The Persona Analysis called for a short rhetorical analysis of a public figure, identifying the rhetorical tactics used for the figure to fully develop their persona. At the time, I had recently discovered the “Sexy Sax Man,” a saxophone player named Sergio Flores who is famous for wearing a specific costume and playing “Careless Whisper” in public places. I used the rhetorical appeals of both Aristotle and Cicero to break down the actions of Flores.

Laura Apperson
Persona Analysis
April 2, 2012

Sexy Sax Man

 The Sexy Sax Man, Sergio Flores, is a musician who is famous for his “saxograms,” pranks where he plays his saxophone to George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” in malls, stores, colleges, and other locations in California. Typically his pranks result in security directing him out of the location he is playing in. He sports a mullet wig, skinny jeans, sunglasses, suspenders, and no shirt. He has become known for these pranks and his outfit. He has acquired an application for iPhone and the public can pay him to come play “Careless Whisper” in California.

Flores demonstrates Aristotle’s appeals to rhetoric – logos, ethos, and pathos – with his performances. He uses George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” a song that is extremely familiar, to strengthen his logos. If he used a song that was very unknown, people would be less likely to listen to his music and take notice in his performance. He makes the audience laugh by dressing in costume, sporting suspenders and black skinny jeans without a shirt, wearing a black mullet wig, and keeping on a pair of black sunglasses inside. He also makes them laugh by dancing on tables while he plays his saxophone and putting on a hilarious performance. This appeal to emotions strengthens Flores’ pathos. Finally, Flores is very talented at saxophone, which strengthens his credibility, or his ethos. Even if he played “Careless Whisper” and donned a very hilarious costume, without his talent of playing saxophone no one would contact him for a “saxogram.”

Flores’ persona is also shaped by Cicero’s canons of rhetoric – invention, arrangement, style, delivery, and memory. Flores must invent his act – the song, the costume, and, essentially, his persona. His arrangement of his performance includes preparation for the visit and an intent to improvise when it comes to dancing and entertaining. He does not use words to define his style, but uses appearance and body language to define his style. In his delivery, he uses the element of surprise as his entrance and his dynamic performance defines the way he plays his music and presents his show. He also has “Careless Whisper” memorized.

The Sexy Sax Man’s persona can be analyzed using the ideas of both Cicero and Aristotle. His rhetorical style may be different, but it is definitely effective.