When dealing with rhetoric, many people mainly concern themselves with rhetorical subject or audience, without much consideration for situation. But if one were to say rhetoric is situational, it would mean that: rhetoric is a response, situations give it significance, situation is a necessary condition, the situations do not always spur utterance, the situation can be altered by rhetoric, discourse functions to the needs of the situation, and the situation controls the response. Rhetorical situation is mainly defined as a complex of any circumstances that can present exigency, which allows for discourse that may change human decision, to be altered. Exigence, audience, and constraints are the three constituents relevant to rhetorical situation. Our natural environment is constantly changing so rhetorical discourse is necessary as a practical means for us to investigate and shape our reality.
The article is very relevant in analyzing the concept of rhetoric. I can see how rhetorical situation should be a component that draws more concern, but since we emphasize subject and audience, we let it naturally resolve itself. When I think of the mere idea, time, place, and circumstance are the first things that come to mind. I find it interesting that Bitzer’s article is almost forcing readers to backpedal through the process of rhetoric in order to understand it. Logically, one would usually consider the audience, plan the subject matter, and then deliver it in the situation. Bitzer is saying how situations arise as conditions for us to respond to, which makes sense in a grand view of things.
No comments:
Post a Comment