Chapter 23 Dramatism - Lecture notes 23 PDF

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Chloe Beighley...

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COM 295 Communication Theory

Chapter 23: Dramatism Kenneth Burke was a twentieth-century rhetorical critic. He carefully analyzed the language that speakers and authors used so he could discern the motivation behind their message. Dramatism: A technique of analysis of language and thought as basically modes of action rather than as means of conveying information. The Dramatistic Pentad: A Lens for Interpreting Verbal Action  Burke’s Dramatistic pentad is his best-known method to figure out the motive behind the message.  Dramatistic pentad: A tool critics can use to discern the motives of a speaker or writer by labeling five key elements of the human drama: act, scene, agent, agency, and purpose. Dramatistic Pentad

Act

Scene

Agent

Agency

Purpose

Scientific Observation

Response

Situation

Subject

Stimulus

Target

  

God-term: The word a speaker uses to which all other positive words are subservient. Devil-term: The term that sums up all that a speaker regards as bad, wrong, or evil. Ratio: The relative importance of any two terms of the pentad as determined by their relationship.

Language as the Genesis of Guilt  Burke regarded human beings as symbol-using animals and was obviously in love with language. He examined words, defined words, played with words, and made up his own words. But he also regarded language as the source of our downfall.  Guilt: Burke’s catchall term to cover every form of tension, anxiety, embarrassment, shame, disgust, and other noxious feelings intrinsic to the human condition.  Perspective by incongruity: Calling attention to a truth by linking two dissonant or discrepant terms. The Guilt-Redemption Cycle: A Universal Motive for Rhetoric  Whatever private purpose a speaker or writer has, Burke believed that getting rid of guilt is the ultimate motive for public rhetoric.  Two possible ways of offloading guilt: o Purge guilt through self-blame. Described theologically as mortification, this route requires confession of sin and a request for forgiveness.

COM 295 Communication Theory Mortification: Confession of guilt and request for forgiveness. o Look for signs of victimage in every rhetorical act.  Victimization: The process of naming an external enemy as the source of all personal or public life; scapegoating. 

Identification: Without it, there is no Persuasion  How can a public speaker convince an audience to embrace his or her viewpoint an enter into the guilt-redemption cycle?  Identification: The common ground between speaker and audience; overlap of physical characteristics, talents, occupation, friends, experiences, personality, beliefs, and attitudes; consubstantiation....