GENRE ANALYSIS

RUNNING HEAD: GENRE ANALYSIS

Genre Analysis of YouTube Video and CNN Piece
Omar Sobal Varro
The University of Texas at El Paso
02-28-14

GENRE ANALYSIS



America was founded upon the idea that all men are created equal under god and
therefore should be afforded the same rights and liberties. However, in America and various
countries across the globe gay men and women are not afforded the same rights as their
heterosexual countrymen. Although a large number of countries have legalized gay marriage, in
some places it is still illegal and regarded as taboo. It seems that the issue of gay marriage is
starting to receive attention all across the globe and not just in the United States, and regardless
of location people seem to have polar opinions about it. There are several genres used to
address gay marriage, but two of them are GAY MARRIAGE- Pro or Against gay marriage Real
Public Opinions (YouTube Video) by Matt Mikka, and Nigeria bans same-sex marriage
CNN.com.(CNN) by Anna Maja Rappard. Both address the political and social impact that
gay marriage has well as several opinions of the general public on the issue. Although they are
both effective in relaying the information desired they both have their advantages and
limitations. Gay Marriage is an issue that is controversial and very much in debate across the
world, understanding the genres through which it is presented is crucial for progress to be
made.
Both the YouTube Video and CNN have intended audiences, but vary based on some key
factors. CNNs audience can be assumed to be an internet user searching gay marriage.
However, CNN news has been known to present liberal views on the news so it is a possibility
that the person watching the piece may have liberal views as well. Because CNN, regardless of
any bias is a very popular and widely trusted source for news, so this information can come
from a Google search referring to gay marriage. The widest categorization one could give CNN
is anyone with internet access with an interest in the topic of gay marriage. The YouTube
GENRE ANALYSIS


Video is an opinion based piece through interviews and questions with members of the general
public. Its title suggest that it is promoting both sides of the issue but the video was presenting
more pro-gay marriage opinions. This videos intended audience is a little narrower. Although it
can still be viewed for anyone with internet access because it is in a documentary format the
intended audience can be assumed to be someone interested in opinion pieces. The audience is
anyone interested on opinion pieces on gay marriage that trust YouTube as a source. Both
audiences are expected to know a few things before they watch the video. For the CNN piece
the audience is expected to know that gay marriage is a controversial issue across the world and
that CNN reports news from all over the world, particularly those that tie in with an issue with
the United States. The YouTube Videos audience is expected to know that gay marriage is still
a controversial issue in the United States. They are also expected to know that anyone can post
videos on YouTube so the piece may be heavily influenced by personal opinion. Both pieces
address a certain audience but no particular discourse community other than individuals with an
interest in the issue of gay marriage. Both Pieces are used to inform people about the issue of
gay marriage but differ in the way that they present the information. The genres themselves
dont take longer than ten minutes to view and analyze. Both pieces are relatively short and
easy to understand. Because both pieces address the issues political aspect words like
congress, legislation, Bill, and international relations are used. The diction pertaining to these
genres is easy enough to follow along throughout both videos. Another particular word used in
both videos is taboo this is because in many peoples eyes gay marriage is a form of taboo.
Both of these pieces are effective in relaying their information, but the small differences in their
presentation make them different. Because the YouTube video gets opinions from the general
GENRE ANALYSIS


public their audience is narrowed but still very useful. CNN uses a lot more credible sources
which make it seem more informative than opinion based.
Both genres make use of rhetorical strategies and do so in accordance with their mediums
audience. CNN uses a lot of political sources to establish some credibility for their information,
so the main strategy used by CNN is ethos. They use the bill being passed by the president of
Nigeria to ban gay marriage as their proof for the headline. They also get this word from the
ambassador to the United States in Nigeria which makes the information they have very
credible. CNN also uses logos when explaining how the bill came to be and the public opinion
on the bill. By showing that a majority of Nigerians do not support gay marriage and get
opinions from the public about the issue. Because of the strong distaste for gay marriage by the
general public it makes sense that the government would pass a bill making it illegal, regardless
of any moral issues that come with that decision. The YouTube video has a more emotional
appeal than anything and does not contain a significant amount of logos. The premise of the
video is getting peoples opinions on the issue of gay marriage through various questions about
the issue. At several points people in the video appeal to the emotions of the reader rather than
presenting only factual information. A particular point when an emotional appeal is clear is
when a gay couple gives their opinion when asked about gay marriage laws. Ethos comes out
during the opinions given by the general public in the video as well. Both these pieces fail to
use a rhetorical strategy. The CNN piece does not have any emotional appeal and the YouTube
Video doesnt really have a whole lot of credibility because its based solely on opinion.
These two pieces differ most in the way the information is presented. The CNN piece
uses a lot of credible sources and is delivered in a professional manner. All the information
given is backed up by fact or research, and the people giving the information are giving it in a
GENRE ANALYSIS


professional manner. The YouTube Video is a compilation of small, short, and edited
interviews with people from the general public who are allowed to speak freely. These people
are not in any way experts on social issues or political analysts. Because of this the information
seems to lack any real credibility resulting in the piece not containing ethos. Although they are
both effective they arent perfect in their rhetorical strategy or in their limitations. Both of these
pieces are limited by the fact that they have to be searched for, meaning that they are probably
both being researched by someone who has an interest and opinion on gay marriage
beforehand. Another limitation is that someone must be able to understand some political
terminology used in both pieces, as well as have access to a computer. The YouTube video is
limited by the fact that it does not contain much fact supported evidence in comparison to the
CNN piece. These articles are both very effective in relaying their message but the CNN piece
contains information from credible sources. Because of all the information provided to the
reader it is a much clearer genre to use.
Gay Marriage continues to be a controversial and very much in debate issue across the
world, understanding the genres through which it is presented is crucial for progress to be
made. The CNN article and the YouTube Videos have very important information to relay and
despite their limitations are both effective in doing so. However, The CNN piece is much more
effective than the YouTube Video. This is because the CNN piece got all its information from
credible sources rather than the opinions of random bystanders limited to answering a few
questions and having it all edited. When looking at a social issue like gay marriage the genres
through which information and opinions are relayed are incredibly important. The genres
through which we communicate shape our opinions on the world and all its issues, therefore
understanding them and being able to interpret them is crucial.
GENRE ANALYSIS


References
Mikka, M. (2013, April 1). GAY MARRIAGE- Pro or Against gay marriage Real Public
Opinions. YouTube. Retrieved February 10, 2014, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO3Av9ZWAC8
Rappard, A., Purefoy, C., Brocchetto, M., & Karimi, F. (2014, January 13). Nigeria bans same-
sex marriage. CNN. Retrieved February 10, 2014, from
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/world/africa/nigeria-anti-gay-law/