Everclear: Father of Mine

Father of mine tell me where have you been. You know I just closed my eyes, my whole world disappeared. Father of mine take me back to the day when I was still your golden boy back before you went away. I remember blue skies walking the block. I loved it when you held me high. I love to hear you talk. You would take me to the movie, you would take me to the beach. You would take me to a place in side that is so hard to reach. Father of mine. Tell me where did you go? You had the world inside your hand, but you did not seem to know. Father of mine tell me what do you see when you look back at your wasted life and you don’t see me. I was ten years old doing all that I could. It wasn’t easy for me to be a scared white boy in a black neighborhood. Sometimes you would send me a birthday card with a five dollar bill. I never understood you dad and I guess I never will. My Daddy gave me a name then he walked away. My dad gave me a name.

Father of mine tell me how do you sleep with the children you abandoned and the wife I saw you beat? I will never be safe. I will never be sane. I will always be weird inside. I will always be lame. Now I’m a grown man with a child of my own. And I swear I’m not going to let her know all the pain I have known.

1. Everclear is making the argument that because his father gave him a name and then walked away from his family, he has known tremendous pain, insanity, dysfunction, lameness and insecurity. This song communicates or poses the question, "What are the consequences of absent or abusive fathers on a child's mental/emotional state or welfare?

2. This song's audience would be any child that has experienced a broken home and parental abandonment. People that feel anguish and resentment towards their parents for having dysfunctional family lives. Kids that have been let down and emotionally betrayed with neglect.

3. The goal of this song is to capture or represent the pain that is experienced by parental abandonment. It is to relate to any person that has similarly been through this common family environment or setting. The goal is express the damage and misery that can come from this type of negative family situation.

4. This is done mainly through pathos by revealing his inner most thoughts and feelings. Lack of parental presence, love, and support is emotionally damaging to a child's growth and development. This is relevant to the audience because I am sure most people with these same circumstances would have almost identical feelings. Everclear uses good examples to paint a detailed picture and gain the listeners sympathy.

5. This song is most definitely effective because he pores out his soul and honest feelings about his childhood. This song relates well to many kids in the world today. In accurately describing or explaining the correlation between broken homes and feelings of no self worth, he effectively captures his audience.

Rhetorical Analysis #2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj53Bmk3T_M
1. The argument or thesis for this Gillette commercial is that this razor will accomodate your shaving needs by adjusting to every curve of your face, while leaving skin soft and smooth. The new technology that has produced this razor will provide a shave you've never had.
2. The target audience are young adult men and older who don't like facial hair. This commercial is attempting to reach males that have past maturation and puberty or pubescent males in the process of growing unwanted facial hair.
3. The goal of this commercial is to lead the target audience to believe that by buying Gillette razors they will be buying the cleanest, smoothest, easiest shave they have ever had. By purchasing this technologically advanced razor you will experience a shave of comfort and efficience like never before.
4. The argument is being made with a little ethos, but mainly pathos and logos. There is some authority due to Gillette being a popular, well-known brand as well as the technological upgrade the brand claims to have made. On the side of emotion, the music and tone of the narrator's voice all contribute to the desire and relief of having a smooth, clean face for the man himself and who ever will be touching it! However, this argument is mostly made through logic. If you don't desire facial hair, then buying this razor only makes sense. It is logical to buy a razor that is safe and efficient.
5. This commercial, to me, was effective, by talking about its technological differences, which includes the ease, efficience, and comfort of the razor. I thought the coloring, graphics, and demonstrations of the women kissing their faces were good touches.