Verlyn Klinkeborg article “Our Vanishing Night” was published by National Geographic in 2008 that shed light on the excessive use of artificial lighting. Verlyn indicate that artificial lighting is another type of pollution that directly affects ecosystems and humans. Verlyn set the audience of the article as the educated citizens of the society as their voice actively contribute to the change in beliefs. In this article, the author put forth his purpose as urging the regulation and elimination of light pollution from the earth. Our Vanishing Night reflects on the sense of responsibility that evokes concern for the light pollution, animals and strong diction to express credible debate and solution using emotional, logical and ethical explanation. The purpose of writing this article for the educated citizens of the society is to effectively convince them about the truth behind the pollution and convince them to change their actions for the great benefits.
Considering the rhetorical analysis on the article “Our Vanishing Night”, it has been noted that the author, Verlyn Klinkenborg is a former university literature teacher and New York Times editor as well. His attribution also includes him as nonfiction writer. The credibility of the writer is evident to the readers through his professional attributions. As a former university teacher and New York Times editor, the author is fully credible to write on the numerous of the subject and his non-fiction abilities is also verified in this article. It is observed that most of the arguments of the author is linked with the wide spread of ecosystem and its impact on the people and animals. The article creates an interesting attention towards the artificial lights and its pollution with reference to the human beings. This is the interesting nonfictional ability that author has used to attract the readers. The credibility of the author and his skills in the rhetorical analysis is known as ethos and thus it is identified that ethos is present in the article. In the same way, “Our Vanishing Nights”, attempts to persuade the nature lover and environmental attentive audience to the widespread problem of the earth through logical and emotional appeals. The article also presents its scientific evidence and emotional appeals through the incorporation of animals and their use. The parallel comparison of human and animals in this article is just one example of how the actions influences the atmosphere and surrounding.
Pathos is the emotional appeal that is used in the writing to persuade the audience about the subject. The use of emotional appeal in the writing or text can be of any format like serious, sarcastic or ironic. In the rhetorical analysis of article, the use of pathos is evident through the use of sympathetic argument. The author used words like vanish, target and disproportionate to evoke the audience response towards the text and its subject. The harmful effects of light pollution are described in the article. Moreover, the emotional appeal use by the author begins with sentences where words like captured, migrate at night, artificial light, endangered, extinct species are used. These words are mixed with the evidence and statistics to create an emotional appeal over the reader about the environment. It has been through rhetorical analysis that through these words, the author managed to reflect on the major purpose of the article i.e. expressing the danger of artificial lights and its impact on human beings and animals for reader’s concern as well. When the environmental concerned individual read the words like target, danger, species, their feelings and expression towards the subject is more authentically communicated and hence vulnerable sympathy is reflected on them. The author uses such words for his own advantages. Secondly, these words also reasoned with readers and make the feel that something needs to be done too.
The use of the pathos for the author is very beneficial, since he knows more about the human beings and especially about the National Geographical readers. Their concern and attention towards the artificial pollution and its impact leads to the persuasion for the readers and it demands certain change. The author gained the support for action and change against the light and environmental pollution. It is also indicated that the author used the emotional appeal and sympathetic words to create an image of solution for the readers. From the rhetorical analysis, it has been noted that the author intent to boost his argument on the subject from credibility reflecting on the scientific findings and evidence. In this section, it is also indicated that although there is no citation on the finding and scientific evidence, the content and studies itself are the universally acceptable facts. This is due to the fact that there is logical explanation behind every word that author reflects upon.
Logos is the appeal that indicates towards the logic reasoning and use of reason to explain the subject or argument. Throughout the article, it is noted that author himself provide explanation for his argument like the sentence where he used the reference of astronomers and light pollution to indicate the Flagstaff. From his sentence, it is evident that it is true that astronomers need light to see the sky and it is also indicate that the light pollution is affecting this action as well. The use of the Flagstaff is to convince the readers about the suitable actions that readers need to take in order to reduce the light pollution. Secondly, the sentence where the author made the reference about the Darkness as essential to biological welfare, is also an example of logical or logos. It is evident from the sentence that our human body needs the darkness for the biological wake up and sleep timings. Through such vivid sentences, the author used the logical explanation to indicate to the readers that the argument is valid and it is essential to counter it. Furthermore, it is also indicated that the use of imagery is the most interesting and unique appeal in the article. Throughout the article, the use of imagery is vivid. The author used the words that bring images to the readers and it directly affects the feeling and logic of the readers.
In conclusion, it is evident that the rhetorical analysis on the “Our Vanishing Night” indicates that use of ethos, pathos and logos to convince the readers towards the solution but in rather interesting and unique way. The author moved very systematically in the article and his credibility on the professional skills and attributions are the examples that Our Vanishing Night is authentic argument and National Geographic reader’s needs to find the solution.
