Carli Wright

Lynn Hall

English 111

December 6, 2009

A for Activism

The rigorous film, “V for Vendetta”, was absolutely amazing.  I have seen this movie twice prior to this past weekend, and realize something new in it every time.  The last two times I watched this movies was when I was about 15 years old, therefore I was unaware of all the forms of activism and rhetoric and how to apply them everyday life, including this film.  Watching it for the third time three years later, I am able to understand more, as well as incorporate my ideas and V’s examples of activism in this film.

In short, activism is standing up for a cause that one believes in – an activist is against society or something as it is.  Throughout the film, V is constantly trying to overcome the government, its flaws, and open the eyes of an entire nation.  Because of the deadly virus created by the government and the wicked people involved in a holocaust that destroyed so many lives, V takes action in ensuring that the same government realizes what they have done, and ultimately begins a revolution in this defense.  V displays his activism through the media, his words, and through his actions with Natalie Portman’s character, Evey.  V is against the totalitarian government in London, England – the government who tried to kill him.

Another example of activism is the three uses of rhetoric, ethos, pathos, and logos.  Rhetorical analysis is essential when one is an activist because it adds credibility, logic, and emotion to the cause.  V used pathos in order to make Evey understand his point of view.  He discussed her brother’s death, and her parents kidnapping.  He also used the lesbian’s story (I believe her name was Veronica) to appeal to Evey.  In addition to pathos, V uses ethos when he addressed the government’s tactics, and his passed experiences throughout the movie (although he was disguised as a different character). Finally an example of V’s logical appeal were the statistics of the people who died during the government issued virus at St. Mary’s.  In addition to use rhetorical appeals V also knew and understood the audience he was addressing.  He knew how to provoke and make people understand his cause.  He said something along the lines of “Their country needed more than a building, but they need hope”.  V understood that the audience he was trying to affect would be struck by the bombing of Parliament, but hopefully come to a realization of their corrupt government.

All in all, “V for Vendetta was an excellent film, filled with action, suspense, and a short lived romance.  V accomplishes what he wants to let his nation understand about their government and in turn personally affects Evey, who is now an activist herself and finishes out V’s original plan.  Activism is strong and it only takes one person to initiate change.

On another note, I really did not understand the situation as a whole dealing with the Caucus. Although I do think that the administration of Penn State could have been more caring and concerned about racism and a death threat, I do think that all the stipulations the Caucus had may have been unneccessary. Although increasing the amount of African American Majors and education classes is not a bad idea, i don’t think that directly correlates with the death threat and racist issues. I do think the school was insensitive the issues and hand , as well as over-reacted to the situation during the football game.

Questions I would like to bring to the table include:

• Why do black feel that it’s okay to use the “N-word”? Personally I hate the word because I understand the hate and discrimination that was behind it.  Why would you refer to yourself that way knowing the history behind it?  White people don’t call each other crackers, and hispanics don’t call themselves spics.
• I found it was interesting that Ellen lied about ever being able to love a Negro.  Is it because she didn’t want to betray her “whiteness”?