Rhetorical and Visual Analysis

Rhetorical and Visual Analysis
Efren Torres
English 1311 1:30
October 12, 2010
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Abstract
In this Rhetorical and Visual analysis I will explain how this video uses ethos, pathos, and logos to argue the fact of E-85 ethanol vs. gasoline. I will go into detail about the reason for using certain images throughout the video and what kind of emotions the video puts the viewer through. In the analysis I will explain why the Renewable fuel association is a credible source. Finally I will go over how the video uses all three elements to get their point across.
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E-85 Ethanol is a widely expanding renewable fuel source in the United States. E-85 Ethanol has many supporters such as Chevrolet, and the Renewable fuel Association. The Renewable Fuel Association has a series of videos promoting E-85 ethanol and its benefits for our earth. These are the videos that I will be reporting on. I will go into detail about how these videos try and suck you in and begin to support E-85 Ethanol.
In the videos they creators use subtle hints to make you feel like you are in a clean world with E-85 Ethanol. Throughout the video the interviews are done with a blue background. Using a blue background in all of the interviews will make the watcher feel like the earth can be clean and pollution free with ethanol. Another trick the creators use is showing beautiful images such as a clean sky and crops growing on a farm. This also creates a mental image of the earth becoming clean and healthy. They don’t only use visual aids they use audio to affect our emotions throughout the video. The creators put in a subtle soft track of music that gives the feeling of serenity and peace. These are small things however they are very effective. Another way they affect our emotions in the videos is by talking about how they reach out to Americans to inform them about ethanol. When they mention how they go to Sturgis to inform real Americans they incise not only bikers but any American citizen that is proud of their country. They also talk about reaching out to our troops to bring them ethanol to their bases. This will also emotionally impact most Americans. These are some of the examples of pathos used in the video.
The video does have many interesting facts. They show how e-85 is spreading throughout the states. In the video they talk about efforts they are using to get ethanol to every
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American that want to use it. They are using logical methods such as advertising at car shows, military bases, and other widely popular venues. They have recently opened a new ethanol station on a naval base. This ethanol station will serve six hundred flex fuel vehicles. Another logical strategy they use to sped ethanol was to find densely populated areas such as Miami. They have since put in 16 ethanol stations serving millions of customers in that area. The hope by doing this is that if a customer ever leaves an ethanol using city they will support the efforts to open up new ethanol stations in other parts of the country. They have also successfully opened ethanol stations in petroleum states such as Oklahoma and Texas. These videos are well thought out and are very logical ideas.
The credibility of the Renewable Fuel Association or RFA is unmatched. They are a leader in the fight to increase ethanol consumption over gasoline. They are a leading provider of ethanol research and easier ways to spread ethanol throughout the United States. Unfortunately the association does have a bias towards ethanol. They strongly lean towards the spread of e-85 ethanol. They push their views on local and state governments to try and get ethanol used in most states.
The strategies used in this video are very effective towards swaying people to use ethanol. Their views in the videos are pushed however not pushed so much to where the audience wants nothing to do with them. They have in my opinion effectively spread the word of E-85 ethanol.
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White, R. August 26, 2009. Ethanol in the Marketplace. [youtube] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzrjSP8q1_c