Brief Data Post

Data Post Brief Analysis

The majority of the data collected was strictly rhetorical data, the only numerical data that was collected was to keep count of which of the each defined rhetorical devices appeared and when.

All four YouTube videos shared the same Premise Modifier of ‘Facts’Truth.’ Meaning that the already agreed upon argument is that “You’re not a bad person if you buy Harry Potter.”

Premise Modifier I defined as Emotional Closeness was present in all four YouTube videos as well, creating arguments that were close to the heart of the listeners and to the speakers. Within the first three videos six total instances of Severance appeared. Two of which were Child Structures, Personal and Ideological Severance. These devices were used to separate certain aspects of the videogame, Hogwarts Legacy, from certain aspects of the creator, JK Rowling.

Slippery Slope was mentioned three times in this analysis. Slippery Slope is defined as a good or bad action that inevitably leads to or creates a bad ending. One Slippery Slope addressed the slope from Rowling’s transphobic tweets to the cancelation and boycott Hogwarts Legacy. The other two slopes addressed the purchase of Hogwarts Legacy and how the purchaser of it would be considered bad if they did so. Those two instances were not said in a statement of fact, or cause but in a statement of description. All three instances were used to describe how specific actions turned into something bad, over time.

In the Final Video the speaker took a very personal and close approach to their argument using Emotional Closeness as their main and only reason made in justification of purchase. They did, however, touch on many things such as Need and Want regarding the purchase of Hogwarts Legacy. Which allows us to explore Want, Need and Luxury Needs as defined previously in this analysis alongside Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

All Reddit Posts were considered to be their own arguments, although they shared common premises and premise modifiers. Each Reddit had a Premise of Fact/Truth. The overall Premise Modifier of these responses is Interpretation, which is further defined as Specific Choice, choosing between alternatives. This means that if someone did not agree with the statement, of ‘you’re not a bad person if you buy Hogwarts Legacy’ that is Premised by Fact/Truth, that they would only have two options, following the rejection of the statement. Those two options would be being a bad person or not being a bad person. Not being a bad person does not mean being a good person.

Across all Reddit responses, there were four total instances of Avoidant Outcome Stages, which is a Child Structure further defined from Stages, If A to D is hard then let’s try B and maybe things will be different. Avoidant Outcome Stages is defined as the avoidance of D(bad), completely, through B. Within the Reddit posts, this structure was only present to avoid support for Rowling through royalties.

There were four instances of Negative Redundancy, which is the Child Structure to Redundancy. Negative Redundancy is defined, still, as action or non-action being followed by a lack of effect. These structures were present in the discussions that addressed Rowling receiving money. For example, “Rowling is getting paid whether I buy the game or not.” All four instances were used to encourage the purchase of Hogwarts Legacy, under the pretense that in doing so, or not, would not affect the amount of money Rowling received, or that Rowling already had.

The two instances where Premises were used to defend the interest, purchase, and enjoyment of Hogwarts Legacy were both defined as Emotional Closeness. However, one existence of Emotional Closeness also addressed Wants, Needs, and Luxury Needs. This poster stated, “For some people Hogwarts was an integral escape from misery that they disappeared into.” This adds to the idea that humans don’t only have basic needs, such as water, food, clothing, and shelter. They also have basic emotional and psychological needs.

Slippery Slope was mentioned four times within these posts and in all instances indicated the Slope that started from a purchase of Hogwarts Legacy and ended in the support of JK Rowling.

The discussions following the four instances of Prestige Comparison in this section, however, indicate that those comparisons were made to gain further support for Rowling. Through comparing Rowling in, Response 3, to Nick Carter, a rapist, then following with, “Should we all just instantly stop listening to his music?” creates this understood idea that ‘if worse people are still supported, we can support JK Rowling because she’s not as bad.’

Severance, the separation from art and artist, was present once in this portion of the analysis but the questions this specific instance raised need to be explored and defined. Response #6 used Severance, Prestige Comparison, then Prestige to argue that even though Rowling is bad, she did some amazing things. Severance was used to indicate that the poster had separated the art from artist, in relation to JK Rowling and the creation of Hogwarts Legacy. They then followed with Prestige Comparison, comparing Rowling to Bill Cosby or Kevin Spacey. Then Finally, used Prestige to praise the effects of JK Rowling’s’ work, stating that Rowling had,” set a new bar and essentially defined the modern young adult genre of books…” and that Rowling,” invented something much bigger than herself that has taken on a life of its own.”

Severance, which is used to separate the art from its creator, is normally done so with the understanding that the artist did something wrong, in the eyes of society. If severance was being used on Rowling but then being followed up by Prestige and the celebration and praise of her accomplishments as a writer brings to light the question of, at what point does separating the art from the artist not apply anymore? And are separations of art and artist only done when the artist has acted in a way that is not accepted by society resulting in the cancelation of the artist? If so, why was this poster able to praise Rowling?