Johnny Appleseed vs. John Chapman

The term “American Hero” is usually reserved for America’s founding fathers, war veterans, or political activists but obviously John Chapman or his folk tale friendly name Johnny Appleseed is the American hero to be reckoned with according to the actor James earl Jones (Darth Vader). Apparently, Johnny Appleseed is a hardworking, size conscious, and God fearing American who planted apple trees in the Ohio River valley during the 1800s bringing the Native Americans and white Pioneers to dancing and singing. It is only natural for me to have this sarcastic view point because Disney’s ethos is only strong enough make five year olds believe. Whereas, Michael Pollan presents more down to earth and cynical view point of John Chapman, a homeless hippie who wonders around the Ohio River valley promoting use of alcohol, to make older and more educated people believe. Obviously the two parties have different agenda where Disney’s intention of Johnny Appleseed is to teach children about hard work and significance of an individual; Pollan’s intention is to point out the fact that John Chapman and Americans were manipulated by apples. Regardless of their intentions they enforce rhetoric that effectively persuades their target audiences.

With Disney’s target audiences ranging from toddlers to preteen, rhetoric cannot be too intimidating. In order to attract that age group Disney employs unconventional techniques of singing and pretty pictures to satisfy logos, ethos, and pathos. However, Pollan’s target audience is a little smarter than the Disney’s target audience where songs and pretty picture will only have negative effects on the ethos. Adding to the list of Pollan’s problems, Pollan is trying to convince the audience that apples have manipulated humans. Pollan responds to his problems by using excessive amount of hyperbole. He is overtly asserting cynical views of Johnny Appleseed to discredit Chapman as an American legend. As a result, circumstances surrounding Chapman’s myth is demystified and the audience begins to see John Chapman the homeless wonderer not Johnny Appleseed the American hero. With John Chapman in people’s minds, Pollan begins to assert the ideas that apples simply exploited Chapman into doing those deeds in order to secure a place in America.

Although Pollan’s rhetoric is far superior to Disney’s I still find Pollan’s theory hard to believe. Pollan does an excellent job to convince me that the apples are manipulating humans but c’mon. Who the hell really buys this crap? It is an interesting theory, but Pollan gives apples too much credit. I find Pollan’s apples manipulating human theory as ridiculous as Disney’s Indians and white settlers of Ohio River Valley brought to singing and dancing because of apple trees.