain all together.

Towards the end, Jon Tester's wife, Sharla, says this, "...caring as deeply about the next generation as the people who came before cared about us. Now that's the Montana way." Jon Tester then proceeds with, "Worry a lot more about the next generation needs to be the American way again too." The video then concludes with Tester driving a combine - typical.

I found online a definition of enthymeme that helped put things into a better perspective for me. This site defined it as, "The speaker builds an argument with one element removed, leading listeners to fill in the missing piece." I understood this by looking at the quote from the Tester campaign ad. Their words kind of imply that this is how Montanans do government, so this is how America needs to do government. Their two claims led me to believe in a claim that was not explicitly stated at all.

Like I said though, I could be way off base with this analysis. I tried, but Aristotle, my goodness... why are you so confusing?

Specific Topics of Rhetoric AKA What the Crap Are You Talking About Aristotle?

I watched the entire Clint Eastwood speech again tonight - but with a different lens than before. I watched less for his performance and more for his actual implications on his views of politics. I found that when he addressed Obama's "failed practices" in regards to healthcare, Eastwood was using judicial rhetoric. He was attempting to get his audience to form an opinion (his opinion) about things Obama had or had not done in the past. Additionally, epideictic rhetoric was used by Clint Eastwood to praise Romney for his accomplishments and blame Obama for his lack of accomplishment in the White House. 

I know all of what I just typed is extremely one-sided. However, I am just analyzing this speech and not stating (or at least trying not to) my own political beliefs. But hey, it's an election year, these things just come up.

My name is Molly, and I approve this message. 

Celebrities vs. Politics

This is Clint Eastwood's speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention. I chose it mainly because it was something that grabbed my attention immediately. When I first heard of Eastwood's appearance at the convention, the first thing that came to my mind was how annoyed I was by celebrities entering politics. Then, my mind went more towards, "I'm so glad to see a celebrity using their influence for good!" As of now, I'm still kind of torn on where I stand with this celebrity-appearance-attheGOP thing. What gives celebrities the right to speak at major world political events? Is that ok and just?  Like many of you, I also don't really like getting into political debates. However, I do like giving credit where credit is due. Clint Eastwood did a great job in this speech delivery, and whether or not I agree with what he said, I can confidently say that this is a prime example of rhetoric in the political world.

 

Plato, Are You Really That Awesome?

Something that always fascinates me every time I read something by Plato for a class is that we never really know if the experiences of the people he speaks of are factual or fiction. I'm not even sure if this question can be answered because Plato lived so long ago, but, did he change up Socrates words to make him seem more right? We do know that Socrates was probably a real person, a student actually of Plato's, but Plato could have easily changed his words in his writings to fit his own agenda. Was Plato really an awesome rhetor (via Socrates) after all, or does his writings just make him seem that way?

InTrOdUcTiOn TiMe!

So, here is my introduction I guess.
In case you all haven't noticed, I'm kind of awkward, no joke. I like the outdoors, but I also like the indoors.
I play guitar, piano, violin, flute, and drums.
I always wanted to be an artist, but it seems like the family artistic gene has skipped me, and only me...
I'm currently working as an editorial intern at Outside Bozeman Magazine
My favorite color is yellow... like the sunshine! Or a bright flower!
So, yep, that's me! I can't wait to get to know all of you :)