Rhetorical CritiqueNarrative CritiqueBiography:Fisher on the Narrative Paradigm4 Characteristics of NarrativeTraditional paradigm of rationality vs. Fisher’s paradigm:Narrative Analysis of an Artifact"All the world's a stage"Slide 9Slide 10IdentificationKey ConceptsThe Elements of Symbolic DramaLogging Old Growth ForestsSlide 15Pendatic Analysis20 possible “Pendatic Ratios”The Dominant TermAfter AnalysisBackground Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmRhetorical CritiqueNarrative Criticism&DramatismBackground Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmNarrative Critique•“Humans are the Storytelling animal.”–Alasdair MacIntyre •Short stories, Comics, Novels, Films•Poetry & Songs•Conversations, Interviews, Speeches•Even Paintings and Quilts•Walter Fisher and the Narrative ParadigmBackground Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmBiography:•Emeritus Professorat USC Annenberg•Fisher earned his doctorate in communication studies at the University of Iowa. •He specializes in rhetorical theory and criticism, political communication, and argumentation, addressing in particular problems in reason and ethics.Background Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmFisher on the Narrative Paradigm•Fisher, Walter R. (1984). "Narration as Human Communication Paradigm: The Case of Public Moral Argument." in Communication Monographs 51. pp. 1-22. •Fisher, Walter R. (1985). "The Narrative Paradigm: An Elaboration." in Communication Monographs 52. December. pp. 347-367. •Fisher, Walter R. (1985). "The Narrative Paradigm: In the Beginning." in Journal of Communication 35.Autumn. pp. 74-89. •Fisher, Walter R. (1987). Human Communication as Narration: Toward a Philosophy of Reason, Value, and Action. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press. •Fisher, Walter R. (1988). "The Narrative Paradigm and the Assessment of Historical Texts." in Argumentation and Advocacy 25.Fall. pp. 49-53. •Fisher, Walter R. (1989). "Clarifying the Narrative Paradigm." in Communication Monographs 56. pp. 55-58. •Fisher, Walter R. (1994). "Narrative Rationality and the Logic of Scientific Discourse." in Argumentation 8. pp. 21-32. •Fisher, Walter R. (1995). "Narration, Knowledge, and the Possibility of Wisdom" in Rethinking Knowledge: Reflections Across the Disciplines (Suny Series in the Philosophy of the Social Sciences). (Fisher & Robert F. Goodman as editors). New York: State University of New York Press.Background Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htm4 Characteristics of Narrative1. Comprised of at least 2 active or stative events•“stative” expressing a state or condition2. Events organized in time order—•chronology3. Causal or Contributing relationship between events4. Must be about a unified subjectBackground Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmTraditional paradigm of rationality vs. Fisher’s paradigm:•People are essentially rational •We make decisions on the basis of arguments •The type of speaking situation determines the course of our argument •Rationality is determined by how much we know and how well we argue •The world is a set of logical puzzles that we can solve through rational analysis •People are essentially storytellers •We make decisions on the basis of good reasons •History, biography, culture, and character determine what we consider good reasons •Narrative rationality is determined by the coherence and fidelity of our stories •The world is a set of stories from which we choose, and thus constantly re-create, our livesBackground Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmNarrative Analysis of an Artifact1. What is the Setting or Scene?2. Who are the main Characters?3. Who is the Narrator? Direct presentation?4. What are the major and minor Events?5. What are the Temporal Relations among the events?6. What Cause-&-Effect Relationships?7. Who is the Audience of the narrative?8. What are the major Themes?•Formulate a research question.Background Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htm"All the world's a stage"Dramatism Kenneth Burke (1897-1993)Background Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmBackground Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmBackground Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmIdentification•The Basic Principle of rhetoric•The use of symbols to create drama where communicator and audience identify with each other•Audience and communicator become “consubstantial”Background Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmKey Concepts•Substance: the essential characteristics of a person as seen by self and others•Consubstantiality: shared substance•Identification Division: consubstantiality always divides as well as unifying people•God terms & Devil terms: symbols connoting good or evil association with substanceBackground Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmThe Elements of Symbolic Drama•Motive and Burke’s Pentad–Act, Scene, Agent, Agency, and Purpose•The Guilt-Redemption Cycle–Arousal of guilt–Purification by:•Mortification (self sacrifice)•Victimage (scapegoating someone or something else)–Redemption•Tragedy and the Comic CorrectiveBackground Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmLogging Old Growth ForestsLogger RhetoricEnvironmental RhetoricACTHarvesting LumberDestroying ForestsSCENEMarket for LumberEcological CrisisAGENTResponsible BusinessGreedy CapitalistAGENCYScientific TechniquesReckless, wasteful methodsPURPOSEJobs, wise resource useProfit and exploitationTable by Prof. Bob Craig, U of CO @ BoulderBackground Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmIllustration from Prof. Bob Craig, U of CO @ BoulderBackground Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htmPendatic Analysis•Identify the ACT•Where or what is the situation?-SCENE•Who is the main character?-AGENT•How is the act accomplished?-AGENCY•What is intended by performing the act?-PURPOSEApply ratios to determine dominant term:Background Art: “Revival” by Susan Hickman © http://susansart.org/index.htm20 possible “Pendatic Ratios”•Scene - Act: