Family Guy and Freud - Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious - Book Report/Review Example

Family Guy and Freud - Jokes and Their Relation to the UnconsciousAntonia Peacocke’s essay “Family Guy and Freud: Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious” makes use of certain rhetorical devices that appeals to the readers. The examples she provides evoke pathos by relating her arguments to the day-to-day reality that her readers experience. The rude and sexist jokes of Family Guy and how some of them leave at least some viewers bewildered rather than amused could touch the sensibilities of her target group.

She has in mind various female readers who would find the ‘women in workplace’ offensive and sexist. Likewise the way Oprah Winfrey decides the reading habits and pretty much of every choice they make in their life can be taken lightly or as a baseless, exaggerated criticism, which makes the joke rather too serious to be laughed upon. Thus the writer appeals to the outrage, sympathy, shame, horror and anger of readers in relating to certain episodes which she tries to provide as examples top prove her point.

The writer’s style is very casual, though she does not compromise on the seriousness of the issues that she needs to convey. She relates to the readers in a specific way that youngsters can do. She uses the youthful charm of being impulsive at times, but always keep a logical connection in her arguments. She achieves her goal of relating skillfully to likeminded readers by the effective use of rhetorical devices. The oral nature of her narrative keeps the audience glued to her perspectives.

The visual metaphors she uses both in her arguments and examples make the article a very engaging one. She derives her arguments from components that build one upon the other. The author maintains her credibility by referring to her knowledge of the Freudian theories both in her title and throughout the paper. Thus, her arguments do not end up being mere culture notes. She keeps her readers interested in the issue by maintaining an element of surprise till the end. When she relates her entire argument to the views of Freud on the issue of jokes, she fulfills the promise she held.

Moreover, she does not let her views be swayed by impulsive thoughts. The very fact that she makes use of graphic description systematically to prove her point reveals her credibility as a writer capable of keeping a balanced view. She does not stick on to a specific, prejudiced view from beginning to end. Rather, she explores arguments from both sides of the issue and leads them naturally to a conclusion that she had foreseen.