The topic of gun control in the United States is a heated subject, and spokespeople on either side often make self-contradicting statements. The artist, Steve Benson, is depicting the hypocritical nature of the statements made by people on either side of the conversation about gun laws. This is a good political cartoon because Steve Benson uses a lot of tools to persuade his viewer that the NRA and the CEO of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre, are not credible and might be unstable. Steven Benson’s use of rhetorical elements pulls the viewer in and shows the funny side to a serious topic.
The cartoon depicts Wayne LaPierre, the CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA), on May 27, 1999 saying “We think it’s reasonable to provide instant criminal background checks for every sale at every gun show. No loopholes anywhere for anyone.” This statement was a testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime. This cartoon also shows him watching himself on TV when he was saying this and asking “WHO IS THAT IDIOTIC BOBBLEHEAD?” Then, a woman, who looks to be his wife, says “It’s you, Wayne. Don’t you remember?”
Steve Benson is a cartoonist for the newspaper The Arizona Republic and a Pulitzer Prize winner. Benson is also the grandson of Ezra Taft Benson, who was the former LDS church president. Benson graduated cum laude from Brigham Young University. Benson later left the Mormon Church, because he believed that the church was covering up the fact that his grandfather was senile. Benson has created a lot of controversial cartoons and is revered and loved for them.
I think the artist, Steve Benson, is appealing to ethos by showing the citable fact that this was given as a “testimony before House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, 27 May 1999”. Anyone can access a video of this testimony using a quick Google search of the date and people/institution involved. Benson is appealing to the viewer’s ethos because this is actual evidence of a real event. Therefore, Benson is showing that he is a credible cartoonist and is using evidence of the truth.
Steve Benson is appealing to logos by undermining Wayne LaPierre's credibility and making a logical argument. In the cartoon, Wayne is sitting on a couch watching TV. On the TV, it shows someone with an NRA badge saying “We think it’s reasonable to provide instant criminal background checks for every sale at every gun show. No loopholes anywhere for anyone.” Wayne then says “WHO IS THAT IDIOTIC BOBBLEHEAD?” A woman in the background says “It’s you, Wayne. Don’t you remember?” Therefore, showing the viewer the logical argument that Wayne LaPierre has no credibility by vehemently contradicting himself.
I also think that Steve Benson appealing to the viewer’s pathos and using comedy as a tools to persuade his viewer. Benson is showing the funny side of this controversial issue. By showing Wayne LaPierre sitting in a chair, holding a gun, and screaming at himself. This shows the funny side to this article and appeals to the viewer’s pathos by making the reader laugh. Also, Benson also shows a comedic side by how he depicts Wayne. Benson depicts Wayne as an old, screaming, irrational man, which I think would make the viewer laugh. Therefore, Benson appeals to the reader’s pathos and by using comedy he is persuading the viewer very effectively. Benson is also appealing to the viewer’s pathos by depicting Wayne being very irrational and then showing his wife trying to calm him down. This appeals to the viewer’s emotions because that is how society deals with situations in the home setting. Benson is depicting the cartoon in an informal and personal way. Therefore, Benson uses emotions and an informal context as effective tools to persuade the viewer.
Steve Benson is also doing good job at persuading his viewers through the image as well. Benson is showing what looks to be Wayne’s wife in the background obviously calmer than Wayne, which is showing his viewer that Wayne might be a little unstable. Therefore, this would further the viewer’s belief that Wayne LaPierre is not to be trusted and is not credible. Also, Benson shows that Wayne LaPierre cannot remember or is choosing to not remember what he said in a statement to the House judiciary subcommittee. By doing so, Benson is tearing down the credibility of the NRA altogether, because Wayne LaPierre is the CEO of the NRA. Therefore, I think Steve Benson is persuading the viewer because he is showing that the NRA is very hypocritical.
In ending, I think Steve Benson does a really good job at persuading his viewer into believing that Wayne LaPierre, who is the CEO of the NRA, is a little bit crazy and cannot be trusted. Whether that is by using comedy, the visual text, or undermining the credibility of the NRA, Benson does a very good job at persuading his viewer. Lastly, I think Benson did a very good job at showing the viewer the true hypocritical nature of the people involved in the gun control argument.
The cartoon depicts Wayne LaPierre, the CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA), on May 27, 1999 saying “We think it’s reasonable to provide instant criminal background checks for every sale at every gun show. No loopholes anywhere for anyone.” This statement was a testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime. This cartoon also shows him watching himself on TV when he was saying this and asking “WHO IS THAT IDIOTIC BOBBLEHEAD?” Then, a woman, who looks to be his wife, says “It’s you, Wayne. Don’t you remember?”
Steve Benson is a cartoonist for the newspaper The Arizona Republic and a Pulitzer Prize winner. Benson is also the grandson of Ezra Taft Benson, who was the former LDS church president. Benson graduated cum laude from Brigham Young University. Benson later left the Mormon Church, because he believed that the church was covering up the fact that his grandfather was senile. Benson has created a lot of controversial cartoons and is revered and loved for them.
I think the artist, Steve Benson, is appealing to ethos by showing the citable fact that this was given as a “testimony before House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, 27 May 1999”. Anyone can access a video of this testimony using a quick Google search of the date and people/institution involved. Benson is appealing to the viewer’s ethos because this is actual evidence of a real event. Therefore, Benson is showing that he is a credible cartoonist and is using evidence of the truth.
Steve Benson is appealing to logos by undermining Wayne LaPierre's credibility and making a logical argument. In the cartoon, Wayne is sitting on a couch watching TV. On the TV, it shows someone with an NRA badge saying “We think it’s reasonable to provide instant criminal background checks for every sale at every gun show. No loopholes anywhere for anyone.” Wayne then says “WHO IS THAT IDIOTIC BOBBLEHEAD?” A woman in the background says “It’s you, Wayne. Don’t you remember?” Therefore, showing the viewer the logical argument that Wayne LaPierre has no credibility by vehemently contradicting himself.
I also think that Steve Benson appealing to the viewer’s pathos and using comedy as a tools to persuade his viewer. Benson is showing the funny side of this controversial issue. By showing Wayne LaPierre sitting in a chair, holding a gun, and screaming at himself. This shows the funny side to this article and appeals to the viewer’s pathos by making the reader laugh. Also, Benson also shows a comedic side by how he depicts Wayne. Benson depicts Wayne as an old, screaming, irrational man, which I think would make the viewer laugh. Therefore, Benson appeals to the reader’s pathos and by using comedy he is persuading the viewer very effectively. Benson is also appealing to the viewer’s pathos by depicting Wayne being very irrational and then showing his wife trying to calm him down. This appeals to the viewer’s emotions because that is how society deals with situations in the home setting. Benson is depicting the cartoon in an informal and personal way. Therefore, Benson uses emotions and an informal context as effective tools to persuade the viewer.
Steve Benson is also doing good job at persuading his viewers through the image as well. Benson is showing what looks to be Wayne’s wife in the background obviously calmer than Wayne, which is showing his viewer that Wayne might be a little unstable. Therefore, this would further the viewer’s belief that Wayne LaPierre is not to be trusted and is not credible. Also, Benson shows that Wayne LaPierre cannot remember or is choosing to not remember what he said in a statement to the House judiciary subcommittee. By doing so, Benson is tearing down the credibility of the NRA altogether, because Wayne LaPierre is the CEO of the NRA. Therefore, I think Steve Benson is persuading the viewer because he is showing that the NRA is very hypocritical.
In ending, I think Steve Benson does a really good job at persuading his viewer into believing that Wayne LaPierre, who is the CEO of the NRA, is a little bit crazy and cannot be trusted. Whether that is by using comedy, the visual text, or undermining the credibility of the NRA, Benson does a very good job at persuading his viewer. Lastly, I think Benson did a very good job at showing the viewer the true hypocritical nature of the people involved in the gun control argument.