The two genres that will be discussed are iconography and typography.
Iconography is represented by a video entitled The
War at Home and the second genre, typography, will be demonstrated by a text
book entitled Heavy Hands.
Iconography uses images and in this case sound, to appeal to the audience’s
emotions in an attempt to motivate the audience through emotion and association.
The textbook is a more formal and factual means and approach to the subject of
domestic violence that provides statistical and empirical information. The ways in which the information is
structured is significantly different within typography and iconography with
respect to the video and the text. The video essentially contains the same
information as the textbook but is presented within a condensed format. In other
words, the video going to be a faster and more straight forward means of
delivering information that would take a much longer time to obtain if reading
from a textbook. Domestic Violence is a crime which negatively impacts the lives of men, women, and children
throughout our society. The Surgeon General has declared Domestic Violence as
the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15-44; that is more
than rapes, muggings, and car accidents combined.
Through domestic violence, the home is transformed into a war zone where
the collateral damage is self-esteem, peace of mind, and the feelings of being
safe and secure. Domestic violence
comes in many forms that include psychological, physical, emotional, and verbal
attacks that are perpetrated against individuals who live within the same
household, share children in common, are in a dating relationship or are under
the primary care of a caregiver.
This includes the elderly as well as spouses, children or those who may
be simply roommates. In other
words, “Domestic violence includes every imaginable form of violence that can
occur as long as there is a domestic relationship between perpetrator and
victim” (Gosselin, 2005)
The first genre utilized within this project is iconography in the form of a video
which can be found on YouTube entitled, "Domestic Violence: The War At Home."
This video begins by drawing the viewer in by employing sounds associated with
what you might hear on a battlefield, like bombs exploding, rockets being
launched and gunfire. This particular method of presenting the topic of domestic
violence falls under the rhetorical style of pathos.
It persuades by appealing to the audience's sympathies and emotions by
using sound effects and the emotional screams of individuals involved in a
domestic dispute. Also, several women are interviewed and through their testimonies domestic violence is brought
to reality. Each woman gives a description of their lives as a victim. They speak of how they were kicked,
slapped, punched, and verbally assaulted during the period of time when they
were being victimized. Their language, the tone of their voice, as well as their facial expressions that are
portray graphic and powerful imagery in an attempt to put the audience in the
situations as they were happening.
The rhetorical method of ethos is implied simply for the fact that these
women have actually experienced domestic violence in a personal way with
respect to being victimized which would in fact qualify them as experts with
respect to domestic violence. The passion of their testimony adds credibility
to them as victims and also as advocates for those who may be victims of family
violence. In addition to this, the information that is being conveyed is communicated from a first had
account. Therefore the intricacies and the dynamics of family violence as well as the subsequent
consequences and possible solutions hold more legitimacy coming from these women
than those coming from someone who does not have firsthand knowledge in terms of
being an actual victim/survivor.
Typography, at least in the case with the particular source that will be
used in this paper, is much weaker when it comes to
pathos.
The logos aspect of this particular genre is represented best during the intro of
the video which gives specific statistics concerning the morbidity and injury
rate related to domestic violence in the United States.
For example, the video states that in the last five years 7,500 people
have died, 300,000 were injured, and over 15 million have suffered as a result
of domestic violence. This
particular method of displaying the statistical reality of family violence
serves to highlight the commonality and lethality of this issue in the United
States. In addition to statistical data given in the intro of the film, the
real-life statements of the actual occurrences of intimate partner violence by
three women strengthens the validity of a logical argument about domestic
violence.
The second genre implemented within this project is typography in the form of a book
entitled, Heavy Hands, written by Denise Kindschi Gosselin. This reference is primarily concerned with statistical or logical information which
allows the researcher or reader to gather information about particular
occurrences or circumstances that surround the issue of domestic violence.
Although this type of resource encompasses both ethos and logos forms of
rhetoric, it is weak with respect to using any form of emotional language or
persuasion in terms of appealing to the rhetorical device pathos.
Research articles and books are typically, but not always, written by
individuals who have PhDs or some credibility within the subject matter. Therefore, because there is a
presumption that those who have degrees are both knowledgeable and those who
write articles are passionate the information is typically viewed as credible,
particularly to those who may know very little or nothing at all about the
subject matter. This ethical appeal or ethos convinces the reader by using the character of the author. These
credible authors then, use statistics and educated arguments to form a logical
conclusion thereby persuading the reader by reasoning or logos.
With both genres, the intended audience is people who are concerned with
the issue of violence within the homes and how it may affect society as a whole.
However, women/females are specifically targeted for the simple fact that, 85%
of domestic violence victims are females (Gosselin, 2005).
Despite this statistic, males and children may have some of the same
issues concerning violence in the home so the audience could be anyone. The
iconographic genre seemingly targets mainly women, whereas the typographic genre
is broader with respect to domestic violence as a whole and being more inclusive
with respect to audience. Furthermore, the language is different
with respect to formality within the iconographic genre compared to the
typography genre. The iconographic genre uses regular people/women going through real experiences; the language is
informal using words and phrases that are familiar to the ordinary people who
include the use of slang and abrasive language. The text is written formally
using language which is more scholarly or formal. For example, when talking about ways in which women are victimized the
video features the audio of a women stating, “My two bottom teeth are not real,
I was stabbed in the back, and his favorite word for me was bitch” (Domestic
Violence: The War at Home). This quote draws the listener in, using specific language which is intimately
descriptive. In contrast, the text describes domestic violence as such, “As we recognize numerous forms of domestic
violence, no single theory seems to fit all the categories…the severity of an
act or the extent of harm is routinely the measuring tool…” (Gosselin,
2005). It is obvious, even without the audio of the YouTube piece, that there is more of an emotional and personal
tone to the video. Having stated this, when it comes to representing this particular topic, it appears that the
iconography genre is a more effective means of communication in terms of
conveying the messages or topics concerning domestic violence.
The assumption of either genre is that the audience knows little to no
information about the subject matter, which suggests that the primary goal of
both genres is to inform and to persuade the audience.
In general, domestic violence is a subject which is not talked about
openly in mainstream society. In lieu of this, it is reasonable to conclude that
there are many people within the United States who are unaware of the causes,
circumstances and the consequences that result in formation of young minds and
how they actually interact within their communities and ultimately how they will
grow and learn to treat their families once they mature.
The amount of time that the audience members spend with the subject
matter ultimately depends on the interest, culpability or relationship they have
with this particular social problem. Therefore, with respect to discourse
communities any individual, professional or family that has the potential to be
affected by this particular phenomenon can be considered relevant.
When considering modes of communication or genres that are intended to
educate, raise awareness, and motivate individuals and communities to create
laws, institutions, and agencies, both typographic and iconographic genres can
be effective.
References
Gosselin, D. (2005). Heavy Hands.Pearson Education Inc: Upper
Saddle River
PADV-Atlanta. (2008, June 5).
Domestic Violence: The War At
Home.
Retrieved September 16, 2012
from YouTube.com Web Site:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsDwMYfEIPE