TED Talk Analysis

TED Talk: The amazing story of the man who gave us modern pain relief, by Latif Nasser


Summary:

In this TED talk, medical historian Latif Nasser, tells the story of John J. Bonica. Throughout Bonica's life, both as a medical student and a qualified doctor, he lived a double life in which circus and wrestling was a major part. This combination of both causing pain and treating it enabled him to assess patient situations from different perspectives. Based on personal experience, Bonica discovered patients whose pain contradicted the expected cases and treatments. Bonica knew that while pain was a basic and, at the same time, very uncomfortable patience experience, the doctors had no focus on treatment. Based on this, Bonica's life was devoted to pain treatment, even after he became experienced the pain himself. Bonica wrote many books and was later recognized as the founding father of pain relief.

Latif Nasser conveyed his message using the following techniques:

• Pathos: Nasser personalizes the story by telling about Bonica as a "person" and not just the story of him working with pain treatment. He appeals to the audience's attention by beginning with a story about his mother's pain. The background music creates an intimate atmosphere and the childlike drawings appeal to the audience's sympathy. Nasser's mimic, tone and body language, authenticates the story and supports the mood.

• Ethos: Nasser create an atmosphere of credibility as clearly states that he is not a doctor but a historian of medicine, and it is as a historian and a son of a pain patient, he presents the story. In addition, he indicates which sources are used as the basis for his TED talk.

• Logos: Nasser uses legitimate expressions and historical details as well as place names and dates to substantiate the message. Nasser tries to convince the audience by using logical arguments that are reasonable and rational.

Purpose:

The purpose of Nasser's TED talk is to support Bonica's claim "that pain is the most complex human experience. That it involves your past life, your current life, your interactions, your family." With his mother's example, he shows how the pain influenced many people. Nasser exemplifies that Bonica was one of the first doctors to recognize the complexity and the things that the pain can hold. 

Why this one? 

I chose this TED talk mainly because of the title; The amazing story of the man who gave us modern pain relief. The word amazing count my attention and intrigued my to watch the TED talk. The story it self was very fascinating to me and the way Nasser used his mimic and body language, made me even more fascinated as it shows his engagement and enthusiasm toward the story about Bonica.