Emily Hubbard
Genesis Downey
Composition II
23 February 2023
A Critique of “Scream Therapy: The Mental Health Benefits of Horror Movies” by Michael Varrati
“Scream Therapy…” is an article that was published in the Healthline journal in October of 2021. The author, Michael Varrati, argues that scary movies can be a psychological medicine for daily stress and anxiety. Despite the fear that is created when watching horror movies, for some, it may be a way to control the fear that haunts them in their real lives. The author uses multiple tactics to present and relay his argument to his targeted audience, but there is one that is the most significant. While the underlying appeal of ethos is used to inform the reader of the article’s credibility,
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The purpose of including factual data such as studies and real-world examples bolsters the author’s argument and allows the reader more reasons to find the article reliable. Hyperlinks to the Business Insider journal and the NeuroImage journal give the reader a chance to dig deeper into the literal evidence surrounding horror movies and their effect on fear in people. In referencing these articles, the author provides details on how the increase in horror movie sales during the crux of the pandemic is no coincidence and how the fear presented in our everyday lives can potentially be overcome or minimized through the conquering of fears presented in movies. The author even presents a current example of a Netflix promo, as society’s way of promoting the viewing of horror movies to heal you from any symptoms of stress or anxiety. These studies and relevant examples support the author in providing evidence for the potential relief people may get through being scared in a controlled manner. Statistical and factual data is an important form of logical appeal as it is not as often disputed or brushed aside when evaluating a …show more content…
While not initially noticed, the subtle use of ethos allows the reader to prove the author's credibility. Every article published through Healthline is “fact-checked,” that is, they all must follow journalistic standards set by the company to earn and maintain trust with their readers. The authors they choose are coached, any health information provided is checked for accuracy, and all material is reviewed multiple times. This article was fact-checked by Jennifer Chesak, a medical journalist with Healthline. These standards given by Healthline allow the audience to trust the author and accept the assertions made in his