Please respond to the following question and reply to one classmate's post. Thank you.
How does the definition and understanding of what rhetoric is change due to digital writing technologies?
How does the definition and understanding of what rhetoric is change due to digital writing technologies?
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ReplyDeleteIt is on a continuum rather than a discrete act.
ReplyDeleteIn the forefront of defining digital rhetoric is the fact that it not solely composed of text, but rather, digital writers rely on images, voice, interactivity, community collaboration and motion to create a text. As Digirhet.org writes, "these tools shift the ways in which composing takes place: they change the way we do research, the way we produce texts, the way we deliver our writing" (p.240). We need to broaden the definition to include multiple ways of creating and sharing text. In the scope of the classroom, we must also look at expanding the ways we assess writing.
ReplyDeleteI liked one of thoughts shared on page 242, digital rhetoric is, "the art of informing, persuading and inspiring action in an audience through digital media." I'm assuming that in this statement digital media refers to the "images, voice and collaboration" that Cara mentions in the above response. I also agree with the first response that this digital rhetoric is a continuum and therefore difficult to pin down into a definition.
ReplyDeleteIn a way, "traditional" rhetoric worked according to patterns that were more detectable and predictable (even if moving away from formulaic approaches, the dimensions involved were limited). Now, the variable involved are numerous (types of texts, scopes, audiences, media...) and the combinations possibly infinite. Definitely we need to develop a sensitivity and a general critical awareness toward communication to be able to understand it, there are not easy guidelines or simple rules to follow.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for your posts. I agree we need to really broaden the definition of rhetoric to include ways of creating, sharing and assessing text/digital writing. Students are expanding their writing expression into various technologies including many exciting digital medias.
ReplyDeleteAs stated in DigiRhet.org, "Writing is no longer a text driven practice. Writing requires carefully and critically analyzing and selecting among multiple media elements". From this perspective, I agree with you Alessia that there are numerous variables involved and infinite possibilities and that it is dynamic and "on a continuum rather than a discrete act" as catinthecity said.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Christy - the possibilites are endless - and as Catinthecity says on a continuum. Is there any limit to what can be considered rhetoric?
ReplyDelete