This week's readings focused heavily on the idea of agency, the way in which rhetoric, words, and actions have the ability to effect change. Miller discussed how rhetorical agency can allow for a wide-range of groups to participate in discourse that leads to change. Particularly, "rhetorical agency is important because it would give voice to the voiceless, empowering subaltern groups, and thus, presumably, weakening structures of institutional, corporate, and ideological domination" (Carolyn R. Miller, p.144). Allowing for rhetorical agency is essential in building a more equal and fair society, as it would allow for more people from various backgrounds to effect change, as opposed to leaving this to the already dominant groups and institutions.
This idea led me to thinking about how the pandemic has affected our ability to participate in rhetorical agency. At a national and local level, many people were not allowed to show up to conferences to discuss ideas or present feedback to those they have elected. This ultimately weakens our society by not allowing groups this agency and only allowing for dominant culture to prevail. This lack of interaction and rhetorical agency lead to more corporate and ideological domination while taking away from the already voiceless.
Hi Keenan! I think your thoughts on how the pandemic have impacted our ability to participate in rhetorical agency are really interesting. My first thought was the things we lose in communication through communicating entirely online. The loss of body language and other non verbal cues that we experience on Zoom diminish the voices of so many people.
ReplyDeleteThe quote from Carolyn R. Miller was really interesting in this respect because on Zoom it is difficult to insert yourself into a conversation. For those who are already facing an unfair power balance, virtual conversations can heighten that imbalance and weaken rhetorical agency.