ARCS, Chapter 7

"The Afghan Girl" by Steve McCurry

After chuckling at the name of the chapter, I decided that the distinctions between pathetic proofs and ethical proofs often overlap. What could be an emotional claim can also establish your authority on the subject, especially in a situation where experiencing a painful life experience lends to an individual's credibility.

I find that emotional appeals are the most important in captivating interest of the audience. This is not to say that one is crying over a life story, but is simply attempting to move the audience to some sort of action or belief using inspirational means (sharing a story for motivation, or a news story to inspire outrage).

These are especially important when spicing up a bland topic. The use of humor to diffuse a tense situation is a form of pathos, as a means to inspire happiness, and ultimately lighten the mood for successful speaking. The example cited in the book is a perfect situation in which multimedia has great success--in an attempt to reflect on the negativity of the war in Iraq, nothing conveys the sadness and pain as well as a picture, or perhaps a video.

Well-executed multimedia of any kind is an ultimate trifecta; the rhetorical triangle, encompassed. It serves to establish truth, as there is concrete evidence that can be seen with the eye, it can inspire emotion, and if I am the photographer, it expresses the fact that I was there, giving me credibility in my argument.

Steve McCurry is an excellent example of a photographer who can inspire ethos. Through his work with National Geographic, he has moved millions of Americans to donate to his Iraqi Girl's School funds. National Geographic's stories about the horrors of war in Afghanistan could be perfectly effective on their own, but his photograph "The Afghan Girl" won national attention and inspired thousands to "move away from their indifference," (ARCS 257) and to assist in a cause.