Defining What is Rhetoric

Defining Rhetoric Definitions of Rhetoric: • James Murphy: ○ advice to others about future language use • George Kennedy: ○ The energy inherent in emotion and thought transmitted through a system of signs including language to others to influence their decisions or actions § Rhetoric is fundamentally about signs/symbols and how they PERSUADE us. ○ Effective communication § How to be an effective communicator via Instagram? □ What is the essence of Instagram? ® Image - hopefully pleasant images ◊ Communication wouldn't be effective if they weren't pleasant ◊ Pleasantness is the essence ○ Who we are as human beings § When we express emotions and thoughts to others with the goal of influence we are engaged in rhetoric Rhetoric and Symbol Systems: • Rhetoric involves signs, including language ○ What is a sign? § Marshal McLuhan Suggests: it is a stand in for something else. § Notion of Hylomorphism: □ Form - Meaning □ Matter- Physical Substance ○ Lights - cover your eyes that is a sign § Rhetoric is a sign § How they persuade you in everyday life □ Walking across the street. If you see the red stop sign you know not to cross the street □ Body language sends a more powerful message than anything else ® Can lie with what your saying but not as much with your body □ Walking across the street. If you see the red stop sign you know not to cross the street □ Body language sends a more powerful message than anything else ® Can lie with what your saying but not as much with your body ® Cues don't lie • Rhetoric develops in the realm of symbols of one type or another ○ Symbols: a mark, sign, sound, or gesture, that communicates meaning based on social agreement. § Example: Boat - individual word § English Language - Symbols, letters only have meaning if something is applied to it. ○ Individual symbols usually are part of a larger symbolic system - language § Language: Symbol system on which most of us rely for communicating with others on a daily basis § Social life depends on our ability to use a wide range of symbol systems to communicate meanings to one another • Rhetorical dimensions are detected in these areas: ○ Music: § Musical notation and performance § Notes, key, melody, sound, harmony and rhythm to communicate meanings □ Example: Jaws - the musical techniques were used to enhance audience tension ® Very steady and threatening ◊ What do I do with them, how do I respond? □ Nature or Nurture? ® Happier notes or angry notes? ® Social convention nurture § Symbols, Audible Notes □ Is there a difference in meaning in an appeal to vision vs hearing? □ Are senses themselves rhetorical? ○ Dance and Acting: § Movements in dance are symbolic because they express meaning on the basis of agreements among dancers, choreographers, and audience members § Gestures, Postures, Facial expressions allow mime artists ○ Dance and Acting: § Movements in dance are symbolic because they express meaning on the basis of agreements among dancers, choreographers, and audience members § Gestures, Postures, Facial expressions allow mime artists and actors to communicate with audiences symbolically but without employing the symbols of spoken language ○ Painting: § Form, line, color and arrangements □ Example: stark line of dark clouds may symbolize an impending disaster. § Rafael Pieta § Andy Warhol ○ Architecture: § Lines, shapes, and materials □ Example: the protests by veterans groups that greeted the unveiling of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. were responses to what some observers took to be the meaning of the monument ® The principal material used in the monument is black granite rather than the more traditional and triumphal white marble. § A Castle § Shed/Building ○ Sports: § Can athletic events carry a rhetorical meaning? □ Example: long distance swimmer Diana Nyad requested permission from the Cuban Government to swim the 103 mile distance between Cuba and Florida. The Cuban Government considered the request as long as she swims from Florida to Cuba rather than the other direction. The symbolism from swimming away from Cuba was reflected negatively on the Cuban Political system. § Football Stadiums □ Hand signals is communication - rhetoric ○ Unexpected Locations: § Can be reveled in places we might easily overlook. □ Example: typeface in which a book is printed has rhetorical dimension Fonts, convey a particular quality, character □ Hand signals is communication - rhetoric ○ Unexpected Locations: § Can be reveled in places we might easily overlook. □ Example: typeface in which a book is printed has rhetorical dimension ® Fonts, convey a particular quality, character or tone § Human Signs ○ Breath - can be sign of passion or nervousness ○ Cheering ○ Example: Mountain Biking: § A path or terrain - how dangerous it can be § Someone who might also do it can see it differently § Natural Signs: ○ How are they rhetorical? § Let's say a tree & heat ◊ They synthesize to convey meaning and persuade us § Kelly McGarry - Red Bull Rampage 2013 Effective Symbolic Expression: • Include other goals such as achieving clarity, awakening our sense of beauty, or bringing about mutual understanding • Art of Rhetoric: the systematic study and intentional practice of effective symbolic expression. ○ Achieving the symbol-user whether the purpose is persuasion, clarity, beauty or mutual understanding. • Rhetoric is the art of employing symbols effectively • Rhetorical Theory is the systematic presentation of rhetoric's principles, its various social functions and how the art achieves its goals ○ Something James Herrick Says: The systematic study and intentional practice of effective symbolic expression ○ Messages crafted according to the principle of rhetoric is called rhetorical discourse • The history of the art of rhetoric has focused on persuasion, employing the system of language ○ Steven Mailloux Says: "There are oral, written, visual, digital, gestural, and other kinds: and under written rhetoric there are various genres such as autobiographies, novels, letters, editorials, and so forth. • The history of the art of rhetoric has focused on persuasion, employing the system of language ○ Steven Mailloux Says: "There are oral, written, visual, digital, gestural, and other kinds: and under written rhetoric there are various genres such as autobiographies, novels, letters, editorials, and so forth.