Everything is an Argument. Everything.

Now, now, don’t laugh. I’m serious. We’ve been discussing for several days the intricacies of communication. Given the extensive list of “texts” that we developed, we need to realize that all human behavior – perceived by at least one viewer, reader, or listener – constitutes a form of communication. If all communication intends to persuade, in some form, then ultimately we reach one of the basic tenets of the course. We conclude that “everything is an argument.”

Last weekend, the MTV Video Music Awards presented Lady Gaga with the award for Best Music Video of the year for her “Bad Romance” video. Whether you like Lady Gaga or not, you need to at least accept that she embodies this basic tenet that “everything is an argument.” Her character and art encompasses so many of the “texts” that we listed, and she has achieved such a high level of popularity, that one cannot help but at least consider her as a master rhetor. Using a seemingly infinite arsenal of rhetorical strategies, Stefani Germanotta transformed herself into Lady Gaga.

We have begun our discussion about rhetorical analysis. The most basic rhetorical analysis must consider an example of communication and then identify its major components: the speaker, audience, subject, purpose, context, and various appeals. During the year, we’ll look closely at the rhetorical strategies that a variety of American authors use in their writing. At this point, however, I want us to consider a broader spectrum of communication.

Let’s isolate the MTV music video as a “text.” Look at Lady Gaga’s award winning “Bad Romance” video and break it down as an example of communication.

Using between 350-450 words, craft a preliminary rhetorical analysis of the video. Although you should address the major components of communication, you need not formally structure your response. At this point, just explore how this fairly alternative “text” confirms our conclusion that “everything is an argument.” The content of your post should be serious, but your technique can be as informal as Gaga is unique.