In the year 2017, most modern societies have ultimately adopted an ideology of overconsumption and consumerism. This adoption of overindulgence and extravagant spending is the focus of journalist James Hamblin’s profile, Living Simply in a Dumpster. In this article, Mr. Hamblin writes about Jeff Wilson, the dean of the Houston-Tillotson University, and his message about rejecting indulgence and returning to a practice of living in deliberation and ecological awareness. This idea is communicated and dramatized by both the journalist and the dean through a compelling use of ethos, logos, and kairos.
James Hamblin and Jeff Wilson ultimately strengthen Wilson’s message about living deliberately by establishing themselves as credible, authoritative, …show more content…
In order to do away with this, James Hamblin incorporates a variety of diagrams and pictures as well as an elongation of details to counter the absurd nature of the situation and establish a more serious tone. This can be seen in how Mr. Hamblin incorporates a “phase two” and “phase three” diagram. In the fisrt diagram, Mr. Hamblin provides a visual aid of the “average American dumpster studio” phase and how it will incorporate “more amenities including a bed, a lamp, and a classic home-evoking pitched roof…” (Hamblin 4). The phase three diagram that is said to begin in the winter serves as a similar visual aid that shows the “uber dumpster home” and its addition of solar panels, a sleeping loft, a heating unit, and many other modern creature comforts (Hamblin 6). These diagrams provide very detailed ambitions and plans for the dumpster profile. On top of this, Mr. Hamblin incorporates an elongation of details. This can be seen in his use of an antimetabole when he describes that Professor Wilson’s intentions were to, “…not just to teach his students about the environmental impacts…not just to gradually transform the dumpster...[but a] tapestry of these things” (Hamblin 2). Furthermore, this incorporation can also be seen when Mr. Wilson goes into drawn out details about the projected forty percent increase in global population and the need for sustainability and how only thirty-nine percent of Americans believe in climate change (Hamblin 6). This description helps to make the tone more serious by contextualizing the project and how it is exploring sustainable practices for the future. This use of elongated details, when paired with the diagrams and before and after pictures, helps to suspend the reader’s initial disbelief by providing logical project ambitions, intentions, and context as to why the dean is
James Hamblin and Jeff Wilson ultimately strengthen Wilson’s message about living deliberately by establishing themselves as credible, authoritative, …show more content…
In order to do away with this, James Hamblin incorporates a variety of diagrams and pictures as well as an elongation of details to counter the absurd nature of the situation and establish a more serious tone. This can be seen in how Mr. Hamblin incorporates a “phase two” and “phase three” diagram. In the fisrt diagram, Mr. Hamblin provides a visual aid of the “average American dumpster studio” phase and how it will incorporate “more amenities including a bed, a lamp, and a classic home-evoking pitched roof…” (Hamblin 4). The phase three diagram that is said to begin in the winter serves as a similar visual aid that shows the “uber dumpster home” and its addition of solar panels, a sleeping loft, a heating unit, and many other modern creature comforts (Hamblin 6). These diagrams provide very detailed ambitions and plans for the dumpster profile. On top of this, Mr. Hamblin incorporates an elongation of details. This can be seen in his use of an antimetabole when he describes that Professor Wilson’s intentions were to, “…not just to teach his students about the environmental impacts…not just to gradually transform the dumpster...[but a] tapestry of these things” (Hamblin 2). Furthermore, this incorporation can also be seen when Mr. Wilson goes into drawn out details about the projected forty percent increase in global population and the need for sustainability and how only thirty-nine percent of Americans believe in climate change (Hamblin 6). This description helps to make the tone more serious by contextualizing the project and how it is exploring sustainable practices for the future. This use of elongated details, when paired with the diagrams and before and after pictures, helps to suspend the reader’s initial disbelief by providing logical project ambitions, intentions, and context as to why the dean is