Skinny Bitch _ Blog 7

Skinny Bitch!  If ever there was a book with its own sense of rhetorical STYLE, here it is folks; nothing but a mouthful of attitude and punch on ink and paper.  It is evident from the title alone that this book holds a more passionate tone for those of us out there who still possess virgin ears.   Authors Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin successfully convey this original style by being awfully particular with their communication style, word choice, language, and even such minute details as punctuation marks.

Readers of Skinny Bitch can attest to the overwhelming use of the “low” style of communication, which can be thought of as every day, informal, humorous language.  Simply a quick glance at the first sentence of the introduction, “Are you sick and tired of being fat?” evidences the use of this style.  In addition, the frequent use of foul language and the negative and somewhat condescending tone created by words such as “lumpy ass,” “pussies,” “fucked up,” “lazy shit,” “fat, unhealthy, bloated pig,” further the informality and at times the humor produced by the “low” communication style used by Freedman and Barnouin.  It is evident that these authors chose these words cautiously in order to create this intentionally offensive tone and fulfill their purpose of persuading women to become skinny bitches like themselves.

Throughout the text of Skinny Bitch, the authors load their sentences with various types of figurative language.  One specific phrase, “Soda is liquid Satan” shows an awfully great example of a metaphor.  Defined as an implied comparison between two things used to clarify an argument, this particular metaphor likens a sugary and essentially unhealthy soft drink to the dark angel, whom in biblical history is known to cause great destruction and mischief.  In other words, avoid soda like the plague.  This particular example may also be considered a hyperbole, an exaggeration used for special effect.  An exaggeration, this definitely is.  In addition, several rhetorical questions are used throughout the text, the very first sentence being one of them, “Are you sick and tired of being fat?”

Even the punctuation marks make a difference with these women.  The variety of letter styles and punctuation marks which contribute to the tone Freedman and Barnouin try to create, range from italics to equal signs to ALL CAPITAL LETTERS to ellipsis points to exclamation points to the familiar question mark.  As evidenced by the following examples, “Healthy = skinny,” “You should not need anything to wake up,”  “YOU CAN EAT BREAD AND FRUIT!”, “Uhm… pathetic!”, “Want more bad news?” the utilization of these grammatical tools further emphasize the sense of one-on- one conversation that the “low” communication style creates.

From the sentences, to words, to the dots on their paragraphs, authors Freedman and Barnouin successfully created a unique style for their book Skinny Bitch with attitude written all over it.

Causal Arguments and Meme Roth _ Blog 6

If I could be a dictionary, I would make “Meme Roth” an entry as an action word, defining it as “the act of proceeding sharply.”  Although watching Meme speak so bluntly about her views on obesity was at times painful and offensive, there were parts of me that found her statements valuable.  And believe it or not, there seems to be an organization to her quick-witted remarks, “a method to her madness.” 

One of Meme’s several underlying rhetorical strategies throughout her several appearances seems to be causal arguments.  One way in which she structures her causal argument is by first presenting the cause and then elaborating on its effects.  For example, a cause Meme presents in several of her appearances in the media is obesity.  She then goes on to explain the effects of obesity on the individual and even on the nation as a whole.  Health problems such as heart disease and Type II diabetes, higher costs and expenses, premature death, and less opportunity in the work force are among the many effects presented by Ms. Roth as a result of obesity.  She also switches it up by presenting obesity as an effect and afterwards illustrating its causes.  The lack of Americans to display a sense of moderation with regard to food, the absence of physical activity as a daily regiment, the danger of second-hand obesity (a term she personally coined), and junk food are among the many culprits presented by Roth as responsible for obesity becoming so rampant in our nation.

By utilizing personal experience, Roth is further able to perpetuate causal rhetoric within her arguments of obesity.  As a child of two obese parents and as a parent herself, she mentions, if she is able to maintain her weight at a healthy range, then she proposes that any other person in America should have no excuse (including genetics) to be obese or overweight.  As a matter of fact, within this argument, Meme has implied a correlation between two ideas.  How strong is her correlation?  In my opinion, not very strong.  Meme has built an assertion based only upon her health and condition.  Simply because she is able to not be “obese” by her own standards does not mean that another person will be able to maintain weight as she does or even want to consider Meme’s standards of “normality.”  Maybe a person who looks obese to Meme already feels normal and does not wish to change.  This, therefore, underscores the flaw in Meme’s correlation.  There are too many confounding factors, one of them being personal standards.

Roth also utilizes analogies to underscore her causal arguments.  In one of her interviews, she compares a twinky to a cigarette.  Meme goes on to support her claim by saying that a cigarette will eventually kill you, just as eating too many twinkies.  Although some people may agree that her analogy makes a valid point, others may question the extent of her analogy.  Is she reaching too far?  This question may be a bit controversial in itself.  My opinion, however, is that Meme is NOT reaching too far.  A twinky, just as a cigarette is made up of chemicals that cause harm to the body.  A twinky, just as a cigarette may become addicting.  A twinky, just as a cigarette may cause health problems. 

Meme Roth, by using causal arguments, is able to bring about evidence to such a widely discussed topic as obesity.  By organizing her arguments, Roth has shown that her rhetorical abilities are fairly sound.