Killer Whales Rhetorical Analysis

Full Name
Dr. Lisa Ampleman
English 101-13
10 October 2013
Killer Whales: Rhetorical Analysis of a Blog
Throughout the history of cetacean captivity, two orcas have been labeled as murderers. In the winter of 2009, at the park known as Loro Parque, an orca named Keto killed his trainer, Alexis Martinez. Exactly two months later, in Sea World Orlando, an orca known as Tilikum killed his trainer as well. Tilikum had previously been involved in the deaths of both another trainer and a park visitor. Those that do not support cetacean captivity jumped at this news, and the controversy of cetacean captivity had come out of the darkness. Several websites and blogs have been dedicated to this cause. The Orca Project, for example, expresses
the negative effects on the health and safety of captive orcas. It explains that, contrary to popular belief generated by theme parks such as SeaWorld, cetacean study has progressed no further and life expectancy and health has inclined no more. Wild cetacean studies have benefitted the scientific world and the world of the orcas in numerous ways, all the while without compromising the health of the orcas, as captivity has. The blog known as The Orca Project, specifically the entry, "Keto and Tilikum Express the Stress of Orca Captivity,” relates to the reader using logos, ethos, pathos, and a style which focuses on unspecified scientific statements. Through this, students with a curiosity towards animal rights are able to read and understand, as well as relate to the subject of cetacean captivity.
Throughout the passage, evidence of the logos method is both present and abundant. The blog entry analyzed uses important dates in the history of cetacean captivity to support the argument against such captivity.
On Christmas Eve, 2009, trainer Alexis Martinez was killed by a male captive bred orca named Keto, who was on loan from Sea World to a facility called Loro Parque, in the Canary Islands, Spain. Two months later, on 24 February 2010, trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by Tilikum, an animal involved with two previous human fatalities.
This particular example happened to be one of the first paragraphs in the blog entry.
With such deliberate placement, the writer seeks to exemplify insight of the article by providing historically iconic dates in cetacean captivity, particularly those which have made an impact in media coverage of the topic. By searching through news articles of these dates, the student is immediately able to locate cover stories and breaking news videos of various attacks. Along with dates, statistics can also be found within the entry. Several times throughout the pages, the whale Tilikum appears in association with three deaths in the past years he has been held in captivity, and his being the largest whale in captivity. This means that Tilikum has a violent past, and can easily overcome a trainer. Another statistical factor that is referenced is that of Mean Duration of Captivity, or MDC. “Based upon the MMIR data, and represented in Appendix A, we have calculated the mean duration of captivity (MDC) to be less than nine years. This is regardless of whether an orca was extracted from the ocean, or born at a theme park.” This statement emphasizes that orcas live shockingly short lives while held in captivity, due to less-than-ideal living conditions. The statistics provide the student with a grasp of exactly of much or how many ways the actions of the parks have an effect on the animals living in captivity. It provides concrete evidence on which we can rely for an image of things such
as life expectancy, orca size, tank size, and span of time between major events.
Though facts are important, a writer must be trusted as well; this is done through ethos. In order to prove legitimacy of the writer, the entry explains his or her past. On the top of the website page, the passage explains that the preceding information is accredited from two retired trainers that had previously worked at Sea World in Orlando, Florida. These trainers are Jeffrey Ventre and John Jett; each possess a PhD or MD. These particular trainers were given the task of maintaining habitat for the orcas in captivity. Their research is based from their own discoveries made during their term of employment. This last paragraph in the entry describes the authors. It explains their current profession, as well as their past employment.
Jeffrey Ventre, MD, is a medical physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation in New Orleans. John Jett, Ph.D, is a visiting research professor focusing on waterway management issues at Stetson University. Both Dr’s Jett and Ventre worked as trainers at Sea World of Florida for a combined total of 12 years. They worked with several orcas, including Tilikum, and with Dawn Brancheau. After SeaWorld, they began professional careers that allow for this unique perspective.
It explains what they have accomplished after leaving Sea World, and how they are continuing to spread the word on their beliefs and what they have witnessed, as well as the personal attachment they hold to the issue. As this is a heavily emotionally involved blog entry about such a widely known, family-friendly resort, students may have some difficulty believing in the points that the entry argues. These names and professions offer legitimacy to the article, enabling one to find more truth in the arguments.
Facts about the writer cannot be enough to sway the position of the reader; he or she must also feel a personal or emotional pull in the intended direction.
This is where pathos comes into play. Throughout the post, pictures have been placed. These pictures help appeal to the audience to get them to sympathize with the writer, and turn against those that support the idea of cetacean captivity. One example of these pictures, placed after the third paragraph, depicts a whale spouting blood out of its blowhole. This specific picture is used to shock the student and create a feeling of sympathy towards the mortally wounded creature.
As an essay intended to be accurate, one would expect more scientific terms to be placed throughout the website. But, upon further investigation, it appears that the words have been replaced by terms and phrases with the intent of generalizing for the public to read and comprehend. Instead of listing specific terms used for diagnosis of ailments and treatments or medications associated with the orcas, words such as “antibiotics”, “dorsal collapse”, “bacterial infection”, and “collapsed uterus” are used. Using broader and more generalized terms makes the passage easier for students to read and
understand.
“Keto and Tilikum…” is an article which expresses the negative side of cetacean captivity. It does so using statistics and pictures, as well as simple, easy-to-read wording and the back-story of each author, to sway the reader toward the anti-captivity support system. I personally found this article, while flawed, to be effective, as I have been swayed against supporting cetacean captivity. The article in question is clearly biased as to which side the writer believes the reader should support—two of the subject orcas in this blog entry are Keto and Tilikum, the two orcas that have been accused of murder. This article has a strong opinion, and reinforces it with facts from trainers who once worked with the creatures. Clearly, the author attempts to reach the reader through an emotional connection, as well as that of a logistical point of view. The focus is directed towards cetacean endangerment, resulting from captivity. But it proves the information is legitimate with a background on the two authors of this thesis, Jeffrey Ventre and John Jett. Because of this, I believe that the method of logos and pathos, as well as generalized terms, was effective in gaining the support of curious students and peers.

Works Cited
The Orca Project. “Keto and Tilikum Express the Stress of Orca Captivity.” The Orca Project. Web. 5 September, 2013.