Rhetorical Dimensions of Popular CultureThe main argument of this book is that most rhetorical theory defines rhetoric as its manifestations - speeches, essays, poems and so forth. It proposes that rhetoric be regarded as the social function that manages meaning - a function with many complex manifestations. The author develops a theoretical scheme to explain this concept and details principles for critical and pedagogical application of his theory. In the second part of the book, the author applies theory and critical principles to the complex and fragmented texts of popular culture - television programmes, science fiction, horror films, popular periodicals and novels - and to the arena of urban race relations. |
Contents
Media Determinism and the Look of Public | 3 |
Functions and Manifestations of Rhetoric | 37 |
Repertoires for Rhetorical Living | 69 |
Copyright | |
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action agents Altheide American Amityville Horror argues argument artifacts audience awareness Becker's model become bits Black Body Snatchers chapter complex constructed context created decisions diffuse texts discrete texts dominant Dracula ence equipment for living everyday exigency expositional fire formal ghost ghost ship Goodman Gremlins haunted house films Hell House homology horror hostage identify ideology images implicative individual influence interventionist Jesse Jackson kind late seventies manages meaning manifestations of rhetoric Marxist mass media meaningful media determinism medium messages metonymized Milwaukee Journal Mogwai mosaic narrative paradox patterns perspective political Poltergeist popular culture Postman problems public discourse quotidian race relations racial rhetorical dimension rhetorical function rhetorical studies rhetorical theory rhetorical transaction Salem's Lot scholars sense shadow text signs sion situation social space speech story structure struggle Studies in Mass subject position symbolic television tion understand vampiring waukee White