I chose to do an analysis of 4-A, Is Google Making Us Stupid? It was written by Nicholas Carr, who is a writer that has written several successful books about technology. One of his books, The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, was a Pulitzer Prize nominee. The many newspapers he has written for include the New York Times, the Atlantic, and the Wall Street Journal. He graduated from Harvard.
Purpose: To convince his readers that the Internet is changing the way people think, read, and process information. I also think he wrote it to shock his audience a little about the consequences the Internet can have on them so that they will be more cautious about the amount of time they spend online.
Techniques: At the very beginning Carr uses pathos to make us feel like we are more connected to his argument and not just at an arbitrary level. He also uses the unsettling scene of the computer to make us unsettled and/or uncomfortable. This is so we will realize that what he is saying is important and that it needs to be changed. I think the scene is also a form of foreshadowing into the seriousness of what he is going to talk about.
Carr uses imagery and metaphors at the end of the second paragraph on page 112 by comparing our mind to either a scuba diver or a jet skier. This makes his argument more applicable and easier to understand for his readers.
Another technique that Carr uses throughout the whole article is appeal ethos. He frequently quotes professional writers or professors and prominent universities to show that he really knows what he's talking about.
Carr also uses personification frequently when talking about the Internet. He simply calls it "the Net" and describes the things it can do, like "reprogramming us" and influencing our minds. This makes the Internet seem like a bigger threat to his readers. Something that could actually do them physical harm.
Result: I think this article was very affective to Carr's audience. I know it was for me. But I do know at least that it was influential, because I read in Carr's biography that it has been collected in several famous anthologies regarding technology (nicholasgcarr.com).
Yep, Carr definently has some Ethos (Pulitzer prize nominee, quoting big think-tanks, etc). And he doesn't even mention those things in his article to build his credibility (as if he's confident and doesn't need to prove anything, just show you how he sees the issue at hand).
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd agree he does great at shocking the audience and showing them how 'machine-like' we become the more we use social media. We really demand so much instantly, that the day something breaks and goes down will be the day people will freak like crazy. - I think all can agree with this, but few stand beside it and support it by giving up social media...proof that Carr is spot on.
Yeah I don't understand why he would mention those things to appeal to our ethos. It would have definitely made me trust him more, but oh well he didn't. It wasn't really shocking for me when he said that we had become machines. I've seen a three year old know how to use a smart phone, so it's crazy that we have become like machines but I'm used to it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about Pathos, the author did do a great job of making us feel like this was an important matter and was very good at grabbing my attention. I also agree that using personification for the internet was a great technique to kind of freak the reader out and reevaluate all that time they spend on the internet.
ReplyDeleteVery good job here. Lots of pathos and he definitely has some strong influence. I also agree that his arguemtn is very affective to the audience.
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