Rhetoric Beyond the Mediterranean
Comparative Rhetoric
"We aren't going to win playing by the written rules." -Stacy Abrams
When one does play by the rules and wins, the goalpost is moved.
"Rhetoric is a human phenomenon, if by rhetoric we mean the study and application of how words influence thought and action."
This is probably one of my more favored definitions (and I may use it for my definition in the Final Exam). I think that using "thought and action" allows for an expanded view of what rhetoric could be without necessarily being limited to speeches. Broad but clear.
However, I do want to defend cats here. While they cannot say much besides the "meow" and "mew," I do think of them as quite persuasive rhetoricians since they can influence human behavior to get what they want. Cats can mimic a baby crying which appeals to a human's instincts to see what's wrong. However, this does rely on a human having a more "nurturing" trait toward babies (as I would be like "not my problem"). Also, people are using buttons now that cats can press to ask for things and so far some cats can understand and utilize simple words. There is the argument for AI being rhetoric as well because we can be influenced by them.
"Just as history is propaganda, sometimes unintentionally, so too is theorizing."
Seeing as theories stem from a cultural and historical background, I would argue theories can contain just as much propaganda. One example is a witch floats while a woman sinks. The witch trials in Europe and America are a testament to how rhetoric can influence theories.
"labels over-simplify reality"
Labeling, classifying, and tagging is important. It does the best it can to fit a certain theme or type together, but it is not perfect. This is frustrating as this means nothing is in straight order but bent piles. Easier to navigate but can be clunky at times.
"If you want to consult your own experience, when was the last time you heard an adult say to a boy in distress, "Shake it off" or "Man up"?"
While I cannot remember the last time I physically saw this, I have seen mothers soothing their boys similar to girls. I think of this as an improvement in treating a larger societal problem with men and emotions, but I don't remember the last time I saw how a man reacts to his son crying. However, I have heard on TV and online by right-wing men this type of language. Not to be an armchair therapist, but the rhetoric typically boils down to "I was not treated this nicely neither should you" and "this is what is destroying America."
"the good kind of trouble".
I think this is a good quote in relation to social movements like the Civil Rights movement.
"These people don't think they are tribalist"
I've seen an insurgent of comments on social media that when a person of a minority group is given a title or high-ranking position, they are cast under immediate suspicion. By wanting to be anti-tribalists, they end up being tribalists. In the end, the status quo is still enacted socially.
"there will always also be alternative or shadow rhetorics because trying to talk others into giving you what you want or need or even just recognizing you as you, is a human trait, not a cultural artifact."
I can speak from a nonbinary experience of trying to "recognize" or "justify" my existence. To the average skeptic, you can go through the motions of explaining history, science, and psychology. This is a good rhetorical strategy if given a holistic argument (such as not just relying on historical examples). However, the audience is key. I will not be able to wiggle my way through the "facts don't care about your feelings crowd" even if I explain the facts at hand. It really is a pick-and-choose-your-battles type thing. Plus there is the optics one has to consider. If I am the one speaking on the issue, I am more likely to be recognized as nonbinary and given more credence than a person who is strictly feminine or masculine. Similar to having a transwoman or transman that "passes" rather than not.
Annotated Bibliography
"non-Western vs. Western traditions"
Honestly, I think part of the problem is that the category of western and non-western still exsiting in most spaces. I understand why someone who has the agenda of promoting a western or non-western propagandist view, but not the average scholar or student. I would think it is better to group by countries/regions and time periods. There are other interesting ways to categorize as well such as religion. It is so odd we use such a vague terminology.
"although we do still anticipate a radical recentering of college and university curricula so that global becomes a driving force rather than an additive or an inclusion"
I am curious about how global and the feminist lens will expand. What goes into global? What type of feminism are we utilizing? Intersectional? While the possibilities of new spaces being created are exciting, I am skeptical as the "ivory tower" is not one to change quickly or readily. I am particularly interested in how queer rhetoric will fit into all of this. I've seen an expansion, but I patiently wait for it.
Seriously, there are so many titles waiting. I looked on GSU's library and no one has seized the chance of having their title be "Are you a friend of Dorothy?" For shame.
The Art of Writing
In general, I found this one of the most relatable texts of the semester as I am a writer myself. Also, it is a breath of fresh air not to be browbeaten that writing is a curse upon mankind. I would 100% resurrect Socrates just so he could dialectically cry about "what the world has come to."
"Only through writing and then revising and revising may one gain the necessary insight."
I see this quote as writing being the application, but revising being the true "practice." A writer aiming for perfection the first time will never write, but a writer ready to fix their mistakes will truly learn.
"though the ideas tend to be trivial."
From a seasoned writer's perspective, newbies can get so caught up in originality that they never start and they become so attached to the idea they are concocting that they fear of it being taken. You could tell a group of a thousand people to write about a dragon and a princess and you will see a thousand different ways it has been written. It takes time for one to learn not to cling to the idea and more to the execution. People will claw at their ideas to stay neatly inside what they had originally planned only for it to scramble the rest of the project.
While other writers in classes I have taken will cling to every word they can and not wish to change, I was off "murdering my darlings."
"When verbosity is restrained and proper order established, one is saved from the pain of further and further revision."
This was an active problem I would see in writing classes. Wordiness and unneeded scenes can cause revision to be treacherous especially if one has gone way over the word or page count. At that point, it was considered "cutting limbs off."
"We carry the bucket from the well, but it is soon again empty"
This is similar to a quote in The Artist's Way. Creativity is a bucket we must constantly fill with water to maintain. The suggestion provided by the author is to do things that spark creativity such as an Artist's Date which can be as simple as going to the park.
Difficulties of Persuasion
"It is said that because of his stutter, Han Fei could not properly present his ideas in court."
While his fate of not being able to properly defend himself is similar to Socrates' situation, I would argue Socrates was insistent on not learning how to do rhetoric. Han Fei seems more a victim of his stutter than a lack of wanting to defend himself. So, the sophists are right? Kind of.
"On the whole, the difficult thing about persuasion is to know the mind of the person one is trying to persuade and to be able to fit one's words to it."
Being able to read the audience matters. The groupings of people are helpful for speaking to a crowd, but what about when it's just you and a ruler? I argue that psychology is a critical component to better understanding a person for these types of situations.
"Therefore you too should become a cook or a slave when necessary; if this enables you to gain the confidence of the ruler and save the state, then it is no disgrace for a man of ability to take such a course."
A real "the ends justify the means" situation. Do what you must and get what you came for.
"The rich man's family praised the son for his wisdom, but eyed the old man next door with suspicion."
While the truth is good, sometimes the truth should not be told. If the old man had not said it, he would still be looked at innocently. I am not saying to not tell the truth but to consider who you are in the situation, what the truth is, who you will be telling it to, and kairos. Of course, if you don't mind being the bad guy, then let loose.
"was because the ruler's love had turned to hate."
This seems like an unavoidable circumstance as Mi had no control over their aging. I think this is not a great example of gaining the ruler's love. I think a better lesson would have been to "gain traits that do not fade as a lover is scorned for old age."