"This is Gospel" by Panic! at the Disco by https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby Katie Lillemon Rhetorical Analysis en-us 2018-12-14 15:05:13 UTC 2023-03-08 23:20:06 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/File.png SOAPStone: Introduction 3289570 https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/314683242 The song "This is Gospel" by Panic! at the Disco discusses topics of addiction and drug abuse, specifically the addiction of Spencer Smith and the repercussions of that addiction. The occasion for this song is a period of drug abuse for Smith, a member of Panic! at the Disco until 2015. The song was written during 2013, one of the hardest years for Smith's addiction. The speaker of the song alternates from Brendon Urie, the lead singer of the band and writer of the song, to Spencer Smith, the intended audience of the song ("This is Gospel - Panic!..."). The purpose of the song is to show Smith how his addiction is hurting him and the people around him and that he needs to get better. The tone of the song and video is forceful and desperate, which is seen throughout the video especially. ]]> 2018-12-14 15:16:42 UTC https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/314683242 Analysis Thesis 3289570 https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/314686449 Brendon Urie uses pathos and ethos in the song and video "This is Gospel" to tell Spencer Smith that his addiction is hurting people and that he needs to get better so he can have a better life. He does this by using imagery, metaphors, and symbols in order to portray his message.  The song and video are somewhat effective in achieving their purpose. ]]> 2018-12-14 15:22:29 UTC https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/314686449 LYRICS 3289570 https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/314689888 2018-12-14 15:28:47 UTC https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/314689888 Lyrics Analysis - Ethos 3289570 https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/314690211 ETHOS - The first line of the song, "This is gospel, for the fallen ones/locked away in permanent slumber" refers to religion. Urie is referencing his Mormon faith in this line. He turned away from his faith, "falling" from grace and from God. This also refers to Smith's falling away from his family and friends due to his addiction. The same idea comes up later in the song with "confessing their apostasies." An apostasy is "an act of refusing to continue to follow, obey, or recognize a religious faith" ("Apostasy."). This uses ethos to show the kind of people Urie and Smith are, turning away from religion and family.  The line "the gnashing teeth and criminal tongues/conspire against the odds" implies that Smith doesn't have good character. The line "criminal tongues" suggests that Smith is lying to friends, family, and even to himself about his addiction. In biblical terms, the phrase "gnashing teeth" is often used to refer to someone who is deemed unworthy, and this line is used to portray the sense of unworthiness that Smith feels due to his addiction ("This is Gospel - Panic!..."). Later in the song, the line "This is gospel for the vagabonds/ne'er-do-wells and insufferable bastards" also suggests that Smith is not a good person in terms of character. Towards the end of the second verse, the song takes on a more optimistic tone. The line "''Cause I won't give up without a fight" implies that Urie is willing to fight to keep is friendship alive and that Smith is willing to fight to end his addiction. This shows they both have strength and tenacity. The line "but they haven't seen the best of us yet" also implies that Smith has the ability to get better and to improve his life. The song "This is Gospel" includes many examples of ethos in order to tell Spencer Smith that he should fight against his addiction because it is hurting people.  ]]> 2018-12-14 15:29:15 UTC https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/314690211 Lyric Analysis - Pathos 3289570 https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315181777 Throughout the song, Urie uses a variety of lyrics to get his message across to Smith. He does this using pathos and ethos.
PATHOS - Throughout the song, the line "'Cause these words are knives that often leave scars/the fear of falling apart" is repeated. This line shows the emotional turmoil that both Urie and Smith are experiencing. The line shows that Smith is afraid of succumbing to his addiction and facing the potential harsh words of his family and friends. This also portrays Urie's fear of losing his friend and having their relationship fall apart due to addiction. The line "If you love me let me go" could also be interpreted from two points of view. On one hand, it could be Urie saying that he is being dragged down by his relationship with Smith, and that if Smith really cares about him, he should either leave or get better. On the other hand, it could be Smith saying that he doesn't want to be held in this life anymore and wants to succumb to his addiction. He could be asking his loved ones to let him go and live his own life. The line "This is the beat of my heart, this is the beat of my heart" implies that both Urie and Smith care deeply about this subject and each other and really want to communicate their feelings. At the beginning of the song, Urie sets up the first verse by talking about people who are "fallen or broken," and uses the line "assembling their philosophies/from pieces of broken memories" to imply that things that happen in the past are still hurting both Smith and Urie. The song and lyrics display the forceful and desperate tone. The song has a driving beat and almost explodes on the line "if you love me let me go." This shows the forceful tone by emphasizing the point with a lot of anger and emotion. Urie desperately wants Smith to listen to him in this line. The song "This is Gospel" uses many examples of pathos to tell Spencer Smith that his addiction is hurting people. ]]> 2018-12-17 14:51:39 UTC https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315181777 Works Cited 3289570 https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315185765 "Apostasy." Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Incorporated, 2018. Web. 17 Dec. 2018. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apostasy
Fueled By Ramen. "Panic! At The Disco: This is Gospel [OFFICIAL VIDEO]." Online Video. YouTube. YouTube, 11 Aug. 2013. Web. 14 Dec. 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGE381tbQa8
Montgomery, James. "Panic! At The Disco's Spencer Smith Reveals Struggle With Addiction." MTV News. Viacom International Inc., 31 July 2018. Web. 18 Dec. 2018. http://www.mtv.com/news/1711538/panic-at-the-disco-spencer-smith-addiction/
"This is Gospel - Panic! at the Disco." Genius Lyrics. Genius Media Group Inc., 2018. Web. 15 Dec. 2018. https://genius.com/Panic-at-the-disco-this-is-gospel-lyrics 
]]> 2018-12-17 14:58:46 UTC https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315185765 VIDEO 3289570 https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315188568 2018-12-17 15:03:40 UTC https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315188568 Conclusion 3289570 https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315545944 The song "This is Gospel" by Panic! at the Disco is somewhat effective in portraying its purpose. The differing points of view make it less effective because the writer, Brendon Urie, cannot truly know what Smith is feeling. It can also be a little hard to distinguish between the speakers because the lyrics can be interpreted from either point of view. It is hard to believe that Smith is trying to convince himself to seek help for his addiction. However, the vivid imagery in the video as well as the metaphors and connections used in the lyrics help accomplish the purpose of telling Spencer Smith that his addiction is harmful to himself and to those around him. While the song was being written and after its release, Smith sought help for his addiction and entered therapy (Montgomery 1). In that way the song was effective in its purpose because the intended audience, Spencer Smith, responded to it. ]]> 2018-12-18 15:04:55 UTC https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315545944 Video Analysis - Pathos Part 1 3289570 https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315688233 Urie uses the actions of both the main character and the hospital staff, color, and imagery of being trapped to portray the desperation he feels towards Smith in trying to convince him to seek help with his addiction. ]]> 2018-12-18 20:06:03 UTC https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315688233 Video Analysis - Pathos Part 2 3289570 https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315688310 2018-12-18 20:06:12 UTC https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315688310 Video Analysis - Ethos Part 1 3289570 https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315757942 Urie uses the actions of hospital staff, the actions of the main character, and hospital imagery to show that although both he and Smith have suffered damage of character due to addiction, they both have the strength to fight and succeed. ]]> 2018-12-19 03:01:35 UTC https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315757942 Video Analysis - Ethos Part 2 3289570 https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315758144 2018-12-19 03:01:57 UTC https://padlet.com/3289570/3ngy6zexteby/wish/315758144