Argues that the rhetorical impact of "Agnes of God" stems from the unconventional treatment of dialectical conflict, and from the film's "dialectical disorientation." Discusses rhetorical implications of form, arguing that "Agnes of God" is representative of a class of highly configural films that function to jar…

Using Burkean analysis, this essay shows how films about haunted houses can serve as symbolic equipment to help audiences cope with real life problems. (PD)

Rhetorical studies of the media during the past decade have tended to focus upon specific types of media such as music, television, film, and radio. Most recently, however, rhetorical studies such as James Chesebro's "The Media Reality" suggest that rhetorical critics are moving toward an examination of the collective influence of the media in…