Ethos pathos logos in Disney movies is a term used by film critics to describe the use of emotion, character, and plot as an integral part of storytelling.
The concept was first introduced into Western cinema by German director F. W. Murnau’s silent masterpiece Nosferatu. It has since been adopted by many other directors, including Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and Steven Spielberg.
Ethos Pathos Logos in Disney Movies Meaning
Ethos Definition
The word “ethos” comes from Greek mythology, where it means “character.” Ethos refers to the inner nature or personality of someone or something. This can be seen in how people act towards each other and how they behave when interacting with others.
Pathos Definition
The word “Pathos” comes from ancient Greek literature, meaning “suffering, ” which describes the main character’s story. We usually picture physical pain when we think of suffering, such as being beaten up or a broken leg.
The word “Logos” comes from classical Greek philosophy and translates to “word.” Logos is defined as the inner nature or personality of someone or something. So, when we talk about using logos within a narrative, we’re referring to the overall theme of the story itself.
So when you combine Ethos Pathos Logos in Disney movies, they mean “the personality of a person expresses itself through his/her emotions.” This can be seen in most Disney movies, where characters express themselves with passion and emotion. Examples include Cinderella, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty.
The Rhetoric of Performance: Teaching Logos through Disney Movies
This section will discuss how logos can be taught using Disney movies. We are going to focus to teach students about the importance of logos within the context of performance.
To begin, we need to understand what rhetoric is. According to Wikipedia, “Rhetorical theory focuses upon communication between people.” We also know that rhetorical analysis involves analyzing text for purposes such as persuasion, argumentation, etc.
However, one thing that should not go unnoticed is that rhetoric is more than just words; actions are also. Therefore, if we want our students to learn about logos, we must teach them about both verbal and nonverbal aspects of rhetoric. One method of doing so would be to show them Disney movies. Below are some examples of logos found in Disney movies.
- When Mickey Mouse says, “I love being me!” he uses ethos. He shows us who he is by expressing himself through his feelings.
- When Donald Duck says, “You’re fired!” he uses logos because he wants to persuade someone else to do something.
- When Goofy says, “It’s time to get up!” he uses pathos because he feels like getting out of bed.
Now let’s look at another aspect of rhetoric called performativity. Performativity acts involve performing specific roles. These types of performances allow individuals to act differently depending on whom they are interacting with. As teachers, we often find ourselves working in different ways towards each group of learners.
Another aspect of rhetoric in Disney Movies is dramaturgy. Dramatists create stories based on real-life events. They take those events and make them dramatic. By showing students how drama works, we can help them better understand how logos work. Here is an example of dramatization.
- When Tinker Bell tells Peter Pan she loves him, she uses ethos. She demonstrates her own beliefs by telling him how much she cares for him.
We have now discussed three essential components of rhetoric: ethos, pathos, logos in Disney Movies. Now let’s talk about how all of these elements come together to form a complete message.
This process is known as peripeteia or turning point. Peripeteia occurs when characters change their minds due to external factors. It is used frequently in Disney movies. Let’s see several examples below.
- When Cinderella meets Prince Charming, she does not believe that she deserves happiness. After meeting him, however, she realizes that she does deserve happiness after all.
- When Snow White falls asleep while eating apples from the Evil Queen’s garden, she believes that she will die. Once she wakes up, though, she sees that she is only dreaming.
Is McDonald’s Pathos, Ethos, Or Logos?
This question comes up quite frequently among my colleagues. I believe that Mcdonald’s is using ethos-pathos logos. They are trying to make customers happy while making money. If you watch any commercial for Mcdonald’s, you’ll notice that they always say things like, “We care about your happiness,” “Our food makes you smile,” “Have fun eating here,” etc. All of those statements come across as ethos.
In addition, their commercials have music playing throughout, which gives off an emotional feeling. The music helps create a sense of joyfulness and excitement. That makes a positive mood. Finally, these elements work together to convince viewers that McDonald’s cares about its customers’ well-being.
Is Patrick Henry Speech an Example of Ethos Pathos Logos in Disney Movies?
Yes, but only partially. It depends on whether you consider him speaking from personal experience or appealing to patriotism. Either way, he appeals to the audience emotionally. His speech begins with a solid appeal to his fellow colonists. Then, he goes into detail about why America was founded. Lastly, he ends with a passionate plea to fight against England. By the end of this speech, everyone has been moved emotionally.
What does This Mean for Educators?
First, we can use speeches like these when teaching persuasive writing. Students will see how effective speakers can move audiences to action. Second, we can use addresses similar to these when talking about emotions. For example, we could talk about how important it is to express feeling to connect with others. Third, we can use speeches such as these when discussing ethics. After watching a movie, we may realize that there were many unethical behaviors shown within the story.
Disney Movie Pathos.
Pathos is Disney movies’ most powerful tool because it allows them to get people to feel something. We saw this first hand during our discussion of ethos. However, pathos also works by contacting us to think about what someone else might be thinking. Here are some examples of pathos being used in Disney movies.
- Cinderella – She wants her father to love her more than her stepmother. He doesn’t want to do anything wrong, so he tries to avoid her at every turn. Eventually, he changes his mind and decides to take her out on a date.
- Sleeping Beauty – Her mother dies before giving birth to her. As a result, she never gets to know who her birth parents are. Because of this, she feels sad and lonely. To cheer herself up, she takes a magic potion that turns her into a beautiful princess.
- Aladdin – Genie tells Jasmine that if she loves him enough, he will grant her three wishes. At first, she refuses to listen to him.
Rhetorical Analysis Of Disney’s Frozen
Now let’s analyze the rhetorical elements of the movie “Frozen” by Walt Disney Studios.
The first element we notice is ethos, which means that this film has a particular set of values and beliefs about what it takes to be successful as an individual or a family. The main character Elsa wants to live her life freely without being controlled by others. She also believes that she can control nature with ice powers. In contrast, Anna, who represents the audience, thinks that people should not change their environment because they cannot do so.
Next, let’s look at pathos. Pathos refers to emotions such as pity, fear, anger, love, etc. These feelings motivate someone to act on behalf of another person. For example, when Hans tells Kristoff he loves him after seeing his true self for the first time, he feels pity towards him. He then decides to help him get back home safely.
Next, let’s examine logos. Logos refers to reason. It explains why someone behaves in a particular way. For instance, when Elsa freezes up all the water in Arendelle, she uses logic to explain why she did it. She said that if she didn’t freeze everything down, everyone else would die. Thus, she used logical reasoning to convince herself to use her powers. On the contrary, Anna was angry at Elsa for freezing the entire town. Her argument against Elsa was based on emotional reasons rather than rational ones.
Finally, let’s take a look at the irony. Irony occurs when a speaker gives contradictory information. For example, when Elsa asks Anna to kiss her hand, she knows that Anna won’t agree. Nevertheless, she still tries to persuade Anna into doing so. Since Elsa knew that Anna wouldn’t want to kiss her hand, we say that she acted ironically.
I hope that my analysis helped you understand the rhetorical elements of Disney’s Frozen better!
Get Help In Analyzing Ethos, Pathos, Logos In Disney Movies!
At galaxgrades.com, we provide students with writing guides and tips on how to improve their grades through an effective essay writing service. If you have trouble analyzing ethos, pathos, and logos in Disney Movies, click order now for the best services.