Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sergio Lorenzana
Introduction
The political intent to spur Texas to a change gears from a centrist right to a progressive left is
brought forward by the analysis of the two genre. Beto O’Rourke is the new face of the return to
American “normalism” he promotes what U.S. Citizens for the most part yearn to be viewed as
in the rest of the world, courageous pursuers of liberty. In this genre analysis there is deep
exploration of the efficacy both forms of media utilize to inform the public of the senate race in
Texas between incumbent senator Ted Cruz and challenger Beto O’Rourke. We are able to
compare both genres seen through the application of rhetoric and different styles to appeal to
specific audiences.
Late night shows are a great way to build support for mass consumption. This is because of the
advantage iconography has over the oral and written genre types. Videos are a much simpler and
enjoyable activity it takes less concentration and from observable actions is able to convey
emotion and credibility. Late Night Monologues are also able to through a combination of
comedy and mature subjects that can be debated promote a proposal from a different perspective
different path is followed for “Will Beto O’Rourke skate his way to the senate?” Late night show
host Stephen Colbert is able to accomplish his goal of persuading the audience to support
candidate O’Rourke by specifically focusing a thirty minute segment of his show to concentrate
on the senate race. The audience focus in this particular video is the internet savvy, video
watchers, and entertainment bingers because of where the video is published; the largest
broadcasting provider for the internet videos YouTube with over 1 billion daily viewers. But, it
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can also be separated into more specific demographic categories like the youngest generations.
The millenials extending from the early-eighties to mid-nineties and generation Z those born
1995 onward due to the fact that most of these two generations were born in an interconnected
world or where at least conscious about it at an early age. They can also be considered a target
because both have the lowest turnout in voting polls. If the show is intended to persuade a
change in favor of the democratic candidate Colbert makes it clearly visible by concentrating his
criticisms on Senator Cruz by making not of his slimy appearance to create an emotion of disgust
in the audience toward the current Senator. Another, clearly observable audience in the video is
the late night crowd where a broader debate in ideological views is apparent and dark comedy is
implied to be less restricted due to the fact that the video concentrates on politics by solely
having the whole sketch be about the senate race and the support of challenger O’Rourke. To
create an emotion appeal to the audience Colbert outlines the candidate’s similarities to a
historically beloved political figure Bobby Kennedy in specific their similar physical features.
This comment also serves as an important ethical appeal towards the viewer because it implies
that O’Rourke has the “politician appearance” of being well liked and an all American. Bobby
Kennedy’s comparison is fundamental to appeal to the emotions of the audience because it takes
the United States back to a point which most citizens remember in a romantical fashion, the
Kennedy era, where the modern civil rights movement commenced and the progressive
revolution to ensure first class citizenship status for all Americans’ is struggled for. The late
sixties era that still yearns for a Bobby Kennedy president is now bringing senate candidate
O’Rourke center stage an oddly familiar parallel to the political struggle faced today. Colbert’s
celebrity status further consolidates his whole argument which attracts attention by appealing to
his credibility as a public figure by capitalizing his opinion on Beto to further spur the older
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generations trying to conserve their values to move forward by taking into consideration the
young Americans who have a lot to convey in the search for a more representative state.
communication. Even more so than oral and Iconographic because of the same level of facility
for it to be charged with positive and negative word meaning when used correctly as for it to be
toneless and impartial wish this article accomplishes. The Economists Op-ed “A Democrat in a
deep red state” which aims to inform the public of Beto’s heroism for going into perceived
sharply partisan opposition counties to bring them back to the politically correct environment
prior to the trump era finds a primary intended audience in the well informed news followers,
higher education institutions were pupils and polymaths congregate and the heavily connected
business world which relies on The Economist’s informed publications to make important
decisions that affect the globe daily. The balance used in the article when giving props to
O’Rourke’s fresh challenge of politics in Texas are grounded by using realism or the logical
appeal when describing the long standing tendency of Texas to vote republican and remain
conservative by setting the fact that for the past 20 years no democratic senator has represented
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Texas in Congress. where differing ideas can be discussed once more and common ground can
be found in labor and health care issues. The writer using a more traditional approach to reach
his audience could be believed to be at a disadvantage to the more modern Iconographic genres
he quickly subsides all doubts by versatile using persuasive strategies that evoke an emotional
appeal where the reader is guided to associating positively connotated diction when referring to
the Congressman through words like earnest and entrepreneur and the sleight of hand to
effectively present his achievements like bipartisan successes in the committee that he belongs
to, Veteran affairs, to more expediently pass bills that support the American troops after being
dismissed from serving their country. This vivid op-ed describing O’Rourke’s career in politics
enhance O’Rourke’s persona and public clout therefore increasing the faith in voters that Beto
Relative Analysis
When these to genres are put side by side the most powerful conveyor of certain rhetorical
patterns like ethos pathos and logos and a unique style of presentation like sharp information
structuring are fundamental for mass consumption. Both genres have the facility of representing
a candidate with very reasonable propositions that reflects an approachable invitation for change
because of his youthfulness and progressive thought. The emotional appeal, enhanced by the
comedic relief of the iconographic genre and genius word manipulation from the side of the Op-
ed article, is utilized often to expand on all of their claims because it is the most easily acceptable
for audiences without having to provide quantitative proof or factual claims. But what we are
able to see from the Article is the balanced way to present the argument instead of relying solely
on emotion it is able to logically back up its claims to maintain a level headed perspective on the
Reference Page
Colbert S. (2018, Sep. 13). Will Beto O'Rourke Skate His Way To The Senate? Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CQEIvzjyDQ
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2017/08/24/a-democrat-in-a-deep-red-state
Kallaugher K. (2017, Aug. 24). Beto Painting Texas blue. Retrieved from
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2017/08/24/a-democrat-in-a-deep-red-state