"As rhetors describe their situations, they do so using the five basic elements of drama- act, agent, agency, scene, and purpose. These five terms constitute what Burke called the pentad, and they are used as principles or a "grammar" for describing any symbolic act fully" (Foss, 2004, p.457). Above is a commercial from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The purpose of this ad is to get people to stop smoking and prevent people from starting. It is a very powerful message that is delivered in a way that really persuades and informs the audience through the voice of Terrie.
The act is a public health announcement from the CDC. Terrie is a former smoker and also the agent in this ad. Through the narration of this ad, she tells her own personal story of smoking and the effects that it has had on her body. A fear tactic is used as the agency in this ad. Terrie tells her personal story and the audience can truly see how smoking has effected her. This instrument is effective because Terrie doesn't want others to end up how she did and neither does the CDC.
The scene of this ad takes place in a hospital bed. The background is that Terrie is a former smoker and started smoking when she was young. Decades of smoking took a toll on Terrie's body. As the audience can see, she lost her hair and has to have a plug in her trachea in order to talk. Terrie passes away when she is just 53. 53 is a young age to pass away at, but by smoking cartons of cigarettes every day your life span shortens with each puff you take.
Foss, S. (2004). Pentadic criticism. Rhetorical criticism: exploration and practice. (p.455-477).
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