Topic > Analysis of Michael Jackson's use of rhetorical strategies

We constantly hear news of the decline of our planet. Whether it is climate change, famine, rising sea levels, wars, or another endangered or endangered animal species, we are aware of it almost, if not, every single day. These problems are not new to us. They are happening in every country and on every continent. One of the most famous musicians in history, Michael Jackson, constantly mentions these important topics through his songs, music videos, live performances and interviews. The subject of one of his less talked about pieces "Earth Song", included on his 1995 album HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I, was based on the state of our world at the time and I would say his words are still current almost 24 years later. He argues that we have forgotten that our planet and its life are fragile and that we must take action and improve our world. Just by reading the lyrics of the song you can understand that Jackson wants us to realize that there are so many devastating events and choices we are making as inhabitants of this planet that have negative effects. Identifying Jackson's use of rhetorical appeals can help us understand and side with him and his arguments. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In the song and music video, Jackson wanted to shed light on the situations humanity has lived in and continues to find itself in. It covers and showcases the destruction we have caused to the earth by destroying rainforests, pollution, poaching and national wars. To use ethos, Jackson filmed the music video in four different locations to show some of the destruction he sang about to further build his credibility. It wants to convey the message to our minds that we need to be aware of the kind of irreversible damage our actions can cause. Jackson wants us to think about our actions because usually, we can all be oblivious to the consequences most of the time. Human beings tend to go through our daily routine without realizing these problems that it is pointing out to us. The beginning of the song features a soft, haunting melody to accompany Jackson's powerful lyrics. The moving melody, lyrics and images of these topics appeal to the emotions of the audience. Throughout the song, Jackson uses the words "we" and "we" which demonstrate ethics. He also demonstrates ethics by highlighting his good character by choosing this particular topic to sing about and show to his audience. He is making the public aware that he wants to make a positive impact on the world with this song. To continue to support his point, Jackson begins by asking the audience questions throughout the entire song. These questions add to its pathetic appeal by creating an emotional response from the audience. In the video, it shows a tribe looking at the deceased body of an elephant that is missing its tusks. It is a very disturbing but powerful image that introduces the reality of poaching. Jackson asks, “What have we done to the world? Look what we did." He wants the public to think about the consequences of their actions and the impact they have on the planet. Jackson's appeals to logos were included in appeals to pathos. Showing footage of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, a war zone in Croatia and animal poaching in Tanzania, he presented the facts. These are events that have occurred and still occur in some parts of the world. While Jackson didn't provide numbers or statistics, he did provide footage, so his logo's appeals were.