Hello fellow bloggers,
This month I chose to do something slightly different. I based this blog on a slightly narrower topic. Still having to do with movies and rhetoric, this month I decided to pull out a small speech used by a character in a movie which contains various different appeals of rhetoric. This month I chose a movie that really caught my attention once I saw it. The movie I decided to create my blog on for this month of November is “Kingdom Of Heaven”.
“Kingdom of heaven” is a movie based on the 12th Century Crusades. This movie is a drama of “Balian” the main character looking for a reason to live after he lost everything he had, which were his wife and his son. Balian while working as a blacksmith is approached by a man who reveals he is his true father. His father was a knight and so he offered Balian his newfound son to go with him and his knights to defend the Holy City of Jerusalem. He accepts and once arriving he goes through many different difficulties where he is faced with death and uncertainty.
Within this movie Balian makes a small speech he says” It has fallen to us to defend Jerusalem, and we have made our preparations as well as they can be made. None of us took this city from Muslims. No Muslim of the great army now coming against us was born when this city was lost. We fight over an offence we did not give, against those who were not alive to be offended. What is Jerusalem? Your holy places lie over the Jewish temple that the Romans pulled down. The Muslim places of worship lie over yours. Which is more holy? The wall? The Mosque? The Sepulcher? Who has claim? No one has claim. All have claim!” Throughout his speech Balian uses the power of Logos(reason) and rhetorical Questions. He uses Logos by stating the obvious, which was that no one is truly fighting for what they called the Holy City. They were just fighting because they were ordered to. He also states that those who are defending it had the same right as those who were fighting for it. He states that it is for anyone to claim. The obvious though is that those who live there have more to loose because that had been their home for more that the past century, therefore they had more to fight for. He uses rhetorical questions throughout his speech to better give a transition to his use of logos.
Throughout the movie there were many uses of appeals used in many different dialogues throughout the characters. I believe that Rhetoric truly stands out in movie because the way they state what they are trying to say gives out a better tone. “Kingdom of Heaven” is a movie I would recommend to anyone it contains what I believe a good movie would have action, action, and more action.
10 comments:
I applaud you. When I first saw 'Kingdom of Heaven', it took me a while to understand, and even after research, I had some trouble following.
This movie is very powerful and very religious. I haven't seen it in a while so I kinda forgot some of the speech, but I remember it being very deep meaningful dialogue.
So action is the only reason why someone would watch it? It does have a lot of battle scenes.
You know what else parallels to this movie? King Aurthur. It's also gory and meaningful.
I have never seen "Kingdom Of Heaven". I do, however, know it had that one hott actor. Anyways, the structure and organization in your blog was really good. Just watch it on the fonts. Okie?
I want to recommend a movie for your next blog. Here it goes, The Lion King. I would like to challenge you to analyze a kid's movie and come up with THREE uses of rhetoric. You up for the challenge?!
Hey Hernan,
Amigo De La Alma.....Hmmmm weird but ok. And why are we talking about hot actors anyways? Anyways great movie you choose. Even though I haven't had the opportunity to watch this movie now i want to see it now that you made seem that it's a movie worth watching. I want to ask you in relation to the speech that Balian said, why do you think follow orders from somebody who orders them why not stand up? Let's say that you never knew your father until he magically showed up, would you easily forgive him and join him in a war that you weren't aware of?
Oh yeah thanks for the recommendation you gave me..... maybe you could help me out to by giving words that have multiple meanings that are deep and strong. I think the challenge that Diana gave was a good one and you should try it. Maybe you could also do the movie I recommended you. I know it's long but I bet you you can find a whole bunch of great examples in the movie. Great job and keep analyzing great movies like how you are doing right now.
Tu Amigo De La Alma,
Chente
Wats up hernan,
Your blog seems interesting and especially the background of your blog relates to the title of your movie "Kingdom of Heaven". I havent seen this movie but its interesting to hear some of it from you. Now u make me want to see the movie. Well anyways good job hernan
Hernan,
GOOG JOB!!!
I actually think your blog was one of the best this month. Disscusing a specific qoute in a movie was actually a very good idea.
I haven't had the chance to watch the movie but reading your blog created curiosity in me and now im so anxious to watch the movie and fully understand what you wrote and your perspective.
I also agree with one of my peers that the movie "Lion King" will also be a good idea.
Good Luck..
Dear Hernan,
Good blog and based on what i read the movie seems interesting and I have not seen it. It was nice that you decided to pick a part of the mve that should rhetoric. The speech that Balian made does have appeals. These appeals helped see the rhetoric in movie and I wonder what you will talk about next time.
Dear Hernan,
I must say that the fact that you put a qoute from a character of the movie was great. Even though i haven't seen the movie i have heard good things about that movie. At first, i had trouble understanding the speech, but then i was able to figure the meaning and know how it uses some rhetorical devices. I have to agree with Vanessa that people would watch it because of the action and im pretty sure that if i were to watch it i would pay that much attention to the talking, but more to the fighting. Therefore, i have to say i have chosen another great movie to come up with to talk about if it had rhetorical devices and where does it use it.
Wonderfull, yo have a real detail blog. I like your closing. Your closing left me really satisfied me. I had also watch that movie myself. I like how you explain the move. Since i read your blog i would want to go watch that movie myself.
I was surprise because you tried something different this time. I think it is very scholarly to try something new. You should give yourself a pat on the back for such a good blog. Well once again what a good blog Hernan.
Sincerely Hugo
Hello Hernan,
I’m sorry it has taken me so long to reply to your post. I am excited that you selected a movie I have actually seen albeit many years ago! As you know, I have limited social currency when it comes to movies.
I recall the plot being a bit melodramatic, but what story isn’t when set during the Crusades? Also, a lot of unnecessary violence was included immediately. I remember Balian enacting vengeance on the men who robbed his wife’s grave within 10 minutes of the movie. I think he just went “postal” and stabbed him in his workshop! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy violence, watching and afflicting it, as much as the next person! However, in this film I found the gratuitous violence cheapened the story and setting.
That having been said, there was one moment when I looked up from my laptop and was truly enraptured in the film. It takes a lot for me to stop multitasking. This was when Balian’s father, played by Liam Neeson (Is this the hot actor Spud was referring to? j/k) hears his last rites read to him. When asked if he atones for his sins, Balian’s father turns to his illegitimate son and responds “All but one.”
The scene contained a moving performance and was well scripted. The power and brilliant simplicity of their language evokes so many emotions. When a film forces me to empathize with the characters I feel involved and it stays with me. I began to wonder how I would feel as a person of faith with an illegitimate child. The Book clearly states that adultery is a sin, and therefore that child is a mark of sin. While we are all prone to falter and commit sins, the premise of the New Testament involves our atonement. Would you atone for a sin that has yielded the joy of being a parent? What would be your answer on judgment day?
I would love for you to make an addendum to your post and inform us more about the emotional appeals that were present throughout this film. Challenge yourself to seek rhetorical devices in the less obvious scenes.
Also the Lion King is quite the literary work. No joke! Shakespeare meets T.S. Eliot meets Elton John. Good luck.
Now that I have taken the time to carefully study your work, you can return the favor and study the work I have assigned to you.
Warmest regards,
Miss Tran
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