The pressure to be attractive has never been so sought after in our society as it is today. In her article, “Living in a House of Mirrors,” Ashly Williston claims that the society our generation lives in today deals with an immense amount of pressure to look beautiful by media’s standards. Throughout the essay, Williston uses many examples of how the media bombards society of unrealistic beautiful images, furthermore making those who do not meet the standards feel below par. She lists the type of people that these standards affect (gender as well as age) and the ways that society tries to fix itself, from make up to cosmetic surgery. Ultimately, the essay lists the ways in which she believes our society is becoming a dystopia, by keeping self esteem low and pressuring those who feel this way to spend money on things they believe will make them beautiful. The author uses many positive examples of rhetoric devices by using credible sources, emotion that helps guide the reader into her point of view, and logical reasoning that supports her major claims. Although “Living in a House of Mirrors” has examples of logical fallacies, the author makes effective use of the rhetorical devices.
The purpose behind “Living in a House of Mirrors” is to persuade the reader into seeing how the media’s view of beauty has a negative effect on society. Williston wants the reader to see examples of how the media tries to convince society that they are not good enough through sources including television, the internet, magazines, and other outlets. Because the article discusses the pressures men and women are under based on the pressures from media outlets, the intended audience would be a younger demographic. The author is trying to reach out to those that feel the pressure to look a certain way. In her essay, Williston describes men and women under thirty as more susceptible to these types of pressures (Williston 24). By reaching out to those whom she feels easily submit to these types of pressures, she is contributing to help stop the media’s impractical view of “beauty.”
Williston uses effective examples of ethos throughout her essay. After looking up her sources, it is apparent that the quotes and statistics she uses are credible. Williston uses Melissa Dittman’s quote in saying, “cosmetic surgeries have negative effects on self esteem” (27). After looking up Melissa Dittmann, it shows that she is a Stanford University psychologist and member of the American Psychological Association (ZoomInfo). It would be safe to say that her knowledge of what certain events like surgeries would do to the self esteem of someone is vast. Being a psychologist, it is her job to understand how mental characteristics and emotions would change after a big step like cosmetic surgery. Therefore, Melissa Dittman would be a credible source in this subject. Although a psychologist would be a prime example of a credible source, another would be someone involved directly with the beauty industry. In the case of explaining how popular cosmetic surgeries are becoming, the author uses a quote from a beauty magazine editor. Lesley Rotchford explains, “…going under the scalpel is cheaper, faster, and less painful than ever” (Williston 27). Lesley Rotchford is a beauty editor for very notable beauty magazines such as Allure, Cosmopolitan, and more recently co-executive editor of Women’s Health (Keane). Using information provided by someone who works so closely with beauty and all aspects of it makes it trustworthy. By using quotes and information provided by two credible sources and relating it back as proof to her main claim, Williston’s essay is credible.
The author uses pathos in an effective way through positively swaying readers into seeing her view on the subject. She uses strong adjectives and stories to persuade the audience into her view of society. To begin, Williston uses fear of not being good enough to instill insecurity into the audience. She writes that, “…we are all below par…we have spots, we have hair, we have unusual bulges and marks, all the things that make us who we are, make us hate ourselves” (Williston 24). The author uses “we” to effectively tie a bond between the reader and the rest of society. This initially leads the reader into feeling self conscious because of the use of strong terms like “unusual bulges” or “below par.” Williston then uses this emotion to help influence the reader into seeing her main claim: the media’s negative influence of what “beauty” is. Using strong words to illustrate an emotion in a reader does just an effective job of pathos as does a popular story. By using a narrative, the author uses another effective way of obtaining an emotion to convince the reader of her major argument. When Williston uses the story Brave New World as an example of media pressures, she stresses that the main character does not look much like an Alpha and, “he gets ridiculed for it constantly” (25). The author expresses that the main character is ridiculed because he does not meet up to society’s standards and, because of this, the audience instantly feel empathy for him. This tends to sway the reader into seeing the author’s point. Williston uses a good amount of pathos in her essay to help persuade but not engulf the reader with emotion.
Williston uses effective models of logos in her essay. She is able to state her major claims and easily support them with logical reasoning. By using logos in an effective way, the author is able to successfully express her point of view. The first sentence of her essay states a major claim. Williston says that, “We live in a society that tells us how to look” (24). She takes this major claim and is able to support it. She continues on in saying that, “we are constantly bombarded with distorted pictures of ‘beauty’” and that “men and women are being pressured left and right to look a specific way (24).” The author uses logical reasoning in saying that we live in a society that tells us how to look because we are constantly being bombarded with media images of “beauty” and therefore, we are pressured constantly to look a certain way. Williston uses logical reasoning in stating her claims through out the rest of her essay as well. Her next example of logical reasoning discusses the unworkable standards the media offers. In Williston saying that, “We live in a society that makes unrealistic standards of what beautiful is: bodies with zero ounces of fat, perfectly sculpted features, and countless other guidelines we as a society feel pressured to succumb to” (27). She then goes on to say that “As defined by our society, no one person can truly be beautiful; it is impossible” (27). Williston is using logical reasoning by saying that we live in a society that makes unrealistic standards because of the examples of zero ounces of fat and “perfectly” sculpted features and because of these examples, no one can be truly beautiful. By using supporting examples that follow her major claims, the author is using effective use of logos.
Although the majority of her essay is written effectively, there were a few uses of arguments that did not work, otherwise known as logical fallacies. Williston’s use of logical fallacies lessens the essay because it uses statements that do not turn out to be true, thus creating a small lack of credibility. The main fallacy used in her essay is overstatements. Williston says, “Every time we turn on the television, read a magazine, or even use our cell phones, our self esteem takes a hit” (27). She is assuming that every one who looks at a magazine picture or television ad that portrays beauty will feel insecure. That is not always the case. Although there may be men and women out there who feel like this, there are others who may instead feel motivated. They may look at these images and see someone who they could become like and use that to work out or eat right. In short, it depends on who looks at the picture and by say that everyone’s self esteem will go down is just incorrect. Just like there is not one type of person, there is also not one type of outcome. This is another type of fallacy called the slippery slope argument, which Williston uses in another paragraph. She states that, “If our society continues down this path, it will not be long before we are living in a world where everyone looks just like everyone else” (24). By stating this, she is assuming that everyone will look just like everyone else because of pressure. But our author is forgetting that not everyone will succumb to this pressure. Yes, it is agreed that many do fall victim to wanting to be the picturesque version of “beauty.” However, there are so many out there that do not succumb to peer pressure. Many people dress, act, and do what they want because they want to, not because of what the current media says. Williston ultimately shows a weak spot in her essay with her usage of overstatements and generalization.
Ashly Williston effectively uses examples of the rhetorical devices given. By searching and using credible sources to back her arguments, she displayed a great use of ethos. She used a good amount of pathos to help sway her reader into seeing her side of media’s influence, but was smart to not overuse it and become manipulative. Her use of logos was ideal by making sure that her claims made logical sense and had supporting details to back her up. Her only flaw was expressing a few fallacies in the efforts of explaining her point of view. Although her fallacies may have weakened her viewpoint, she undoubtedly used the rhetorical devices given in a positive way.
Works Cited
Keane, Allison. “Lisa Bain and Lesley Rotchford Named Co-Executive Editors of
Women’s Health.” RodaleInc.com. Rodale Inc., 30 March 2009. Web. 26 Oct. 2014
“Melissa Ditmann.” ZoomInfo.com. ZoomInfo, 26 Jan. 2008. Web. 26 Oct. 2014
Williston, Ashly. “Living in a House of Mirrors.” Wings: Distinguished Student Essays.
Eds. Cody Deitz and Vana Derohanessian. Plymouth, MI: Hayden McNeil, 2014. 24-28. Print.
The purpose behind “Living in a House of Mirrors” is to persuade the reader into seeing how the media’s view of beauty has a negative effect on society. Williston wants the reader to see examples of how the media tries to convince society that they are not good enough through sources including television, the internet, magazines, and other outlets. Because the article discusses the pressures men and women are under based on the pressures from media outlets, the intended audience would be a younger demographic. The author is trying to reach out to those that feel the pressure to look a certain way. In her essay, Williston describes men and women under thirty as more susceptible to these types of pressures (Williston 24). By reaching out to those whom she feels easily submit to these types of pressures, she is contributing to help stop the media’s impractical view of “beauty.”
Williston uses effective examples of ethos throughout her essay. After looking up her sources, it is apparent that the quotes and statistics she uses are credible. Williston uses Melissa Dittman’s quote in saying, “cosmetic surgeries have negative effects on self esteem” (27). After looking up Melissa Dittmann, it shows that she is a Stanford University psychologist and member of the American Psychological Association (ZoomInfo). It would be safe to say that her knowledge of what certain events like surgeries would do to the self esteem of someone is vast. Being a psychologist, it is her job to understand how mental characteristics and emotions would change after a big step like cosmetic surgery. Therefore, Melissa Dittman would be a credible source in this subject. Although a psychologist would be a prime example of a credible source, another would be someone involved directly with the beauty industry. In the case of explaining how popular cosmetic surgeries are becoming, the author uses a quote from a beauty magazine editor. Lesley Rotchford explains, “…going under the scalpel is cheaper, faster, and less painful than ever” (Williston 27). Lesley Rotchford is a beauty editor for very notable beauty magazines such as Allure, Cosmopolitan, and more recently co-executive editor of Women’s Health (Keane). Using information provided by someone who works so closely with beauty and all aspects of it makes it trustworthy. By using quotes and information provided by two credible sources and relating it back as proof to her main claim, Williston’s essay is credible.
The author uses pathos in an effective way through positively swaying readers into seeing her view on the subject. She uses strong adjectives and stories to persuade the audience into her view of society. To begin, Williston uses fear of not being good enough to instill insecurity into the audience. She writes that, “…we are all below par…we have spots, we have hair, we have unusual bulges and marks, all the things that make us who we are, make us hate ourselves” (Williston 24). The author uses “we” to effectively tie a bond between the reader and the rest of society. This initially leads the reader into feeling self conscious because of the use of strong terms like “unusual bulges” or “below par.” Williston then uses this emotion to help influence the reader into seeing her main claim: the media’s negative influence of what “beauty” is. Using strong words to illustrate an emotion in a reader does just an effective job of pathos as does a popular story. By using a narrative, the author uses another effective way of obtaining an emotion to convince the reader of her major argument. When Williston uses the story Brave New World as an example of media pressures, she stresses that the main character does not look much like an Alpha and, “he gets ridiculed for it constantly” (25). The author expresses that the main character is ridiculed because he does not meet up to society’s standards and, because of this, the audience instantly feel empathy for him. This tends to sway the reader into seeing the author’s point. Williston uses a good amount of pathos in her essay to help persuade but not engulf the reader with emotion.
Williston uses effective models of logos in her essay. She is able to state her major claims and easily support them with logical reasoning. By using logos in an effective way, the author is able to successfully express her point of view. The first sentence of her essay states a major claim. Williston says that, “We live in a society that tells us how to look” (24). She takes this major claim and is able to support it. She continues on in saying that, “we are constantly bombarded with distorted pictures of ‘beauty’” and that “men and women are being pressured left and right to look a specific way (24).” The author uses logical reasoning in saying that we live in a society that tells us how to look because we are constantly being bombarded with media images of “beauty” and therefore, we are pressured constantly to look a certain way. Williston uses logical reasoning in stating her claims through out the rest of her essay as well. Her next example of logical reasoning discusses the unworkable standards the media offers. In Williston saying that, “We live in a society that makes unrealistic standards of what beautiful is: bodies with zero ounces of fat, perfectly sculpted features, and countless other guidelines we as a society feel pressured to succumb to” (27). She then goes on to say that “As defined by our society, no one person can truly be beautiful; it is impossible” (27). Williston is using logical reasoning by saying that we live in a society that makes unrealistic standards because of the examples of zero ounces of fat and “perfectly” sculpted features and because of these examples, no one can be truly beautiful. By using supporting examples that follow her major claims, the author is using effective use of logos.
Although the majority of her essay is written effectively, there were a few uses of arguments that did not work, otherwise known as logical fallacies. Williston’s use of logical fallacies lessens the essay because it uses statements that do not turn out to be true, thus creating a small lack of credibility. The main fallacy used in her essay is overstatements. Williston says, “Every time we turn on the television, read a magazine, or even use our cell phones, our self esteem takes a hit” (27). She is assuming that every one who looks at a magazine picture or television ad that portrays beauty will feel insecure. That is not always the case. Although there may be men and women out there who feel like this, there are others who may instead feel motivated. They may look at these images and see someone who they could become like and use that to work out or eat right. In short, it depends on who looks at the picture and by say that everyone’s self esteem will go down is just incorrect. Just like there is not one type of person, there is also not one type of outcome. This is another type of fallacy called the slippery slope argument, which Williston uses in another paragraph. She states that, “If our society continues down this path, it will not be long before we are living in a world where everyone looks just like everyone else” (24). By stating this, she is assuming that everyone will look just like everyone else because of pressure. But our author is forgetting that not everyone will succumb to this pressure. Yes, it is agreed that many do fall victim to wanting to be the picturesque version of “beauty.” However, there are so many out there that do not succumb to peer pressure. Many people dress, act, and do what they want because they want to, not because of what the current media says. Williston ultimately shows a weak spot in her essay with her usage of overstatements and generalization.
Ashly Williston effectively uses examples of the rhetorical devices given. By searching and using credible sources to back her arguments, she displayed a great use of ethos. She used a good amount of pathos to help sway her reader into seeing her side of media’s influence, but was smart to not overuse it and become manipulative. Her use of logos was ideal by making sure that her claims made logical sense and had supporting details to back her up. Her only flaw was expressing a few fallacies in the efforts of explaining her point of view. Although her fallacies may have weakened her viewpoint, she undoubtedly used the rhetorical devices given in a positive way.
Works Cited
Keane, Allison. “Lisa Bain and Lesley Rotchford Named Co-Executive Editors of
Women’s Health.” RodaleInc.com. Rodale Inc., 30 March 2009. Web. 26 Oct. 2014
“Melissa Ditmann.” ZoomInfo.com. ZoomInfo, 26 Jan. 2008. Web. 26 Oct. 2014
Williston, Ashly. “Living in a House of Mirrors.” Wings: Distinguished Student Essays.
Eds. Cody Deitz and Vana Derohanessian. Plymouth, MI: Hayden McNeil, 2014. 24-28. Print.