Eckblad 1

Madi Eckblad
English 1301-332
22 September 2016
Rhetorical Analysis of a Persuasive Essay
In the article Disability and the Media, written by Charles A. Riley II, he explains the
negative effects media has on people with disabilities and how hurtful and deceiving one single
word can be towards someone. Many people do not realize there are certain things that should
not be said or done to a person that has a disability even if it does not sound as wrong as theyd
like to think. Throughout this article, Riley uses emotion, logic and an appeal to value to explain
how people and media stereotype people with disabilities, repress their real stories and how
directors and tv shows wrongfully represent the disabled community.
In Rileys article he uses pathos sporadically by appealing to the readers emotion to get
them to understand that the way people with disabilities are portrayed is wrong. He starts by
explaining that many people that have disabilities like amputations, hearing loss, and vision loss
all know what it is like to be categorized in the media as crippled or victims of tragic
accidents and then some are called miracles. He tells us how horrible it is and that is not how
they want to be represented they do not want pity on themselves twenty four seven, they want to
be known for the great things they did after the disability. For example, Aimee Mullins is a
below the knee amputee and a long jumper in track and overtime she sees her name in the
newspaper or magazine and she braces herself for the worst. Seeing things like overcoming her
own obstacles, and always being known for her amputation and how she's doing with it. Why
doesn't the media talk about the accomplishments she's done since she became famous instead of

Eckblad 2
sticking to the same old story. Its sad that the media will say anything to benefit themselves and
not caring who they hurt in the process.
Many people become instant famous Riley says because media says one interesting
thing about someone and everyone is surrounded and ready to listen like leaches. But that fifteen
minute fame is nothing once you become known as the girl who got her arm bitten off by a
shark for example. Instead of having that fame the media should go and explain all the big
things that actor/athlete/person has done in their life. Like Aimee Mullins talked about in my last
paragraph, Riley states that she was a Pentagon Intern while making the Deans list. But no one
knew that because that is not why she is famous, she is famous because of her disability and the
media does not feel like that is noteworthy enough to get the reader involved. Which is very hard
for the person being talked about because they want to be known for the real them not for what
has to be made up and said about them. Many people think its logical to talk to someone who has
been in a tragic accident or born with a disability like they are still a victim and call them
handicapped and that is morally wrong to do. You would not want to be called handicapped
would you? It is rude and insensitive, Riley says when talking to someone don't bring up the
accident unless they do it first because it is not our right to bring up a situation you were not
involved in. It is just so horrible how the world depicts -maybe not as much anymore- people
with disabilities.
Rileys tone with this next subject is not happy at all. Because tv shows and movies want
to usually show the villain as an angry person with a disability Riley states. Why in the world
would directors do that, the only answer to that is to get people to watch it and have a good story
outline for the world. Or in books they show the person that has a disability overcomes the fear
of not being normal and stands up to those around it. Although it may not be depicted how it

Eckblad 3
used to things like that just aren't supposed to be used as comedic or heroic in the sense of
making a movie and writing a book. It is basically like being talked about and it isn't logical and
it doesn't make sense. If I was disabled and reading about a villain also being disabled I would
probably feel terrible about myself and feel like I could never fit in to society. That is not how
our world is supposed to be we are all supposed to be accepting towards one another no matter
what problem is occurring.
In conclusion, this article is definitely an eye opener to the world around explaining how
easy it is for society and the media to take a turn for the worse on people who have already been
through so much. The way Riley explains this article by going into depth on how very many
people feel when going through these situations really makes me wonder if society and media
will ever change. Rileys tone in the way he represents his logos, pathos, and value of the
situation throughout the article overall is frustrated with the fact that he might be the only voice
in this situation since no one else is loud enough to be listened to. He wants to speak up for the
people in the back and be the authority to the people who don't know how to speak correctly to
the disabled.

Works Cited

Eckblad 4
Charles A. Riley II, Disability and the Media: Prescriptions for Change. 2005.