Blog Assignment #4

July 16, 2008 mjbisign

This presentation begins with discussing various examples of war porn and how it even began in our society. Through the use of various images and relevant sources, the questions of what is the function of war porn and how are we to interpret the meaning and the societal role of this new cultural phenomenon are brought up. One original idea that is brought up during this presentation is that “war porn as a genre is a social actor in which spectacle enacts and encourages democratic participation through the public screen.” Drawing on various sources and using them together to create a thought brought about this idea. Although many ideas are created throughout this presentation, the major idea of “what is the function of war porn” is the intended rhetorical purpose. You can tell this because all of the information told in the beginning of the essay is used as background to support this. The images shown also add to this because it allows for the reader to formulate their own ideas of what the function of war porn may be. A good concept that is used in this presentation is not only using facts to make a point, but also adding opinion. In doing this, the audience is able to relate more to the topic presented and understands where the author is coming from.
Research is a main part in any formal essay that is written. By incorporating many primary and secondary sources into the paper, it works to emphasize the points being argued as well as force the audience to see where the writer is coming from. Right from the beginning of the presentation you can tell that a lot of research went into it. The first two pages all include images that serve as primary sources since they are actual accounts of the events that occurred. They are taken from Abu Ghraib and work to appeal to the audience emotionally. Since the images are not just placed in the presentation, but they are also discussed they let the audience really see the harsh things done to the prisoners instead of forcing them to imagine it on their own.
On the bottom of the second page a quote by Susan Sontag is included which comes from “Regarding the Torture of Others.” In this quote Sontag analyzes where the pictures during the war comes from. She points out that it is no longer the responsibility of outsiders to document the events that occur, the soldiers do it themselves and even swap images with each other. This serves as a primary source to emphasize a point that these atrocities during the war are not exaggerated, but things that actually occur.
On the third page another image is included which although it is a primary source, it is used to back up some secondary sources. Websites such as YouTube, Afterdowningstreet.org, salon.com, and NowThat’sFuckedUp.com are listed and not taken from directly, but they are used to emphasize the point that soldiers themselves are changing the meaning of things. Originally some of these sites were used to publish pornographic images of women, but now include images of themselves in graphic ways. Others include videos that show the torture done, such as being forced to masturbate on film.
On the fourth page Haim Bresheeth’s work in “Projecting Trauma: War Photography and the Public Sphere” is discussed as well as quoted. By discussing the quote and work before adding the quote in, it transitions the reader well and also is more effective. The discussing of the work before is used as a secondary source. It analyzes what Bresheeth concludes and further adds to the rhetorical topic of what is the function of war porn. The quote that is added is used as a primary source since it is a question that Bresheeth has as well as the writer of the presentation so it is also used as research. Also included on the fourth page is ideas by Brian Latour, Kevin Michael DeLuca, and Jennifer Peeples. This is used as a secondary source since the writer works with all of the ideas included and researched to bring up a point to argue. Using multiple sources together shows that a lot of research went into the topic as well as enforce the thoughts created because more than one source brought about the same idea.
On the fifth page Jean Baudrillard presents a long idea. He argues what the idea of war porn at Abu Ghraib. This fits in because as discussed in the presentation earlier, Abu Ghraib is a big source of war porn. As you continue down the page Baudrillard’s ideas are tied in with Latour and definitions that he creates. By using the same sources throughout the presentation works to validate the sources and emphasize their originality. This is used as secondary sources since the author is creating ties between the sources. These ideas are carried on throughout the next few pages and the conversation created between the ideas brought about from the research is very powerful.
On the eighth page Kevin Michael DeLuca and Jennifer Peeples bring about the idea of shifting in thinking that is done. Mass media is also discussed and that is very relevant to our society today since the public pays a lot of attention to the media in the society that we live in. Andy Grundberg’s quote that is added shortly after this discussion argues the points that were made. This use of these primary sources creates yet another conversation between sources. By presenting opposing ideas in any presentation, it creates even more of a conversation and works to get the audience to think even more about the topic being discussed.
On the bottom of the eighth and the ninth page John Thompson and Wendy Hesford are used as primary sources. Thompson claims that the Abu Ghraib incidents have given a new status to the publics feeling toward explosive political events. Both Thompson and Hesford discuss war porn in a lot of detail. By bringing in political actions that occurred, such as by John McCain, the audience is able to see how this is all related in the end. Many people may think they understand the overall picture that discussing war porn is trying to create, but by having political evidence to back it up emphasizes and puts it into perspective even more.
On the tenth page personal evidence is given in research done about the Abu Ghraib incident. This research can be used as a primary source since the author did the research herself and saw how many hits on Goggle were generated over time. This immense difference in number proves that society is becoming more aware of the incident and war porn as a whole. The images on the tenth page also allow for questioning since they are done by artists. These work to prove that the function of war porn can also lead to art. The images themselves are primary sources.
In this overall presentation the images help to enhance it a lot. By having visuals in any work they help to appeal to the audience emotionally. In this presentation especially, by appealing to the audience emotionally you will get more of a positive reaction. Anything in society that deals with the war forces people to focus their attention because it is such a big partof our society now.

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized

2 Comments Add your own

• 1. sraisner  |  July 18, 2008 at 10:50 pm

  I think you did a really good job analyzing this paper. You really realized how important it is to show the pictures that were being described instead of just talking about them, in order to make the discussion more effective. I also really liked you mentioned the emotion appeals that the author used to make their sources seem more credible. You seem to have a good grasp on primary and secondary sources. It helped me to read your paper since I was a little confused on the two. That is going to be really helpful for you when you are writing your paper since it is so important to use many different sources. Remember, always make sure you have credible sources!! Also, I think your point about using the same sources throughout the paper is a good one because it does help create credibility of the author. Something that will also help me when I write my paper.

• 2. rhetoricsofwar  |  July 22, 2008 at 8:32 pm

  Hi Morgan. i posted a response to this entry. did you read it? Laurie

Trackback this post  |  Subscribe to comments via RSS Feed