Though I’m not focusing on rhetoric it does play a significant role in how I shape my arguments and polish my writing. I can say with utmost sincerity I had a great deal of fun with this: I thoroughly enjoy working with the material from McSweeney’s and applying the form and function of rhetoric. I hope to bring the same enthusiasm I had writing this piece, to the writing I’m embarking on this week.

In his article I Will Not Write Unless I Am Swaddled In Furs, John Babbott successfully articulates a caricature of a self-important author through a list of unreasonable demands required for writing, concluding with a delightful twist that accentuates its humorous tone. In a succinct 700 words, he demonstrates how a consistent style, supported by his use of diction, combines with a middle style delivery to culminate in a humorous article, creating an unexpected yet lively and engaging passage.

The article is posted to Timothy McSweeney’s Internet Tendency (McSweeney’s), a daily humour website. The forum offers insight on what the site’s erudite, literary audience has come to expect from the style of its rhetorical activity: literary satire and intellectual, cleverly written character and situational sketches. McSweeney’s stands apart “in a world of flashy Internet videos and animation, a site as dry, quiet and reserved… [Its] humor is, in many ways, a quiet rebellion on the web. [It] is the only humor site that dares to not only banish video content but also refuse to publish in color” (About, 2009). The intent of articles posted to this site is to provide a momentary diversion and entertainment. The site’s audience has come to expect a highly literary form of humour that “specializes in satirical articles, essays and lists” (About, 2009) from McSweeney’s. Once an article is posted to the site, McSweeney’s promotes selected pieces daily through social media channels. With a decidedly declarative and enticing title, Babbott’s article is designed to appeal to a segment of McSweeney’s audience that self-identifies as writers. However a secondary audience may be those who have a proclivity to be swaddled in furs.

The clarity of Babbott’s article is characterized by its vivid use of descriptive language while its energy and economy elevates the writer’s proclamations to absurdity yet its humour remains appropriate to the sensibility of McSweeney’s aesthetic. An early example is evident when he states “I will not write unless I am oriented perpendicularly to a large window. I’m not picky, but it must be quite large, and there must be sheets of cold rain pouring down outside (Babbott, 2013). The stylistic correctness of this article is rooted in its basic adherence to grammar but is particularly refined in how it works in conjunction with diction. Use of correct style is displayed through the use of short, direct sentences that are then juxtaposed with precise, elevated language: “I also require, at some point, the sun to emerge unexpectedly. The sunbeams will illuminate the rising motes of steam from my beverage” (Babbott, 2013). The correctness is of specific importance given the position of the rhetor: a writer is expected to observe the accepted rules of written communication in order to maintain a positive ethos. This example of Babbott’s word choice helps to reinforce the tone of the article and its appeal to a literary audience who can be expected to have an appreciation for the serious tone given to trivial matters.

The article’s decorum aligns perfectly with the literary nature of the forum and rhetorical situation. This is exemplified through describing commonplace activities with refined and precise vocabulary. For example when outlining the requirements for a cat, Babbott states “the cat may knead and stretch, but it must not move from its parenthetical orientation next to my left thigh unless absolutely necessary” (2013). This also serves to support Babbott’s successful use of diction.

Throughout his declaration, Babbott injects a formal tone to the mundane with his vivid use of language that code-switches from a common register to an elegant form of description. Babbott avoids the dangers of the middle style by not being overdone, self-indulgent or overly cute (Longaker and Walker, 2011, 162). Finally, as a text intended to be read on screen, Babbott’s delivery capitalizes on an effective use of paragraph breaks and successfully employs varying paragraph length. This works to create a rhythm for the reader that lends to the enjoyment of the treatise.

The visual austerity of the article’s physical text belies the “sense of poise and balance” (Longaker and Walker, 2011, 162) found in the middle style crafted by Babbott. He successfully reconciles the audience’s expectations through “enhancing the aesthetic appeal” (Longaker and Walker, 2011, 162) resulting in a satisfying read. It is clear that I Will Not Write Unless I Am Swaddled In Furs delivers on the pleasure expected from this style of performance. Overall, it is Babbott’s sense of style that works to reinforce a sincere justification for his demands, leaving the reader acquiescing to the fact that writing must only occur while swaddled in furs.

References

About.com (2009). Retrieved from http://humor.about.com/od/funnywebsites/p/mcsweeneys.htm

Babbot, J. (Febrary 25, 2013). I will not write unless I am swaddled in furs. Timothy McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. Retrieved from http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/i-will-not-write-unless-i-am-swaddled-in-furs

Longaker, M.G. & Walker, L. (2011). Rhetorical Analysis, A Brief Guide for Writers. Boston, MA: Pearson.