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Essay / Analysis of Michael Jackson's Use of Rhetorical Strategies
We constantly hear news about the decline of our planet. Whether it is climate change, famine, sea level rise, wars, or another animal species becoming extinct or endangered, we are aware of it almost, or even every day. These problems are not new to us. This happens in every country and on every continent. One of the most famous musicians in world history, Michael Jackson, consistently mentioned these important topics through his songs, music videos, live performances, and interviews. The subject of one of his less talked about pieces, "Earth Song", included in his 1995 album HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I, was based on the state of our world at that time and I would say his words. are still relevant almost 24 years later. He argues that we have forgotten that our planet and its life are fragile and that we must act to improve our world. Just by reading the lyrics of the song you can understand that Jackson wants us to realize that there are so many devastating events and choices that we make as inhabitants of this planet that have negative effects . Identifying Jackson's use of rhetorical appeals can help us understand and side with him and his argument. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay In the song and music video, Jackson wanted to shed light on the situations humanity found itself in and continues to find itself in. It covers and showcases the destruction we have caused to the earth through the destruction of rainforests, pollution, poaching and national wars. To utilize the ethos, Jackson filmed the music video in four different locations to showcase some of the destruction he was singing about to further build credibility. He wants us to understand that we must be aware of the type of irreversible damage that our actions can cause. Jackson wants us to think about our actions because, most of the time, we can all ignore their consequences. Humans tend to go through our daily routines without realizing the problems it signals to us. The beginning of the song features a soft, haunting melody to accompany Jackson's powerful lyrics. The moving melody, lyrics and visuals of these topics appeal to the audience's emotions. Throughout the song, Jackson uses the words "we" and "us" which demonstrate his philosophy. He also demonstrates ethos by showcasing his good character by choosing this particular topic to sing and show to his audience. He makes his audience aware that he wants to have a positive impact on the world with this song. To continue to make his point, Jackson begins by asking the audience questions throughout the song. These questions add to its pathetic appeal by creating an emotional response from the audience. In the video, it shows a tribe examining the deceased body of an elephant whose tusks are missing. It is a very disturbing but powerful image that introduces the reality of poaching. Jackson asks, “What have we done to the world? Look what we did.” He wants the public to think about the consequences of their actions and the impact they have on the planet. Appeals to Jackson's logo were included in appeals to pathos. Showing images of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, a war zone in Croatia and animal poaching in Tanzania, he presented facts. These are events that have happened and are happening.