Tow #14- The Atlantic Article/ "How Headphones Changed the World"/ Derek Thompson

Almost everyone likes music, and there are many types of music from which to choose. But probably one of the most important things about music is that it can be personal, unique, and create the kind of loneliness people like. According to journalist Derek Thompson in his article "How Headphones Changed the World", music, and by association, headphones, do all these things and more. They make music and other entertainment something people can do privately without needing friends for dancing, and they help people to relax, focus, and think clearly. Thompson argues that there are pros and cons to headphones' ability to enclose a person in their own little world, but regardless, that headphones have influenced everyone and the global culture of the world.

Thompson works to prove his point right from the start by comparing the pros and cons to listening to music in various situations. He argues that while music can be distracting or take away from productivity, it is more beneficial in the long run. He also employs the opinions of other famous journalists and writers when making his points about headphones and music in world society. This appeal to logos provides an appeal to ethos and makes the article both more credible and factual, which contrasts and supports the appeal to pathos that the author can create just be mentioning and simply describing music. Overall, however, exemplification is the backbone to Thompson's argument. Whether he is making an appeal to logos, pathos, or ethos, using imagery, or juxtaposing pros and cons, an example almost always follows, most of the time taking the form of a quote from one of his contemporaries or as detailed background on the first headphones or cultural life after the invention of headphones in the 20th century, for the Navy. Since Thompson laces his argument with this information, readers can't help learning something or becoming interested in something while reading the article.

Thompson, Derek. "How Headphones Changed the World." The Atlantic. The Atlantic, n.d. Web. 05 Jan. 2014.