the Prospect of Rhetoric lecuture april 15th

The Prospect of Rhetoric The 1970 National Development Project on Rhetoric There has been a decade or more of important social movements Faculty at Wisconsin played a large role in the prospects of rhetoric A. In January, a group of nationally known rhetoric scholars gathered for a conference at the Wingspread Center in Racine, WI. Wingspread Conference B. A series of committees issued subsequent reports on rhetorical theory, criticism, and other areas. Committees are assigned to do follow-up work and reconvene C. The editors of the Project report indicate that the ?central objective of the Project was to outline and amplify a theory of rhetoric suitable to twentieth-century concepts and needs.? Take stock of changes and come up with a theory of rhetoric that explains them II. Many contributors expressed concern over the contemporary relevance of scholarship and its lack of theoretical sophistication. A. Contributors urged rhetorical scholars to expand their views of rhetorical texts. Criticim is that rhetoric scholars are focusing soley on ?great speakers? Rhetorical criticism should focus on approach and not simply on object based definition B. Some critics urged a shift in critical focus from text to process. Thinking about rhetoric involves a larger process Means looking at how discourse develops over time, how it proceeds over different modes of communication What the speaker said and he said it was referred to the culmination to the rhetorical study. They should look toward the rhetorical interplay Importance of the Xerox machine Also interested in the role of mass media C. Some participants held that examining processes of rhetoric required greater attention to how audiences receive rhetoric. In some ways this is a return to earlier time They are trying to understand the messages and responses as interplay and audience response should become part of the process Rhetorical critics should look at how regular humans being are exposed to rhetoric and how that shifts people?s opinions D. These concerns demonstrated a need for greater theoretical sophistication in rhetorical scholarship. Rubrics cube model Move away from just putting speeches into categories Wanted scholars to look at larger theoretical implications of the work E. Participants urged scholars to devote greater attention on contemporary phenomena. Watned to reaffirm the study of history They prioritized focus on contemporary focus They thought there were many benefits They could help people manage conflicts better Methodlogical questions-provides greater access to material If you study contemporary phenomena you can actually go and see the speech, first hand look Engaging in ongoing rhetorical concerns