Of James S. Miller's Essay 'Scenes: Political Protest'

Protesting is a way to preach out concerns on wthat has been done or said. “Our national history is replete with efforts to challenge the practices and beliefs that, at one time or another, have stood as unexamined norms” (Miller 78). In the essay “Scenes and Un-Scenes: Political Protest” by James S. Miller the writer brings forth how iconic protesting in the United States of America history is and how M.L.K Jr.’s 1963 March a nonviolent protest embedded itself as an example of protesting how protesting changes overtime. The photos within this essay shows how demonstrations like M.L.K Jr.'s nonviolent protest while concealing others ideas evoke credibility, triggering emotions and persuading the audience. While iconic and credible figures are shown within these pictures they stood up to
challenge unjust morals, and equal rights. The first photo shown in this essay is of the 1963 March on Washington led by Martin Luther King Jr. who fought against the segregation and public attitudes about race. “The tradition of public, nonviolent protest that King pioneered persists within the public imagination as the blueprint for how ‘the people’ can affect not only tangible changes in public policy but also meaningful shifts in social attitude” (Miller 78). The author’s note gives insight how the image of the march shows how respected and influential M.L.K Jr. to his audience. To continue the author shared a photo of “The Million Man March” with crowds of people on Washington and Louis Farrakhan leading it. The author explains how march was to carry forward M.L.K Jr’s nonviolent protest standards and how media plays a big role in it now. “In Updating King’s messages for our contemporary ‘wired’ age, for example, it reminds us how different the tactics of public protest have become” (Miller 79). In the image of this Louis Farrakhan is prompted as a large credible character with crowds of people surrounding the estate of Capitol Hill and his audience is given big screens for viewers who are further back. The author used these iconic people that fought for self-respect and self-help evokes ethos to the viewers. The author uses dramatic photos to ruffle up the emotions of the viewers in his essay.
His forth image is of a marriage equality rally on Capitol Hill where same sex couple Davina Kotulski (at the mic) and her significant other Molly Mckay (next to her) lead a renewal of vows with others like them. “Protest has been taken up in recent years is gay rights – in particular, the much-publicized and highly contentious issue of gay marriage,” (81). The author’s notes and image used inspire bravery to his audience showing even if it had mass coverage the two women didn’t waiver. In the campaign the viewers can see a sign that states “WE ALL DESERVE THE FREEDOM TO MARRY” which brings up the question why can’t we be free to marry non- blood same sex partners. “Deploying some of the same rhetoric, many have framed the demand for legalized marriage as a natural extension of King’s work” (Miller 81). Miller uses the image and his notes to leave his readers feeling doubtful about the moral of not letting them get married. Miller uses this image to create a connection to his readers through a dramatic way of pathos causing readers to question the freedoms within the United State of
America. Miller shares how straight forward images can be how reasonable the protesters can be using logic and statistics. In the third photo the author uses an image of women against using drugs on their children if there depressed. Miller used this image in his essay to shows how protest have evolved and reasons to protest have changed. “We might well wonder, for example, what particular “right” a celebrity-studded, Scientology-sponsored demonstration against the use of antidepressants is meant to advance” (Miller 80). Miller shows how the logic of the protest may raise the question why give the children antidepressants. One sign reading “Psychiatrists: HOOKING KIDS ON DRUGS” and other stating with a shirt “Psychiatric drugs harm children try to use plain logic to persuade others in their belief. On the other the hand, the author shares an image of a man wearing a top hat and a pig snout holding a sign saying “The 1% Here to Keep Buisness As Use-U-ALL” uses plain logic to try and get his pint across too. “The legacy of the civil rights movement extends even to the financial realm, informing recent efforts to challenge and critique the role the financial industry played in causing the global recession” (Miller 81). The image and the note the author made uses basic reasoning to question what have the 1% done to help everyone instead of themselves. The author uses the images to evoke logos to his audience by means of superficial images that reasons with the what if. “Scenes and Un-Scenes: Political Protest” by James S. Miller uses images with obvious eye catchers in his essay. He uses the development of protest over the generation to show the readers how they can evoke ethos, pathos, and logos through his essay. Work Cited
Miller, James S. “Scenes and Un-Scenes: Political Protest.” Acting out Culture: Readings for Critical Inquiry, Bedford/St. Martins, Boston, 2015, pp. 79-81