Examines the concept of the universal audience as the basic factor of Chaim Perelman's rhetorical theory and concludes that it is subject to the same criticism as Rousseau's general will and Kant's categorical imperative. (JMF)

Contrasts the rhetoric of Communist pamphlets in the periods before and after 1935. Examines the Third Period's advocacy of violent overthrow of the government and the Popular Front's appeal to cooperation and unity in opposition to fascism. Analyzes the lack of success of both movements in the United States. (JMF)

Examines the writing of Pliny the Younger as representative of rhetorical theory and practice in the period between Quintilian and Fronto. Points out that Pliny's ideas on speech preparation, invention and arrangement, style, and delivery give answers to some of the timeless questions of rhetoric. (PD)

Discusses some modern elements in Adam Muller's rhetorical theory, particularly the stress on the dialogical, dynamic, and organic nature of the communicative process. Muller's concepts are compared with current concepts of identification and the rhetorical situation. (JMF)

Traces the history of Populism and stresses various characteristics of Populist rhetoric such as its educational nature and concern for individual worth and rights. (MH)

Argues that rhetorical criticism has approached the new persuasions and propaganda of 20th century America only with great difficulty, and that a greater understanding of the relationships between the new managerial rhetoric and the old criticism will resolve discrepant critical perspectives on modern social influence. (JAD)

Establishes that narrative theorists of the Hellenistic period described the ill-defined technique of architectonic parallelism by way of its absence, criticizing less elaborated works as unfinished and half-finished. Offers two narrative complexes from the "Gospel of Mark" as case examples of his assumptions of audience awareness as a…

Suggests that Jacques Derrida's deconstructive analyses expose the "metaphysical exigency," a concealed choice significant to a philosophical position's exposition. Contrasts Derrida's views with Martin Heidegger's, particularly with respect to intersubjectivity and disclosure of being. Question the possibility for communication and…

By July 1994, "Politically Correct Bedtime Stories" had appeared for the third time on the "New York Times" bestseller list with sales exceeding 100,000 copies. One year later, there were almost 1.5 million copies of "Politically Correct Bedtime Stories" in print as it continued to excite public commentary. This popular book is an ideal case study…

Contends that a modern theory of the composing process can be based directly on evolutionary theory as it relates to the origins and history of consciousness. (Author)

Discusses secrecy and disclosure as rhetorical forms, especially as expressed in the archetypal role of translator and in commonplaces. (JK)

Maintains that John Quincy Adams'"Lectures on Rhetoric and Oratory" and Adams Sherman Hill's "Principles of Rhetoric" reveal significant differences in what their authors perceive to be the most salient environmental conditions facing their students. (JK)

Explores the rhetorical nature of political cartoons by applying Kenneth Burke's concepts and terminology to this graphic art form. Examines (1) formal strategy of "perspective by incongruity," (2) burlesque attitude in political cartoons, and (3) fusion of form and attitude in the tropal principles of this graphic art. Draws from…

Analyzes speeches in which Reagan challenges the following convention: science will continue to create technologically advanced weapons against which no effective defense will be developed, making deterrence through an assured retaliatory capability the only possible defense. Textual analysis reveals how public discourse can achieve unities of…

Views Reagan's "Star Wars" address as part of the culturally evolving myth of the New Frontier. Discusses how the speech creates the illusion of both preserving and transcending science by (1) subordinating technical reasoning to prevent nuclear holocaust and (2) using technoscience to rescript history and remove temporal and spacial…