introduction to Rhetorical Theory
"Theory"
"A mode of questioning and analysis"
-Leitch et al. Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism
Constraints and affordances
Argumentative
Worldview, almost ideological
"Rhetoric"
Specific understanding within Writing Studies
Various definitions: language as persuasion & communication
How a text means vs what a text means
James Berlin Rhetoric and Ideology
MOre on rhetoric
how human-made objects make us
feel a certain way
walk a certain way
think a certain way
hear a certain way
be
confused?
good!
thousands of years of thinking on this complex topic
no final answer
your task: latch onto something you want to engage with more
lay out
for many semester, I went the greatest hits
this semester, I am going with a playlist
again: your task is to find something to latch onto
Greatest hits
if you wanted to cover a history of rock n roll like we are covering a history of rhetorical theory (and you only had 1 semester), where would you go?
history of rock n roll
Probably move chronologically and find an artist / band that represents major movements.
Elvis
early rock.
pushes blues into rock.
one person at front
Beatles
global sensation
joint ownership
original songwriters / song
u2
elaborate live shows
sociopolitical lyrics / causes
band of the 80s
green day
punk
what is punk? mainstream v indie
radiohead
pushes boundaries of what we consider a song
snych heavy
Greatest hits organization
Move through complete albums by these artists.
BUT full of blind spots:
women?
people of color?
different language?
playlist
represent more voices.
quickly.
on the surface.
playlist history of rock
Chuck Berry
Janis Joplin
Beatles
fleetwood mac
Bjork
slater-Kinney
Radiohead
pussy Riot
playlist of rhetorical theory
this semester, we are covering more territory, more topics, more people, and more ideas
but we are moving quickly.
just listening to one song--not an entire album.
not all will click.
but something will.
topics
listening
tombs
myths
sidewalks
slavery
truth
bodies
prisons
podcasts
Confucianism