Video Argument Proposal #1: “Anchovies Are Good Food”
I will argue that anchovies are good food, though most people don’t think so, mostly because anchovies have a strong fish flavor, and most people prefer mild-tasting fish. I prefer strong tasting fish, and therefore would not be considered a “mainstream” fish eater. I would be considered a “tributary” fish eater.
Let me explain. In order to get our creative muses flowing, the instructor of a writing class I once took challenged students to tell three things about themselves, only two of which were true. The student’s classmates had to guess which thing the student was lying about. When it came my turn the first thing I mentioned was that I still believe in Santa Claus. Then I mentioned winning the Mega lottery. And finally I mentioned liking anchovies. No one picked believing in Santa or winning the Mega lottery (despite the fact that I was wearing cheap clothes) as the thing I was lying about. Everyone thought it was impossible that I actually liked anchovies. So, convincing folks that anchovies are good food won’t be easy.
In order to like anchovies, you have to get around some things. I already mentioned the strong taste. But they’re also real salty and gritty and come out of their tiny tins looking slimy. I will make the argument that since it’s olive oil that makes anchovies slimy, and people generally like olive oil when used in salads and other dishes, they shouldn’t hold this against anchovies.
Another thing you have to get around to like anchovies is that they come raw. It’s a fact I probably shouldn’t even bring up because most folks aren’t even aware of it.
Opponents will no doubt argue that even if you say you like anchovies, you don’t actually eat them. Instead, you eat something else – pizza for example – with anchovies on it. Though this is a technicality, some cocky opponent is bound to bring it up. To disprove this cocky opponent, I’ll actually eat an anchovy whole in my video, hopefully without gagging.
I will furthermore argue that I like the word “anchovy” because it sounds poetic. If you think about it some of the things people pick as their favorite food don’t sound very appetizing. “Steak” and “lobster” are good examples of foodstuff that not only sound tasteless, but sound revolting as well.
Another thing I probably shouldn’t get into when arguing for anchovies is word origins. My dictionary says the word “anchovy” comes from vulgar Latin, and vulgar is not something I want to suggest when trying to turn people into anchovy lovers .
Finally, I will point out that anchovies can be the source of great art, and show art that I’ve been inspired to create out of my love of anchovies.
Video Argument Proposal #2: “Two Good Reasons Why Obama Shouldn’t Act Like A Liberal”
I’m also considering creating a graphic representation of the argument I made in a letter to the editor the Columbus Dispatch recently published. Here’s a link:
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2009/09/17/webletters.html?sid=101
November 11, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Take 2 . . .
Let me respond to your second pitch first. This pitch would seem to be the most traditional in terms of argument; but, the argument needs a fair amount of additional development. Your letter to the editors contains a lot quotation and one rhetorical move in which you turn the logic of your opponent against him. Unfortunately, this probably won’t constitute much footage. In order to make this work, you need to reconstruct more of the context of this debate and explore more points. 5 minutes is a long time.
Your anchovy video sounds a bit more interesting, and a bit more developed than your letter. I would advise going with this idea because you seem to have a better plan at this point. It also will reflect some of the phatic communications that we have discussed in class. What is missing, though, is a critical edge, an exigence. This is something that you are more than capable of creating, but I do not see this in your proposal yet. How are you going to make your audience care about eating anchovies? That they inspire your creative juices seems to have too little relevance for a 5 to 7 minute video.