Blog 3: Message Features

The three rhetorical appeals, ethos, logos, and pathos, are all exemplified in the ad, “It Rarely Stops”. The message of the ad appeals to the viewer’s emotions by illustrating both the dangers of domestic violence through the women’s glum appearance, as well as the heavy sentimental complexities that come with the aftermath of such actions. It engages with the audience’s reasoning by depicting the dreary reality that comes with abuse (from what we can see, in a physical sense, but most likely mentally, as well). The video also appeals to the credibility of the woman shown through the manipulation of the setting and the arrangement of her actions. For instance, an empty, sad-looking room that has been near the occurrences of trauma, as well as the quick, fragile movements that express fright and hesitation. 

The video’s title, as well as the constant reappearances of marks on the woman’s face and body suggests to the audience that the remnants of the abuse being examined in the video aren’t just from one incident. The physical abuse that the woman is enduring persists day after day. The woman goes to this same bathroom to examine her injuries every time she is forced to experience the brutality that comes with physical violence. She is unable to escape the pain that the abuse brings, because it rarely stops. 

Overall, the ad persuades me into feeling for victims of domestic violence after seeing things from the perspectives of a survivor (portrayal). It also encourages me into spreading the word about domestic abuse in order to aim to prevent it. Although it may not be as direct to all audiences (i.e., children, those who aren’t aware of domestic abuse, etc.), the message of the ad is relatively clear due to the severity of the symbols (the fragility of the situation) and the depth of the imagery (the ideas behind the bruises). That being said, I feel like the ad’s use of pathos is what stuck with me the most. Seeing someone who is so hurt, but also helpless to such an extent was moving, even though it was not a true scenario. Because the fact of the matter is, there are thousands of people living life in fear, like the woman who is displayed. 

I wanted to include these images because I thought they exemplified the ideas that persuasive appeals can be both verbal and nonverbal, as well as persuasion is not necessarily requested, rather just put upon us.