Longinus – On the Sublime (partial)

Longinus – On the Sublime Sublimity is the location of the mean by defining the extremes (xiii) Chapter 7 seems particularly important.  In this section Longinus discusses the relationship between rhetoric and moral worth and also notes that the sublime must stand the test of time.  Chapter 8 goes on to discuss how sublimity is caused: both from nature and from technique. Longinus notes that he is interested in how “sublimity” can be useful “for men in political life”... Read More

Corbett – The Rhetoric of the Open Hand and the Rhetoric of the Closed Fist

Corbett – The Rhetoric of the Open Hand and the Rhetoric of the Closed Fist Introduction: 1.     Definitions: i.    Closed fist – symbolized the tight, spare, compressed discourse of the philosopher.  In the contemporary condition, the closed fist “might signify the kind of persuasive activity that seeks to carry its point by non-rationale, non-sequential, often non-verbal, frequently provocative means. ii.    Open hand – symbolized the relaxed, expansive,... Read More

St. Augustine – On Christian Doctrine – Books I & IV

St. Augustine – On Christian Doctrine – Books I & IV Book I From Book I, Chapter I Augustine claims that this work is in the service of creating a useful/accurate hermeneutic for the scriptures.  In chapter II the author highlights how this work will be also be concerned with semiotics – or the function of signs (though of course he wouldn’t use that language).  This points to the probable uptake of particular signs – a distinctly rhetorical consideration of the... Read More

Muckelbauer – The Future of Invention

Muckelbauer – The Future of Invention Chapter One – “The Problem of Change” Muckelbauer situates his book around one premise: the supposedly distinct scholarly approaches of humanism/postmodernism, foundationalism/anti-foundationalism, universalism/relativism have all hinge on a dialectical notion of change.  This means that if change is dialectical, every “new” reading academics perform is merely a negation of an existing reading. . . not an addition/accretion. ... Read More

Gries – Practicing Methods in Ancient Cultural Rhetorics: Uncovering Rhetorical Action in Moche Burial Rituals

Laurie Gries – “Practicing Methods in Ancient Cultural Rhetorics: Uncovering Rhetorical Action in Moche Burial Rituals” in Rhetorics of the Americas 3114 BCE to 2012 CE G. claims that studying cultures on their own terms is the future of ancient non-Western rhetorical historiography.  In this piece she will demonstrate what that looks like. The use of symbols inscribed on material artifiacts will be the main means of meeting Pre-Columbian cultures on their own terms as... Read More