The Opposing Visuals
To support their perspective that condemns Kate del Castillo, the associated press utilized contaminated texts/ pictures as well as strategically thought-out placement of the latter. As Birdsell and Groake discuss regarding visual arguments, their importance in rhetoric and in making meaning is great. In the case of the associated press, this party used visual arguments and examples in order to feed their standpoint and create an enthymeme. An enthymeme, according to Aristotle, is when any one premise is not explicitly stated and is instead, simply implied. The associated press used this strategy in order to portray Kate in the worse light possible. When publishing or broadcasting any news story involving either del Castillo or El Chapo, media producers would place side-by-sides of both individuals. Placing side-by-side pictures of the most wanted cartel drug lord in Mexican territory and a Mexican actress makes them be viewed as equivalent, and not in the good sense. It makes it seem like Kate, just like El Chapo, is also a criminal and just as bad - that is the enthymeme. In magazines, online news articles and news broadcasts alike, a picture of El Chapo in handcuffs is shown. These images clearly portray him as the delinquent he is and causes the audience to view him negatively. On the other hand, though
Kate del Castillo hadn't had a scandal like this before, people were becoming skeptical. By seeing her picture placed next to that of a criminal in addition to all the talk about their growing relationship, its only natural for the audience to view her as a criminal too. The implied enthymeme then becomes: El Chapo is a criminal; Kate del Castillo is shown side-by-side with and as an equal to El Chapo; therefore, Kate del Castillo is a criminal.
Here, all three appeals are used. Emotionally the audience is reached because through common reception, generally no one likes a criminal (they kill and pose a threat to your family-- emotion). Ethos walks alongside the latter. By viewing del Castillo as a criminal, her character and trustworthiness goes down the drain and is scrutinized. Then both of these tie in and bring down logos since logically and reasonably, why would you support someone who is a criminal and who is being accused by the authority figure (the government) and is being ridiculed and shunned socially (by the associated press).