Rhetoric The Power Of Discourse - 1689 Words

The Power of Discourse The art of rhetoric has been present since the beginning of time. The birth of rhetoric is usually attributed to the Greeks as they presented us with ideas and theories about discourse. Famous philosophers such as Plato, the Sophists, and Aristotle presented us with theories that continue to be studied throughout. Most importantly the reason why we still study rhetoric is because rhetoric is everywhere. Our everyday lives are filled with the intensity of rhetoric and what it can do. Thus, rhetoric is the art of words that has the ability to influence, persuade, and create communication and intimacy in societal connections. Rhetoric becomes an essential component in establishing connections with others in order to cooperate and coexist in society. Many philosophers have studied rhetoric through very different lenses; some focusing on ethics, while others focused on the magic of words, and others sought the sublime. The most important form of rhetoric is viewing discourse as power. Rhetoric has the ability to move others in different ways, either through force, authority, and strength. Power carries such a negative connotation but it can be filled with many different ideas of rhetoric. In the following, I will demonstrate how power in rhetoric is used through its many forms. The online Webster’s dictionary defines power as â€Å"the ability to act or produce an effect.† Power can be interpreted in many different ways but to me it carries both a good andShow MoreRelated The Visual Rhetoric of Traumatic Histories Essay1107 Words   |  5 PagesThe Visual Rhetoric of Traumatic Histories Among the problematics that guide my understanding of the possibility of visual rhetorics are three. Each might be considered to exists within/bring together the nexus of history, images, and power. 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In Lorde’s (1984) Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches and Rich’s (1980) On Lies, Secrets, and Silence, these rhetoricians examined how classicism, racism and sexism work together based on heterosexuality to oppress women in society. Therefore, rhetoricians claimed for solidarity and sisterhood despite the race and class differences existing among women. Consequently, female rhetoric theory focused on combining personal, sexualRead MorePathos, Logos And Reflection924 Words   |  4 Pagesafter college; I learned the power of the discourse community, how to create a resume, and how to create well developed detailed essays and reports. I also learned about rhetoric and rhetorical situations. Rhetoric is used in every argument, every thesis, and every speech. Rhetoric is a huge part of everyones lives whether people know it or not. There are three branches, so to say, of rhetoric: logos, ethos, and pathos. Each contributes to the overall aspect of rhetoric. Logos is used mostly in argumentsRead MoreFrankenstein: Technology1728 Words   |  7 Pages(author), says that in England early in the eighteenth century, there exist a populous discourse community that accepted the rhetoric of science (Rabkin 39). This rhetoric has proof extending back to the English Renaissance. Those sensitive to change and those prepared to embrace a rhetoric of change need not be scientists. While scientists address a discourse community of scientists, novelists address a wider discourse community of the literate. If we can accept the earlier argument that scienceRead MoreThe Consequences Of Technology On Mary Shelley s Frankenstein Essay1703 Words   |  7 Pagessays that in England early in the eighteenth century, there exist a populous discourse community that accepted the rhetoric of science (Rabkin 39). This rhetoric has proof extending back to the English Renaissance. 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In the 1990s Risk Society became popular and it acceptance coincided with the infiltration of Risk Discourse into sociology, politics, literatureRead MoreRhetoric And Its Impact On The Modern Electronic Age1734 Words   |  7 PagesRhetoric is defined as the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively. Rhetoric in our electronic age has improved greatly due to technological advances since the practice of rhetoric was created. Major philosophers such as Andrea Lunsford, Lawrence P erill, Aristotle, and Sophist such as Gorgias and Protagoras have shown reasons why rhetoric is important and has improved over the many years dating back to Greek, Renaissance, and Roman times. Throughout the modern electronic age rhetoric