Rhetoric, Communication, Deliberation Midterm

Neo-Aristotelian Criticism

Also known as traditional criticism; created in 1925.

Assumptions of Neo-Aristotelian Criticism

Uses Aristotle’s Rhetoric as a basis for critique. Aristotle believed that all “smart people” would interpret a speech in the same way.

Goals of Neo-Aristotelian Criticism

To measure the effectiveness of a speech.

Limitations of Neo-Aristotelian Criticism

Limited in scope, ignores historical and cultural contexts, and overly focuses on elites. Aristotle was prescriptive rather than descriptive, while criticism is descriptive.

Types of Artifacts in Neo-Aristotelian Criticism

Public addresses. Best used for single-source oratory.

Analytical Steps in Neo-Aristotelian Criticism

Reconstruct the context in which the speech occurred, including the rhetorical situation, historical context, and rhetor’s goal. Use Aristotle’s canons. Assess the impact or reaction of the audience.

Aristotle’s Canons of Rhetoric

Invention, arrangement, style, and delivery.

Narrative

A story that includes at least two events. The events must be temporally related, have a causal or contributing relationship, and relate to the same unified subject.

Narrative Paradigm

Humans are storytelling animals. We frame our understanding of the world through narrative structures and communicate through stories.

Narrative Cohesion

How well a story hangs together or makes narrative sense. Refers to internal consistency.

Dimensions of Narrative Cohesion

Chronology, context, and theme.

Narrative Fidelity

How well a story “rings true” or fits into the observer’s experience. Refers to external consistency.

Assumptions of Narrative Criticism

Humans are storytellers, and narratives involve the audience.

Goals of Narrative Criticism

To understand how narratives construct meaning and influence the audience.

Types of Artifacts in Narrative Criticism

Narratives containing at least two events that are temporally related.

Analytical Steps in Narrative Criticism

Identify the objectives of the narrative. Discover how various features or strategies of the narrative accomplish those objectives. Evaluate the narrative based on its objectives.

Ideology

A pattern of beliefs that determines a group’s view of the world.

Dimensions of Ideology

Knowledge, sexuality, gender, race, power, and control.

Goals of Ideological Criticism

To analyze artifacts to uncover hidden messages and power structures.

Hegemony

When some ideologies are privileged over others.

Types of Artifacts in Ideological Criticism

Movies, magazine covers, and other cultural artifacts.

Analytical Steps in Ideological Criticism

Identify presented elements. Identify suggested elements that are linked to the presented elements. Formulate the ideology. Identify the functions of that ideology.

Genre

Discourse identifiable by certain characteristics that make it distinct from other forms of discourse.

Assumptions of Generic Criticism

Certain situations provoke similar needs and expectations in audiences. Generic critics determine how multiple artifacts share rhetorical patterns and commonalities in recurring situations.

Goals of Generic Description

To determine whether a genre exists among a set of artifacts.

Goals of Generic Participation

To determine whether an artifact fits into a genre.

Goals of Generic Application

To determine whether an artifact is successful in meeting the characteristics of its genre.

Types of Artifacts Used in Generic Criticism

Movies, music, texts, advertisements, and speeches.

Steps of Generic Description

Observe similarities in responses to similar situations. Collect artifacts that occur in similar situations. Analyze the artifacts for shared characteristics. Formulate an organizing principle of the genre.

Steps of Generic Participation

Describe the perceived situational requirements and organizing principles of the genre, using an outside source to define the genre. Describe the perceived situational requirements and organizing principles of the artifact. Compare the characteristics of the artifact with those of the genre to determine whether it belongs to that genre.

Steps of Generic Application

Describe the perceived situational requirements and organizing principles of the genre, using an outside source to define the genre. Describe the perceived situational requirements and organizing principles of the artifact. Compare the characteristics of the artifact with those of the genre. Evaluate whether and how the artifact fulfills the required characteristics of that genre.