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Rhetorical Analysis Paper
Rhetorical Analysis Paper
Ms. Kane
RC 1000
9/29/19
In Key and Peele’s comedy clip, “Turbulence,” the two main characters, the Passenger
and Flight Attendant, have a very rough relationship from the beginning because of the different
personalities shown. With a clip this short, creating a character from scratch would be a waste of
time; that is why Key and Peele decided to create their characters based on different stereotypes.
The male Flight Attendant portrays gay, male stereoytypes through his snarky and petty
personality when he is heard gossiping to another flight attendant in the first few seconds of the
clip. It shows that the Flight Attendant has the power over the other flight attendants because he
confidently talks behind their backs. He is the type of person not to mess around with. Knowing
what kind of character Peele portrays him as, the audience can ironically guess what is going to
happen next. They can boldly assume that the Flight Attendant’s snarkiness is going to come
back later in the video. The Passenger, who is asleep when introduced, wakes up to the sound of
the “seatbelt” sign being turned on. The Passenger is wearing a gray, generic suit, with a
well-tied tie, portraying the stereotype of a neat, high-class businessman who has the power over
anyone inferior to him. In this case that would be the Flight Attendant. Once again, the audience
can assume what will happen between the two main characters. The Flight Attendant has power
over the passengers, the plane is his stomping ground; whereas, the Passenger is wearing a well
groomed suit to let people know he has power and the confidence to use such power. The
differentiating power between the characters will come into conflict because of the stereotypes
hidden in each character. This comedic video is very humorous because the two main characters,
whose personalities are based on stereotypes, butt heads about a silly argument that continues to
ironically show up throughout the video, which makes it obvious for the audience to assume.
someone or something. They are made from accuracy and frequency, which makes them seem
very believable. The stereotypes being used in the clip include culture, sex, grouping of
individuals, and one that is not a stereotype but still being used to create a persona: homophobia.
The stereotype that flight attendants are either women or gay men is shown. The Flight Attendant
is very feminine because of the way he talks behind others’ backs, which spreads unnecessary
drama between characters. Those are very stereotypical ways to describe a gay man. He stirs the
pot with his relationship with the Passenger as well when they are arguing about using the
bathroom while the “seatbelt” sign is on, and he does not seem to look for a resolution to the
argument. It is almost as if the argument is for his enjoyment because he likes to rile up the
As a neat and good-looking man, the Passenger does not deal with the pettiness of the
Flight Attendant well. Because the Flight Attendant is interfering with the power and confidence
that the suit is giving him, the Passenger is stubborn and will not stop acting out until he gets his
way. As the Passenger continues to argue and raise his voice, it shows possibilites that he is
homophobic and does not care what a feminine Flight Attendant has to say. Even if using the
bathroom while the “seatbelt” sign is on, which is a rule on airplanes, that does not stop him. The
stereotype that Americans are seen as rude by people from other countries comes into play in this
situation. Although this is just a stereotype, the way the Passenger is dressed and the immediate
and irrational actions he makes towards other individuals prove it to be accurate in this context.
He is not mindful for the other passengers on the plane and only cares about getting what he
wants, which in this case is using the bathroom. The Passenger believes the rules do not apply to
him because of the confidence in power he gains from his suit. Therefore, he “wins” the
With the video being called “Turbulence,” everyone can assume that turbulence is going
to happen at some point in the clip. As soon as the Passenger makes his way to the bathroom and
the Flight Attendant sits back down with his seatbelt buckled, the turbulence hits. The audience
knew this was the perfect time for turbulence to occur, and based on the Flight Attendant’s
suspicious eyeing at the Passenger as he makes his way down the aisle, he knew there was
On an airplane, the Flight Attendant’s job and responsibility is to ensure the passengers’
safety throughout the flight. In the video, that is not what the Flight Attendant does at all for the
Passenger, nor does he help the other passengers either. On his way to and from the bathroom,
the Passenger is seen falling onto other passengers, intensely falling to the ground and ironically
hitting his head multiple times on the “seatbelt” sign repeatedly, all while the Flight Attendant is
watching. Key and Peele use hyperbole to make it seem more extreme and unrealistic, proving
that this will never happen, which makes the scene comedic. The use of this hyperbole also
makes the Flight Attendant seem like the bad guy because he is not doing his job to help the
Passenger. Even though it is not their responsibility, the other passengers on the flight should
have stepped in to help the Passenger to be a kind person, but they did not even try to do so. That
could have been because they were biased for the Flight Attendant when they heard the argument
between the two of them. During the argument between the Passenger and the Flight Attendant,
the other passengers possibly thought that the calm Flight Attendant was being more reasonable
than the angry Passenger, but they do not know the established personalities of the characters
like the audience does. Either way, the Passenger is not helped by not only the Flight Attendant,
but also the other passengers that share the flight with him.
Struggling to make it back to his seat, the Passenger has a hard time putting his seatbelt
on. It is ironic because he took it off with ease at the beginning of the clip, and now he is having
a hard time putting it back on. The music grows louder and suspense grows bigger as he fights
gravity to put the seatbelt on. Immediately after he finally gets buckled, the “seatbelt” sign turns
off, and the Flight Attendant, while looking directly at the sweaty and exhausted Passenger,
finishes the clip by saying “Thank you for your cooperation.” The Flight Attendant continues to
maintain his passive aggressive demeanor and holds a petty grudge against the Passenger until
the end of the clip. Whereas the Passenger is speechless to know that the Flight Attendant is
In the video, Key and Peele hide stereotypes within the main characters to give them a
personality that the audience can laugh at. The accuracy in those stereotypes are very relatable
for the audience because it is something they can easily understand. Irony in the clip makes it
easy for the audience to assume what is going to happen next; it creates a joke that keeps coming
back throughout the clip multiple times. Therefore, using accurate stereotypes and irony for
personalities are based on stereotypes, butt heads about a silly argument that continues to
ironically show up throughout the video, making assumptions obvious to the audience.