Rhetorical Analysis Of Technology, Entertainment And Design

Sherry Turkle, a psychologist and a professor at MIT, uses a variety of rhetorical strategies to convey her opinion about modern technologies. Additionally, she exhibits some ways she believes technology is harming relationships in one of her Ted talk. TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) is a non-profit organization that supports the ideas through strong rhetoric and persuasive appeals. In 2012, social media, texting, and online communication were on the rise; it was affecting human ability to interact and communicate with each other. Some people embraced this change wholeheartedly. Whereas others could not overlook the fact that technology was modifying human relations. Modern technology was changing how people relate to each other.
She begins her talk by discussing how she enjoyed the text her daughter sent before her speech. Although she loves receiving text messages, at the same time recognize that too many of them can be a problem. Through this statement, she presents she is just like everyone else as; technology and text messaging play a great role in her life. This also gives the impression that she is on the same level as her audience, which makes her more credible and decreases her distance from the audience. She understands the dependency on technology, however also recognizes that it is not completely beneficial. This part is the downfall to technology that Turkle tries to point
She stresses the importance of focusing on an entire picture and giving full attention during these times, rather than just the bits and pieces that interest us. Furthermore, she uses her audience’s fear and protective nature of their children in efforts to make them agree with her. She gives an example of parents having breakfast or dinner while checking mail or texting. She continues parents need to have an area in the home where they need to disconnect from devices and more connected with their children. This example shows her use of pathos as she appeals to the emotions of the audience and even opens the eyes of some of the parents that may be doing this to their children. She also brings up that people are finding a new skill in texting while making eye contact. This comment caused a burst of laughter from the audience. This art, which people are genuinely proud of perfecting, appears so ridiculous and absurd when talked about in public. Turkle's speech can also relate to Robert J. Connors article "The Differences between Speech and Writing," in which he states "The speaker can relate to the audience with a reasonably reliable knowledge of its