The Rhetorical Act

Chapter 1

What is a rhetorical perspective?

Perspectiveper = through

specere = to look

All perspectives are partial.Each look looks at one side and so it is impossible not to take some point of view.

What is a rhetorical perspective?As opposed to a scientific or philosophical one?

Science and philosophy are concerned with the discovery and testing of truth. Rhetoricians argue that unacknowledged or unaccepted truths are of no use unless people believe them. A rhetorical perspective is concerned with what influences or persuades people.

Rhetoric focuses on social truths: what a group of people agrees to believe or accept.

Rhetoric first began to be studied early in the fifth century B.C. by sophists (wise men). As democracy began, the need to speak clearly and persuasively became increasingly important.

First major book, On Rhetoric by Aristotle. Written in Athens in the 4th Century B.C.Aristotle believed there were different "types" of truth. There is the truth in nature, scientific truths that are immutable. There are also social truths that depend on cultural values and situations.

Source:faculty.washington.edu/ smcohen/433/Aristotle.jpg

Aristotle

An issue for one person may not be an issue for someone else.

Rhetoric is concerned with changing people's minds through reason and argument as opposed to violence or force.

A rhetorical perspective acknowledges that we are as influenced by logic as we are by passion. We are persuaded by conscious reasoning and unconscious desires.

Rhetoric is the study of what persuades us.

Rhetoric is:

• Public• Propositional• Purposive• Problem-solving• Pragmatic• Poetic• Powerful

Rhetoric is the study of all the processes by which people influence each other through symbols, regardless of their intent.

Some actions are intentionally rhetorical: advertisements, music videos sermons, speeches, essays, film reviews. A rhetorical act is an intentional attempt to overcome obstacles in a given situation with a specific audience on a particular issue.

Rhetoric can be accidental: any thing you do is rhetorical if someone interprets or misinterprets your actions and is influenced by those actions.

You can never not communicate.

In studying rhetoric, you will learn to analyze all the available means by which you might influence others. You will also learn to recognize the many ways that you yourself are influenced by others.

In studying rhetoric, you will examine both intentional and unintentional means of influencing others.

Rhetorical Purposes

Rhetorical purposes are conscious attempts to influence processes that are occurring in us all of the time as we come in contact with the world and the people in it.

1. The first rhetorical purpose is to create a virtual experience.

2. To alter perception. Example: Oliver Twist.

3. Explaining. When people experience a disturbing event, they crave explanation. Rhetors provide that explanation. Sometimes rhetors create a disturbing experience through vivid language and then they provide what they consider to be the best explanation.

4.Formulating Belief. Changing someone's mind is not a one-shot deal, but a gradual process. Virtual experience occurs within an existing framework. When perceptions change, we seek explanations, but sometimes we demand explanations before we allow our perceptions to change.

Generally there is a process that starts with enlarging an audience's experience, which leads to altering their perceptions, which results in causing the audience to search for and evaluate different explanations. Often all these processes overlap.

5. Initiating Action.

6. Maintaining Action.