Analysis Of As I Lay Dying - 1086 Words

William Faulkner’s novel As I Lay Dying follows the Bundren family on their trek along the countryside to bury Addie, the matriarch of the family. Through Faulkner’s usage of internal monologue, each character reveals a different aspect of their personality. One of the most noticeably erratic viewpoints in the novel is that of the youngest Bundren, Vardaman, whose stream-of-consciousness is so volatile that it raises debates on whether or not he is suffering from psychological illnesses. Some argue against this fact, claiming that his irregular thoughts are due to his youth and inability to fully comprehend the situation happening around him. However, Vardaman’s sense of unreality when assigning human to animal relationships within the novel reveals signs of Neurotic Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Psychosis. Vardaman does suffer from other psychological issues besides being young. Vardaman exhibits signs of a Neurotic disorder called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The â€Å"Pure O,† or the obsession aspect of the disorder, is characterized by â€Å"recurring and distressing thoughts, fears, or images† (WebMD). A key component of Pure O is rumination, which involves dwelling about certain themes. For Vardaman, he is infatuated with the idea that Addie is a fish. He constantly dehumanizes Addie into a fish, which is seen in the bridge scene. When witnessing the fall of the coffin into the river, Vardaman does not describe the coffin falling but instead describes a fish that isShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of As I Lay Dying 1528 Words   |  7 Pagesfirst-person, second-person, and third-person point of views. Either of the foregoing points of views have different effect on the understanding and believability of the characters or the story being told, as is evident from O Pioneers! and As I Lay Dying novels. As I lay dying is a narrative by William Faulkner who uses multiple narrators and different techniques to convey a message from different points of view. Through the narratives of the fifteen different characters in the novel, it is important to understandRead MoreAnalysis Of As I Lay Dying 1682 Words   |  7 PagesProfession of Poverty As Robert Kennedy once said, â€Å"I believe that, as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil† (Kennedy). Money and wealth contribute to the image a person presents. In a world based on standards such as those, the wealthy will seem to be superior to the poor and that almost never ends in a positive way. William Faulkner, author of As I Lay Dying, was aware of the effects of poverty and took the opportunity to use his characters to depict poverty s effects. The novel takes placeRead MoreAnalysis Of As I Lay Dying 1204 Words   |  5 PagesBlake Huston Kelly Hoffer Interpretation of Literature October 19th, 2015 Dewey Dell’s Uncontrollable Fate In William Faulkner’s novel, As I Lay Dying, the reader is encouraged to sympathize with Dewey Dell on account of her quickly waning life. We are given multiple circumstances in the book where Dewey Dell’s life is noticeably described in a negative way, not as a person, but rather how bad of a situation she is in. She is an impregnated seventeen-year-old girl who is unable to find proper treatmentRead MoreAnalysis Of As I Lay Dying1497 Words   |  6 PagesAs I Lay Dying, is a novel about the death of Addie Bundren and the events that follow to her burial. The story is told through fifteen different perspectives over the course of fifty-nine narrative chapters. William Faulkner gives the reader insight into what each character is thinking and their reactions to the events taking place. Each member of the Bundren family holds their own secrets that they keep from one another. These secrets eventually distance each member from one another over the durationRead MoreAnalys is Of As I Lay Dying1599 Words   |  7 Pages by William Faulkner, As I lay Dying, the Bundren family suffers the loss of Addie Bundren a beloved wife and mother. In honoring Addie’s last wish, the Bundrens make the trip to Jefferson to bury her with her relatives. During the trip every thing that could go wrong does. This story is told from plentiful points of view and reveals the completely unstable psychological state of the Bundren family. Through a psychoanalytical approach of William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, readers will see that FaulknerRead MoreAnalysis Of As I Lay Dying 1738 Words   |  7 PagesThe Impact of Silence As I Lay Dying, is a novel written by William Cuthbert Faulkner, where a poor southern family named the Burdens set off on a journey through 1920’s Mississippi to bury their recently deceased mother Addie Bundren. Before, Addie Bundren passes away she makes her husband Anse promise to bury her in her hometown of Jefferson, Mississippi. This is a large task as the Burden family is located in Yoknapatawhpha County, Mississippi and they must make the rough journey to give theirRead MoreAnalysis Of As I Lay Dying 944 Words   |  4 PagesFaulkner’s Description of Dewey Dell in As I Lay Dying William Faulkner’s phrasing, point of view, and grammar in his polyphonic novel, As I Lay Dying, strategically employs the miserably pessimistic yet juvenile voice of Dewey Dell to characterize her as the novel’s naà ¯ve victim. The only surviving female in the Bundren family, Faulkner presents the hardships that Dewey Dell must endure. In addition, as an uneducated gi rl with no guidance, Dewey Dell experiences an uncertainty in many issues thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Faulkner s As I Lay Dying 1441 Words   |  6 Pages In As I Lay Dying, with his unique and modern writing style, Faulkner and portrays the Bundrens’ struggle to deal with a death in the family. He shows how this dysfunctional family, caged in by societal norms and their individual emotional battle, ultimately falls into an abyss of unending hopelessness and despair. Throughout the Bundrens’ journey, Faulkner uses common archetypes in order to challenge his readers’ and society’s ingrained perceptions of families and suffering and to demonstrate howRead MoreAnalysis Of William Faulkners As I Lay Dying1840 Words   |  8 Pages â€Å"If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else.† The psychology of humans can be expressed in two groups, stable or not. These two groups can be applied to a psychoanalytical approach of William Faulkner’s, As I lay Dying. In this story, the Bundren family suffers the loss of Addie Bundren a loved wife and mother. Anse and the rest of the family, honoring her last wish, make the trip to Jefferson to bury her with her relatives. During the trip every thing that couldRead MoreAnalysis Of William Faulkner s I Lay Dying 1486 Words   |  6 PagesOn the back of my edition of As I Lay Dying there is a quote from William Faulkner on the subject of his novel. The quote says: I set out deliberately to write a tour-de-force. Before I even put pen to paper and set down the first word I knew what the last word would be and almost where the last period would fall. The end result is a work of precision and care. Each word has been carefully chosen and carefully ordered to create his â€Å"tour-de-force†. This can be both a comfort and a frustration to

ENG1501 Assignment 2 Student No 50097423 Unique No 553393

ENG1501 ASSIGNMENT NO: 2 UNIQUE NO: 553393 STUDENT NO: 50097423 (b) The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger) Before answering this question, read the chapter The Novel in Introduction to English Literary Studies, and work through the section on this novel in your Study Guide. Holden Caulfield, the main character in The Catcher in the Rye, is a typical adolescent and is experiencing the problems characteristic of this phase of life. One of his problems is that he is unsure of how to relate to girls. He is not even sure how he feels about them much of the time – in other words, he is ambivalent towards them. Introduction Holden Caulfield is honestly one of the most interesting and complex characters that I have ever come†¦show more content†¦Holden thinks of Sally in a more mature and adult way, compared to how he thinks of Jane, whom he sees as more innocent. He says that Sally is a girl who â€Å"seems intelligent and sophisticated, but is actually stupid† This is a very arrogant attitude of Holden towards women. Why does he say that she is stupid? This is very presumptuous of Holden. Holden doesn’t seem to be able to be sincere with Sally, as much as he is with Jane and he seems to go through the motions instead of actually feeling emotions with her. Holden catapults between total naivety to such wisdom, it is sometimes hard to keep up with him, and I can only imagine how difficult poor Sally must have found it! He wants to run away with her, at a mere sixteen years old and childishly thinks that this would work, it is Sally who maturely points out how silly and absurd that idea would be. Holden really is a contradiction, especially when it comes to girls. Sunny When Holden is approached about the prospect of hiring a prostitute for the night, he thinks that it is â€Å"against his principles† but he is so depressed and cannot think, so agrees to it but immediately regrets his decision. It is in this part of the book that Holden admits that he is still a virgin, even though he often implies that he is very experienced and confident. He really wants to have sex with Sunny so that he can get â€Å"some practise on her, in case I ever get married or anything† Holden however ended up just talking to her as he felt so

Marketing Theories and Principles Management

Question: Discuss about the Marketing Theories and Principles Management. Answer: Introduction Andersen (2001) defines marketing as the collective processes which enhance interaction between an organization and its customers with the main aim of improving the awareness about their products and services among the clients. Market is therefore pivotal in helping the clients to understand the trends in prices, product positions as well as changes in schedules just to mention but few. Most successful organization especially in the dynamic corporate world today are those who have remained consistent and effective with their marketing strategies. In this paper, we analyze the concept of marketing by reviewing the marketing theories and principles (Anjos, 2005). With reference to the Airbus Company, the paper shall examine how organizations can apply these theories and principles to enhance a stable market for their product and services. Brief Overview of Airbus Company Airbus is a large multinational company with its headquarters in France. It is a constituent of the larger Airbus Group SE. The company which manufactures and distributes civil aircrafts has got its facilities spread in most regions over the world including Germany, Spain, China and the United Kingdom just to mention but few. The wide market base and the continued dominance of Airbus is one aspect which informed its choice for this analysis and report. Over the past years, various companies whose operations run alongside those of airbus have been established (Beane, 2007). Despite the rising stiff competition, the company has remained one of the leading manufacturers of digital passenger airliners. Some of the common products include the digital fly by wire airliner, the Airbus A320 as well as the A380 which is one of the worlds largest passenger airliners. The huge following and a stable base of customers is a clear indication the Airbus is actually a marketing success story. The company largely depends of networking as one of the aggregation and adaptation strategies. Due to the fact that Airbus has its wings spread over major parts of Europe and other developed regions, there is an inevitable need for adequate networking to enhance the stability of affiliate groups in these countries. For instance, Airbus works closely with Singapore Airlines, a major transport herb in Singapore and its environs. In 2015, the company delivered the A350 passenger aircraft to Singapore Airlines. This strategy in addition to continued interaction with various other subsidiaries has played a crucial role in expanding the market base of the company (Bernhard, 2008). This is because in addition to delivering finished products to these countries, the Airbus management ensures that these deliveries are accompanied by various other promotional strategies whic h may include discounting prices, incentives to loyal customers and variations in product designs in order to fit the customer needs. The company continues to grow as days go by (Bettman, 2007). This can be explained by the various subsidiaries established in over sixteen countries with the central assembly points based in Germany, Spain, France, China and the United States. The company is no doubt a successful as far as its marketing strategies are concerned. Factors that led to the marketing success of Airbus As hinted in the introductory parts of this paper, one of the most important factors to consider in a bid to enhance the market of a product or service is an in depth understanding of the business environment as well as the changing trends in the marketing environment. In a bid to adequately stay updated with the changing trends in the marketing environment, the Airbus management team has put in place various strategies. The company has various subsidiaries spread over extensive regions not only in Europe but also in other parts of the world. In addition to being the central points of attachment between the companys headquarters and the international market, the affiliate organizations comprise effective organizational structures with various functional groups. Among these groups include the marketing and promotion department (Binggeli and Pompeo, 2002). Through the marketing departments in the various subsidiaries, the Airbus Company is able to analyze and establish the changing tre nds in the market environments in each of these regions. It is a fact worth noting that the marketing environment tends to vary as one moves from one region to another. This could be attributed to the varying customer needs, social and economic attitudes as well as changes in tastes and preferences. By establishing the specific consumer needs, the company is able to manufacture and distribute products which would adequately address the identified needs (Hakansson, 2002). According to the principle of product usability, organizations ought to avail to the consumers products that adequately address the needs of the consumers. As such, the product ought to do what the customers want it for. Airbus has made tremendous steps over the past years in ensuring that the management is always updated on the new demand, current uprisings in customer needs as well as the variations in test and preferences. For instance, the customers in Singapore may be accustomed to a particular design for the airline. Such elements may include space, capacity and speed of the passenger aircraft (Currie, 2009). By reviewing the client feedbacks on past experiences with the previous Airliner designs, Airbus came up with adjusted designs which included A320, A350 and A380. Each of these designs were such that they fitted what the consumers wanted them for. With reference to the components of the market mix strategies, one of the crucial considerations is the extent of convenience e xperienced by the customers on interacting with the product. It is therefore notable that one of the factors that has contributed in marketing success as registered by Airbus is the companys concentration on the quality, usability and effectiveness of the products delivered to the customers. Despite the fact that the Airbus A350 was only delivered to Singapore airlines recently, research reports indicate that the airline has made numerous trips in the process transporting over 12 billion passengers (Daft and Armstrong, 2009). The high turn up of clients demanding the companys service and use of its products is a clear indication that the marketing strategies established to enhance the awareness of these products and services have proved effective. Airbus Company has continuously relied on the benefits of segmentation in order to enhance more reception for the products and services. The corporate world comprises several other organizations. One of the challenges brought about by the emerging organizations is that they offer services at relatively lower rates hence tend to capture a good portion of the economy class market (Dimofte, 2009). In order to enhance product and service promotion, the company identified specific regions in Europe and Asia as well as in other parts of the world where there is good customer reception to the companys products and services. The organization has therefore set such stable regions as the specific target areas for its promotional strategies. Some of the companys known strong zones include countries such as France, Germany, Spain, the United States and China. To enhance the continuity and stability of these market segments, the company has not only established manufacturing subsidiaries in these areas but also set the designated regions as the very points where the final assembly of the products takes place (Halstead, 2009). This strategy operates in conformity with the place principle of marketing which emphasizes that products and services ought to be availed in specific areas where the target customers can easily access and use them. In order to enhance this, the Airbus Company has incorporated the use of technology in ensuring proper business-customer relations especially through e-Commerce. Such platforms have provided convenient avenues where the clients are briefed on the upcoming designs, new specifications and the associated product prices. Through these platforms, for instance, the companys website, more promotional strategies are conducted and the customer feedbacks deduced. The company then incorporates these feedbacks in the product design in a bid to ensure that the products and additional services perfectly fit the customer needs and preferences. The other important factor worth consideration for successful marketing is the aspect of pricing. While there is always the vital need to ensure that the sales of products return the value in terms of money, it is always important to regulate prices appropriately (Doganis, 2006). This may not mean charging very high r very low prices but maintaining the price between a range that is likely to embrace a good portion of the target customers. The Airbus Company has maintained a stable pricing policy since its inception. The company also deals in a wide range of currencies which ensures that the companys marketing strategies adequately capture the international market as well (Heracles, 2009). Lastly, the company embraces the aspect of promotion as one of its core market mix strategies. To enhance the products and services market, Airbus uses advertising through various media which include radio, newspapers and television. The recent emergence of information technology and the related de vices has also provided the social media as the other platform which the company can use effectively (Erdem, 2008). Through the promotional strategies, Airbus carefully conveys its message to the intended audience in manner that is not only informative but also appealing. A careful consideration and hence implementation of each of the factors highlighted above explains the reason behind the marketing success of airbus (Kilbourne, 2010). Possible Future Challenges and Recommendations The dynamic nature of the global market and the continued rise in technology may aid the establishment of various rival companies. Such companies are always meant to capture clients who fall within the lower economy class (Nelson, 2007). In case numerous competitors arise offering the same products and services at relatively affordable rates, a portion of the companys market may be swayed away from their loyalty. Consequently, it would be vital for the company to come up with extensive strategies in a bid to contain the challenges associated with competition. The company can therefore assemble and manufacture airlines which can serve individuals from across all economic divide. This way, products offered at lower rates would not dissuade the clients from remaining loyal to the company. This happens especially when the same services are offered by the company. The other challenge associated with the emergence of technology is the introduction of drones in the airspace. Although they are computer manipulated, drones use the same airspace used by other aircraft. The passengers and pilots are at risk due to eminent collisions that may be caused by poor communication or uncoordinated use of space. The company can therefore manufacture airlines which are able to fly at higher altitudes to minimize possibilities of collisions The other challenge may involve the varying trends in consumer preferences. With the ever changing market environment, it may be practically impossible to project what the market situation would be in the coming years. However, the company can make use of the current trends to forecast on the possible future changes and hence put in place the appropriate counter strategies. In order to counter the future challenges, Airbus could invest more on human resource empowerment to equip the current staff with marketing skills that would enable them deal competitively with the changes in the marketing trends. In addition, the company could consider improving the infrastructure and networking methodologies. This increases the customers access to the products and services which in turn improves marketing. Lastly, the company could harness the benefits of technology and come up with sophisticated marketing approaches through the online platforms and social media. Due to the high number of users, this strategy is likely to reach a good audience which is core strength in marketing. Conclusion The success of any business organization is always based on the extent to which the organization has invested on effective strategies. Each of these of these strategies is always aimed at enhancing the achievement of key organizational goals and objectives. Depending on the nature of the organization as well as the dynamics of its market base, business organizations employ various approaches. While some depend on effective empowerment of the human resource fraternity, other makes use of advancements in technology to come up with efficient promotional strategies for their products and services. This is marketing. When the right principles and theories are applied in marketing, the process is likely to stay effective in enhancing the achievement of the companys specific goals and objectives. Good marketing therefore rewards an organization through sales, stable market and consequently, an attractive return on investment. References Andersen T.J. (2001) Information technology, strategic decision making approaches and Organizational performance in different industrial settings. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 10(1), pp. 101-119. Anjos, M. (2005) Optimal pricing policies for perishable products, European Journal of Operational Research 16(1), pp.24654. Beane, T. (2007) Market segmentation: a review, European Journal of Marketing 21(5) 1987, pp.2042. Bernhard, H. (2008) Six lessons for the corporate classroom. Harvard Business Review, 66(5), pp. 12-56. Bettman, J. (2007) Perceived risk and its components: a model and empirical test, Journal of Marketing Research 10(2), pp.18490. Binggeli, U. and Pompeo, L. (2002) Hyped hopes for Europes low-cost airlines. McKinsey Quarterly 4(1), pp. 8697. Currie, C. (2009) Optimal pricing ladders for the sale of airline tickets, Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management 8(1), pp.96106. Daft, R. and Armstrong, G. (2009) Organization Theory and Design. Toronto: Nelson. Dimofte, C.V. Implicit measures of consumer cognition: a review, Psychology and Marketing 27(10) 2010, pp.92137. Doganis, R. (2006) The Airline Business. Abingdon: Routledge. Erdem, T. (2008) The impact of advertising on consumer price sensitivity in experience goods markets, Quantitative Marketing and Economics, 6(1), pp.13976. Hakansson, H. (2002) How should companies interact in business networks?, Journal of Business Research 55(1), pp.13339. Halstead, D. (2009) Product warranties and post-purchase service, Journal of Services Marketing 7(1), pp.3340. Heracles, L. (2009) Flying High in a Competitive Industry: Cost-effective Service Excellence at Singapore Airlines. Singapore: McGraw Hill Kilbourne, W. (2010) Materialism and its relationship to individual values, Psychology and Marketing 27(8), pp.78098. Nelson, P. (2007) Advertising as information, Journal of Political Economy 83 1974, pp.72954.

Rhetorical Theory Essay Example

Rhetorical Theory Essay Fantasy Theme Criticism Fantasy Theme Criticism: Symbolic Convergence Theory â€Å"Love The Way You Lie† COMM 311 Introduction Hip-hop and rap as a whole tend to be lumped together as bad for society, or the dragging down of American culture. The debate on the influence of music effecting the actions of America’s youth has remained salient for decades. The upcoming genre of ‘Rap’ or ‘Hip-Hop’ in recent years has sparked controversy because of the references to violence and sex portrayed in many song lyrics. Not only has the issues of drugs and crime been associated with hip hop, but the diminishing perception of women in our society has also been attributed to hip hop. It seems that rap is an easy scapegoat for the American population to ‘point the finger at. ’ Why is Hip-Hop important? No music is more important than the next. As soon as a genre starts portraying itself as something other than the simple concept of musical notes vibrating off the eardrums of listeners, it loses its focus and main purpose – to entertain. Political messages and social responsibility measures have always been visible in musical lyrics, examples such as R. We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetorical Theory specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetorical Theory specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetorical Theory specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer E. M. and U2 as well as countless other bands have done it for years. Hip-Hop has become big business and anything that is marketable affects society one way or another. Hip-Hop also affects society on many different levels and it is inclusive of all people. The media attention that Hip-Hop gets gives meaning to the fact that people are able to see a side of a particular Hip-Hop artist and then the artist is then displayed as a more human element. Younger generations must understand the biases and politics involved with the generalizations of Hip-Hop. The music we listen to and the videos we watch are just like reading a fashion magazine. A perfect example is if we see beautiful women in certain clothes then we may want those clothes. When someone sees a Hip-Hop artist or rapper on televisions that is clearly successful, actions may be taken to duplicate behavior portrayed by that artist, in turn hoping to emulate success similar to that artist. Why is the Eminem song featuring Rihanna important? Eminem is one of a kind! He is the only white rapper to emerge and remain successful while opening the ears of a different audience—young Caucasian males. Barriers are broken down when people from different backgrounds can share common interest at shows and on the internet and Eminem has done an exceptional job at doing so. Eminem was ranked 79th on the VH1 100 Greatest Artists of All-Time. He was also ranked 82nd on Rolling Stone magazines list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. He was named the Best Rapper Alive by Vibe magazine in 2008. Eminem has achieved nine No. 1 albums on the Billboard Top 200. Eminem also has had 13 number one singles worldwide. In December 2009, Eminem was even named the Artist of the Decade by Billboard magazine. Are these credentials not enough for you? Let’s take a look at Rihanna she has achieved eight number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 since first appearing on the chart on June 11, 2005. As of July 23, 2010, Rihanna has sold approximately 5,563,000 album units in the US alone. She has received several accolades, including the 2007 World Music Awards for Worlds Best-Selling Pop Female Artist and Female Entertainer of the Year, as well as the 2008 American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/RB Female Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist. She serves as one of Barbadoss honorary cultural ambassadors. In January 2010, Rihanna received two Grammy Awards for Jay-Zs 2009 single Run This Town. † These two celebrities are huge public figures! As for Rihanna, she appeals to a different demographic, the young African American female. With the combination of these two audiences, they amass to a huge portion of the American youth. Influencing the youth of American is monumental to the outcome of the Country as a whole. The youth of America is the backbone of our Nation. In theory, the influence we have on our youth can be set as a precursor for generations to come. The decisions made by the youth in any country will ultimately unravel actions and future ideas yet to come. For my analysis, I will examine possible subliminal messages and interpretations of Eminem and Rihanna’s song, â€Å"Love the Way You Lie,† specifically directed to the youth of America. I will show how this song is not solely comprised of vocals, lyrics and a music video, but a rhetorical action. The rhetoric involved perpetuates the desired symbolism and themes to reconstruct public opinion influencing the youth of America. By analyzing the lyrics and music video, I will reveal the connection between the subliminal messages and possible interpretations present in the artifact and their influence on the youth of America. Description of the Artifact The artifact I have chosen to depict is Eminem and Rihanna’s â€Å"Love the Way You Lie. † This is a very popular song racking up 338,000 downloads online in its first week. The music video of the song became an online phenomenon, gaining 6. 6 million hits in its first 24 hours on VEVO, and 18 million views in five days. It broke a YouTube record for having the most views in 24 hours. By November 2010, the video had received over 200 million views. Eminem and Rihanna’s song â€Å"Love the Way You Lie† depict the relationship of a troubled young couple. This video produced by Joseph Kahn portrays the ups and downs that some couples must endure to make their relationship work. Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox portray the relationship of a young couple in the song’s music video. The music video starts with the young couple sleeping together in bed. From that point on, Megan Fox notices a phone number on her significant others hand. The idea that she is being taken advantage of enters her mind. That notion sparks controversy and the couple begins to fight. The scene becomes heated and even reaches the point where the couple physical assault and spit in the faces of one another. Both parties in the couple become easily agitated with one another as they continue to assault and randomly hook up and make out. Both the Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox are seen alone pondering as if they are deciding what to do or what will become of their relationship. Megan Fox expresses her emotions by crying to herself, on the other hand Dominic Monaghan is seen drinking in the bar to vent the way he feels in regards to his current situation. Things take a more optimistic stance as the couple tries to rekindle lost trusts. Dominic Monaghan is seen giving Megan Fox a stuffed animal that represents his love for her and shows that he continues to care about her. Dominic Monaghan blatantly steals a bottle of vodka from a liquor store. They are seen getting along on top of a building as they consume vodka together. Alcohol is helping the couple temporary fix their irritations of each other, yet they have much bigger problems. Dominic Monaghan is seen taking his aggression out in the bar as he physically attacks other bystander attempting to communicate with Megan Fox. The couple is then seen gazing into each other’s eyes, smiling but unsure of what to do. Megan Fox is then seen walking out of the house resembling her leaving Dominic Monaghan. As the video continues Dominic Monaghan is seen physically assaulting Megan Fox yet again. The house is set in flames in the backdrop; this resembles the previous chaos and end of their relationship. Fire burns everything, bringing nothing but physical ruin. On the other hand, with the end of one good thing starts the beginning of another. In theory the fire could possibly represent a complex symbol for warmth and comfort. In fact it could resemble new life. The stuffed animal that Dominic Monaghan gave Megan Fox is even seen set aflame as the couple goes their separate ways. The video ends with the couple lying in bed in the same exact spot where the video started, as if the whole thing were a dream. The context of the artifact is located within social arrangements. This popular song and music video is a form of entertainment. The song is used to target a specific social niche in order to generate revenue and become a success within its boundaries. If this song did not appeal to any social networks then it would not serve its purpose of selling CDs to generate revenue and publicize the artists. The fact that two celebrities (Eminem Rihanna) have collaborated together helps them reach out to publicize themselves as well as combine their social networks together. The artifact is not used within political means or economic arrangements. This is a great artifact to analyze because symbolic convergence is blatantly evident and people can easily share similar fantasy themes that create rhetorical visions. â€Å"Love The Way You Lie† constitutes evidence of symbolic convergence theory because it incorporates themes the rhetor knows will resonate with the audience. Another reason why this is a great artifact to evaluate is because of the popularity and controversy of this song. Millions of people hear this song each and every day and have not even thought about evaluating it in terms of rhetorical theories and criticisms. Theoretical and Methodological Framework Fantasy theme analysis is based upon the theory of symbolic convergence, which has two major assumptions: (1) reality is created through communication and (2) individual interpretations of symbols can converge and create a shared reality for those involved (Foss, 2009). This happens in a social context in which individual worlds and interpretations converge, resulting in a shared reality for those involved. Sonja K. Foss (1996) in her textbook, Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration and Practice, quotes Bormann as stating: â€Å"If several or many people develop portions of their private symbolic worlds that overlap as a result of symbolic convergence, they share a common consciousness and have the basis for communicating with one another to create community, to discuss their common experiences, and to achieve mutual understanding. Symbolic convergence occurs when individuals have jointly experienced mutual interpretations with similar emotional responses. † Although the message in these encounters is important, the act of sharing the message is the critical issue in these incidents. The basic unit of analysis of symbolic convergence is the fantasy theme. The fantasy is defined as a creative and imaginative interpretation of an event that makes it credible or believable to the participant, or rather the means through which interpretation is accomplished in communication. Bormann (1972) states in his article Fantasy and Rhetorical Vision: The Rhetorical Criticism of Social Reality that participants in a fantasy theme are interested in the personal satisfaction found and are not troubled by contradictory details or evidence that might exist within the communication. As the participants participate in the story, similar emotions and interpretations will be present among the members of the group. The fantasy theme then becomes the groups experience and results in a shared reality for the participants (Griffin 1997). There are three types of fantasy themes included in Bormanns theory: (1) setting themes, which name the scene of an action, (2) character themes which describe agents or actors in the drama, assign motives to them and portray them as having certain characteristics, and (3) action themes which are the plot lines in which the characters engage. (Foss, 1996) The next level in analysis is observing fantasy types within a community. A fantasy type is a repeated fantasy theme that includes similar scenes, characters, and plots that are shared by the members of a community. Griffin (1997) observes that most fantasies do not chain out but rather fall on deaf ears, but that chaining out occurs when people catch on to a fantasy theme and then continue to spread the theme which then feeds into the overall rhetorical vision or a unified putting together of various shared fantasies. When a fantasy type is developed the rhetors involved are able to give a general story and the audience is able to fill in the details of the entire scenario. Included in the rhetorical vision of a community one will find fantasy themes which share the values, practices, heroes, and villains within the rhetorical group. Actions that make little sense to someone outside the rhetorical vision make perfect sense within the context of the group involved (Griffin 1997). Fantasy theme method suggests that the individual and collective dramatizations of a groups goals, scope, and activitiesthe groups conceptualized reality, or fantasy themecan be used to study social movements. Based on the notion of fantasizing in small groups, this analytic approach provides a method of discovering how communication creates social realities for groups of people (Foss, 1997). Fantasy theme analysis, as Bormann (1972) structured it, provides unique insight into the mentality and worldview of social groups. Foss (2004) summarizes the theory of symbolic convergence as a reference to the way narratives invite audiences to identify with the characters by using commonly established themes that the audience will immediately respond to as a cue to aid understanding. Bormann designed this method to help explain how common symbols and values are developed through group communication. Methodological Framework Fantasy theme criticism consists of four steps: 1. Select an artifact 2. Analyzing the artifact . Formulating a research question 4. Writing the essay Analyzing the artifact consists of two steps: 1. Coding the artifact for setting, characters, and action themes 2. Constructing the rhetorical visions from the fantasy theme a. Theme—Patterns b. Major and Minor—Frequency and Intensity Coding consists of settings, characters, actions, and character t heme codes. I will analyze the three main fantasy themes used in the song: violence, drugs/alcohol and deception. These three powerful pieces of the song all show different ways that American’s youth can be influenced purely through a rhetorical framing of issues. At one point or another, these themes will have to be dealt with in the life process of today’s youth. Analyzing how these themes function within the song will illustrate certain subliminal messages and influential factors that affect America’s youth. I will follow three of Bormann’s steps to complete my analysis. During fantasy theme analysis I must look for patterns within the song—based on frequency and intensity. Symbolic convergence frames the theory that communication creates reality. As for reality, it is not only created for individuals but also groups; sharing that sense of reality. The first step is to situate the song within the network of America’s youth. The second step is to examine the song for evidence of symbolic convergence and the fantasy themes used to perpetuate the subliminal messages and possible interpretations that remain transparent. The final step is to present the rhetorical vision America’s youth can create and be influenced by. These steps will complete my analysis of Eminem and Rihanna’s â€Å"Love The Way You Lie† in order to further understand how America’s youth is being influenced by hip hop culture in today’s society. Analysis Descriptive Analysis Descriptive analyses involve direct observation of behavior and environmental events in naturalistic contexts. Research in descriptive analysis has focused on a variety of areas including descriptions of naturalistic observations of behavior and environmental events, integration of descriptive and functional analyses, comparisons of outcomes from descriptive and functional analysis, and quantitative analyses of behavior and environmental events (Sloman 2010). Using Campbell’s seven elements of rhetorical action I will delve into the descriptive analysis. The purpose, or central idea of â€Å"Love The Way You Lie† is to relate to potential listeners in an attempt to sell CDs and promote their music. One of the main goals of the song is to relate to listeners so the listeners will in turn admire the artist and become a fan of his/her music. Eminem wants us to believe that creating violence in his song and music video is acceptable and/or ‘cool. ’ One lyric that represents this statement reads: â€Å"†¦ it’s a steel knife in my wind pipe I can’t breathe but I still fight while I can fight. The target audiences that Eminem and Rihanna are reaching out to are limited to none. Anyone that can listen and enjoy music is a target audience. On the other hand, those affected by the vulgar lyrics are none other than America’s youth! One aspect of growing up is finding out who you really are and what you like to do. At the ages of 13-18 I feel like you are more prone to adopt values and ideas that yo u see in the everyday media. Prospective audience members or listeners are asked to adopt these violent actions into their lifestyles. Eminem is personified in the song as a dead beat cheating boyfriend that has nothing going for him. Why would anyone want to adopt that persona? The tone of the song is depressing. The lyrics are dramatic and loaded with violent verbiage and deceitful actions. Eminem’s attitude towards the audience is somewhat as a peer and a superior. Eminem is viewed as a peer because he is trying to relate his music to the audience without turning them off or leaving anyone out. At the same thing, Eminem is seen as authoritative because he hints to the audience that what he saying he has already done before. An example of Eminem’s authoritative behavior in his lyrics would be: â€Å"I can’t tell you what it really is, I can only tell you what it feels like† in this he is already stating that he has performed these actions. The structure of the song dwells on relationships people have with one another. Eminem gains attention by introducing his perspective and by the use of vivid figurative analogies. Eminem tries to create a shared reality with the audience by use of similar past relationships. If one person has had a rough relationship in the past, they will automatically become more susceptible to liking the song and its ontents. The song is also chronologically structured, starting with the young couple in the bed, and develops as they fight over time. Eminem himself is supporting materials for the themes he portrays in his song. He is notorious for his rough divorce with ex-wife Kimberly Mathers. Rihanna is also known for her tragic experience with abusive boyfrie nd Chris Brown. Strategies used to capture listeners include a catchy chorus as well as clever bold lyrics. Eminem alludes to a previously dramatic relationship when he states: â€Å"I’m superman with the wind at his back, she’s Lois Lane. This strategy is set up so that anyone who previously watched superman can easily create a shared reality and relate to the song. Critical Analysis In following three of Bormann’s steps to complete my analysis, many patterns of drugs/alcohol, violence and deception are drawn throughout the song. Symbolic convergence frames the theory that communication creates reality. The reality Eminem creates through his lyrics and seen in the music video is a perception for America’s youth to view. One filled with alcohol abuse, drugs, violence and lies. The song is already situated within the media network of America’s youth. Subliminal messages perpetuated here include those of alcohol abuse, lies and deceit and acts of violence been seen as acceptable. My rhetorical vision states that people do not need to lie, consume drugs or alcohol or be violent towards one another in order to be successful. Eminem Rihanna’s â€Å"Love the Way You Lie† contains three fantasy themes that are significant to the overall rhetoric to this song. The three themes are categorized as drugs/alcohol, violence and deception. As I immersed myself and scored through the lyrics of the song, some of the single worded (action themes) that helped me select these fantasy themes include: burn, cry, lie, fight, high, drunk, huffin’ paint, suffer, suffocate, hate, running, insane, laid hands, stoop, barley breathe, hit em, sick, spit em, throw em down, rage, separate ways, broken records, leave, fall back, temper, blinded, crazy, pissed, fist, apologize, liar and set this house on fire. As for the music video, certain actions took place to help me narrow down my fantasy themes. These actions include: fighting, spitting in face, walking out, punch, drinking alcohol, stealing, yelling, shaking, hitting and burning. Setting themes include the house in the music video, the liquor store and the bar. Characters involved are Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox’s character as well as Rihanna and Eminem referencing â€Å"I† and â€Å"You† throughout the lyrics. Violence In terms of violence, the vulgarity of the lyrics emulate to America’s youth that those specific actions and words are acceptable. It is not necessary for 13 year old children to hear lyrics like â€Å"I’m a tie her to the bed and set this house on fire. I feel that having a strong family background is crucial for children in terms of being raised more level headed but statements like that are just unnecessary. The intensity of the violence in the music video is harsh. At one point in the video Megan Fox spits in Dominic Monaghan’s face. Again, this is not accept able behavior and should not be exemplified. Professional athletes are fined thousands of dollars for spitting in an opponent’s face but this music video makes it seem like it’s a regular occurrence. The frequencies of violent words in the lyrics are very high as well as intense. There are multiple clips in the music video where the couple physically assaults one another. The more America’s youth sees this behavior as acceptable, the more likely it will be duplicated. Drugs Alcohol Eminem’s reference to drugs and alcohol is salient in the lyrics as well as the music video. In the music video Dominic Monaghan goes as far as to steal a bottle of liquor from the store; shortly after he is seen rekindling his relationship with Megan Fox. This chain of events makes it seem like alcohol is the remedy for life’s problems. I only wish this was true! Fortunately I’ve reached an age where I can decipher good and bad choices when a problem arises, as for 14 year olds, not so much. The music video is creating a reality in America’s youth that depicts the consumption and abuse of alcohol as acceptable. Recent test results support the predictions that the relationship between media exposure and alcohol use was mediated by peer norms and positive expectancies and that the relationship was partially moderated by language preference (Jeong Hecht, 2010). Other references in Eminem’s lyrics relate to inhaling household products which is terrible for the overall health human body. The lyrics read â€Å"High off her love, drunk from my hate, it’s like I’m huffin’ paint. † Deception The song references to lying nine times before coming to an end. With the song being approximately 4 minutes and 30 seconds long, that means on average they are referencing to lying every 30 seconds. That’s a lot of lying! The devious behavior Dominic Monaghan’s character partakes in by having a random phone number written on his hand should not be idealized on how to act in any relationship. This behavior may cause insecurities to arise in young women about their own boyfriends. The fact that Dominic Monaghan was out hitting on girls makes other women question if their significant other is doing the same exact thing. Not only does it make women appear unsecure about their relationship, but makes males seem like a distrustful partner. People should not strive for these feelings or negative attributes but they are being casted on upon the youth of America. Implications, Discussion, and Limitations Young adulthood is a very important time in someone’s life. Decisions are made that can benefit or destroy the rest of that person’s life. Why would we want the backbone of America to be exposed to violence, drugs and alcohol? I don’t know. As many others have said in the past, communication creates reality. This Eminem and Rihanna song communicates a fictional reality to the youth of America. It baffles me that a child could simply turn on the television and be exposed to the violence portrayed in this video. One limitation I encountered was that I only had 13 weeks to research the song, fantasy theme criticism, symbolic convergence theory and write the paper. The fact that I only had 13 weeks to write the paper gave me limited access to information on the topic. Another limitation I encountered was the use of only one rhetorical methodology. I understand that there is a part II of the song and would like to have the time to research that as well. I believe Fantasy theme is a great method for researching this song. On the overhand if I were to do it over again I would probably choose narrative criticism. There are serious social implications that may come about due to the content of this song. Implications for shoplifting, underage drinking and drug use are bound by imprisonment in the United States. I for sure wouldn’t want my child to be viewing this video on television. For future esearch I would recommend narrative or fantasy criticism and would definitely include part II of the song. As for the larger issue I’m concerned, it’s the wellbeing of the United States of America. References Bormann, E. (1972). Fantasy and rhetorical vision: The rhetorical criticism of social reality. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 58, 396-407. Retrieved April 3, 2010, from Academic Search Premier database. Foss, S. (2004). Rhetorical criticism: Exploration and practice (3rd ed). Waveland press, Long Grove. Littlejohn, S. W. (2002). Symbolic convergence theory. In Cavanaugh, D. (Ed. ) Theories of Human Communication (pp. 57-159). New Mexico: Wadsworth Group. Pineda, R. , Sowards, S. (2007). Flag waving as rhetorical argument: 2006 immigration demonstrations and cultural citizenship. Argumentation Advocacy, 43(3/4), 164-174. Retrieved April 1, 2010, from Communication Mass Media Complete database. Bormann, Ernest G. (1972). Fantasy and Rhetorical Vision: The Rhetorical Criticism of Social Reality. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 58, 396-407. Foss, S. K. (1996). Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration Practice. (2nd ed. ). Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland. Griffin, EM (1997). A First Loo k at Communication Theory. (3rd ed. ). NY: McGraw-Hill. Rhetorical Theory Essay Example Rhetorical Theory Essay Fantasy Theme Criticism Fantasy Theme Criticism: Symbolic Convergence Theory â€Å"Love The Way You Lie† COMM 311 Introduction Hip-hop and rap as a whole tend to be lumped together as bad for society, or the dragging down of American culture. The debate on the influence of music effecting the actions of America’s youth has remained salient for decades. The upcoming genre of ‘Rap’ or ‘Hip-Hop’ in recent years has sparked controversy because of the references to violence and sex portrayed in many song lyrics. Not only has the issues of drugs and crime been associated with hip hop, but the diminishing perception of women in our society has also been attributed to hip hop. It seems that rap is an easy scapegoat for the American population to ‘point the finger at. ’ Why is Hip-Hop important? No music is more important than the next. As soon as a genre starts portraying itself as something other than the simple concept of musical notes vibrating off the eardrums of listeners, it loses its focus and main purpose – to entertain. Political messages and social responsibility measures have always been visible in musical lyrics, examples such as R. We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetorical Theory specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetorical Theory specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetorical Theory specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer E. M. and U2 as well as countless other bands have done it for years. Hip-Hop has become big business and anything that is marketable affects society one way or another. Hip-Hop also affects society on many different levels and it is inclusive of all people. The media attention that Hip-Hop gets gives meaning to the fact that people are able to see a side of a particular Hip-Hop artist and then the artist is then displayed as a more human element. Younger generations must understand the biases and politics involved with the generalizations of Hip-Hop. The music we listen to and the videos we watch are just like reading a fashion magazine. A perfect example is if we see beautiful women in certain clothes then we may want those clothes. When someone sees a Hip-Hop artist or rapper on televisions that is clearly successful, actions may be taken to duplicate behavior portrayed by that artist, in turn hoping to emulate success similar to that artist. Why is the Eminem song featuring Rihanna important? Eminem is one of a kind! He is the only white rapper to emerge and remain successful while opening the ears of a different audience—young Caucasian males. Barriers are broken down when people from different backgrounds can share common interest at shows and on the internet and Eminem has done an exceptional job at doing so. Eminem was ranked 79th on the VH1 100 Greatest Artists of All-Time. He was also ranked 82nd on Rolling Stone magazines list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. He was named the Best Rapper Alive by Vibe magazine in 2008. Eminem has achieved nine No. 1 albums on the Billboard Top 200. Eminem also has had 13 number one singles worldwide. In December 2009, Eminem was even named the Artist of the Decade by Billboard magazine. Are these credentials not enough for you? Let’s take a look at Rihanna she has achieved eight number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 since first appearing on the chart on June 11, 2005. As of July 23, 2010, Rihanna has sold approximately 5,563,000 album units in the US alone. She has received several accolades, including the 2007 World Music Awards for Worlds Best-Selling Pop Female Artist and Female Entertainer of the Year, as well as the 2008 American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/RB Female Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist. She serves as one of Barbadoss honorary cultural ambassadors. In January 2010, Rihanna received two Grammy Awards for Jay-Zs 2009 single Run This Town. † These two celebrities are huge public figures! As for Rihanna, she appeals to a different demographic, the young African American female. With the combination of these two audiences, they amass to a huge portion of the American youth. Influencing the youth of American is monumental to the outcome of the Country as a whole. The youth of America is the backbone of our Nation. In theory, the influence we have on our youth can be set as a precursor for generations to come. The decisions made by the youth in any country will ultimately unravel actions and future ideas yet to come. For my analysis, I will examine possible subliminal messages and interpretations of Eminem and Rihanna’s song, â€Å"Love the Way You Lie,† specifically directed to the youth of America. I will show how this song is not solely comprised of vocals, lyrics and a music video, but a rhetorical action. The rhetoric involved perpetuates the desired symbolism and themes to reconstruct public opinion influencing the youth of America. By analyzing the lyrics and music video, I will reveal the connection between the subliminal messages and possible interpretations present in the artifact and their influence on the youth of America. Description of the Artifact The artifact I have chosen to depict is Eminem and Rihanna’s â€Å"Love the Way You Lie. † This is a very popular song racking up 338,000 downloads online in its first week. The music video of the song became an online phenomenon, gaining 6. 6 million hits in its first 24 hours on VEVO, and 18 million views in five days. It broke a YouTube record for having the most views in 24 hours. By November 2010, the video had received over 200 million views. Eminem and Rihanna’s song â€Å"Love the Way You Lie† depict the relationship of a troubled young couple. This video produced by Joseph Kahn portrays the ups and downs that some couples must endure to make their relationship work. Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox portray the relationship of a young couple in the song’s music video. The music video starts with the young couple sleeping together in bed. From that point on, Megan Fox notices a phone number on her significant others hand. The idea that she is being taken advantage of enters her mind. That notion sparks controversy and the couple begins to fight. The scene becomes heated and even reaches the point where the couple physical assault and spit in the faces of one another. Both parties in the couple become easily agitated with one another as they continue to assault and randomly hook up and make out. Both the Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox are seen alone pondering as if they are deciding what to do or what will become of their relationship. Megan Fox expresses her emotions by crying to herself, on the other hand Dominic Monaghan is seen drinking in the bar to vent the way he feels in regards to his current situation. Things take a more optimistic stance as the couple tries to rekindle lost trusts. Dominic Monaghan is seen giving Megan Fox a stuffed animal that represents his love for her and shows that he continues to care about her. Dominic Monaghan blatantly steals a bottle of vodka from a liquor store. They are seen getting along on top of a building as they consume vodka together. Alcohol is helping the couple temporary fix their irritations of each other, yet they have much bigger problems. Dominic Monaghan is seen taking his aggression out in the bar as he physically attacks other bystander attempting to communicate with Megan Fox. The couple is then seen gazing into each other’s eyes, smiling but unsure of what to do. Megan Fox is then seen walking out of the house resembling her leaving Dominic Monaghan. As the video continues Dominic Monaghan is seen physically assaulting Megan Fox yet again. The house is set in flames in the backdrop; this resembles the previous chaos and end of their relationship. Fire burns everything, bringing nothing but physical ruin. On the other hand, with the end of one good thing starts the beginning of another. In theory the fire could possibly represent a complex symbol for warmth and comfort. In fact it could resemble new life. The stuffed animal that Dominic Monaghan gave Megan Fox is even seen set aflame as the couple goes their separate ways. The video ends with the couple lying in bed in the same exact spot where the video started, as if the whole thing were a dream. The context of the artifact is located within social arrangements. This popular song and music video is a form of entertainment. The song is used to target a specific social niche in order to generate revenue and become a success within its boundaries. If this song did not appeal to any social networks then it would not serve its purpose of selling CDs to generate revenue and publicize the artists. The fact that two celebrities (Eminem Rihanna) have collaborated together helps them reach out to publicize themselves as well as combine their social networks together. The artifact is not used within political means or economic arrangements. This is a great artifact to analyze because symbolic convergence is blatantly evident and people can easily share similar fantasy themes that create rhetorical visions. â€Å"Love The Way You Lie† constitutes evidence of symbolic convergence theory because it incorporates themes the rhetor knows will resonate with the audience. Another reason why this is a great artifact to evaluate is because of the popularity and controversy of this song. Millions of people hear this song each and every day and have not even thought about evaluating it in terms of rhetorical theories and criticisms. Theoretical and Methodological Framework Fantasy theme analysis is based upon the theory of symbolic convergence, which has two major assumptions: (1) reality is created through communication and (2) individual interpretations of symbols can converge and create a shared reality for those involved (Foss, 2009). This happens in a social context in which individual worlds and interpretations converge, resulting in a shared reality for those involved. Sonja K. Foss (1996) in her textbook, Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration and Practice, quotes Bormann as stating: â€Å"If several or many people develop portions of their private symbolic worlds that overlap as a result of symbolic convergence, they share a common consciousness and have the basis for communicating with one another to create community, to discuss their common experiences, and to achieve mutual understanding. Symbolic convergence occurs when individuals have jointly experienced mutual interpretations with similar emotional responses. † Although the message in these encounters is important, the act of sharing the message is the critical issue in these incidents. The basic unit of analysis of symbolic convergence is the fantasy theme. The fantasy is defined as a creative and imaginative interpretation of an event that makes it credible or believable to the participant, or rather the means through which interpretation is accomplished in communication. Bormann (1972) states in his article Fantasy and Rhetorical Vision: The Rhetorical Criticism of Social Reality that participants in a fantasy theme are interested in the personal satisfaction found and are not troubled by contradictory details or evidence that might exist within the communication. As the participants participate in the story, similar emotions and interpretations will be present among the members of the group. The fantasy theme then becomes the groups experience and results in a shared reality for the participants (Griffin 1997). There are three types of fantasy themes included in Bormanns theory: (1) setting themes, which name the scene of an action, (2) character themes which describe agents or actors in the drama, assign motives to them and portray them as having certain characteristics, and (3) action themes which are the plot lines in which the characters engage. (Foss, 1996) The next level in analysis is observing fantasy types within a community. A fantasy type is a repeated fantasy theme that includes similar scenes, characters, and plots that are shared by the members of a community. Griffin (1997) observes that most fantasies do not chain out but rather fall on deaf ears, but that chaining out occurs when people catch on to a fantasy theme and then continue to spread the theme which then feeds into the overall rhetorical vision or a unified putting together of various shared fantasies. When a fantasy type is developed the rhetors involved are able to give a general story and the audience is able to fill in the details of the entire scenario. Included in the rhetorical vision of a community one will find fantasy themes which share the values, practices, heroes, and villains within the rhetorical group. Actions that make little sense to someone outside the rhetorical vision make perfect sense within the context of the group involved (Griffin 1997). Fantasy theme method suggests that the individual and collective dramatizations of a groups goals, scope, and activitiesthe groups conceptualized reality, or fantasy themecan be used to study social movements. Based on the notion of fantasizing in small groups, this analytic approach provides a method of discovering how communication creates social realities for groups of people (Foss, 1997). Fantasy theme analysis, as Bormann (1972) structured it, provides unique insight into the mentality and worldview of social groups. Foss (2004) summarizes the theory of symbolic convergence as a reference to the way narratives invite audiences to identify with the characters by using commonly established themes that the audience will immediately respond to as a cue to aid understanding. Bormann designed this method to help explain how common symbols and values are developed through group communication. Methodological Framework Fantasy theme criticism consists of four steps: 1. Select an artifact 2. Analyzing the artifact . Formulating a research question 4. Writing the essay Analyzing the artifact consists of two steps: 1. Coding the artifact for setting, characters, and action themes 2. Constructing the rhetorical visions from the fantasy theme a. Theme—Patterns b. Major and Minor—Frequency and Intensity Coding consists of settings, characters, actions, and character t heme codes. I will analyze the three main fantasy themes used in the song: violence, drugs/alcohol and deception. These three powerful pieces of the song all show different ways that American’s youth can be influenced purely through a rhetorical framing of issues. At one point or another, these themes will have to be dealt with in the life process of today’s youth. Analyzing how these themes function within the song will illustrate certain subliminal messages and influential factors that affect America’s youth. I will follow three of Bormann’s steps to complete my analysis. During fantasy theme analysis I must look for patterns within the song—based on frequency and intensity. Symbolic convergence frames the theory that communication creates reality. As for reality, it is not only created for individuals but also groups; sharing that sense of reality. The first step is to situate the song within the network of America’s youth. The second step is to examine the song for evidence of symbolic convergence and the fantasy themes used to perpetuate the subliminal messages and possible interpretations that remain transparent. The final step is to present the rhetorical vision America’s youth can create and be influenced by. These steps will complete my analysis of Eminem and Rihanna’s â€Å"Love The Way You Lie† in order to further understand how America’s youth is being influenced by hip hop culture in today’s society. Analysis Descriptive Analysis Descriptive analyses involve direct observation of behavior and environmental events in naturalistic contexts. Research in descriptive analysis has focused on a variety of areas including descriptions of naturalistic observations of behavior and environmental events, integration of descriptive and functional analyses, comparisons of outcomes from descriptive and functional analysis, and quantitative analyses of behavior and environmental events (Sloman 2010). Using Campbell’s seven elements of rhetorical action I will delve into the descriptive analysis. The purpose, or central idea of â€Å"Love The Way You Lie† is to relate to potential listeners in an attempt to sell CDs and promote their music. One of the main goals of the song is to relate to listeners so the listeners will in turn admire the artist and become a fan of his/her music. Eminem wants us to believe that creating violence in his song and music video is acceptable and/or ‘cool. ’ One lyric that represents this statement reads: â€Å"†¦ it’s a steel knife in my wind pipe I can’t breathe but I still fight while I can fight. The target audiences that Eminem and Rihanna are reaching out to are limited to none. Anyone that can listen and enjoy music is a target audience. On the other hand, those affected by the vulgar lyrics are none other than America’s youth! One aspect of growing up is finding out who you really are and what you like to do. At the ages of 13-18 I feel like you are more prone to adopt values and ideas that yo u see in the everyday media. Prospective audience members or listeners are asked to adopt these violent actions into their lifestyles. Eminem is personified in the song as a dead beat cheating boyfriend that has nothing going for him. Why would anyone want to adopt that persona? The tone of the song is depressing. The lyrics are dramatic and loaded with violent verbiage and deceitful actions. Eminem’s attitude towards the audience is somewhat as a peer and a superior. Eminem is viewed as a peer because he is trying to relate his music to the audience without turning them off or leaving anyone out. At the same thing, Eminem is seen as authoritative because he hints to the audience that what he saying he has already done before. An example of Eminem’s authoritative behavior in his lyrics would be: â€Å"I can’t tell you what it really is, I can only tell you what it feels like† in this he is already stating that he has performed these actions. The structure of the song dwells on relationships people have with one another. Eminem gains attention by introducing his perspective and by the use of vivid figurative analogies. Eminem tries to create a shared reality with the audience by use of similar past relationships. If one person has had a rough relationship in the past, they will automatically become more susceptible to liking the song and its ontents. The song is also chronologically structured, starting with the young couple in the bed, and develops as they fight over time. Eminem himself is supporting materials for the themes he portrays in his song. He is notorious for his rough divorce with ex-wife Kimberly Mathers. Rihanna is also known for her tragic experience with abusive boyfrie nd Chris Brown. Strategies used to capture listeners include a catchy chorus as well as clever bold lyrics. Eminem alludes to a previously dramatic relationship when he states: â€Å"I’m superman with the wind at his back, she’s Lois Lane. This strategy is set up so that anyone who previously watched superman can easily create a shared reality and relate to the song. Critical Analysis In following three of Bormann’s steps to complete my analysis, many patterns of drugs/alcohol, violence and deception are drawn throughout the song. Symbolic convergence frames the theory that communication creates reality. The reality Eminem creates through his lyrics and seen in the music video is a perception for America’s youth to view. One filled with alcohol abuse, drugs, violence and lies. The song is already situated within the media network of America’s youth. Subliminal messages perpetuated here include those of alcohol abuse, lies and deceit and acts of violence been seen as acceptable. My rhetorical vision states that people do not need to lie, consume drugs or alcohol or be violent towards one another in order to be successful. Eminem Rihanna’s â€Å"Love the Way You Lie† contains three fantasy themes that are significant to the overall rhetoric to this song. The three themes are categorized as drugs/alcohol, violence and deception. As I immersed myself and scored through the lyrics of the song, some of the single worded (action themes) that helped me select these fantasy themes include: burn, cry, lie, fight, high, drunk, huffin’ paint, suffer, suffocate, hate, running, insane, laid hands, stoop, barley breathe, hit em, sick, spit em, throw em down, rage, separate ways, broken records, leave, fall back, temper, blinded, crazy, pissed, fist, apologize, liar and set this house on fire. As for the music video, certain actions took place to help me narrow down my fantasy themes. These actions include: fighting, spitting in face, walking out, punch, drinking alcohol, stealing, yelling, shaking, hitting and burning. Setting themes include the house in the music video, the liquor store and the bar. Characters involved are Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox’s character as well as Rihanna and Eminem referencing â€Å"I† and â€Å"You† throughout the lyrics. Violence In terms of violence, the vulgarity of the lyrics emulate to America’s youth that those specific actions and words are acceptable. It is not necessary for 13 year old children to hear lyrics like â€Å"I’m a tie her to the bed and set this house on fire. I feel that having a strong family background is crucial for children in terms of being raised more level headed but statements like that are just unnecessary. The intensity of the violence in the music video is harsh. At one point in the video Megan Fox spits in Dominic Monaghan’s face. Again, this is not accept able behavior and should not be exemplified. Professional athletes are fined thousands of dollars for spitting in an opponent’s face but this music video makes it seem like it’s a regular occurrence. The frequencies of violent words in the lyrics are very high as well as intense. There are multiple clips in the music video where the couple physically assaults one another. The more America’s youth sees this behavior as acceptable, the more likely it will be duplicated. Drugs Alcohol Eminem’s reference to drugs and alcohol is salient in the lyrics as well as the music video. In the music video Dominic Monaghan goes as far as to steal a bottle of liquor from the store; shortly after he is seen rekindling his relationship with Megan Fox. This chain of events makes it seem like alcohol is the remedy for life’s problems. I only wish this was true! Fortunately I’ve reached an age where I can decipher good and bad choices when a problem arises, as for 14 year olds, not so much. The music video is creating a reality in America’s youth that depicts the consumption and abuse of alcohol as acceptable. Recent test results support the predictions that the relationship between media exposure and alcohol use was mediated by peer norms and positive expectancies and that the relationship was partially moderated by language preference (Jeong Hecht, 2010). Other references in Eminem’s lyrics relate to inhaling household products which is terrible for the overall health human body. The lyrics read â€Å"High off her love, drunk from my hate, it’s like I’m huffin’ paint. † Deception The song references to lying nine times before coming to an end. With the song being approximately 4 minutes and 30 seconds long, that means on average they are referencing to lying every 30 seconds. That’s a lot of lying! The devious behavior Dominic Monaghan’s character partakes in by having a random phone number written on his hand should not be idealized on how to act in any relationship. This behavior may cause insecurities to arise in young women about their own boyfriends. The fact that Dominic Monaghan was out hitting on girls makes other women question if their significant other is doing the same exact thing. Not only does it make women appear unsecure about their relationship, but makes males seem like a distrustful partner. People should not strive for these feelings or negative attributes but they are being casted on upon the youth of America. Implications, Discussion, and Limitations Young adulthood is a very important time in someone’s life. Decisions are made that can benefit or destroy the rest of that person’s life. Why would we want the backbone of America to be exposed to violence, drugs and alcohol? I don’t know. As many others have said in the past, communication creates reality. This Eminem and Rihanna song communicates a fictional reality to the youth of America. It baffles me that a child could simply turn on the television and be exposed to the violence portrayed in this video. One limitation I encountered was that I only had 13 weeks to research the song, fantasy theme criticism, symbolic convergence theory and write the paper. The fact that I only had 13 weeks to write the paper gave me limited access to information on the topic. Another limitation I encountered was the use of only one rhetorical methodology. I understand that there is a part II of the song and would like to have the time to research that as well. I believe Fantasy theme is a great method for researching this song. On the overhand if I were to do it over again I would probably choose narrative criticism. There are serious social implications that may come about due to the content of this song. Implications for shoplifting, underage drinking and drug use are bound by imprisonment in the United States. I for sure wouldn’t want my child to be viewing this video on television. For future esearch I would recommend narrative or fantasy criticism and would definitely include part II of the song. As for the larger issue I’m concerned, it’s the wellbeing of the United States of America. References Bormann, E. (1972). Fantasy and rhetorical vision: The rhetorical criticism of social reality. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 58, 396-407. Retrieved April 3, 2010, from Academic Search Premier database. Foss, S. (2004). Rhetorical criticism: Exploration and practice (3rd ed). Waveland press, Long Grove. Littlejohn, S. W. (2002). Symbolic convergence theory. In Cavanaugh, D. (Ed. ) Theories of Human Communication (pp. 57-159). New Mexico: Wadsworth Group. Pineda, R. , Sowards, S. (2007). Flag waving as rhetorical argument: 2006 immigration demonstrations and cultural citizenship. Argumentation Advocacy, 43(3/4), 164-174. Retrieved April 1, 2010, from Communication Mass Media Complete database. Bormann, Ernest G. (1972). Fantasy and Rhetorical Vision: The Rhetorical Criticism of Social Reality. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 58, 396-407. Foss, S. K. (1996). Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration Practice. (2nd ed. ). Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland. Griffin, EM (1997). A First Loo k at Communication Theory. (3rd ed. ). NY: McGraw-Hill.