Tania Dorado
English 2150, Dr. Blankenship
March 2, 2016
Paper 1: Rhetorical Analysis of a Cultural Artifact
Dear Dr. Blankenship and Writer’s group:
I am analyzing Pablo Escobar’s character on Netflix show, Narcos. The title that I chose for my paper was Pablo Escobar: Anti- Hero. I chose to write about this show for many reasons. This show is non-stop action and you can see how cocaine was first introduced to the America. Although there is a lot of violence, there other themes this show presents. For example, there is romance for people who like that theme. I think this show has a little bit of everything. Writing this piece did take a while. The show talks about Escobar’s life and some events that happen both in the USA and Colombia, I did a little bit of research on my own and checked if everything was real or how it was being told. Just because the show says based on real life events, they are still an entertainment business that needs to make money, so there could events that would be made up to grab people’s attention. My thesis in this paper is how the show Narcos glosses over all his wrong doings for the audience to see his “Robin Hood” side.
I organized my paper in chronological order based on how the show was represented. I first wrote about the show in general. What it was about, then I moved onto who Escobar was, a small background on him. Then I started to explain the first view of Escobar through the DEA agents, following the second view through his friends and the Colombian people. I connected some of the views based on Escobar to the Hispanic audience. I also described the poster Netflix first showed to grab people’s attention. I stated it was target to the Hispanic community and young American adults. I ended my paper with tying everything back to my thesis. The biggest challenges I had was not knowing how to organize my paper and how can I connect my thoughts to ethos, pathos and logos. I think I did my best on was giving examples and explaining my paragraphs. What I think needs more work is my thesis. I’m not sure if what I wrote does connect to my thesis or makes sense. Lastly, is my analysis more of a background paper rather than an analysis paper? I revised my paper using all the comments and suggestions the readers gave me. I also used Professors Blankenship’s handout to better focus my paper. For example, I think every paragraph has a function and “does”. I tried to add my “so what” into the paragraphs that I thought were appropriate to add it in. I also revised and saw which paragraph I could add an argument and purpose of my paper.
Pablo Escobar: Anti-Hero
As little kids we grew up listening to different legends and fairytales that our mothers or fathers would tell us. One of the stories perhaps if not all have heard was the adventures of Robin Hood. This fictional character stole from the rich and gave to the poor. To some, this character was a hero who everyone liked and was admired but there are others didn’t think so and they thought the opposite of him, as a thief. This could be said the same for Pablo Escobar. Pablo Escobar was an infamous drug lord who supplied and controlled 80% of cocaine being smuggled into the United States during the 70’s. But at the same time he gave back to his home country, Colombia. People from different sides view Pablo Escobar as the hero Robin Hood or either the vicious drug lord. As he committed many crimes in his life-time, people chose either to see his good side or bad side. The show Narcos glosses over all his wrong doings for the audience to see his “Robin Hood” side.
On August 28, 2015, Netflix had aired the television show, Narcos, short for “narcotraficante” (drug trafficker). It’s based on Escobar’s rise to power and the DEA agents trying to capture him. Before the show had aired its first episode, there was talk about the life styles of drug lords. The reason was that another drug lord perhaps considered one of the most powerful drug trafficker in the 21st century had escaped from prison for the second time, El Chapo. After that event that’s what most people were interested in. Narcos, the show came at the right time. It has received positive reviews and there’s a reason why. Narcos is a show that could easily be turned to a favorite show to watch. It’s gotten great reviews and the reason why is that the story of Pablo Escobar wasn’t boring, his life was always in danger, the show makes sure to point that out. The beginning of the series, one of the DEA agents, Steve Murphy, opens the first episode with a new term that hooks the audience. He explains how this term is important to Colombia and the world of drugs. He explains what magical realism is. Magical realism is defined as what happens when a highly detailed, realistic setting is invaded by something too strange to believe. There is a reason magical realism was born in Colombia. He used this phrase to open the series because when Pablo Escobar was in power Murphy believed magical realism was born. If you still don’t understand what that meant, that’s the hook that makes you want to keep watching the show, find out what it means.
Pablo Escobar grew up in a lower-middle class family in Medellin, Colombia. At the age of 28 he was a listed on Forbes magazine, as one of the world’s wealthiest people. It was estimated that in his life time his net worth was $30 billion dollars. Throughout the episodes Escobar is shown helping either in small or big ways to the local people. The show shows Pablo Escobar viewed in two different ways.
One way Narcos, didn’t gloss Escobar’s characteristics was through the views of the DEA agents. They saw him as who he really was, a criminal who used violence to get what he wanted. He was a ruthless killer; who’s behavior was sometimes unexpected. At one moment he could be playing soccer with his son, the next moment he would kill someone with a cue stick till his or her face was unrecognizable. He had a saying that he used when someone didn’t want to cooperate with him especially the law enforcement, “plata o plomo,” which meant silver or lead. When Escobar was making deals, he would give them two options to accept the money or face bullets. Living in the same time period with Escobar in Colombia, people had different options whether they wanted to continue living or give into his briberies. If one didn’t chose wisely there would be serious consequences.
The second view of Escobar was shown through the Colombian people including his employees and friends. The local people of Colombia admired him. The show used one of Aristotle’s tools, pathos. Although Escobar was ruthless, they didn’t show him too much of a killer. Instead he had others do the dirty work for him. Pathos was used to show how Escobar’s behavior was with his family and friends. In episode six of Narcos, “Explosivos,” a young father without knowing what he was getting himself into, took a job to work for Escobar. Escobar was a smart man that knew how to control his situations and as a result the people of Colombia looked up to him. That man was used a suicide bomber without knowing. After the bomb exploded, the young mans family was order to be killed by Escobar that included the infant the family had. Of course, it is unknown whether he actual had the family killed or not but the bomb was real. Flight 203 was a criminal attack planned by Escobar’s drug cartel to kill a presidential candidate. His plan failed but in a result killed 107 innocent people. Pathos was used in this episode because it showed that he wasn’t a robin hood hero. Narcos showed the real news that was played during that time in Colombia. Although he caused the deaths of 107 innocent people, during this episode, there are scenes that show how much they admired him to a certain point that they thought he was their savior. They had images of Escobar as a Saint. People who were poor or in the lower-middle class portrayed him as the classic alpha male. He was seen as a family man, who respected his wife although he would cheat on her occasionally, he would regularly talk to his mother and make time to play with his son and daughter. He never put himself before his kids or wife. He would tell them everything was going to be ok.
Escobar was a dangerous killer and people knew that. But in this show he was viewed as a character who was an alpha male and respected his family. According to Founders.com they researched that Narcos is targeted to the Hispanic community. The culture, gender roles are traditional and important. There are many roles men have to take. One of the few roles were to always be the provider of the family. Men are seen as the protectors, they have to work, be strong and fearless. Escobar had all of these traits. They showed how much family meant to Escobar. One of the traits he was mostly seen in the show was that he was fearless. He was fearless to both the DEA agents and the local people. It was estimated that while Escobar was alive 60,000 people died that included judges, police officers, and innocent civilians.
The show Narcos showed that this hero was out to make money. He was running a business and he had to handle all different types of issues that came his way. The first poster promoting Narcos was of Pablo himself surrounded by white powder. He is seen with a smirk on his face. Seeing the white powder around him one might not know who he is or what the powder is. On top of the poster, there is only one sentence that might help understand it better, “there’s no business like blow business.” After this sentence there are now connections being made, “blow business” is referred to cocaine. Through out the US or even outside of the US its most likely one man can be connected to this business, Pablo Escobar. The poster was an example of how Escobar was viewed as a drug lord, who is all about the cocaine business and money but is shown how he grew overtime into the Latin expectations of manhood.
Whether you’re young or old, boy or a girl there is a little excitement to know and read about the “bad guys” that have made a name for themselves, especially the name Pablo Escobar. Mostly male teens or older men are fascinated about these “bad guys” and what they did in their life time. Looking at other drug lords or if you have a little knowledge of what these men do, you will know that there is always action and violence being shown. Narcos is one of those fast paced action shows. The show has a least one or two graphic scenes. It’s always leaves you hanging for the next scene or episode. Although this show can be seen by anyone who has Netflix, the major target for this show is the Hispanic audience. There is another small targeted audience for this show, young adults. Escobar is shown rising to power. He worked his way up illegally to be rich and powerful. People admire others who worked themselves to the top when they are poor. They value them a little more and they understand it can be a challenge to make it to the top. They applaud them but if it’s a criminal they have to think twice, whether they want to cheer for him or her. It also depends on what side they’re seeing this “criminal” in. That’s when people either like or dislike Escobar. Pablo Escobar worked his way up illegally but he made it to the top as someone important, although it was in the world of drugs. The other side people see is that he was helpful. He built schools, churches, hospitals, sponsored sport teams and made contributions to his society.
Pablo Escobar’s life portrayed in the Netflix show, Narcos is probably going to be one of the shows that show the real image of Escobar. Till this day people are unsure of how they want to view him especially in Colombia, there are people who feel strongly that Pablo Escobar was a murderer who only benefited himself and others who see him as someone who made a small impact on Colombia’s history. The show is worth to watch and see how Escobar became a name everyone knows about and will forever be known in the drug world. Lastly, it shows how Pablo Escobar was viewed in his good side rather than his vicious side.
Works Cited
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Long, William R. “Billionaire Drug Trafficker Rules : Powerful Medellin Cartel Safe in Its Colombia Base.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 1988. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
McFadden, Robert. “Drug Trafficker Convicted Of Blowing Up Jetliner.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Dec. 1994. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
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