Pookie Maka

B4
Rhetorical Analysis of Sicko

Michael Moores documentary film Sicko emphasizes the spot light on

corrupt health insurance industries in America and the effect it has on
citizens of America. Moores film is inspired and driven by the experience
that thousands of Americans were denied medical attention due to their
disabilities financially or their healthcare provider makes it impossible for
them. Moore also uses the interview from first hand experienced victims of
corruption within the health corporation. He adds more fire to the
documentary by adding congressional hearings and clips from Presidents and
presidential advisors to prove his point of how corrupt the health insurance
corporations.
Moore mainly focuses on pathos in order to get the audiences
attention. The first scene of the film he shows a man severely injured. Hes
forced to stitch up his own wound because he couldnt afford the medical
expenses. Youre probably thinking why doesnt he go to the hospital? Well
he doesnt health insurance to start with. In my opinion Moore tries to gross
out the audience to grab their attention while at the same time making the
audience feel sorry for the man who cant afford to go to the hospital
because his lack of insurance. Most of Moores ethos is derived from his

pathos. His research is mainly of the interviews he has with the people who
have been negatively affected by the health insurance industry. The way
Moore sets up his film is highly effective. Hes able to use ethos and pathos
at the same time. He establishes his credibility through his interviews and
research. At the same time the interviews he uses for his research effect the
emotions of the audience by making them feel compassion and sympathy for
the interviewees.
Another way he gets his audience to feel a certain way is by telling the
stories of many people who have been victimized by the health care system.
He makes the audience sympathize with these people by showing their
horror stories; such as the story of Larry and Donna Smith who went
bankrupt because of medical bills and had to move in with their daughter. I
feel Moore uses pathos perfectly in Sicko in order to get the audiences
attention. Moores use of ethos in the film was established, but I felt it was
harder to identify. The main way that Moore established ethos was by who he
interviewed and included in the film. Moore did not just interview people who
have been victimized by the health care system. He also interviews people
who work in the health care system and politicians. By doing so I feel he tries
to present the issue from all sides. Another way he utilizes ethos is by
interviewing people in countries that have better health care systems. He
interviews people in Canada and Britain where universal health care systems
are in place.

Moore uses logos to address the criticism by the government and

health care industry that universal health care cant possibly work and
effectively debunks the argument. He travels to other countries that have
universal health care to know for him whether or not this system of health
care is as bad as America. He visits England, France, Canada and Cuba to
interview random citizens about their healthcare. He also interviewed
doctors working in the hospitals and their answer was the expenses patients
have to pay for medical attention is none whatsoever. He received the same
answer from all of them that the patients dont pay a dime. He also
interviewed Americans living in the countries and they all said the same
exact answer, that they dont pay anything. This was a clever use of factbased interviewing. America is ranked thirty sixth in health care around the
world and Americans pride themselves as always being number one in
everything so this fact should most definitely disgust the audience. The facts
he gives are to be indisputable and the vibe Moore gives off, the appearance
of what he looks like in his film he is perceived as an everyday type of guy.
He targets and realizes all aspects especially of how people will view him
allowing the audience a chance to relate to him and his interviewees.
He uses pathos a lot; for example he uses it with the story of Alexi
Cremieux who was an average man living in France. Alexi was recovering
from chemotherapy that treated his tumor. Since he lived in France, where
universal health care is, Alexi was given three months of paid vacation time
for him to get well and back on his feet. This scene makes the audience feel

a sense of relief and happiness knowing what was provided for Alexi. It helps
Moores argument even more to have universal healthcare here in the
Americas.
In conclusion Moores argument is a very convincing one. He has a way
of getting his audience to feel anger and want to get into action. After a
person sees Sicko they cant help but be disgusted with the healthcare
system in America. He uses ethos and logos very affectively but the most
affective rhetorical appeal was the pathos. He used his interviews to bring a
very human element to his film. There is no doubt at all that his argument is
outstanding and very effective in multiple aspects including pathos; logos;
ethos.