December 1, 2011
Toulmin 1410-1428, Foucault 1432-1436 and 1460-1470
Foucault
When I think of Foucault, rhetoric and discourse don't come to my mind. I usually think of Discipline and Punish. The concept of the prison where anyone could be watching is very interesting. It makes people think they have no privacy, and they are always under surveillance means they never know who is watching them and cannot act out. I think this is a revolutionary idea, especially in today's society. Everything in our culture is based on surveillance. People are being watched at every point in their lives. Even through the media, America is based on what is seen, whether or not it is the truth is irrelevant. I think that our culture is too based on the media. How we view each other is the main judgment people pass. Even with facebook, we can pass judgment and sit and survey others without anyone knowing. It is almost creepy. 'Facebook stalking' and seeing what someone else is up to is amazingly common. It makes me wonder who is watching me at any given point in time.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Essay 3: Rhetoric in the Modern Era
November 29, 2011
Rhetoric has changed in many ways throughout time. In ancient times, rhetors used memorization and advanced speech-making techniques to create effective performances. Today, there are countless mediums to provide a rhetorically effective text. In this instance, Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of both Apple and Pixar, makes a successful speech to Stanford University’s class of 2005 using an interesting combination of ancient and modern rhetorical concepts. Through this analysis, a few observations about modern rhetoric can be established.
This speech, given by Steve Jobs, was a written text intended for a live delivery to an audience. He did not have the speech memorized, as many ancient rhetors did, and he fumbled over many passages. He may have been nervous or he may have needed to practice the speech a few more times, but it did impact the effectiveness of his words. Perhaps using a few memorization techniques, such as, spatial metaphors, as Aristotle had recommended to his students would have prepared him more successfully (Bizzell and Herzberg 31).
Jobs intended this speech to be very motivating and full of inspiration. These graduating students are about to embark on a journey that could change the rest of their lives. He used his personal experiences to encourage and persuade his listeners to not give up on what they truly want to achieve. While explaining these events throughout his life, Jobs included many modern uses of tropes. By referring to ‘connecting the dots,’ Jobs metaphorically suggests how the events in one’s life fit together when looking back on them, even though they may not make sense at the present time (Jobs 00:57). Aristotle claims that metaphors provide style with clearness and charm, as well as a certain distinction (Bizzell and Herzberg 177). Jobs uses his metaphor to encourage his audience to not question what is happening, but to believe that everything will fit together in the end.
Another metaphor used in Jobs speech was his concept of death as a change agent, a way for life to clear out the old, to make enough room for the new (Jobs 12:15). With this concept, Jobs modernizes the outlook on death. He brings new light to the benefits of creating new life and new ideas. By explaining how limited everyone’s time is here on earth, he makes it clear that no one should be doing anything other than what their hearts tell them (Jobs 12:30). By emphasizing dramatic ideas, Jobs inspires the audience to do what they love.
Jobs used a unique schema to organize his thoughts and ideas throughout this speech. By dividing his topics into three specific stories, Jobs created a scheme that easy is to follow and entertaining to listen to. He described this basic story outline as ‘no big deal’ (Jobs 00:50). This is a modern interpretation of ancient rhetoricians’ ideas that a ‘text’ must be clear, but it must touch on emotions as well (Crowley and Hawhee 329). Not only does Jobs use his language in a way that college students would use it, but he also makes it very clear and concise.
Irony is used when explaining how he was fired from the very company he created, only to go on to create more influential companies (Jobs 06:07). Richard Whately’s use of irony in nineteenth-century rhetoric is similar to Jobs use here. Jobs uses this effect to examine how he worked so hard to build this company, but the employees ended up turning on him. He continues on to explain that even though this hardship hurt him, it shaped the person he has become and provided him with the means to go on to create bigger and better things. This is a little bit of a twist on Whately’s interpretation of irony. He claims that certain forms are fit for ironic ideas as well as certain circumstances (Bizzell and Herzberg 1026). Jobs employs this effect by turning a negative experience into a positive one. He is able to adapt this idea into a successful modernized device by relating to the audiences emotions.
John Locke has a similar philosophy to that of Jobs’ style. Locke presented his ideas in easily accessible language and used common experiences and common sense to explain his concepts (Bizzell and Herzberg 814). The concept of reflection examines how one person relates ideas to another by mentally forming associations and processes individuals are aware of, this includes thinking, doubting, and believing (Bizzell and Herzberg 814). This idea relates directly to Jobs presentation. He personally relates his ideas to those of the audience. By including personal experiences, Jobs was able to let in his listeners to motivate and persuade them to always believe in themselves.
In his speech, Jobs includes his battle with cancer (Jobs 10:40). This is a very personal subject for both Jobs and perhaps many students who may have family or friends fighting the same battle. He refers to the threat of oncoming death as a tool for the motivation to make big choices in life (Jobs 09:55). By associating a common trait that all people will encounter, like death, Jobs was able to persuade the audience to not wait to find what they truly want.
This speech truly exemplifies the modern use of rhetoric. Jobs uses many ideas that were created by ancient rhetoricians to persuade his audience. Using personal experience as a main contribution to this motivational speech, Jobs creates an intriguing view of the future for graduating students. At this point in the audience’s lives, anything can happen. Jobs uses different tropes, an original scheme and various examples of irony to make that idea clear. He makes the point that simply believing in one’s self, and knowing that in the end everything will work out will motivate one to keep moving forward.
Modern rhetoric is really not as different from ancient rhetoric as one may expect. Jobs’ speech is an example of the personal experiences and casual language that are regularly used in rhetoric today. These two components are very important to the development of modern rhetoric. The ability for audiences or readers to relate to the material is crucial. Jobs’ use of his personal experiences as well as the ability to use the real language of the students was what made his speech extremely effective.
Reading Blog 16
November 14, 2011
Modern and Post-Modern Rhetoric Intro. 1181-1205
The fact that rhetoric was considered to be in a decline is a very interesting concept. It truly is a valuable interdisciplinary theory of language and meaning. Rhetoric really is everywhere. When asked 'what is rhetoric?' there are many answers. Is there only rhetoric in writing or performance, or anything literary related? Or is rhetoric about how you present yourself and how you want to be seen by the world? It could be considered both. Picking out what I am wearing in the morning could be considered a form of visual rhetoric. It would be saying one thing to people if I was wearing sweatpants to school, but something completely different if I was wearing a ball gown. It seems as though cultural influences are very important in determining different types of rhetoric and their meanings. For example, comedy is very different in various cultures. Something that we think is funny here, or appropriate for one type of situation can be completely wrong for a different culture. I find it interesting how this concept was rooted in such ancient ideas and it is still so valid to life today.
Reading Blog 15
November 10, 2011
ARCS Ch. 12 and Maria Stewart pp. 1031-1044; Frederick Douglass pp. 1061-1085
Delivery: Attending to Eyes and Ears
Delivery is the first time the audience sees and hears the tone of a presentation. At the very beginning of a speech, one can determine how the rest of it will go. The voice of the rhetor is very important, as is the facial and body language used during the presentation. I think this is one of the most important aspects. If you are leaning on the podium while trying to talk about an important issue, many people aren't going to take the speaker seriously. Many ancient rhetors insist on rehearsing the speech out loud. I think this is a very effective way of practicing. It will be the most appropriate way of knowing how the speech will sound when speaking.
Maria Stewart
Maria Stewart was left as an orphan then became part of a Protestant family as an indentured servant. Starting at a very young age, this woman has had a hard life. She went on to marry James W. Stewart when she was only 23. Walker was an advocate for African American rights as well as an abolitionist, an important part of the development of Maria started publishing comments in the Liberator to battle African American rights. She also wrote religious meditations. She also started preparing public speeches to give about issues that concern her. Because women were not supposed to call so much attention to themselves, this caused a lot of issues. I find women's rights very interesting. It has taken so long for women to have 'equal' rights in society, when even today there are still divisions. I feel like there are many intellectual women who never had the chance to express their opinions.
ARCS Ch. 12 and Maria Stewart pp. 1031-1044; Frederick Douglass pp. 1061-1085
Delivery: Attending to Eyes and Ears
Delivery is the first time the audience sees and hears the tone of a presentation. At the very beginning of a speech, one can determine how the rest of it will go. The voice of the rhetor is very important, as is the facial and body language used during the presentation. I think this is one of the most important aspects. If you are leaning on the podium while trying to talk about an important issue, many people aren't going to take the speaker seriously. Many ancient rhetors insist on rehearsing the speech out loud. I think this is a very effective way of practicing. It will be the most appropriate way of knowing how the speech will sound when speaking.
Maria Stewart
Maria Stewart was left as an orphan then became part of a Protestant family as an indentured servant. Starting at a very young age, this woman has had a hard life. She went on to marry James W. Stewart when she was only 23. Walker was an advocate for African American rights as well as an abolitionist, an important part of the development of Maria started publishing comments in the Liberator to battle African American rights. She also wrote religious meditations. She also started preparing public speeches to give about issues that concern her. Because women were not supposed to call so much attention to themselves, this caused a lot of issues. I find women's rights very interesting. It has taken so long for women to have 'equal' rights in society, when even today there are still divisions. I feel like there are many intellectual women who never had the chance to express their opinions.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Reading Blog 14
November 7, 2011
ARCS Ch. 11; RT 19th Century Rhetoric pp. 981-999 and Whately pp. 1000-1030
Memory: The Treasure-House of Invention
I cannot believe how hard it was to memorize a two minute speech that we had to do earlier in the semester. It made me wonder how so many ancient rhetors were able to memorize much longer, and much more detailed speeches that were much more effective. Also, the listeners must have been much more adapt to listening than students are today. After writing notes for an hour of lecture, most students cannot remember what the class was about. Kairos is shown to have a connection to memory. There is even a difference between artificial and natural memory. Artificial memory being when the student is trained to remember something, natural memory being the extent to which a person naturally remembers some processes. There is an organized set of information in the mind. A lot of information. I think there is no way our culture could remember some of the things that were required to be remembered hundreds of years ago. Cultural memory or communal memory was used in ancient times. The idea that our memories are stocked with many things besides narratives of our experiences, things we learned, media, people, church as well as experiences. One cultural memory- 9/11. Everyone remembers where they were and how they felt when that event occurred. Organizational memory is used to use the chaos sometimes seen as an advantage to remember what needs to be remembered at the right time. Memory is an interesting thing. I feel like I remember much less from school than ancient students or rhetors did. Cultural changes is one huge reason, perhaps adaptation? There is no longer a need to commit so much information to memory when it is so readily available.
19th Century Rhetoric
Science and technology are finally coming into their own. Mathematics and science are now primary subjects. The concept of reading, writing and arithmetic are commonly known. Rhetoric is changing based on the nature of public education changes. The internal economies of the discipline and related intellectual movements was just part of it.
Richard Whately
Whately uses the trends of his time to publish a new work of rhetoric. Using Campbell's moral evidence, epistemological focus on persuasion and composition presumably written and an elocution that is clearly oral, Whately contributes a new rhetorical theory to the field. Whately believed that Aristotle had never been passed in regards to his theories. He claims that theory has not advanced since Aristotle's time and rhetors need to go back and consider this as a type of logic. His idea of discovery being based on experience, reasoning on argument is interesting. I find it so odd that so much of our current idea of effective rhetoric is based on ancient times. There are very few significant differences, mainly those being of technologies that were not present during that time. But the majority of ideas are still very relevant to writing today.
ARCS Ch. 11; RT 19th Century Rhetoric pp. 981-999 and Whately pp. 1000-1030
Memory: The Treasure-House of Invention
I cannot believe how hard it was to memorize a two minute speech that we had to do earlier in the semester. It made me wonder how so many ancient rhetors were able to memorize much longer, and much more detailed speeches that were much more effective. Also, the listeners must have been much more adapt to listening than students are today. After writing notes for an hour of lecture, most students cannot remember what the class was about. Kairos is shown to have a connection to memory. There is even a difference between artificial and natural memory. Artificial memory being when the student is trained to remember something, natural memory being the extent to which a person naturally remembers some processes. There is an organized set of information in the mind. A lot of information. I think there is no way our culture could remember some of the things that were required to be remembered hundreds of years ago. Cultural memory or communal memory was used in ancient times. The idea that our memories are stocked with many things besides narratives of our experiences, things we learned, media, people, church as well as experiences. One cultural memory- 9/11. Everyone remembers where they were and how they felt when that event occurred. Organizational memory is used to use the chaos sometimes seen as an advantage to remember what needs to be remembered at the right time. Memory is an interesting thing. I feel like I remember much less from school than ancient students or rhetors did. Cultural changes is one huge reason, perhaps adaptation? There is no longer a need to commit so much information to memory when it is so readily available.
19th Century Rhetoric
Science and technology are finally coming into their own. Mathematics and science are now primary subjects. The concept of reading, writing and arithmetic are commonly known. Rhetoric is changing based on the nature of public education changes. The internal economies of the discipline and related intellectual movements was just part of it.
Richard Whately
Whately uses the trends of his time to publish a new work of rhetoric. Using Campbell's moral evidence, epistemological focus on persuasion and composition presumably written and an elocution that is clearly oral, Whately contributes a new rhetorical theory to the field. Whately believed that Aristotle had never been passed in regards to his theories. He claims that theory has not advanced since Aristotle's time and rhetors need to go back and consider this as a type of logic. His idea of discovery being based on experience, reasoning on argument is interesting. I find it so odd that so much of our current idea of effective rhetoric is based on ancient times. There are very few significant differences, mainly those being of technologies that were not present during that time. But the majority of ideas are still very relevant to writing today.
Reading Blog 13
November 3, 2011
ARCS Ch. 10; RT Vico pp. 862-879 and Sheridan 879-888
Style: Composition and Ornament
I love the stylistic elements of rhetoric. I like the fact that there is persuasion in delivery. The antithesis used in many writings is very interesting. Aristotle knew of this power and recognized that it needed to be studied along with the other elements of rhetoric. Similes, metaphors and personification are used in many works to make the words more relatable. I think this is a great way to incorporate more visual meanings into the words being said. Correctness, sometimes translated literally as 'purity' from Latin or Greek, meant that rhetors should use current words and grammatical rules. I think this is mostly true, however, to make a point, sometimes going to an extreme one direction or another can be rhetorically effective. Appropriateness is very important. There is literally a time and a place for every conversation and every situation. Ornamental styles is an extremely good way to produce an effective text. The 3 categories, figures of speech, figures of thought, and tropes are used to ornament rhetorical style with an extreme effect. This is important to persuade listeners and/or readers to interpret the intended meaning of a text.
Giambattista Vico
Vico describes himself as an autodidact, or one who is both self-taught and free from academic prejudices. He was a professor of rhetoric from 1699-1741 at University of Naples- I find this very interesting, especially since he had no professional schooling himself. So was he providing prejudices to his students that he was 'lucky enough' to go without? Very interesting concept. Vico is seen as a major figure in the development of rhetoric with a culturally based epistemology, in his time, he was regarded as reactionary because he opposed the thoughts of Descartes. He criticized his (Descartes) works for basing the only sources of knowledge on mathematics and science.
Vico provides three stages through which human history evolves: the poetic, the heroic, and the human. The poetic stage uses knowledge as a metaphor. In the heroic stage, nations are developing, while rigid systems of law preserve the organization of society. And the human stage provides self-conscious study of human knowledge leads to greater equity and democracy in politics. This shows that individualism is growing, both with this idea, and with society.
Thomas Sheridan
Sheridan did receive an education, with a career as a stage actor, whose son is now a famous playwright. Rhetorical influence at work, a rhetorically effective writer. Sheridan had an overwhelming interest in correcting language. Leading him to a career in elocution. He gave a very successful lecture course on the subject. He found an ideal forum for his own talents and interests and he was encouraged by the contemporary desire for linguistic self-improvement and educational reform. The thing I find most interesting about Sheridan is that he was so interesting in the correctness of writing and the fact that he was a professional speaker as an actor. It makes me think that he became this way because of his acting and of his talent with words. I would like to compare the writings of his son's to Sheridan's to see if there are any rhetorical similarities.
ARCS Ch. 10; RT Vico pp. 862-879 and Sheridan 879-888
Style: Composition and Ornament
I love the stylistic elements of rhetoric. I like the fact that there is persuasion in delivery. The antithesis used in many writings is very interesting. Aristotle knew of this power and recognized that it needed to be studied along with the other elements of rhetoric. Similes, metaphors and personification are used in many works to make the words more relatable. I think this is a great way to incorporate more visual meanings into the words being said. Correctness, sometimes translated literally as 'purity' from Latin or Greek, meant that rhetors should use current words and grammatical rules. I think this is mostly true, however, to make a point, sometimes going to an extreme one direction or another can be rhetorically effective. Appropriateness is very important. There is literally a time and a place for every conversation and every situation. Ornamental styles is an extremely good way to produce an effective text. The 3 categories, figures of speech, figures of thought, and tropes are used to ornament rhetorical style with an extreme effect. This is important to persuade listeners and/or readers to interpret the intended meaning of a text.
Giambattista Vico
Vico describes himself as an autodidact, or one who is both self-taught and free from academic prejudices. He was a professor of rhetoric from 1699-1741 at University of Naples- I find this very interesting, especially since he had no professional schooling himself. So was he providing prejudices to his students that he was 'lucky enough' to go without? Very interesting concept. Vico is seen as a major figure in the development of rhetoric with a culturally based epistemology, in his time, he was regarded as reactionary because he opposed the thoughts of Descartes. He criticized his (Descartes) works for basing the only sources of knowledge on mathematics and science.
Vico provides three stages through which human history evolves: the poetic, the heroic, and the human. The poetic stage uses knowledge as a metaphor. In the heroic stage, nations are developing, while rigid systems of law preserve the organization of society. And the human stage provides self-conscious study of human knowledge leads to greater equity and democracy in politics. This shows that individualism is growing, both with this idea, and with society.
Thomas Sheridan
Sheridan did receive an education, with a career as a stage actor, whose son is now a famous playwright. Rhetorical influence at work, a rhetorically effective writer. Sheridan had an overwhelming interest in correcting language. Leading him to a career in elocution. He gave a very successful lecture course on the subject. He found an ideal forum for his own talents and interests and he was encouraged by the contemporary desire for linguistic self-improvement and educational reform. The thing I find most interesting about Sheridan is that he was so interesting in the correctness of writing and the fact that he was a professional speaker as an actor. It makes me think that he became this way because of his acting and of his talent with words. I would like to compare the writings of his son's to Sheridan's to see if there are any rhetorical similarities.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Reading Blog 12
October 30, 2011
Enlightenment Rhetoric
This period is defined by the revolutions in sciences, philosophy and politics. In turn, these altered the concepts of knowledge and truth, human nature and society. The indirect change in logic affected rhetoric in the enlightenment period. Cicero's five canons (invention, arrangement, style, memory, delivery) became the foundation of rhetorical study through the 17th and 18th centuries. Some critics say that the writing during this time was purposeful, it was intended to please and instruct the reader. I find this very interesting, writing is used more for entertainment purposes than for education. The elocution movement focused on delivery and lasted through the 19th century. This concept was supported by psychology. This created a link to the classical period again, 'an analysis of taste and literary judgment, instruction in correct and effective speaking, and a respectable scientific theory of psychological persuasion.' These theories are linked to the intellectual and social developments that shaped the modern world.
The elocution movement was extended to pronunciation. This is a very cultural concept. The elocution could change drastically among cities. 'Linguistic discrimination is a staple of human interaction.' I like this statement. I think it describes how people interact with each other and how important linguistics are to each individual culture. It is somewhat of an identity, it describes who you are and where you're from.
John Locke
John Locke had a large impact on the direction of rhetoric and the 18th century. He extended the ideological ideas of Bacon and Descartes by presenting these ideas in a new accessible language and common sense. Using persuasion, he accounts the mental process of perception, thinking and using language. He combined this with popular treatises on civil government and the rationality of religion, turning himself a public figure in the development of modern philosophy. I like the concept of Locke's works. He looks for truth in the physical world and answers to the knowledge as a psychological phenomenon. He believes there is a real external world and that knowledge of it is possible, but only if we understand how we come to know this knowledge. This concept confuses me. It makes me wonder what the Locke's processes were to find this knowledge. It seems like it is a never ending circle. You can't know something without knowing something else. Knowledge is a tricky concept.
Mary Astell
Astell developed a rhetoric that shows the influence of sources that tend to restrict rhetoric's domain and to view it negatively. She devotes much less time to rhetoric than she does to logic. She claims that nature is the best teacher of eloquence. Astell seems to disregard rhetoric in many cases. It seems to be in the back of her mind for most of the time, but she doesn't pay active attention to it, like she does with logic. She uses arrangement, even though she gives it a different name, but even then, some people would consider this part of logic as well. She keeps rhetoric limited to the style. She is a big believer in women's 'rhetoric.' Keeping style clear and language correct was very important to her. I think it is interesting that this is the first women writing who was so devoted to feminist writings. She believes strongly in the art of conversation, I still believe this is a very important aspect of rhetoric.
Enlightenment Rhetoric
This period is defined by the revolutions in sciences, philosophy and politics. In turn, these altered the concepts of knowledge and truth, human nature and society. The indirect change in logic affected rhetoric in the enlightenment period. Cicero's five canons (invention, arrangement, style, memory, delivery) became the foundation of rhetorical study through the 17th and 18th centuries. Some critics say that the writing during this time was purposeful, it was intended to please and instruct the reader. I find this very interesting, writing is used more for entertainment purposes than for education. The elocution movement focused on delivery and lasted through the 19th century. This concept was supported by psychology. This created a link to the classical period again, 'an analysis of taste and literary judgment, instruction in correct and effective speaking, and a respectable scientific theory of psychological persuasion.' These theories are linked to the intellectual and social developments that shaped the modern world.
The elocution movement was extended to pronunciation. This is a very cultural concept. The elocution could change drastically among cities. 'Linguistic discrimination is a staple of human interaction.' I like this statement. I think it describes how people interact with each other and how important linguistics are to each individual culture. It is somewhat of an identity, it describes who you are and where you're from.
John Locke
John Locke had a large impact on the direction of rhetoric and the 18th century. He extended the ideological ideas of Bacon and Descartes by presenting these ideas in a new accessible language and common sense. Using persuasion, he accounts the mental process of perception, thinking and using language. He combined this with popular treatises on civil government and the rationality of religion, turning himself a public figure in the development of modern philosophy. I like the concept of Locke's works. He looks for truth in the physical world and answers to the knowledge as a psychological phenomenon. He believes there is a real external world and that knowledge of it is possible, but only if we understand how we come to know this knowledge. This concept confuses me. It makes me wonder what the Locke's processes were to find this knowledge. It seems like it is a never ending circle. You can't know something without knowing something else. Knowledge is a tricky concept.
Mary Astell
Astell developed a rhetoric that shows the influence of sources that tend to restrict rhetoric's domain and to view it negatively. She devotes much less time to rhetoric than she does to logic. She claims that nature is the best teacher of eloquence. Astell seems to disregard rhetoric in many cases. It seems to be in the back of her mind for most of the time, but she doesn't pay active attention to it, like she does with logic. She uses arrangement, even though she gives it a different name, but even then, some people would consider this part of logic as well. She keeps rhetoric limited to the style. She is a big believer in women's 'rhetoric.' Keeping style clear and language correct was very important to her. I think it is interesting that this is the first women writing who was so devoted to feminist writings. She believes strongly in the art of conversation, I still believe this is a very important aspect of rhetoric.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)