This response to Jesse Bazzul and Heather Sykes' paper, "The secret identity of a biology textbook: straight and naturally sexed," explores their critiques of textbooks and curricula that authoritatively present scientific accounts of the natural world without engaging students in critical thinking. It proposes that we need to go beyond such…

Treats the educational video, "Miracle of Life," as exemplary of pro-life discourse broader than abortion. States that bio-medical knowledge which makes the video's rhetoric possible presumes a social order system focused on reproduction. Considers rhetoric of bodies in Western culture, anatomy lesson as a rhetorical act, and politics of…

Noting that one of the greatest criticisms of television is the lack of television criticism itself, this paper proposes a multidimensional approach to the subject, based on current forms of criticism and theory. The 10 forms of criticism or theory discussed in the paper are (1) rhetorical criticism, (2) dramatic criticism, (3) literary criticism,…

Explores the rhetorical strategy of feminist appropriation to assess its function as a counterhegemonic tactic. Analyzes two appropriations: the Australian film "Shame" (appropriating "Shane") and Margaret Atwood's poems "Orpheus (1)" and "Eurydice" as a collective appropriation of the classical myth.…

Demonstrates that, because of certain elements of the rhetorical situation in which "Kent State" was presented and because of the nature of its composition, the docudrama functioned to purify the image of Bill Schroeder, one of the four students killed on the Kent State University campus on May 4, 1970. (PD)

William Gibson's 1984 cyberpunk novel "Neuromancer" continues to be a touchstone in cultural representations of the impact of new information and communication technologies on the self. As critics have noted, the posthumanist, capital-driven, urban landscape of "Neuromancer" resembles a Foucaultian vision of a panoptically engineered social space…

Analyzes the rhetorical practices and the theoretical writings of Dionysius of Halicarnassus. Concludes that he regarded orations as practical instruments and that the judgment that he was disinterested in persuasion is untenable. (JMF)

Proposes a study of "Citizen Kane" in high school using a somewhat simplified version of post-modern literary critical theory. Chooses this film because of its familiarity and accessibility and because the ambiguity and indeterminacy of its text allow room for exploration by students. (NKA)

Approaches film criticism using classical and modern rhetorical concepts. Discusses the nature and effectiveness of the filmmaker's modes of appeal--to logos, pathos, and ethos, and the appropriateness of his/her rhetorical stance--the balance of attitudes toward subject, audience, and his/her creative self. (JMF)

Identifies major trends in children's film production of last four years noting quality, cinematic technique, and content, with examples from recent children's films. Portrayal of family relationships, empathy for those who are different, nonstereotypic sexual role models, and films available in video are discussed. Addresses of 10 distributors…

Examines Syron's novel as a strategic rhetorical response to the problems of racism in America with far-ranging implications in American social and institutional history. Argues that the novel's shaping vision illuminates the ethical dilemma of the liberal humanist and explores the ramifications of violence for self-definition and social reform.…

Argues that films and documentaries are useful in promoting critical analysis and classroom discussion. Discusses films that are effective teaching tools. Warns that some films may provide only one side of a story, and teachers must be careful to present a balanced discussion. Includes sources for obtaining these films. (AJL)

Examines the issues in adjudicating disputes between critics and experts over quality in children's literature. Finds that critics look for the best work, and popularity is irrelevant to them, while the "expert" looks for books that define the time that the expert lives in. Explores one critic/expert debate over Katharine Tozer's…

Examines how literary criticism exploits and marginalizes the poem as printed artifact. Argues that the author-centered, phonocentric premise of close reading neutralizes spatial dynamics and reduces material identity to the status of a transparent medium. Suggests that appreciation of silent visual form is a convention of post modernist writing.…

Examines the role of critical language in film criticism. Compares and contrasts Monroe Beardsley's philosophy on film aesthetics with the New Criticism. Outlines some of the contributions Beardsley has made to the study of film criticism. (KM)