Logical Fallacies and WWII Propaganda

Some thoughts and further questions on Maus I: My Father Bleeds History, Chapters One and Two...
1. Spiegelman includes the roller skating incident from his childhood to establish the nature of his relationship with his father. It is evident that young Art was taught to be tough and to put little trust into his friendships. How does this incident help explain the nature of Art's relationship with Vladek as adults?
2. Page 12, frame 3: What does the author communicate through images?
3. Why does Vladek think "no one wants anyway to hear such stories"?
4. How does Spiegelman use characterization to make the audience see past the symbolic cat and mouse images?
5. Art includes sly moments in his presentation. For example, he says he wants to make the story "more human." Later on, Vladek jokes that they used to call baby Art "Heil Hitler!" What purpose do these tounge-in-cheek comment serve?
6. How effectively does Spiegelman convey the rising Third Reich power on page 33?
7. Do you think Spiegelman's method of presentation (comic book style, flashbacks) is more effective than a straight written memoir would be?

Today in class: We discussed logical fallacies in rhetoric. "Ms. Wheatley, these are totally illogical!" "Yes, dear student, they are...that's why the word 'fallacies' follow the word logical." (No, snarkiness is not a rhetorical strategy, but it is a fun way to describe tone). Logical fallacies are very common in persuasive argument, political debate, editorial cartoons and propoganda. In groups, we analyzed various WWII propaganda posters for rhetoric, including logical fallacies.

Homework:
Read Chp. 3 and 4, answer questions:
1. How does Art open chapter three? What do we learn?
2. How does Chapter Three conclude? What do these episodes from the present show us about Vladek? About Art? Why does Art include them?
3. What do we learn in the concluding scene with Mala and Art?
4. Two questions (and answers) about rhetorical strategies. Please remember that these should not be "simple answer" questions and answers, but questions that require true analysis and thought. Questions that simply ask for a rhetorical strategy as an answer are NOT acceptable.

Read "The Morals of Politicians." TAP it. Then, imagine that you are running for political office against an American politician (past or present), and create three logical fallacies to convince the public to vote for you.