Neo-Aristotelian Criticism

According to the textbook neoAristotelianism was the approach of using the canons of rhetoric as the "units of analysis." In the communication field, this was the first technique used for rhetorical criticism.

The Three steps in analyzing the artifact are: Reconstructing the context in which the artifact originally occurred, the five canons applied to the artifact, and evaluating the effect the artifact has made on the audience. When reconstructing the context the critic must look at the rhetor and the background of the rhetor. They must also look for the occasion of the rhetoric, therefore what influenced the rhetor to choose this particular topic and determine why they took they approach that they took. While reconstructing the context you must also look at the audience. The rhetor creates the rhetoric to target specific individuals or groups.

The next step in analyzing the artifact is applying the canons. The five canons are invention, organization, style, memory, and delivery. In the invention the rhetor must present the ideas through Logos, ethos, and pathos. The organization is the structure of the rhetoric, and how it is going to be put together. Some portions of the rhetoric have greater weight and value and must be places accordingly. The canon of style deals with the language used by the rhetor. Figures of speech, images and ect. Delivery is how the speaker presents and communicates the rhetoric; Postures, movements, gestures, and of course, eye contact. The final canon is memory. Memorization of the speech is sometimes useful and important.

Finally, when analyzing the artifcant you must "assess the effects." It is important to view the results and influence of the rhetor on the audience. The results will depend on the rhetors intentions and goals, so these must be kept in mind when evaluating the results. The rhetor may have initial and long term effects on the audience.

Ideological Criticism

An Ideology is a group of ideas that reflect different goals and social needs of a particular group or culture. In an ideological analysis the critic will look past the surface to find the beliefs, values, and assumptions that the artifact is trying to imply. According to the book Rhetorical Criticism by Sonja K. Foss, “an ideology is pattern of beliefs that determines a group’s interpretations of some aspects of the world.” These beliefs are reflected upon a particular group’s social, economical, and political interests. It is a framework of thoughts and ideas that people use to define a certain aspect in the world, or the world itself. Evaluative beliefs are the primary components of an ideology. These are beliefs which can have different views, opinions, or judgments. Several Ideologies, or patterns of belief, can be present in any culture and can be in rhetorical artifacts. Some beliefs, even if people have opposing views, are dominant and this certain view becomes the correct belief, this is called hegemony. Hegemony is an important characteristic of Ideology.

Introductory Blog

Hello, My name is Chloe Hausler. I have just recently declared my major to be Communications. I have no yet picked an emphasis within the major, because I am not quite sure what I want to do with it yet. I was hoping to one day get into radio, but that is not the easiest field to enter into, and I am not so sure how good the money is. I have created this blog for my Rhetorical Criticism class and this particular post to introduce myself to those of you who do not know me. I have never really blogged like this before so this is a new type of assignment, and I am interested in how the results will turn out. I am your typical college student, there is nothing too complicated about me. I am 20 years old and I work at the monarch Sports Grille while going to school full time. I love to run and excercise, and have any type of fun with my friends. I have two wonderful sisters, who I spend as much time with as I can. What I want to get out of this class is to learn more about rhetorical criticism and to come to a full understanding of how it works.