The Rhetoric Behind Bones

Paula A. Lopez Alvarado

What is it about the main characters of TV shows that always get what they want? Why is

it that everyone wants to be like them? Main characters are portrayed as successful, beautiful,

smart, talented, respected, financially stable, etc.they have all we want to have and they are all

we want to be. I mean, dont we all want to be successful? Success can be defined and pictured

differently for everyone. My dreams are not my friends dreams, for instance. However, the path

to success, despite the individual, will always have challenges to overcome.

It becomes difficult to accomplish goals when one does not have the ability to persuade

others in their favor. Since at a very young age, it was my dream to study abroad. But it was a

huge and risky investment because of my familys financial circumstance in Colombia. At the

age of 15, I accomplished my goal of moving to the United States, and at the age of 17 was

finally able to start college. What made it possible for me to move to the states was the effective

implementations of persuasive skills. Those persuasive skills are the three Aristotelian tools:

logos, ethos, and pathos.

Logos helped me convince my dad of the benefits of US higher education over

Colombias higher education. I presented him facts, numbers, financial estimates, and a list of all

the legal procedures that became irrefutable facts that ruled in my favor. Pathos helped me

convince my mom of my dreams. I talked to her and cried to her for years, telling her how much

I wanted to study abroad. What mom is not touched by her daughters tears? Finally, ethos was

the trust both my parents had in me. I have been a student of good academic performance since I

was little. I had built an image of hard work and honesty that turned into good grades and
academic excellence before my parents eyes that made them trust that I was capable of the

same and more in the United States.

The rhetoric of Aristotle similarly influences the outcomes of each of Dr. Temperance

Brennan and Special Agent Seely Booth cases in the Fox TV series Bones. Logos, ethos, and

pathos build each one of the characters image before the eyes of other characters and influences

them. Murders are not easy to solve and murderers easy to convict. Judges strive to be as careful

as possible to avoid any possible mistakes, like sending the wrong person to jail or convicting

someone to the death penalty. That is where persuasion skill come into to play. Logos persuades

with evidence, ethos persuades with experience and credentials, and pathos appeals to all the

emotions that arise with murder cases.

I will be doing a textual analysis of the rhetoric of Aristotle in the TV series Bones. I

believe this analysis will show the many applications and effects of rhetoric. This study is

divided in five sections. 1) I will talk about articles and studies done about rhetoric. 2) I will

share information about my artifact, the TV series Bones. 3) I will explain my study method used

for this paper. 4) I will do an analysis of the rhetoric of Bones. 5) I will provide a conclusion that

will summarize and unify my paper.

REVIEW OF ARTICLES AND STUDIES ABOUT RHETORIC

Rhetoric is defined as the discovery of all possible means of persuasion (Griffin 284).

Aristotle divides this persuasion into three categories: logos, logical proof, which comes from

the line of argument in a speech (Griffin 285); ethos, an incomplete version of a formal

deductive syllogism that is created my leaving out a premise already accepted by the audience or
by leaving an obvious conclusion unstated (Griffin 286); pathos, emotional proof, which

comes from the feeling the speech draws out of those who hear it (Griffin 288).

The article Beyond Persuasion: A Proposal for an Invitational Rhetoric defines Rhetoric

as conscious intent to change others. It explores the idea of rhetoric from a feminist angle

going away from the patriarchal form of communication that viewed communication as a

struggle over power; because it sees persuasion as a desire for control and domination. The

feminist approach to rhetoric that this article takes is focused in three principles: equality,

immanent value, and self-determination. These principles focus on eliminating all dominance in

communication and respecting others decisions, provided that all beings are unique and

necessary.

From a legal perspective, the article Ethos, Pathos and Legal Audience explores the

process in which lawyers strictly use logos and ethos in court. The article explains how logos and

ethos are the best approach for lawyers to take because they can more effectively persuade the

jury and the judge. However, the article also explains how a personal appeal based in logos can

be a powerful tool because sometimes lawyers forget the importance of emotional appeals

based on the facts of the case or the decision makers personality and their own personal appeal

or credibility (Frost 1995). It also builds on the fact that pathos needs to be used right because it

brings out the jurys and judges emotionspersuading them towards the direction the lawyers

want to take them.

Another author sees rhetoric as the action humans perform when they use symbols

for the purpose of communicating with one another. (Foss 1996) The book Rhetorical

Criticism: Exploration &Practice explains how neo-Aristotelianism is used to do more than to

critique a speech, but as a way to analyze it and understand if the main purpose and the approach
of delivery were effective. With the neo-Aristotelianism approach, it lists three major task: (1)

reconstructing the context (2) analyzing the artifact itself (3) assessing the impact of the artifact

on the audience. To make these tasks more efficient in the criticizing process, there are three

major components that should be present when doing analysis: The rhetor (artifact), the occasion

(how things take place), and the audience (the viewer).

REVIEW OF THE ARTIFACT

Bones is a Fox TV series that first aired on September 13,2005. This show in based on

forensic anthropology and the book written by Kathy Reichs. During an interview with Ira

Flatow from NRP (National Public Radio) we get to discover the brain behind Bones. In this

interview, the host uncovers the question everyone asks: how close to the real job that you do is

the work that we see on TV? Throughout the interview the audience gets the answer to this

question and sees how the author is represented in the main character, Dr. Temperance Brennan.

We also learn about her experience in the show-making process. In the interview, she explains

her credentials and shares professional experiences in the anthropological field and compares it

to some of the adventures experienced by the fictional characters of the TV series Bones.

In the article, Bones Little Space for Gender Stereotypes, we read about the messages

transmitted by the TV series Bones in regards to gender ideologies and stereotypes. The article

focuses on the personalities of the two main characters Temperance Brennan and Seely

Boothand their roles and interactions based on the gender stereotypes criteria marked by the

media. This article expands in the view that Bones is not a gender stereotype television series

that strives to define the role of female or male. Rather, it takes an angle from a female

perspective instead of the strong masculine lead of most TV series.

 In the article, Seeing Bones Speaking: The Female Gaze and the Posthuman Embodiment

in Reichs, Chou describes the ethos of the female main character vs the main role in forensic

science shows. Female detective roles are also mentioned in the way that they are part of the

show in a more sexual angle and less credible because of their gender. We also learn about how

Reichs reads each one of the script for the episodes to decide, correct, and verify the science and

technology used in each episode.

METHOD

I will be using textual analysis of the TV show. I will do an analysis for each one of the

appeals to persuasion from Aristotle: ethos, pathos, and logos. The analysis will include specific

examples from the show. I will refer to them as S1E1season 1 episode 1. I will include other

characters from the show to better illustrate the applications and effects of ethos, pathos, and

logos.

ANALYSIS OF THE SHOW

Rhetoric is in constant change because life is in constant change. Dr. Temperance

Brennan was able to develop what can be seen as a balance of rhetoric on her approach to

persuasion. She traveled from extreme logos and ethos to an acceptance of pathos, where she

allowed her emotions to play a role in her decision-making process at home and at work. Her

character had a complete change of perspective when things like motherhood and monogamy

which she never wanted or expectedbecame the part of her life that she loved the most, equal

to or above science. Her balanced rhetoric approach changed her view of the world and her own

life. Helping her become a better scientist and much better asset to the murder-solving business.
Ethos

Forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan utilizes Ethos as a persuasive appeal to

show she is credible and if others are credible like her. An ethos appeal introduces her character

giving her credibility and value. In the pilot episode, while the two-main characters are

quarrelling, this is said:

BRENNAN: I find you very condescending.

BOOTH: Me? Im condescending? Im not the one whos got to mention shes got a
doctorate every five minutes.
BRENNAN: I am the one with a doctorate
BOOTH: You are not the only forensic anthropologist in town.
BRENNAN: Yes, I am. The next nearest is in Montreal. Parlez-vous Francais?

In their argument, Booth is trying to minimize Brennans relevance to his success as an

FBI agent. Brennans reaction is constructed as a strong ethos argument. She reminds him not

only that she is the best and has many skills, but also that she is the only one in her field in the

entire nation.

Her character is presented as a smart, independent, talented, and beautiful woman that

excels as number one in her field. To introduce her ethos to the viewers, the first task she does as

a scientist in the pilot episode is the reconstruction of a human skull that was found in pieces at a

crime scene. She assembles the skull together and puts tissue markers for facial reconstruction

all in one night. This shows her ethos because her experience in archeology and work with many

different bones builds her credentials to others in the show. Because of the reliability that she has

developed through the years of her career, her words automatically carry more value. Her
history, experience, and character make her findings and statements valuable and valid

information for a prosecutor to file a strong case. The same principle applies to her view of

others. Ethos establishes how she communicates and who she trusts.

For Brennan to recognize and respect others in the science field, they need to have

relevant background, experience, and education equal to or higher than hers. An example of that

is Zach, who received his doctorate under the supervision of Brennan, which allowed him to

build his ethos off of hers. His ethos is well portrayed in S3E15 the pain in the heart where he

is the culprit of the case but no one realizes it, despite significant amounts of evidence pointing at

him. The direct quote from the episode says:

BRENNAN: Zach said these markings on the mandible were made by artificial dentures
made from polymethyl methacrylate and other polymers
SOROYAN: And?
BRENNAN: They were no made by artificial dentures. Zach shouldve known that.
CAROLINE: He made a mistake. It happens.
SOROYAN: Not often.

The ethos he built did not make it possible for Brennan to see he had altered the results of

the analysis, nor that he had stolen teeth from the storage room. When Zach changed his findings

and stole from the Jeffersonian, he knew he could be successful in his actions because his ethos

protected him from others doubts. His credibility was so persuasive that he was not a suspect.

Logos

A logos appeal made the difference in the outcome of the Gormogon case. The main form

of communication for Brennan was all her lab and in-field work. In the field of crime
investigation, facts must be backed up with clear and logical evidence which supports a thesis.

Otherwise, there is no place for conviction to be made in favor of the prosecutions. Brennan

discovered that Zach had altered evidence and stolen teeth from the storage room when she was

looking for evidence that could guide them to the culprit. Facts and evidence are constantly

connected. One thing leads to the other. That is the driving force behind her forensics, how bones

tell stories of what happened to an individual. When Brennan found that the teeth stolen from the

storage unit were the same, she immediately referred to the mandibula that Zach was

exanimating to finally put the final pieces together. Discovering that Zach was the killer was a

difficult process. However, the logos appeals were strong enough to do that:

BOOTH: Hey, I heard that Zach was wrong about the dentures.
BRENNAN: No
BOOTH: What do you mean? Cam and Caroline said
BRENNAN: He knew they werent artificial. Any first-year student would know that.
The dentures were made from real teeth. Canines are a symbol of the wolf, which appears
on the Gormogon tapestry in the vault. Certain ancient sects revered the wolf as a symbol
of freedomas a representative of the forces that will deliver us from persecution.
BOOTH: Ok Bones, enough about the wolf. What is going on?
BRENNAN: Zach lied. He took the teeth from the bone storage and he made
Gormogons dentures.
BOOTH: Zach has complete access to the lab. He arranged for the explosion himself.
BRENNAN: Its Zach. He is the killer, Booth. Its Zach.

Brennans logos is a much stronger form of persuasion because she presents evidence

that cannot be refuted. The historic background she explains, the meaning behind the canine

teeth and the connection of events, are the irrefutable facts she uses to persuade her partner.

Pathos
 In Brennans life perspective, everything needs to make sense or have some logical

explanation behind it. To Brennan illogical things do not exist, which is the way she views God.

She describes God as an invisible friend. Temperance said to Booth during a therapy session:

you are talking to somebody who isnt there. Im sure the doctor questions your little fantasy.

Religion takes a Pathos approach to persuasion, a concept that Brennan strongly rejects in her

need for logic and proof. Brennan describes herself as being atheist because God, to her, is not a

logical character. In S2E17 The Priest in the Churchyard we see Brennan and Booth

investigating the murder of a priest. This case became particularity difficult to handle for

Brennan and Booth because of their opposite positions on religion. The victims body was found

in a consecrated cemetery at a Catholic church. While investigating the area where the human

remains were found, Brennan made comments that offended the priest in charge:

BOOTH: the priest made a complaint. He said that you made fun of consecrated ground.

BRENNAN: so I am supposed to walk on eggshells because someone believes that a plot

of earth has supernatural properties because they waved a wand over it?

The usage of the word wand shows, in a disrespectful manner, her disapproval for religion and

God. Her need for logos makes her reject all that is explained from a religious (pathos) angle.

In the show, things change when Temperance experiences the loss of a dear intern of

hers, giving pathos a fresh start. Vincent, the intern at the Jeffersonian, dies as a collateral loss on

a murder attempt towards another. In S6E22 The hole in the Heart we can see her turning point

from logos to pathos as Brennans intern dies in her arms, forcing her to face thoughts and

questions she repressed in her mind. Brennan began to face pathos in a conversation with Booth

were they said:

 BRENNAN: Vincent. He was looking at me, and he was saying, Dont make me leave
He said that he loved being there. Why would he think that Im the one making him
leave? What kind of person am I?
BOOTH: No, come here. You got it all wrong. He wasnt talking to you. He was talking
to God. He didnt want to die.
BRENNAN: No, Vincent was like me, Booth. He was an atheist.
BOOTH: Okay. Then he was talking to the universe, then. He didnt want to go. He
wasnt ready, Bones. He wanted to stay.
BRENNAN: Well, if there was a God, then he would have let Vincent stay here with us.

Vincents death was the turning point in Brennans life which opened her mind to pathos

arguments. She began to question who Vincent was talking to because his words did not make

sense to her. After that experience, she opens her heart to Booth, allowing his pathos to have a

role in her life. How she feels about a case begins to play a big role in her success as a

scientist. During investigations, she starts to feel the case and follow her instincts to more

efficiently to achieve her goals. She also begins to value and understand peoples appeal to

emotions, which is a quality she did not possess before.

CONCLUSION

Aristotles rhetoric is very effective and direct with its forms of appeal. The goal is clear

by each approach. Brennan helped us to get a clearer view of the effects and uses of ethos, logos,

and pathos. Brennans field of work required her to be in constant use of all three appeals that

will later become part of her life, changing her into a person she never expected or even wanted

to be. She used ethos to prove her qualifications to do her work. Who she is qualifies her for the

best and most difficult work/research in the forensic anthropology field. Logos gives her the

facts and data that are completely irrefutable to others that also help her build her ethos. The

appeal she rejected the most was pathos. For her, emotions are an obstacle for objectivity and
clear analysis. However, her acceptance of pathos created the balance in her life that helped her

become a better scientist and person.

The right execution of the three forms of appeal create the balance that all individuals

look for in life. Too much pathos cannot take us to success because it lacks logic and credibility,

it is all based on assumptions. Just like ethos feeds off logos. without logos it becomes difficult

to one to build on credential and experiences that give one credibility. It works the other way

around. Logos and ethos keep each other strong and pathos creates the balance. That is what we

see with the transformation of Brenan throughout the show. She finds that balance in the

effective use of rhetoric, which makes her a completely successful woman at work and at home.

That same balance that Brenan found is the balance we look for in life to reach our

personal goals. We often wonder what the key to success is, and the answer is found in Aristotle.

Challenges will always be part of our trip to whatever is our definition of success. However, they

are not impossible to overcome. There are effective tools that battle the defiance of life which

are: ethos, pathos, and logos. I had a dream that came true because of the actions I took. I gave

irrefutable facts to my dad (logos), I had proven to my parents that I am responsible and capable

of facing trials (ethos), and I showed them my sincere desire to study abroad (pathos). Goals are

reachable. It all depends on how we face them.