TOW #27

This week, I read a review of the Oculus Rift, a new gaming device that puts the user in a virtual reality by strapping on a headset, by a man named Andrew Gumbel. From the title, Gumbel’s review sounds like it will be promoting this revolutionary device that, “appears to be on to something”, but by the end becomes a condescending reproach on not only all virtual reality divides but the gaming community. Gumbel starts out his review with, “I have seen the future, and I’m worried it’s really going to mess me up” this could mean that he is either scared of what’s to come or humbled by how advanced this technology is, giving the reader mixed impressions. After this he talks about his test of the Oculus Rift, but nowhere tries to establish any sort of credibility whether it be a connection to the gaming industry or prior experience with this technology or any technology. His argument also doesn’t connect with the reader because he separates himself from the gaming community, which is the assumed audience, by saying things like, “what the virtual reality geeks refer to as” or, “a watershed moment for gaming freaks” which not only puts space between him and gamers, but also insults his audience by calling them “freaks” and “geeks”. Beyond his connection to the gaming world Gumbel’s article is poorly formatted and very choppy, he starts by talking about the Oculus Rift and what problems the company has faced, to describing another companies device, then back to the Oculus rift and its developer. These several leaps between topics with almost no transition are very confusing and make it seem like Gumbel is doing his research as he goes and is writing whatever the next hit on Google is. Overall Gumbel’s argument is ineffective and at sometimes insulting towards its audience and offers little to no value. 

TOW # 26 Garnier ad

This hair advertisement uses some hairy tactics to appeal to its readers. The largest and most evident rhetorical device in this full page advertisement is juxtaposition. This ad juxtaposes the women smiling with their hair to make it seem like their hair is making them so exuberant. Because these women are so happy about their hair, it makes the reader think that because they used this product it has made them happy and confident. This ad also utilises inductive and deductive arguments. At the top it says "nourished hair means better color." It also uses an inductive argument to show that their product is the best for nourishing hair. By convincing the reader that their product is the best for healing and nouring hair and that nourished hair has the best color, it makes the reader want to buy their product because it would color their hair the best. It would also have to added effect of keeping their hair healthy.

TOW # 25 Obama Drone Strike

http://www.theonion.com/articles/obama-fantasizes-about-ordering-drone-strike-again,38412/
Has one of the most controversial presidents of all time crossed the line into the the crazy? According to The Onion, President Obama recently fantasized about his own suicide by drone strike. The satirical publication, The Onion, has produced another hilarious but also politically relevant article, this time about the political policies of the President. This publication seeks to poke fun at the government's "overuse" and peoples criticism of drone strikes against the terror group isis by hyperbolizing a situation. The article frames the scene of the president dwelling on the thought of his death by drone strike with his last words being "God bless America." This image serves a dual purpose which acts as a double edge sword. It first criticises the government's tendency to use deadly drone strikes as a solution to the terror threat posed by isis. It hyperbolized the idea that if the government and the president keep turning to this deadly act of diplomacy, it is going to meet an untimely and unpleasant end with all of America as the observers. It also parodies the main criticism of these strikes being that it is overly brutal and overused and that feet on the ground would be much better. It satirizes the idea that Obama overuses these attacks so frequently that he is even going to choose it as his own death. But is this type of satiric article effective? The way that it communicates both sides and problems with an argument in a humorous and concise way demonstrates knowledge of recent political events and a well educated writer, and conveys its meaning to its readers well is very effective.