The essay "Bigfoot at 50: Evaluating a Half-Century of Bigfoot Proof" by Benjamin Radford
The essay “Bigfoot at 50: Evaluating a Half-Century of Bigfoot Proof” by Benjamin Radford examines the evidence of Bigfoot's presence gathered over the last fifty years. Around the same time, the author tries to offer proof of the validity of the data while still challenging its dependability.
Bigfoot Sightings Throughout History
Ranford observes at the start of the report that Bigfoot sightings began a long time ago, as far back as the 1830s. He does remember, however, that it was not until the second half of the twentieth century that interest in Bigfoot really took off, owing to several publications in magazines covering the topic. However, the topic of Bigfoot’s existence remains an open one many years later. He goes on to delve into evidence that has been collected over the years, identifying the one theory that investigators who believe in the existence of Bigfoot conform to. Radford makes the fitting observation that any existence of Bigfoot, however, boils down to the evidence at hand.
The Evidence of Bigfoot's Existence
The author goes on to provide evidence collected over fifty years from eyewitness accounts, footprints, recordings, and somatic samples. It is then that the author goes on to discredit the folly in some of the so-called ‘evidence’ of Bigfoot’s existence. This essay aims to critically analyze Benjamin Radford’s article with a particular focus on the article’s organization, clarity and its strengths and weaknesses.
Evaluating the Reliability of the Evidence
After analyzing the evidence of the existence of Bigfoot recorded over the past fifty years, the author concludes that most of it is not reliable while some truth has been twisted in such a way that it is untrue. In addition to this, some individuals deliberately twist the truth so that their accounts are simply a hoax. For instance, eye witness accounts are not dependable because “reports take place in uncontrolled surroundings.” In addition to this, some of these recollections are simply anecdotes which cannot be reproduced, are untestable and cannot be falsified. The author provides sufficient evidence within the article why some of the evidence allegedly proving the existence of Bigfoot is not dependable. For instance, the footprints that are credited to Bigfoot vary both in size and appearance, a fact which would essentially point to inconsistencies. The Patterson film which records an alleged Bigfoot sighting has also been discredited on the grounds that it is not possible to verify the authenticity of the film.
Strengths and Organization
The article’s organization and clarity is top-notch while the author quotes academic sources and scientific proof to back-up his claims. He not only convinces but also backs up his claims with factual evidence. The article’s strength lays in its competent use of outside materials such as books to back up his own claims while the organization creates a flow that gives continuity and is easy to follow for the reader. Owing to the article’s use of adequate evidence, it would be sufficient for use in an essay.
