H4 P3 Persuasion in Music

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

learning goals

• I know what persuasion and its techniques are. 
  
  
• I can identify the persuasive techniques used in This is America.
  
  
• I can explore cultural and historical contexts of a persuasive song. 
  
  
• I can present my analysis of a chosen persuasive song. 

Lesson series about persuasion

Lesson 1: persuasion in Music

Lesson 2: persuasion in images and speeches

Lesson 3: persuasion in literature

Why are we doing this?

What is persuasion?

Persuasion

Persuasion is the act of convincing someone to think, feel, or act in a certain way. There are three persuasive techniques:

1. Ethos: trust and credibility
2. Pathos: emotions
3. Logos: logic and facts

Ethos

The power of credibility and trust: when we believe someone knows what they're talking about, we are more likely to be convinced by them.

Ex: a doctor recommending a new medicine. 

Who do you think has a strong ethos?

Pathos

The power of emotion: when emotions (happiness/anger/etc.) are used to convince you of something.

Ex: a charity commerical.

Have you ever been emotionally convinced to do something? What was it?

Logos

The power of logic and facts: using evidence like statistics or facts to back your arguments to make them believable. 

Ex: people who walk 10.000 steps a day reduce their risk of heart disease by 50% (an advertisement for a fitness tracker).

Think of a time when you persuaded someone. Which strategy did you use?

Can you think of an advertisement, speech, or song that persuaded you?

This is America - Childish Gambino (2018)

Powerful music video which uses persuasion through words but also through visual storytelling and contrast between joyful and violent scenes.

Context: racism, police brutality and gun violence. 

• The Black Lives Matter movement
• Media's role in distraction 
• Jim Crow (1830, negative stereotypical view of Af. Am.)

Think about...

How does he use ethos, pathos, and logos to communicate his message? 

Pay attention to:

•  contrast between the dancing and the background actions.

Provide lyrics

Discussion in pairs or groups

What message is the song trying to convey?

How do the visuals in the music video support the message?

Which persuasive techniques (ethos, pathos, logos) are used? Give examples.

How do events like police brutality and the gun violence crisis in America shape the song’s meaning?

How does it comment on African American experiences?

In groups of 3/4

1. Choose a persuasive song (political, social, personal, etc.).
   
   
2. Briefly discuss the message and why it's persuasive. (Is the historical context relevant?)
   
   
3. Fill in the worksheet about its use of ethos, pathos and logos.

Provide worksheet, they'll have to hand it in

Present your work!

Which song had the strongest persuasive impact?

Which persuasive strategy do you think works best in music?

This is America explained

learning goals

• I know what persuasion and its techniques are. 
  
  
• I can identify the persuasive techniques used in This is America.
  
  
• I can explore cultural and historical contexts of a persuasive song. 
  
  
• I can present my analysis of a chosen persuasive song.