Monthly Archives: September 2015

There are many different tactics that are used to convince the general public of a hoax, however it is how these tactics are carried out that dictate their level of persuasion. In the case of Barnum’s ‘The Life of Joice … Continue reading →

People commonly rely on a myriad of ways to convince people of their hoax being true. Often, these attempts of persuasion attack one’s uncertainty, opening up an entire realm of possibilities. For example, the ocean has not been entirely explored … Continue reading →

Successful hoaxes manage to convince the audience that, despite all of their doubts, the story is believable and true. This is often accomplished by a stretching facts and making comparisons to real events and creatures, using supposed eye-witness testimonies, and … Continue reading →

People try to persuade others that hoaxes are real and among us by relating them to objects or creatures in our world that we know exist. The first strategy they us is to bring up the many different times where … Continue reading →

Barnum’s use of mass media advertising attracted people from all kinds of backgrounds. He got people talking about his newest spectacle and as we would say today Barnum’s spectacles went viral. James Cook quotes Barnum in an interview: “[…] for … Continue reading →

A successful hoax has to be intriguing enough to peak the interests of most and believed by many.  Setting up a successful hoax takes strategy, and manipulation. An example of a triumphant hoax, is that of Barnum’s Feejee Mermaid; a … Continue reading →

The main tactics people use to persuade others that their hoax is real is ethos, pathos and logos. Ethos gives evidence of credibility, pathos taps into people’s emotions, and logos provides logic behind the hoax. In the piece about Joice … Continue reading →

For a hoax to be persuasive or successful the source must have an authority on the topic or Ethos. Alike, the audience is more apt to believe something that is highly detailed and supported by secondary sources. For example in … Continue reading →

Through the use of specific evidence such as dates, times, names, newspaper articles, and places, authors attempt to persuade readers that their hoaxes are non-fiction works. The tactic of using either common or uncommon names and other specifics often leads the … Continue reading →

Everyone is capable of falling into the hands of persuasion. Whether one is extremely gullible or particularly inquisitive, a persuasive hoax is capable of fooling even the most credible people. People commonly use publicity, phony evidence, and a believable tone … Continue reading →