Rhetoric in Popular Culture
- Barry Brummett - The University of Texas at Austin, USA
"This is an outstanding guide to rhetorical criticism for beginning students. It nicely balances the student's need for structure with a
recognition that criticism is not like baking a cake--it is the best thing that I have ever used to teach criticism."
"A good blend of theory and praxis. An introduction to rhetoric and theory that will provide students a good overview if they have never
had a rhetoric class or if it has been awhile since they've had a rhetoric class. And then specific case studies that shows students how
to use those concepts in praxis. All done from a popular cultural lens that is appealing to students!"
"This is the most accessible textbook you can find for students who are not highly familiar with rhetoric. It provides a solid foundation in
the first chapter, but moves well beyond the Greek legacy. The author has also made some efforts to include diverse voices in the
text, though more could be done in this area."
"Brummett's "Rhetoric in Popular Culture" overviews major theoretical approaches to rhetorical criticism and applies them to a variety of
artifacts. The text includes helpful exercises to encourage students to think of criticism not as a rigid checklist but as a critical and
dynamic endeavor. Rooted in the rhetorical tradition but also informed by contemporary thought, the book offers students examples of
criticism and the theory behind critical approaches to language and thought."
"A user friendly textbook that links the rhetorical tradition and rhetorical theory and criticism to rhetorical criticism of pop culture, written
in accessible language with relevant examples for contemporary audiences."
Sample Materials & Chapters
Chapter 1. Rhetoric and the Rhetorical Tradition
Chapter 2. Rhetoric and Popular Culture