rhetorical theory: a theory of judgment
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Rhetorical Theory: A theory of Judgment. Michael Vicaro. The Rhetorical Situation. The Rhetorical Situation. The Rhetorical Situation. A speaker. The Rhetorical Situation. A speaker Faced with a crisis (exigency ). The Rhetorical Situation. A speaker Faced with a crisis (exigency) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Rhetorical Theory:A theory of Judgment
Michael Vicaro
The Rhetorical Situation
The Rhetorical Situation
The Rhetorical Situation• A speaker
The Rhetorical Situation• A speaker• Faced with a crisis (exigency)
The Rhetorical Situation• A speaker• Faced with a crisis (exigency)• Appeals to an audience
The Rhetorical Situation• A speaker• Faced with a crisis (exigency)• Appeals to an audience•Whose judgment matters
I.
Rhetoric is about
Judgment
Greek Problems and Roman Problems
Greek Problems and Roman Problems
• Ancient Greek communication problem:
Greek Problems and Roman Problems
• Ancient Greek communication problem: How citizens can arrive at collective judgment when they begin with different beliefs and interests and the right course of action is unknown
Greek Problems and Roman Problems
• Ancient Roman communication problem:
Greek Problems and Roman Problems
• Ancient Roman communication problem: How to transmit official declarations from the center to the periphery of a broad empire
A rhetorical view of Judgment Implies
A rhetorical view of Judgment Implies
• Uncertainty
A rhetorical view of Judgment Implies
• Uncertainty• Urgency
A rhetorical view of Judgment Implies
• Uncertainty• Urgency• Interdependence
A rhetorical view of Judgment Implies
• Uncertainty• Urgency• Interdependence• Hope
Alternatives to Judgment:
Alternatives to judgment:• Force
Alternatives to judgment:• Force• Submission
Alternatives to judgment:• Force• Submission• Solitude
On Lies
On Lies
Rhetoric that employs deceit descends into force, submission, or solitude.
Rhetoric, again, is about uncertainty, urgency, interdependence, and hope
II.
Rhetoric is about language
Rhetoric is about languageand symbols more generally
But Bodies Matter
III.
Rhetoric is about the Audience
What we must assume
What we must assume- the audience possesses:
• Intelligence
What we must assume- the audience possesses:
• Intelligence• Influence (their judgment matters)
What we must assume- the audience possesses:
• Intelligence• Influence (their judgment matters)• Hopes, fears, passions, ideals,
empathy, shame, imagination etc.
What we must assume- the audience possesses:
• Intelligence• Influence (their judgment matters)• Hopes, fears, passions, ideals,
empathy, shame, imagination, etc.• Pasts and futures
What we must assume- the audience possesses:
• Intelligence• Influence (their judgment matters)• Hopes, fears, passions, ideals,
empathy, shame, imagination, etc.• Pasts and futures• Cultures, opinions, beliefs,
differences
In sum
In sum
Rhetoric is about influencing the judgment of audiences on whom
the speaker depends
As critics we can askWho are the intended and untended audiences?What appeals are made to sway their judgment
What alternatives have been excluded?