In the reading thus far, rhetoric as well as the implications of rhetoric have been a central idea and theme presented. To many of us, we think of rhetoric as just a means of persuasion. While this idea is correct, the reading describes rhetoric in several instances that one may not be aware of, and addresses the idea that rhetoric tends to carry a negative connotation. “We often speak of ‘empty rhetoric,’” the author states, following their claim to the negative views on the term, “elaborate and well-crafted speech that is nevertheless devoid of actual meaning”(15). Several examples follow this claim, with one in particular standing out. “Rhetoric is often equated with a type of smokescreen; it is language used to occlude, confuse, or manipulate the listener” (15). Breaking this quote down, it is evident that rhetoric is a sense of manipulation. Persuading one often entails presenting only the positive aspects to whatever it is one is in favor for, while knocking down the other option.
In relation to the game “Her Story,” procedural rhetoric is a key factor in the storyline. The game, written by Sam Barlow, is an investigation into Simon’s death. Hannah and her sister Eve are being interviewed to unfold the story. Over the course of the game, we learn about Hannah and Eve’s past. In one instance, one of the sisters tells the story of her father being a mushroom expert, though he picked the poisonous mushrooms. Although we cannot hear or know the questions being asked to her, hearing “the police believed that’s what happened” in the tone presented by one of the sisters is a fantastic example of rhetoric in the story. The shrug of the shoulders and the emphasis on this phrase demonstrate how we (the audience) should believe that there is a misunderstanding of some sort and the police are incorrect about their conclusion. In a sense, this is her way of manipulating us, by demonstrating the mistakes made by professionals. Furthermore, one of the sisters tells the story of her discovering Simon in a pool of blood. She walked in to see his throat slit, with her sister “sat behind him… she had [her] wig on.” This quote can be seen as rhetoric, as it can be misleading and manipulative. Assuming that this sister is guilty, the language used, the tone of her voice, and her body language all depict a sense of innocence on herself, while portraying her sister as guilty. While this may be the case, it very well could be the opposite.
As seen in Barlow’s “Her Story” and the reading from class, rhetoric is significant as it pertains to more than we know. In the case of a murder, rhetoric is a method of playing innocent. In the reading, we learn that rhetoric is the equivalent to a smoke screen, since it can confuse the audience and easily misguide them. Putting the game and the reading together gives us a better understanding of rhetoric. We are able to take the lessons provided in the reading and see how they can be understood and used in real life.
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