Wherever there is persuasion, there is rhetoric. And wherever
there is 'meaning' there is persuasion.
Slide 5
The Key Question
Slide 6
What is involved, when we say what people are doing and why
they are doing it?
Slide 7
In a rounded statement of motives, you must have some words
that name
Slide 8
Act names what took place, in thought or deed
Slide 9
In a rounded statement of motives, you must have some words
that name Act names what took place, in thought or deed Scenethe
background of the act; the situation or conditions for what
occurred
Slide 10
In a rounded statement of motives, you must have some words
that name Act names what took place, in thought or deed Scenethe
background of the act; the situation or conditions for what
occurred Agentthe kind of person that was involved
Slide 11
In a rounded statement of motives, you must have some words
that name Act names what took place, in thought or deed Scenethe
background of the act; the situation or conditions for what
occurred Agentthe kind of person that was involved Agency the tools
or means used
Slide 12
In a rounded statement of motives, you must have some words
that name Act names what took place, in thought or deed Scenethe
background of the act; the situation or conditions for what
occurred Agentthe kind of person that was involved Agency the tools
or means used Purposethe goal or end
Slide 13
Descriptions that feature Scene: draw attention to what is
natural, necessary, inevitable Actor/Agent: draw attention to
rationality, personality, individuality, the subjective, freedom
Act: draw attention to the unique, the momentary, the unprecedented
Agency: draw attention to the tools, the instruments, the means and
ways actorsmake do Purpose: draws attention to the goal, the end,
the ultimate, the mystery
Slide 14
Slide 15
Ratios People will disagree about how to describe meaning and
motive.
Slide 16
Ratios People will disagree about how to describe meaning and
motive. These disagreements typically entail different emphases
regarding scene-act-agent-agency-purpose
Slide 17
For Example
Slide 18
Gun control advocates may emphasize the role of the
agency/instrument in a given crime
Slide 19
For Example Gun control advocates may emphasize the role of the
agency/instrument in a given crime Gun rights advocates, by
contrast, emphasize the role of the agent/actor and perhaps the
scene (poverty, mental health care, etc).
Slide 20
For Example Pro-life advocates define the act as murder and
describe the body of the mother as part of the scene
Slide 21
For Example Pro-life advocates define the act as murder and
describe the body of the mother as part of the scene Pro-choice
advocates define the act as choice and focus, often, on the
agency/means (arguing about protecting safe, effective
abortions).
Slide 22
For Example Advocates for climate change policy typically
highlight the impact of human agents, and especially the role of
fossil fuels (agency).
Slide 23
For Example Advocates for climate change policy typically
highlight the impact of human agents, and especially the role of
fossil fuels (agency). Climate change skeptics often argue that the
scene (earth) is so vast and/or resilient that human agents cannot
change it.
Slide 24
For Example Advocates for climate change policy typically
highlight the impact of human agents, and especially the role of
fossil fuels (agency). Climate change skeptics often argue that the
scene (earth) is so vast and/or resilient that human agents cannot
change it. (some connect this with a purpose based theme there is
no need/way to intervene in the divine plan
Slide 25
Critics
Slide 26
Ask how does a piece of public discourse organize
scene-act-agent-agency-purpose?
Slide 27
Critics Ask how does a piece of public discourse organize
scene-act-agent-agency-purpose? Can the account of motive be
widened? (that is, would a description that highlights the role of
individual actors benefit from an account of scene, or means,
etc).
Slide 28
Rhetoricians By contrast, speakers often seek to highlight one
of the terms and lowlight the others thus narrowing the range of
interpretations on behalf of an audience.
Slide 29
Final note A perfectionist might seek to evolve terms free of
ambiguity and inconsistencywhat we want [however] is not terms that
avoid ambiguity, but terms that clearly reveal the strategic spots
at which ambiguities necessarily arise (xviii).
Slide 30
Final note A perfectionist might seek to evolve terms free of
ambiguity and inconsistencywhat we want [however] is not terms that
avoid ambiguity, but terms that clearly reveal the strategic spots
at which ambiguities necessarily arise (xviii). Hencewe rather
consider it our task to study and clarify the resources of
ambiguity (xix).
Slide 31
Voice for the Voiceless Example of the agent-agency ratio
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/03/11/1
73816690/new-voices-for-the-voiceless-
synthetic-speech-gets-an-upgrade
Nugents Rhetoric of Motives
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilUKCqmXw TQ
Slide 34
Scapegoating
Slide 35
Burkes theory of scapegoating begins with the realization that
people use language to symbolically identify things otherwise
different and divide things otherwise similar. Identification and
division are essential rhetorical processes
Slide 36
Scapegoating
Slide 37
Anything that can be said to be a part of a whole can be
equally said to be apart from the whole
Slide 38
Scapegoating For example, where are we?
Slide 39
Scapegoating For example, where are we? Are we in Mckeesport or
White Oak? Are we in Penn State? Are we in Pittsburgh? Are we in
the United States of America?
Slide 40
Scapegoating For example, where are we? Are we in Mckeesport or
White Oak? Are we in Penn State? Are we in Pittsburgh? Are we in
the United States of America? As with Burkes other ideas, the issue
is not which answer is correct but how a rhetorician/critic uses
the ambiguity
Slide 41
Scapegoating For example, where are we? Are we in Mckeesport or
White Oak? Are we in Penn State? Are we in Pittsburgh? Are we in
the United States of America? As with Burkes other ideas, the issue
is not which answer is correct but how a rhetorician/critic uses
the ambiguity Public discourse tends to amplify/exploit one answer
to such questions Critics can open up alternatives
Slide 42
Scapegoating Now add guilt
Slide 43
Scapegoating Now add guilt If a crime is committed, do we
identify or divide?
Slide 44
Scapegoating Now add guilt If a crime is committed, do we
identify or divide? For instance, does crime in Renzie Park happen
in Penn State?
Slide 45
Scapegoating Now add guilt If a crime is committed, do we
identify or divide? For instance, does crime in Renzie Park happen
in Penn State? Is Jerry Sandusky part of the We in We are Penn
State?
Slide 46
Scapegoating Now add guilt Burke reveals two typical strategies
for dealing with threats to order:
Slide 47
Scapegoating Now add guilt Burke reveals two typical strategies
for dealing with threats to order: Mortification: Identifying as a
part of the problem and so symbolically killing (transforming) that
part of oneself to address the cause
Slide 48
Scapegoating Now add guilt Burke reveals two typical strategies
for dealing with threats to order: Mortification: Identifying as a
part of the problem and so symbolically killing (transforming) that
part of oneself to address the cause Scapegoating: Dividing apart
from the problem; placing the burden on another and symbolically
killing (transforming/exiling) the other to restore order.
Slide 49
Scapegoating Again,
Slide 50
Scapegoating Again, the rhetorician/public speaker tends to
exploit ambiguity (and deny alternatives)
Slide 51
Scapegoating Again, the rhetorician/public speaker tends to
exploit ambiguity (and deny alternatives) And The critic tends to
reveal ambiguity and open up alternatives.
Slide 52
Scapegoating Scapegoating in the Art of Enemy Making: Sam Keen
Lecture: Making Enemies
