Persuasion through people: The rhetorical categories of documentary subjects in Michael Moore’s films

ABSTRACT Michael Moore’s documentaries have been central to the development of contemporary political documentary and served as an instrument activism or, some argue, even propaganda. Delving into underlying mechanisms, in this article, I examine ways which subjects are persuasively deployed documentaries. An analysis combining close reading, qualitative content analysis, rhetorical points key categories subjects. These subjects’ embodiment six main displays a correlation with Aristotle’s cornerstones rhetoric: ethos, logos, pathos. Further, demonstrate how moral emotions utilised constructing ethos In addition, article addresses significance identification persuasive rhetoric. This research participates deconstructing mechanics mediated communication contributes outlining theory audiovisual