Pranking as Rhetorical Criticism

The use of prank calls to live television shows is a good example of how to give a simplistic rhetorical analysis of discourse that you disagree with. In the case of this blog, a live television show called Brainstorms. The TV show is called Brainstorms aired in 2002. It was a show hosted by an unkempt man called Jack Jersawitz who would talk about and support many controversial ideas within the United States. During the show he would discuss these ideas and then take live phone calls to receive input from his at home viewing audience. Because of his extreme statements he would often receive several phone calls that were aimed to either make fun of him, or what he was talking about. Even though many of these callers were just trying to be funny, they did not realize that they were actively participating in a rhetorical critique. They often call to insult him personally. These phone calls are hurting his ethos's as a figure that people can relate to and partake information from with credibility. Because the audience does not support his claims they aim to make a mockery of him in attempts to embarrass him. By embarrassing him for his extreme statements they are taking away from his ethos's and seriousness of his attitude towards the topics presented. The audience members doing these calls are giving their analyses of how they think he and his topics of discussion are ridiculous by acting in a rebellious manner that upsets the host, but even makes the crew members in the back laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzPr7Tu27-4