The Dark Side of the All-American Meal

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Communication is crucial in all spheres of human activity, and its significance increases as the volume of information grow. People constantly exchange information and opinions with each other trying to demonstrate the correctness of their statements. Rhetoric involves the ability to convince interlocutors through clear and reasoned thoughts. Its use is an integral part of writing non-fiction books in which authors try to persuade readers of a particular assumption. Drive-thru Dreams written by Adam Chandler and Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser offer their view on the fast-food industry and use rhetoric to persuade the audience. Chandler uses many rhetorical techniques to convey his point of view – anaphora, chiasmus, hyperbola, and other devices. Schlosser, in turn, uses hyperbole and a quote with chiasmus when presenting the topic but is predominantly focused on his research and examples. Although the authors agree that the industry is cruel, dangerous, and corporate, their opinions on how fast food represents and affects cultural identity differ.

The author of Drive-thru Dreams is more focused on proving that fast food represents an American identity and uses many rhetorical devices, which increases his persuasiveness. In the introduction to the book, Chandler argues that fast food is the thing that brings Americans closer to inherited rites. He uses anaphora, repeating the phrase “We do it” and listing the reasons why the population loves and consumes fast food so much (Chandler 8-9). Although numbers do not accompany the listing, it is close to the eutrepismus device. These devices make the text more rhythmic, forcing the audience to continue reading.

Chandler uses other techniques to make the text more exciting. For instance, the author uses chiasmus to enhance the impression of attachment to fast food “nothing else does what fast food does as well as fast food does it” (Chandler 9). Finally, the writer uses hyperbola, claiming that there is no other place or thing that can unite America as fast food and dialogismus conveying the experience of the American driver consuming french fries. Thus, the text addresses Americans’ everyday experiences and emotions and enhances the impression of what has been read with the above techniques.

For Schlosser, identity and the impact of fast food on the cultural aspect of life is not a critical focus that influences rhetoric application. He is more concentrated on the economy of the industry and its attitude to employees and consumers. However, he argues that fast food has obliterated regional differences spreading identical restaurants and dishes. Schlosser uses hyperbole to convey the global prevalence of corporate networks destroying private businesses. The author tracks the life path of a person, claiming that “a person can now go from the cradle to the grave without spending a nickel at an independently owned business” (Schlosser 5). He also promotes a view that demonstrates a disregard for individuality through a quote from an industry representative in which chiasmus is used: “The organization cannot trust the individual; the individual must trust the organization” (Schlosser 5). Thus, Schlosser’s use of rhetorical devices is not as broad as Chandler’s.

Thus, rhetoric can significantly affect the perception of information and how well the point of view is conveyed. Chandler’s Drive-thru Dreams and Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation describe the fast food industry and mention its impact on identity. Both authors use such rhetorical devices as hyperbola and chiasmus in discussing the topic. However, Schlosser is limited to the mentioned two, and Chandler maintains its credibility with several more techniques. Thus, rhetoric shows that although the authors consider the fast food industry and agree on some aspects of its negative influence, their view of its impact on identity is different.

Works Cited

Chandler, Adam. Drive-thru Dreams: A Journey Through the Heart of America’s Fast-food Kingdom. Flatiron Books, 2019.

Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012.

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