Bugger Me By Catherine Deveny's Essay
Prompted by the increasing amount of exorbitant prams being used by new parents as a marker so social status, Catherine Deveny's "Bugger Me, I Have Had Just About It With Bugaboos And Pramzillas In General" was published in the Age. In her piece, Deveny condemns the aforementioned "monster prams" and their materialistic owners. Deveny attempts to append those outside of the group of parents she is targeting in her opinion.
Deveny asserts that designer prams are wrongly used by narcissistic parents as an "ego extension" and social markers. From the outset, Deveny assumes a casual and colloquial tone, conveyed by repetitive use of hyperbole. By describing mere prams as "obscene, humongous, four-wheel drive" and "monster", Deveny likely aims …show more content…
Deveny lends her story in a case of anecdotal evidence, wherein "a pram came over" to her home. The device appeals once more to the everyday reader, who might be more likely to believe Deveny's testimony as opposed to not understanding the full breadth of scientific data. Rather, the use of anecdotal evidence aims to create a conversational piece that can make the reader feel more trusting of the information Deveny supplies, because the data is more personal than the alternative. She also appeals to common sense within her anecdote, speaking of the parents who "sold their car and bought a new one not to accommodate the new baby, but to accommodate the pram." The statement can not only be aimed toward an audience that sees the ridiculousness of the situation, but also one who is conservative about their wealth, and would not make such adjustments for a mere pram. The effect of the appeal can make the audience see the parents Deveny criticises as illogical and wasteful, without merely stating such attributes. The writer further includes the audience in the piece by use of inclusive language, speaking of behalf of "all of us"; that is, mothers "pretending to be cool" and acting like they "don't have kids". This inclusion can create a feeling of solidarity between Deveny and mothers who have had similar experiences,
Deveny asserts that designer prams are wrongly used by narcissistic parents as an "ego extension" and social markers. From the outset, Deveny assumes a casual and colloquial tone, conveyed by repetitive use of hyperbole. By describing mere prams as "obscene, humongous, four-wheel drive" and "monster", Deveny likely aims …show more content…
Deveny lends her story in a case of anecdotal evidence, wherein "a pram came over" to her home. The device appeals once more to the everyday reader, who might be more likely to believe Deveny's testimony as opposed to not understanding the full breadth of scientific data. Rather, the use of anecdotal evidence aims to create a conversational piece that can make the reader feel more trusting of the information Deveny supplies, because the data is more personal than the alternative. She also appeals to common sense within her anecdote, speaking of the parents who "sold their car and bought a new one not to accommodate the new baby, but to accommodate the pram." The statement can not only be aimed toward an audience that sees the ridiculousness of the situation, but also one who is conservative about their wealth, and would not make such adjustments for a mere pram. The effect of the appeal can make the audience see the parents Deveny criticises as illogical and wasteful, without merely stating such attributes. The writer further includes the audience in the piece by use of inclusive language, speaking of behalf of "all of us"; that is, mothers "pretending to be cool" and acting like they "don't have kids". This inclusion can create a feeling of solidarity between Deveny and mothers who have had similar experiences,