TOW #2: The Marcellus Effect

Mark Wilson’s The Marcellus Effect is a visual describing the water we intake every day.
The hydro fracking container is when sand and chemicals mix with water from a gas well. It is meant to form fractures in rock with the help of tiny fractures already present in the rock to allow for better gas flow, but instead it contaminates drinking water wells. Wilson’s picture demonstrates the water being contaminated and takes it a step further by presenting a man who has accepted the water to drink.

Wilson demonstrates to the public how we are too quick to accept the water we drink and attempts to open the eyes of the public in hopes to change their perspective. Using a bottle marked with a skull and crossbones immediately shows his audience how powerful and harmful the chemicals can be. The man drinking the water is dressed nicely and looks like a stereotypical intelligent man. He is wearing a tie, dressed nicely, and has glasses allowing the author to imply he is knowledgeable. Even still the man is willing to drink the water proving to the audience that the water we drink even though very much contaminated is “drinkable” in our minds.

Ultimately, the author wants to change our perspective and open our eyes. To do so, he shows us how it is completely normal and reasonable to believe our water is fine and will not harm us too bad. Wilson allows us to realize that the water we drink can be very harmful from the skull and crossbones and simply painting a picture for us. When people look at the water they drink, all they see is the water. People do not see the chemicals or the sand and therefore are fine and do not normally second guess what they are ingesting. Wilson provides his audience with perspective.

Wilson, Mark. The Marcellus Effect. N.d. EmpireWire, n.p.