Pathetiek

Pathetiek is a term used in Dutch to refer to the appeal to emotion in rhetoric and to the broader emotional quality of art and communication. The word is a loan from pathos, the Greek concept of suffering and emotion, and in Dutch it denotes the emotional dimension used to persuade an audience or to create a particular mood.

In classical rhetorical theory pathetiek is one of the three modes of persuasion, alongside ethos (credibility) and logos (reason). Pathetiek aims to move the audience by eliciting feelings such as pity, sympathy, anger, or joy. The effectiveness of pathetiek depends on the perceived sincerity and relevance of the emotional appeal; when used well, it can strengthen arguments or deepen engagement, but it can also appear manipulative or sentimental if overdone or seen as insincere.

Pathetiek manifests across various domains, including literature, film, theatre, advertising, and political discourse. In these contexts emotional storytelling, imagery, and mood are employed to influence attitudes or behavior. Critics sometimes attach a negative connotation to pathetiek, labeling excessive sentimentality or melodrama as a flaw, while others value its power to foster empathy and solidarity.

Historically and linguistically related terms include pathos in rhetoric and pathetisch (pathetic) in Dutch, used to describe works or passages intended to provoke a strong emotional response. In music, the adjective pathetisch is used to characterize pieces aimed at eliciting an intense emotional effect.

In sum, pathetiek denotes the intentional use of emotion as a persuasive or artistic instrument, a key concept in rhetoric and a broader aesthetic feature in culture.