Implicit and Explicit Arguments

I would argue that implicit arguments are more powerful than explicit arguments. An explicit argument blatantly says, "It is bad to die for your country," or "It is good to die for your country." Although its point is clear, it lacks the subtlety and emotion that can be portrayed in an implicit argument.

The poem on pages 5 and 6 shows the audience how wretched it is to be in war. The audience is allowed a glimse of how similar being sent to war is to being sent to the slaughterhouse by your country. In the photo on page 5, the audience feels pride in their country and sees the glory and dignity of a uniform.

What these have in common is that they both draw on peoples' emotions. Although the saying is that knowledge is power, I believe that emotions are far more powerful than understanding. When recruiting fresh blood to go to war, the army doesn't use facts; they use images of honor and prestige. Whether the actions are noble or not is irrelevent if the young perceive them to be.

In psychology, we discussed the power of the subconcious. Both men and women are more likely to buy a car if the advertisement shows a pretty girl in it. For the most part, both genders will deny it, but it's true. Implicit arguments work the same way. People will be drawn to a photo depicting the honor of patriotism, and they will feel pain when reading a poem depicting the horrors of war. However, if you were simply told, "There is glory to be had in fighting for one's country," a normal response would probably be, "Why?" If you showed that same person the photo on page 5, there would be no question. The photo says all that needs to be said.