Cro Magnon Grandma Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical Analysis “Cro-Magnon Karma: One Dude and his Body Image Issues” is a poorly structured essay emphasizing far too much on its title, focusing largely on one man and his insecurities, stumbling across a point of bias in society that appears far beyond the conscious capabilities of the author, Chris Godsey, and taking what may have been the intentional purpose of his composure and transforming self-defense into self-ridicule. Godsey dotes upon personal experiences that, rather than emphasizing such as pathos should, drag out the focus of the essay. Due to a mixture of compare/contrast of three different subjects: society then and now on men, society then and now on women, and the societal relationship between men and women today,
This frank phrase may have been purposed to grab attention, and it does, but in a somewhat negative fashion. Godsey jumps to immediately defend himself and his level of masculinity. “I’m actually in pretty decent shape…” (Godsey 116). “…my body’s not bad…” (Godsey 117). This particular behavior may cause one to think that this a trick, that perhaps Godsey isn’t as confident in himself as he is going to play throughout the essay. He follows with pages of personal examples to justify why men have always been required to disguise insecurities and then snaps with muted hostility to explain the unfairness. “…men aren’t “supposed” to have such concerns,” (Godsey
“What I’ve been saying (and believing without realizing it) is that male value ultimately depends on reducing women to physical symbols of masculine superiority,” (Godsey 121). He makes continual references to the suffering that women have endured for decades, due to mans’ pleasures, and then abruptly returns to the society today. This exemplifies Godsey’s own personal confusion referencing his self- stability, causing doubt as to his credibility on the matter he chose to discuss, and his persona in general (ethos). As Godsey furthers to rant and rave about the mistreatment of men and the standards of masculinity that men must live to today, he completes each idea with attacks similar to “It’s like I’m a woman. My self-esteem frequently depends on how I see my body,” (Godsey 117). By making such obnoxious accusations, Godsey’s effectiveness plummets. He argues for the sake of women and their mistreatment by society, and then whips around and makes the worst of stereotypical announcements and on the behalf of women. Godsey occasionally makes legitimate remarks, and exemplifies incorporation of logos by referencing sources such as The Adonis Complex: The Secret Crisis of Male Body Obsession, by Harrison Pope, Katharine Phillips, and Roberto Olivardia, and Simpson’s 2002 Salon.com article “Meet the Metrosexual”. However, the reaction to each reference is over exaggerated