“The Day Belongs to the Students”: Expanding Epideictic's Civic Function

Rhetoric Review Mar 2008

“The Day Belongs to the Students”: Expanding Epideictic's Civic Function

Lois Agnew Syracuse University

Abstract

The audience's violent response to the 2003 Rockford College commencement address illuminates challenges that surround the epideictic genre in a politically divided society. This essay explores the nature of the conflict that arose that day in order to consider ways in which the generic form of epideictic potentially facilitates communication among people with different views. This opportunity can be realized as rhetors and audiences acknowledge generic constraints, acknowledge social concerns, search for shared understanding, and commit themselves to an epideictic encounter that serves the educational function of constructively interrogating and reimagining public values.

Journal: Rhetoric Review
Published: 2008-03-25
DOI: 10.1080/07350190801921768
Open Access: Closed
Topics: rhetorical theory

Citation Context

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Cites in this index (2)

Hauser (1999)

Aristotle on epideictic: The formation of public morality

Rhetoric Society Quarterly
Benoit (1980)

In depense op generic rhetorical criticism: John H. Patton's ‘generic criticism…

Rhetoric Society Quarterly

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