Rhetoric and Emotions
In Book 2 of his Rhetoric, Aristotle discuses “How to Arouse Emotions in an Audience”
and “How to adopt the Character of a Speaker to the Character of the Audience.” In
the first section, Aristotle defines and discusses the rhetorical use of emotions such as
anger, calmness, and a friendly feeling. As George Kennedy notes, this discussion is
“the earliest systematic discussion of human psychology” (122). Having read Aristotle
and other rhetoric texts, rhetoric and composition specialist know that when rhetors
think about the available means of persuasion for their various rhetorical situations, it
behooves them to think about what emotions they want to rouse in their audiences and
the mental and emotional state(s) of their audience(s). As Aristotle says, “The emotions
are those things through which, by undergoing change, people come to differ in their
judgments” (121).
Rousing emotions is a fairly sophisticated task—one that most first-year students find
difficult. And most undergraduate students would not enjoy reading Aristotle or
probably any text on human emotions. Still when discussing rhetoric, some discussion
of human emotions/psychology ala Aristotle’s early categorization is useful. And
discussing the relevance of emotions/human psychology in shaping a text is one way to
take a writing class beyond the first-year level. Rather than have students read Aristotle
or some other rhetorical treatise, here are some YouTube videos that can be used to
accomplish the same purpose—thinking about different human emotions, state of
minds, and appeals to pathos. These videos are likely to be more meaningful to
students than the cultural references in On Rhetoric.
Also, these videos can be used to discuss visual rhetoric—for example do the videos fit
the songs? I, of course, discuss the videos in class including, for example what the
warden in the Shawshank Redemption metaphorically represents when it comes to
public discourse. And that is how I use the videos—to discuss what public speakers are
up against when it comes to trying to persuade the public to do something, to think
some way, or to define society in some way—e.g. I Have a Dream, Lincoln’s Gettysburg
and Second Inaugural Addressees, etc.
Inspiration/overcoming challenges/unexpected/human spirit
Paul sings Nessum Dorma high quality video/sound widescreen 16.9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA
Jason McElwain Autistic Basketball Player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fw1CcxCUgg
Despair/beaten down by society/entrenchment
Best version of Old Man River--William Warfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XlEzY4tMyg
Roy Orbison—In the Real World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3iFY_ULLkw
In the Real World
(This one is a better video with the song but it has a bit of frontal female nudity)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUA9onH80Sg&feature=related
While In the Real World is a love song, it can also be used to discuss people’s reaction
to calls for social change: “That’s the way things are in the real world.” Or, “That’s just
they way things are.” These next two may have less broad social applicability but could
be used for the same purpose as In the Real World.
Jimmy Ruffin—What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zCz8SKmGek
When No One Cares (Frank Sinatra)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izq4owECf8&feature=PlayList&p=760D01E3B2CAF339&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=6
Hope
White Cliffs of Dover—Spitfire Show—Music Video (also retrenchment)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUx3MU9iM6c
Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole 'IZ' 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' HQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ltAGuuru7Q
Andy Plays Mozart (play up to 3:46 then switch to the next one)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAJ2skOJvdY
The Shawshank Redemption: Hope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWUfFwoe8ko
Regret/waste
Yesterday—Roy Clark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEY4LxORCeo
Anger/societal beat down
Grandmaster Flash - The Message (Live The Tube 1983)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN9-K0aZXRg&videos=WyRC_pfaTU&playnext_from=TL&playnext=1
Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles living for the city
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJYUSdX-Rps
Will/Determination
Pavarotti - Nessun Dorma - Turandot, Puccini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr5vpHtJIlg