![]() Such messages are designed to change the listener or the situation in some way, presumably to solve the problematic situation. Imbedded in these definitions are Cathcart’s assumptions that only messages that are intended are within the scope of study. Criticism is thus the counterpart of creativity” (3). Of criticism he says it is “that special form of communication which examines how communication is accomplished and whether it is worthwhile. to refer to a communicator’s intentional use of language and other symbols to influence or persuade selected receivers to act, believe, or feel the way the communicator desires in problematic situations” (2). Of the more recent critics, Cathcart says “rhetoric is used. Booth expanded rhetoric to include novels, plays, editorials and songs. He wanted a focus on social forces or movements and thought forces and figures should be studied together. Bryant (1937) was the first person to question the exclusive focus on “great” individuals. He wanted critics to make value judgments but gave no definition of such. Hunt (1935) said the critic should be focused more on values and less on performance of a work. He looked at the audience’s immediate reactions and the effect of the speech on them. Ewbank tried to broaden the scope in 1931 by performing “case studies” where the critic wrote from personal experience derived from witnessing the speech. Other scholars tried to fill in some of the gaps of this early essay. Hopefully, you can see how this parallels the focus of rhetoric in the classical period. His essay was influential in that it lead to an exclusive focus and assumption that criticism was to be centered on oral rhetoric. With this broad agenda for critics, Wichelns failed to provide them with a method to accomplish these goals. In an early (1925) essay on rhetorical criticism, the study of rhetoric was limited to that of speakers and speeches, and included a number of points to which the critic should attend: speaker’s personality, speaker’s public character, audience, speaker’s leading ideas, motives, topics, proofs, judgment of human nature, questions considered, textual authenticity, arrangement, mode of expression preparation, delivery, style, effect on audience, influence on the time (Wichelns). Pay attention to the shared qualities and assumptions. We can begin to see the relationship between rhetorical theory and criticism when we examine the beginnings of criticism. So, what is going on with this show that allows it to contain some of its racial message? These are the types of questions that rhetorical criticism can answer. You recognize that there are jokes that make fun of particular groups of people such as ethnic and racial minorities that could be labeled “racist.” Yet, you do not believe that the overall point or message of this program is to espouse a racist agenda. inspired the question, “How did the artist take a controversial subject (the war) and memorialize it in a way that diffuses the controversy”? Or maybe you are a fan of the show South Park. At its conclusion perhaps you wondered, “I know that was a great speech, but why”? Or perhaps a visit to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. Artifacts can be, for example, speeches, songs, sermons, films or works of art.) Think about a speech you have heard that was very moving and inspirational. ![]() (An artifact or text is simply the thing that the critic wants to learn about. Rhetorical criticism is an epistemology or way of knowing many scholars find effective in coming to an understanding about the communication process and the artifact under study. We will conclude with examples of how rhetorical criticism seeks to answer contemporary socio and political concerns. To explain this exciting subdiscipline we will discuss the scope of rhetorical criticism, the purpose of this method, the kinds of knowledge produced, and the relationship between rhetorical theory and criticism. ![]() In the second half of this chapter we would like to discuss a close associate to rhetorical theory-rhetorical criticism. The Relationship Between Theory and Criticism.
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