Rhetorical Analysis of Eli Pariser’s Speech in TED Talks

Introduction

In this assignment, the Speech of Eli Pariser is selected for the rhetorical analysis. The title of the speech of Eli Pariser in Ted talk video is ‘The Reflection of Filter Bubble: Society, Media & Culture’. This video was posted on May, 2011 in TED Talks website. The rhetorical analysis of the speech will be done by using the ethos, logos and pathos. After going through the video and the speech of Eli Pariser, I have strongly felt enlightened and convinced with his views. Eli Pariser in this rhetorical speech have talked about culture, media and the society (Pariser, 2014) and what the reflection of the filter bubble has to do with it. The presenter of the Speech ‘Eli Pariser’ has done an excellent job in describing to the masses that how does Facebook and Google utilizes our every move and each clink on the Internet and tailors to the cultural, future learning, leisure and political experiences (Pariser, 2014).

Rhetorical Analysis of Eli Pariser’s Speech

            In his speech, Pariser have used logos and pathos to convince the readers that we use the modern ways to look for information and that is the Internet (Pariser, 2014). The speech depicts that whenever we want to search something we rely on the Internet. Eli tells us that the problem is that internet doesn’t necessarily show us what we actually want to see. He calls this as the filter bubble. We are, actually, allowing Facebook and Google to limit us in learning anything from the outside world of what is already known to us. He says that today we are surrounded by internet and media not just night and day nor minute to minute but from the basis of seconds. We are living in today’s world accustomed to the ideas, bubble of information, concept, news, facts, knowledge, entertainment and current affairs of politics etc. So, Eli Pariser have used pathos and ethos such as ‘Filter Bubble’ to show that it is the miniature world that is different from the rest of the world. Filter Bubble is a logo used by Pariser to show that it is the world of information (Pariser, 2014).   Using these pathos, ethos and logos, the presenter of the speech tries to explains us that we are connected with the laptops, cellphones, tablets, computers 24/7. We are using the social media websites such as Tumbler, Facebook, Instargram, Twitter, Soundcloud and Pinterest in such a way that it has prevented us from learning the unbiased and whole truth that is behind the different topics that we search on these websites. Pariser convinces the readers using his rhetorical patterns to show that these Social media websites have restricted ourselves from  the comfort zone that is outside. In short we are living in the world of ‘Filter Bubble’ (Pariser, 2014).

            The main point Pariser has highlighted is that we are involved in the Internet so much that we have made it an integral part of everything we do. In this modern age, the Internet is the solution for searching information. What Pariser tries to say is that we rely on the internet too much and it is harming our memory. As we don’t think much just type the words in Google and get the information. So, our minds are not being used as they were used to be in the past. We are becoming anti-social as instead of communicating face to face and asking from other people we used Internet instead for information. The sources of information we used to get by communicating with people have been replaced with that of the Internet sources (Pariser, 2014).  In this Ted Talk, Pariser have portrayed that how societies have robustly developed relation with that of the Internet. Thus, the main point is that Internet is negatively impacting our minds and ability to think (Pariser, 2014).

Conclusion

To sum up, Eli Pariser has used the strongest pathos to express his voice tone throughout the speech. Using the term ‘Filter Bubble’ is a logos used by Pariser to differentiate the rest of the world to that of the Internet and social media world (Pariser, 2014). The central message of this speech is to warn the video viewers that how they are being trapped by the Internet. The background of this speech has made it ethos credible but this speech lacks in the Logos patterns. As Pariser has not clearly stated his sources as he just refer to ‘my friend or ‘some people in ‘Google’. Pariser concluded that the real world has become obscured from us because of these ‘Filter bubbles’. These filter bubbles (search engine and social media) have made our lives complacent. So, Pariser has used the pathos and ethos to convey the message to the viewers. We must not let the machines decide what kind of content we want to see instead we must make our own decisions.