Rhetoric Review Sep 2009

The Rhetorical Singularity

Nathan Crick Louisiana State University

Abstract

Democracy is often described in terms of the aesthetics of multiplicity in uniformity, which celebrates the feeling of community of individuals coming together in difference. However, a more reliable mark of a healthy democratic society is the periodic presence of rhetorical singularities that challenge shared conventions and risk rhetorical failure for the sake of inspiring excellence in character. Like the prose of Emerson and Nietzsche, rhetorical singularities employ tragic ideals to expose the comic limitations of culture in order to transvaluate values and dare creative individuals to strive past limits and so advance society beyond the bounds of convention.

Journal
Rhetoric Review
Published
2009-09-17
DOI
10.1080/07350190903185023
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
rhetorical criticism
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