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.

About the Author

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 Communicationand Critical Studies in Media Communication. Dr. Condit is a National Communication Association Distinguished Scholar.

Reviews

"The treasure trove of thematically grouped essays that I found so useful in the first edition is now supplemented by reflections on the digital environment, changing cultural practices, and evolving intellectual interests. This book is just the right anchor for a course designed to encourage graduate students or advanced undergraduates to think seriously about the possibilities of rhetoric. I relish the thought of using it for that purpose."--John Lyne, PhD, Department of Communication, University of Pittsburgh

"For anyone interested in rhetorical theory, the revised second edition of this reader is simply a 'must have.' The second edition still contains the indisputable classics of rhetorical theory, but now also covers pertinent present-day topics: digital rhetoric, invitational rhetoric, cyberspace, and social media. The book keeps the tradition of rhetorical theory alive while helping students, as well as scholars, to pursue new directions."--Jens E. Kjeldsen, PhD, Department of Information Science and Media Studies, University of Bergen, Norway; President, Rhetoric Society of Europe

"The book is organized around recurring problems and topics in rhetorical theory, which departs from the more conventional way of organizing readers around particular theorists. I have always liked the topical approach; it helps students see how rhetorical theory is constructed to solve specific problems, as well as how certain questions and concerns persist across decades."--J. David Cisneros, PhD, Department of Communication, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign -A comprehensive source book for libraries serving advanced undergraduate and graduate students in rhetoric and communication....Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.--Choice Reviews, 2/1/2017

Book Information
ISBN 9781462526581
Author John Louis Lucaites
Format Paperback
Page Count 627
Imprint Guilford Press
Publisher Guilford Publications
Weight(grams) 1100g