Entre fabrication de Soi et defense de l'Autre : discours de Bernard-Henri Levy a l'occasion de l'affaire Strauss-Kahn

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to analyze a discourse (via the ethos and pathos concepts) published by the French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy to defend his friend Dominique Strauss-Kahn when the DSK sex affair appeared on May 2011. This analysis presents how persuasive discourse, while defending the accused (DSK), becomes a tool used to create the image of the defendant of the accused (BHL as the intellectualist that fights for social justice). This strongly emphasized ethos creates natural imbalance – the one that talks become more important than the one who is the subject of his speech. This effect is strengthened by the emotional impact – pathos is built upon the feeling of indignation.