Rhetorical Analysis - “The Plastic Pink Flamingo: A Natural History”
Write an essay in which you analyze how Price crafts the text to reveal her view of United States cultures through her use of rhetorical strategies
In “The Plastic Pink Flamingo: A Natural History,” Jennifer Price applies the societal obsession of the plastic pink flamingos with the corruption and arrogance of American culture during the early to mid-1900’s. Through her use of allusion, irony, diction, and extended metaphor within the entire piece, Price mocks society for its pretentious ideals. The stated “two major claims to boldness” both exhibit our culture’s greed with the flamingo representing wealth while it being pink exemplifies its flamboyancy. Price’s sarcastic tone throughout the essay seems to mock society and its extravagant standards.
Price references many prominent people in this piece like “gangster Benjamin ‘Bugsy,’” Tom Wolfe, Karal Ann Marling, and Elvis Presley. However, after each of these allusions were made, an appositive, a word or phrase that renames the noun, did not follow either of the allusions to explain who the person was and their significance. Price’s reasoning in doing this was to add ethos and exemplify that these people were most likely well-known back then. Price’s use of well-known people adds credibility to her argument and shows that society jumps on the so called “bandwagon.”
The ironic tone of this passage assists in furthering Price’s thesis of cultural greed and corruption. The fact that the flamingo is thought to represent wealth is ironic, because in Florida in the 1800’s flamingos were hunted to extinction while now they are thought to be luxurious. In places like Mexico and Egypt, they were thought to be somewhat sacred. The second use of irony is stated in the last paragraph where the plastic flamingo is said to be better than a real one. Perhaps the most obvious piece of irony is the title, “The Plastic Pink Flamingo: A Natural History.” Plastic and natural oppose one another which sets the tone for the entire passage. Price continues her ironic and often mocking tone when she states that the flamingos “feed in flocks on algae and invertebrates” which does not present an image of wealth and extravagance like it is thought to represent.
Price utilizes a specific diction in the essay to mock the flamboyance of the flamingos. Words such as of “splashed,” “flocking,” and “oasis” are meant to parallel the normal and natural idealism of a flamingo while our culture exaggerates its uniqueness and prestige. However, it states that the flamingo is “synonymous with wealth and pizzazz” which contradicts Price’s diction of giving the flamingo its natural sense.
Throughout the entire essay, Price utilizes an extended metaphor which compares this natural animal, the flamingo, to an extravagant lifestyle. The fact that the bird is an unusual pink is thought to make it more valuable and more desirable which adds to its “boldness.” This metaphor is sarcastic in tone and represents the arrogance and ostentatious ideals of our society by the juxtaposition of the natural beauty of the flamingo to a piece of hollow plastic lawn décor.
Through Price’s use of obvious irony, diction, an extended metaphor, and allusions, she attempts to illustrate to the reader the corruption of our society. Although it is an odd and unusual approach due to the topic being plastic pink flamingos, Price’s attitude is evident and easily persuades the reader to comprehend her point of view while still engaging the reader.
Reflection
Rhetorical analysis is probably the essay type that I struggle the most with due to my incapability to determine which major rhetorical strategies are utilized. I have gotten better with practice but since this essay was one of the first rhetorical analyses we did, it had some issues. From first glance I noticed something I missed, the title. I did not recognize the most apparent piece of irony used along with the tool used to set the tone. Once I noticed this, it became clear to me that this was how Price was introducing her thesis along with showing the initial corruption in our society. Although I struggle with determining the rhetorical strategies, for this piece it was probably my greatest strength. I did not notice the title at first, but I did find other uses of irony throughout the piece in addition to an extended metaphor, diction, and allusions. The diction was perhaps the most obvious since words like “splashed,” “flocking,” and “oasis” were used; however, the extended metaphor of comparing the flamingo to an extravagant lifestyle was not as distinct. A major weakness in this essay was my omission of a conclusion. Conclusions are essential to develop well-written essays even if a writer feels as if they are just restating what they previously have declared. With my addition of a conclusion, revisions, and recognition of the ironic title, I believe I was able to increase my previously given AP score of a 6. With my struggling of rhetorical analysis, I have realized to sometimes not look for the most in depth strategies but instead the ones that are right in front of you.
Write an essay in which you analyze how Price crafts the text to reveal her view of United States cultures through her use of rhetorical strategies
In “The Plastic Pink Flamingo: A Natural History,” Jennifer Price applies the societal obsession of the plastic pink flamingos with the corruption and arrogance of American culture during the early to mid-1900’s. Through her use of allusion, irony, diction, and extended metaphor within the entire piece, Price mocks society for its pretentious ideals. The stated “two major claims to boldness” both exhibit our culture’s greed with the flamingo representing wealth while it being pink exemplifies its flamboyancy. Price’s sarcastic tone throughout the essay seems to mock society and its extravagant standards.
Price references many prominent people in this piece like “gangster Benjamin ‘Bugsy,’” Tom Wolfe, Karal Ann Marling, and Elvis Presley. However, after each of these allusions were made, an appositive, a word or phrase that renames the noun, did not follow either of the allusions to explain who the person was and their significance. Price’s reasoning in doing this was to add ethos and exemplify that these people were most likely well-known back then. Price’s use of well-known people adds credibility to her argument and shows that society jumps on the so called “bandwagon.”
The ironic tone of this passage assists in furthering Price’s thesis of cultural greed and corruption. The fact that the flamingo is thought to represent wealth is ironic, because in Florida in the 1800’s flamingos were hunted to extinction while now they are thought to be luxurious. In places like Mexico and Egypt, they were thought to be somewhat sacred. The second use of irony is stated in the last paragraph where the plastic flamingo is said to be better than a real one. Perhaps the most obvious piece of irony is the title, “The Plastic Pink Flamingo: A Natural History.” Plastic and natural oppose one another which sets the tone for the entire passage. Price continues her ironic and often mocking tone when she states that the flamingos “feed in flocks on algae and invertebrates” which does not present an image of wealth and extravagance like it is thought to represent.
Price utilizes a specific diction in the essay to mock the flamboyance of the flamingos. Words such as of “splashed,” “flocking,” and “oasis” are meant to parallel the normal and natural idealism of a flamingo while our culture exaggerates its uniqueness and prestige. However, it states that the flamingo is “synonymous with wealth and pizzazz” which contradicts Price’s diction of giving the flamingo its natural sense.
Throughout the entire essay, Price utilizes an extended metaphor which compares this natural animal, the flamingo, to an extravagant lifestyle. The fact that the bird is an unusual pink is thought to make it more valuable and more desirable which adds to its “boldness.” This metaphor is sarcastic in tone and represents the arrogance and ostentatious ideals of our society by the juxtaposition of the natural beauty of the flamingo to a piece of hollow plastic lawn décor.
Through Price’s use of obvious irony, diction, an extended metaphor, and allusions, she attempts to illustrate to the reader the corruption of our society. Although it is an odd and unusual approach due to the topic being plastic pink flamingos, Price’s attitude is evident and easily persuades the reader to comprehend her point of view while still engaging the reader.
Reflection
Rhetorical analysis is probably the essay type that I struggle the most with due to my incapability to determine which major rhetorical strategies are utilized. I have gotten better with practice but since this essay was one of the first rhetorical analyses we did, it had some issues. From first glance I noticed something I missed, the title. I did not recognize the most apparent piece of irony used along with the tool used to set the tone. Once I noticed this, it became clear to me that this was how Price was introducing her thesis along with showing the initial corruption in our society. Although I struggle with determining the rhetorical strategies, for this piece it was probably my greatest strength. I did not notice the title at first, but I did find other uses of irony throughout the piece in addition to an extended metaphor, diction, and allusions. The diction was perhaps the most obvious since words like “splashed,” “flocking,” and “oasis” were used; however, the extended metaphor of comparing the flamingo to an extravagant lifestyle was not as distinct. A major weakness in this essay was my omission of a conclusion. Conclusions are essential to develop well-written essays even if a writer feels as if they are just restating what they previously have declared. With my addition of a conclusion, revisions, and recognition of the ironic title, I believe I was able to increase my previously given AP score of a 6. With my struggling of rhetorical analysis, I have realized to sometimes not look for the most in depth strategies but instead the ones that are right in front of you.