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Richard West University of Southern Maine Lynn H. Turner Marquette University

Introducing Communication Theory Analysis and Application. Third Edition. Richard West University of Southern Maine Lynn H. Turner Marquette University. Dramatism. Chapter 19. based on the research of Kenneth Burke. Chapter Summary Theory at a Glance Introduction

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Richard West University of Southern Maine Lynn H. Turner Marquette University

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  1. Introducing Communication TheoryAnalysis and Application Third Edition Richard West University of Southern Maine Lynn H. Turner Marquette University

  2. Dramatism Chapter 19 based on the research of Kenneth Burke Chapter Summary • Theory at a Glance • Introduction • Assumptions of Dramatism • Dramatism as New Rhetoric • Critique

  3. Theory at a Glance • Life is like a play • Analyze a speaker’s motives by examining elements of a play • Guilt is the ultimate motive for speakers • Actors succeed when they provide audiences a way to purge their guilt

  4. Introduction • Dramatism implies that life is a drama • Focus is on the acts performed by various players • Like in drama, the acts are central to revealing human motives • Burke was self-taught

  5. Introduction • Drama is a useful metaphor because: • Drama indicates a grand sweep, like Burke’s goal to theorize about the whole human experience • Drama’s recognizable genres are similar to how the structure and use of language relates to human drama • Drama is addressed to an audience and so is rhetorical

  6. Assumptions of Dramatism • Brummett (1993) implies the following assumptions. • Humans are animals who use symbols • Language is the most important symbol Continued…

  7. Assumptions of Dramatism • Language and symbols form a critically important system for humans • Consistent with the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis • Words, thoughts, and actions are closely connected • Language exerts a deterministic influence Continued…

  8. Assumptions of Dramatism • Humans are choice makers • Agency

  9. Dramatism as New Rhetoric • Burke’s “new” rhetoric supplements the traditional approach • “Old” rhetoric focuses on persuasion • “New” rhetoric focuses on identification

  10. Dramatism as New Rhetoric • Identification and substance • All things have substance • Overlap of substance leads to identification • Rhetoric is needed to bridge divisions • Consubstantiality

  11. Dramatism as New Rhetoric • The process of guilt and redemption • Symbolizing • Guilt is a central motive for all symbolic activities • Broad definition of guilt Continued…

  12. Dramatism as New Rhetoric • The process of guilt and redemption Burke's cycle: • Order or hierarchy • Language • Feelings of guilt • The negative Continued…

  13. Dramatism as New Rhetoric • The process of guilt and redemption Burke's cycle: • Victimage (scapegoat or mortification) • Mortification • Scapegoating • Redemption

  14. Dramatism as New Rhetoric • The Pentad • Burke’s method for applying dramatism • The pentad consists of five points for analyzing a symbolic text like a speech • Twenty years later Burke added “attitude” • Dramatistic ratios Continued…

  15. Burke’s Pentad Figure 19.1: Burke’s Pentad

  16. Critical Strengths of Dramatism • Heuristic • Widely used for analyses • Frequently cited

  17. Criticisms of Dramatism • Parsimony • Overly complex and confusing (Foss, Foss, & Trapp, 1991) • Scope • Too broad to be meaningful • Utility • Gender and culture should be addressed (Condit, 1992)

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