The Pathos Used in Barron's Article

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Nowadays, mass communication has become vital in society everyday life. Television, newspapers, magazines, radio, blogs, websites, mobile apps and social media have increased their influence all around the world. Several individuals assume that the purpose of such media could be just entertain, form opinions, educate, or inform. Nevertheless, consider for example, a magazine writer’s purpose which is to entertain readers. By using exciting, brilliant, and comical words and pictures, readers not only will be entertained, besides they may have emotional reactions. As a manner of fact, emotional reactions were not expected, so they can be compared to the medical term, "side effects” which are considered secondary (typically undesirable) effects of a medical treatment. Mass communication can sadden feelings and emotions in the audience, either negatively or positively. Pathos is used in the article "Nation Reels after Gunman Massacres 20 Children at School in Connecticut" wherein the author James Barron relies heavily on different types of pathetic appeals to provoke emotions to the audience. The first use of pathos that the author uses in the article is imagery. Imagery is the use of figurative language to represent objects, ideas and actions in order to appeal to any of the five senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch and vision). In other words, imagery creates a visual representation of thoughts in the mind trough vivid descriptions. Barron uses four forms of imagery through the article; visual, kinesthetic, tactile and auditory. First, an example of visual imagery is when Craig Ansman states that “There is going to be a black cloud over this area [Newtown, Connecticut] forever" (qtd. in Barron). "Black cloud" represents a visual ima... ... middle of paper ... ...ching of the breath. Sobbing involves gasping and can bring chest heaving. Therefore, desperation and hopelessness can be brought to the audience feelings. The next example of word choice is found in the following description that the author makes “stunned residents attended four memorial services in the town” (Barron). The adjective stunned comes from the old French estoner which means “to daze or render unconscious or being in shock”. Panic and confusion can be felt by the readers because the description brings the fact that the residents could have been paralyzed at moment of the attack. The last example of word choice is when Barron states: “faces told the story outside the stricken school” (Barron). Barron use “Stricken” instead of harmed or injured. This adjective is related with a seriously affected injure by an undesirable condition or unpleasant feeling.

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