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RHETORICAL COMMUNICATION CHAPTER 12. What is rhetoric? . The heart of communication studies, originated in Ancient Greece Rhetoric = communication that is used to influence the attitudes or behaviors of others; the art of persuasion Rhetoric is not always speech/words
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What is rhetoric? • The heart of communication studies, originated in Ancient Greece • Rhetoric = communication that is used to influence the attitudes or behaviors of others; the art of persuasion • Rhetoric is not always speech/words • Things, spaces, bodies, etc. can be rhetorical
Why study rhetoric? • Understand the range of viewpoints on social issues • Critically evaluate persuasive messages • Become better communicators • Participate in democracy • Seek justice
The Rhetorical Tradition • Sophists: the purpose of rhetoric is to persuade (seen as deceptive) • Plato: speakers should use rhetoric to search for universal truth, which will influence others for the better.
The Rhetorical Tradition • Aristotle:speakers should learn persuasion skills so they can defend truth and justice. • Cicero (Roman): speakers should use rhetoric for the public good. Goals of speech: to inform, persuade, and entertain
Types of Rhetoric: Epidiectic • Ceremonial • Purpose: to praise or blame • Reaffirms and reflects cultural values • Arouses action/feeling in the audience
Types of Rhetoric: Deliberative • Future-oriented • Purpose: deliberate/argue and decide what a society should do • Deeply connected to democracy and the public sphere
The Public Sphere • Where deliberative discussions and decision-making occurs • Can be exclusionary; some voices are not heard as often • Counter-publics:groups/messages that come from outside the mainstream institutions and insert themselves into the public sphere, usually via protest or critique
Counter-publics What are some other examples of counter-publics?How do counter-publics use rhetoric to prompt social change? Emma SulkowiczMattress Performance: Carry That Weight
Types of Rhetoric: Forensic • Past-oriented • Purpose: to accuse or defend • Goal: to set things right after an injustice has occurred • Connected to the law/judicial process
Becoming a Rhetorical Critic • Rhetorical Texts: anything that has been designed with a message meant to influence or persuade • Rhetorical Critic: an informed consumer of rhetorical discourse who critically analyzes rhetorical “texts”
Becoming a Rhetorical Critic Rhetorical Critics: • Analyze the “rhetorical situation” • Ask: • How does this message reinforce or challenge the status quo? • Is it persuasive? Why/how? • How can my analysis prompt social change?
”The Rhetorical Situation” the template for analyzing (or creating) rhetorical texts AUDIENCE PURPOSE RHETOR/SPEAKER MESSAGE CULTURE/CONTEXT
Artistic Proofs • Ethos, pathos, and logos • The means through which a rhetor crafts a persuasive message • Ethos: appeals to character, credibility, or social position • Pathos: appeals to emotion • Logos: appeals to reasoning, sound argumentation
Effective & Ethical Rhetors • To be effective: • Use the best evidence available • Adapt your message to the audience, culture, and context • Use the artistic proofs together • To be ethical: • Be aware of the terms and examples you use • Be sensitive to the culture you’re speaking to • Don’t use rhetorical strategies to bend the truth
Effective & Ethical Rhetorical Critics • To be effective: • Pay attention! • Analyze the full rhetorical situation& artistic proofs • Use your analysis to prompt social change • To be ethical: • Fairly assess what you see/hear • Be willing to change your mind • Speak up if the rhetor uses false information or dehumanizes others