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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Apocalyptic Rhetoric And Subversive Framing In “The Uninhabitable Earth” (Poster), Louisa A. D'Ovidio
Apocalyptic Rhetoric And Subversive Framing In “The Uninhabitable Earth” (Poster), Louisa A. D'Ovidio
Spring Expo of Research and Creative Activity
By applying theories of rhetorical criticism to the arguments in the viral, and controversial, New York Magazine cover piece “The Uninhabitable Earth” by David Wallace-Wells, this study evaluated the dominant frames, appeals and persuasive narratives utilized in the article. In vivid brush strokes, “The Uninhabitable Earth” painted eight scenes of apocalyptic horror that climate change will bring to our civilization, from toxic smog that will smother cities, to deadly heat waves that could kill thousands near the equator, and even total societal collapse because of the economic cost of climate change. The article became an overnight and controversial success, and …