Scientologists' constant battle against drugs, especially the psychoactive assortment, inspired the creation of an organization called Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR). The Scientologist magazine "Freedom" includes articles about success stories of the CCHR, among other things. In Mark Shaefer's piece, The Letter that Shocked the World, he tells the story of the patients held in the Child and Adolescent Unit of New Zealand's Lake Alice Hospital. Shaefer's diction, imagery, and details cooperate to portray psychiatry in a negative light, while praising the CCHR.
In his discussion of acts performed by the Lake Alice Hospital, Mark Shaefer uses specific diction as a means to condemn psychiatry. The head psychiatrist of the hospital, Selwyn Leeks, administered "blasts" of electroconvulsive therapy and apparently performed experiments on the patients described as "torturous". Later, Leeks is pictured as "skulk[ing]" away. Shaefer chooses these words specifically for their negative connotations, painting a picture of a diabolical character. The CCHR, on the other hand, is described as a "watchdog", giving the reader the idea that the organization is courageous and important. Each word is chosen for the purpose of promoting the CCHR.
Powerful imagery is used in the piece to sway the reader. A quote from the director of the CCHR in New Zealand is included, saying, "Lake Alice was a dumping ground where forgotten children who were wards
of the State could be experimented on without fear of consequences". Reading this, the reader envisages a garbage dump of children, thrown away like trash. To reinforce this dehumanization of children, the article goes on to say that Leeks acquired children "whom he dismissed as little more than feral animals". The images that Mark Shaefer exercises show the hospital's devaluing of human life.
The author employs certain details in order to create a negative view of psychiatry in the readers' minds. For example, the article tells of each of the punishments inflicted on the patients, including "solitary confinement, painful drug injections, beatings, sexual abuse
and blasts of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to the head, shoulders,
legs and even genitals". In a similar way, the details that Shaefer include about the CCHR make is seem almost noble. He explains the founding of it saying that "CCHR is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting patients’ rights and reforming the field of psychiatry". Whenever Shaefer includes a specific detail, it is used to reflect the best parts of the CCHR and the worst of the hospital.
Carefully chosen diction, vivid imagery, and specific details are all employed in this piece to condemn the activities of the Lake Alice Hospital and perpetuate the ideals of the Scientologist organization.
Alex, you picked a good article for analyzing persuasive writing and, should I call it, propaganda? Just from reading your post I want Lake Alice’s to be burned down, without knowing a single fact about it other what was said in what sounds like a scientologist’s mad ranting, which is both a testament to your post and the skilled manipulation of words by the author. I couldn’t spot anything that you missed, and I think all in all you were on-point with regards to the purpose of the post. An addition I might suggest is to emphasize that the author is in fact attacking the entire field of psychiatry, not just the barbaric alleged methods of the hospital, for that carries significant weight for the reader in his perception of the topic. By making that bolder, you would help show the reader the bias in the essay, no matter how familiar he is with scientology.
ReplyDeleteAlex,
ReplyDeleteCreepy article. It's interesting to see how Scientologists twist words and use DIDLS to try to persuade readers that they aren't crazy and that it's everybody else who is wrong. Your post itself covers this topic very well, and it was interesting enough that I felt like doing more research into this topic. Turns out that Scientologists staged the largest infiltration of the US Government in Operation Snow White: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Snow_White . But of course, it's the psychiatrists who are the crazies.
I really don't have much more to say in regards to your post. Your introduction does a good job of hooking the reader, and your conclusion does a good job of wrapping everything up. Everything seems on point, and if you're missing any part of the assignment, it's likely that I'm missing it too.
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ReplyDeleteAlex,
ReplyDeleteThis article is very intriguing, yet saddening at the same time. It is also perfect for pulling parts of DIDLS out of it. Your examples of Shaefer’s diction, imagery, and details help the readers to understand his disgust towards Lake Alice Hospital as well as persuade them to his point of view. You did a nice job of representing the contrast between the CCHR and Lake Alice Hospital in your examples. The examples of Shaefer’s imagery specifically depict how poorly the patients are being treated. It is truly disturbing that someone could do some of the things that psychiatric hospitals are quoted doing to other human beings. How is Lake Alice Hospital even operational? Overall you did a nice job on your blog post and covered all of the parts of the assignment.
Alex--Your blog, for the most part, is excellent. Your close readings are very, very good, and I'd recommend that people who are struggling with this assignment read yours as models. You do need to work on your responses to course materials, though--your peer reviewers gave you good advice, there, and you didn't take it. =( Your own advice as a peer reviewer is generally spot-on, by the way. I'm very impressed with the thoroughness and accuracy of your peer reviews!
ReplyDelete