As I read Aristotle’s On Rhetoric, the 1997 film, Amistad, immediately came to mind because of the persuasive nature of the storyline throughout. There are several instances of persuasion during the course of the movie, and all of those actions lead to a final persuasive speech before the Supreme Court that ultimately attempts to right the injustice that set the story in motion.
Based on actual events, Amistad tells the story of an 1839 slave revolt that took place aboard the slave ship, La Amistad, on its way from Cuba to the United States. Much of the story is told through the eyes of Cinque, a brave abductee who, having survived capture in Africa and starvation aboard the slave ship Tecora prior to La Amistad, led the other
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Baldwin (played by Matthew McConaughey) took the case of the Africans, who also faced charges of piracy and murder. It is prior to the trial that the first instance of the influence of Aristotle’s thoughts on rhetoric appears. Aristotle defined rhetoric as “an ability, in each (particular) case, to see the available means of persuasion,” (Aristotle, p.115). We see this at play with regard to Baldwin’s handling of the case’s presentation before the district court. Upon taking the Amistad case, Roger Baldwin realizes almost immediately that the only way he stands a chance of winning is by basing his defense on basic property rights. The abolitionists, unhappy with Baldwin’s chosen method of defending the case, must be convinced that this is the strongest leg they can stand on, though it is in contrast to their values. In scene 6, Baldwin says to them, “Consider this. The only way one may purchase or sell slaves is if they are born slaves. I’m right, aren’t I?” Both men must agree with this. Baldwin delivers his strategy for both instances, saying that if the captives were born slaves (on a Cuban plantation, as claimed by the prosecution), then they are possessions, and as such, no more deserving of criminal charges than “a bookcase or a plow,” and if they were not born slaves, then they were acquired illegally and should be released on the basis of being stolen goods (Amistad, scene …show more content…
Hesitant to take the case at first, it is ultimately Cinque’s ability to relate to Adams on a human level, as well, that leads Adams to accept. This is where some of Aristotle’s concepts come into play again. Like Baldwin before him, Adams must present the case in a way that will resonate with the judges, but he must also get them to relate to the captives in the same manner that he and Baldwin have- As human beings. Aristotle believed there were three necessary components to a speech- A speaker, a subject, and an objective (116). Adams has taken the role of the speaker, the subject, of course, is the origin of the captives as it relates to their freedom (and the methods by which they defended it), and the objective is to have them set free and returned home. The hearers are the Supreme Court
History can be learned through several different mediums, and it is arguable that the most popular methods are through film and literature. Each come with their own respective advantages and disadvantages, and can each have a different effect on how an event is both portrayed and conceptualized. When comparing the 1987 book Mutiny on the Amistad: The Saga of a Slave Revolt and its Impact on American Abolition, Law and Diplomacy by Howard Jones, and the 1997 film Amistad directed by Steven Spielberg, it is apparent that both the book and the film are able to effectively retell the story of the events that took place aboard the Amistad in 1839. Yet each shed a different light on the matter and have been received by people in a different way.
The political climate in the United States has recently been very intense, all beginning with Trump and his negative remarks against the immigrant community. His most famous and derogatory words calling Mexicans rapists and drug dealers (Reilly), sparked a huge uproar in the defense of the Mexican people who have chosen to immigrate to the United States. Along his path to the presidency he has time after time belittled Mexicans and their culture. That, however, has not stopped the Mexican band, Calibre 50 from shedding light on an all too real journey and attempting to fortify their fans for a common cause. Almost a year into Trump’s presidency Calibre 50 released the music video for their song, “El Corrido de Juanito.” The music video follows the journey of a man crossing the border to which it then shows him trying to make a life for himself in the United States as a gardener and a chef. The video attempts to show what it is like to illegally
Summary – It is quite difficult to avoid any persuasive acts while resisting them at the same time. Being prepared with knowledge of how easy it is to be manipulated, controlled, seduced, etc. allows us to open up to the use of rhetoric.
By using diction and repetition, Cesar Chavez emphases the need to use nonviolence during moments of injustice. The rhetorical choices made in this argument draw forth feelings of understanding and cause the readers to think deeper into Chaves' point of view. The purpose is to carry a message that shows the power of nonviolence and what it brings to the world. People quickly follow the straight, bloody path of force and violence, rather than thinking deeper in search for the winding yet cleaner path. As human beings, we crave the freedom and power we believe was bestowed upon us by God. We will fight tooth and nail, even threw the deaths of many, in order to achieve these trivial things.
In 1997 a movie called Amistad depicted the true story of a group of Africans that were taken from their families and forced into slavery. Although the movie was heavily criticized for it's inaccurate tale of the terrible ordeal, it gave the story world-renowned attention. The real story had more drama and tearjerker parts then the movie did. If the movie ever gets remade, hopefully this time it follows the facts exactly.
Rhetorical appeals apply to everyday life and the three sections of the rhetoric’s cover all elements of persuasion. Moore and Machiavelli do an outstanding job of explaining their points and why you should believe what they are saying. Both author’s did a great job of educating and informing their viewers although they were two significantly different pieces. Moore and Machiavelli’s work are each their own with respect to purpose and lessons but they also both come together in regards to using Aristotle’s three rhetorical appeals.
In Cesar Chavez’s article, he uses many rhetorical devices to help give the reader a better understanding of how important nonviolence vs violence is. Chavez explains how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi have endowed reasons of nonviolence worth following.
The main issue that arises during courtroom sessions is the issue of ownership. There is also a large divide between the Africans and the lawyer, Baldwin, who is trying to free them. Cinque manages to slightly understand what the lawyer is trying to ask him. Eventually, the lawyer is able to find a person who speaks both the Mende language and English. Near the beginning of the film, before the 44 slaves are put to trial, the lawyer says that “the only way one may sell or purchase slaves is when they are born slaves, as on a plantation” (Spielberg, Amistad). According to his statement, the lawyer’s main argument is to prove that the prisoners originate from a place that is not a plantation.
a relationship to the courtroom and his cell, but also connected to the geographical setting of the
I found your post to be insightful, for it highlighted the increasing buying power that Latinos have. Latinos are becoming a fast growing demographic for advertisers.
Creative Section Prompt: Write a scene where an “unlovable” character is involved in a surprising or unexpected hobby or appreciation for something.
There are many leaders in this film making choices, while they were not all educated choices, like the Spanish who kidnapped the slaves and were working on the Amistad. To those like the abolitionists, their lawyer, and the former president, who all wanted nothing but justice for these Africans. Another detrimental decision maker in this story are the judges both in the Supreme Court and the state level they are both the ultimate decision makers and any choice they make, direct affects the Africans and others involved. While retributive justice is used to keep social order. In the context of the movie, these courts were used to keep social order, whether the outcome is or way or
Amistad is about a mutiny in 1839 aboard a slave ship, La Amistad, which eventually comes to port in New England. The West Africans who have commandeered the ship are taken into custody and the plot revolves around who "owns" them or if, indeed, they should be freed. This sets up the main event of the film, a courtroom drama about rights and origins, with the required flashbacks to the voyage and the gruesome conditions aboard the ship. The problem with this approach is that we learn less about the real conditions of slavery and instead focus on the more sanitized conditions surrounding the courtroom. In addition, we get a film which is largely about the efforts of the whites battling the case and much less about the struggles of the Africans themselves.
The film Amistad is based on a true event that occurred in 1839. It is about a mutiny by recently captured slaves, who take over a ship known as La Amistad, and the legal battle that followed regarding their freedom. The movie begins by showing many Africans chained together on the lower deck of La Amistad. They manage to break free and go to the upper deck and attack the sailors, leading a mutiny and taking over the ship. They leave two men alive to guide them back to Africa, but they point them towards the US. When they arrive in the states, the Africans are thought to be runaway slaves, and are imprisoned. The case of their freedom is taken to court, to decide whether the Africans were originally slaves or free men. One lawyer decides to fight for them, and pleads his case that the Africans were never slaves and were indeed free men. The case eventually makes it to the Supreme Court and a translator is eventually found to communicate with the leader of the Africans, and he tells his story. He was one of many illegally captured in Africa, and sold into slavery. When the time comes for the trial, John Quincy Adams pleas for their freedom. After a grueling trial, the slaves are said to be free men, and are to be sent back to their homeland, Africa.
The slaves are then taken from the prison cells to the New Haven District Court where they are put in front of a judge for a legal battle. Roger Balwin, a lawyer employed by an abolitionist by the name of Mr. Tappen and his African American partner Mr. Joadson choose to represent the Africans. Baldwin and Joadson search the La Amistad and find a document hidden in the hull that proves the Africans were originally captives of a Portuguese slave ship by the name of The Tecora. Thus, the Africans were initially free citizens of another country and not enslaved what so ever. For this reason, Judge Coglin has ruled in favor of the Africans and Baldwin wins the case. However, the case soon after gets appealed and taken to the Supreme Court. Former president John Quincy Adams, then joins Baldwin in the defense of the Africans to strengthen their defense in the highest court. Ultimately, resulting in the success of winning the case and the Africans are set