Contemporary Rhetorical Theory: A Reader

An indispensable text--now revised and expanded for the digital age--this volume showcases some of the most important work by contemporary rhetorical theorists. The introduction and section openers frame major problems and questions facing the field. Topics include the epistemological status of rhetoric, how rhetorical address shapes public responses to social and political controversies, the shifting contexts of public communication, how theorists have negotiated the tensions between modernist and postmodernist considerations, mass media, and the relationship between rhetoric and traditionally marginalized groups. A wide range of voices from the 1970s to today are represented, including both classic essays and alternative approaches extending beyond the traditional borders of communication studies.

New to This Edition
*Reflects nearly two decades of major changes in rhetorical theory and practice.
*Includes 17 new articles and new sections on publics and counterpublics, rhetorical personae, and problems of political change.
*Addresses the sweeping impact of the Internet and digital media on the nature of public discourse.
*Shows the relevance of rhetorical theory for understanding current social issues, such as the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
*Fully revised introduction, section openers, and epilogue by the editors.

Mark J. Porrovecchio, PhD, is Director of Forensics and Associate Professor in the Department of Speech Communication at Oregon State University. He studies pragmatism and the history of speech communication and rhetoric. His work has appeared in the Western Journal of Communication, Etica & Politica, and Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society. Dr. Porrovecchio is the editor of Reengaging the Prospects of Rhetoric and author of F. C. S. Schiller and the Dawn of Pragmatism.

Celeste Michelle Condit, PhD, is Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Georgia. She studies rhetorical theory and criticism, especially in the areas of feminism, racism, rhetoric of science (genetics), and health communication, and has served as coeditor of the journals Women's Studies in Communication and Critical Studies in Media Communication. Dr. Condit is a National Communication Association Distinguished Scholar.