Indledning
Has humanity been perceiving the climate changes as if it were fiction and thus as something that somehow would disappear by pretending it was not real?
This is what the American actor and climate enthusiast Leonardo DiCaprio implies in his speech at the United Nations Climate Summit in September 2014.
At the climate summit DiCaprio spoke in front of the Secretary General, as well as other meaningful guests, as one of many around the world who wants to solve the climate crisis.
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Uddrag
On the other hand, he himself refers to his lack of scientific background when he states “I stand before you not as an expert but as a concerned citizen” (p. 1, l. 3)
but since this is a crisis the population is aware of, no scientist is needed for the audience to realize that this crisis needs to be addressed quickly. All things considered, it can be difficult to determine how high DiCaprio’s ethos should be judged to be.
DiCaprio’s point and grounds are based on the basic assumption that climate change is anthropogenic. It can clearly be felt in DiCaprio’s personal commitment that this is a topic that deeply concerns him.
His personal commitment is especially evident when, on the Sunday before the summit, he was one of the 400,000 who demonstrated in the streets of New York.
Therefore, the dominant form of appeal is pathos. Words like “undeniable, extreme and greatest” and generally the frequent use of adjectives, indicate that many emotions have been put into this speech.
He also uses a great amount of adjectives to arouse concern and convince listeners of his point of view. When he says in his speech “You can make history or you will be vilified by it” (p. 1, l. 21)
he uses pathos to emphasize how great consequences will be if we do not act. There is also used pathos when he says “I’m honored to be here today” (p. 1, l. 2)”. This gives the recipients the impression that his speech is truly meaningful to him.
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