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Rhetoric in Popular Culture
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Rhetoric in Popular Culture

Sixth Edition


September 2022 | 344 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
The Sixth Edition of Barry Brummett’s Rhetoric in Popular Culture provides readers with in-depth insight into the techniques of rhetorical criticism to analyze the full spectrum of contemporary issues in popular culture. Exploring a wide range of mass media texts including advertisements, magazines, movies, television, popular music, and social media, Barry Brummett presents key rhetorical concepts and applies them with critical analysis to a variety of exciting examples drawn from today's popular culture. Ideal for courses in rhetorical criticism, the new edition includes new and updated sample critical essays and case studies that demonstrate for readers how the critical methods discussed can be used to study the hidden rhetoric of popular culture.

 
PART 1 • THEORY
 
Chapter 1 • Rhetoric and the Rhetorical Tradition
 
Chapter 2 • Rhetoric and Popular Culture
 
Chapter 3 • Rhetorical Methods in Critical Studies
 
Chapter 4 • Varieties of Rhetorical Criticism: INTERVENTION-Understanding
 
Chapter 5 • Varieties of Rhetorical Criticism: UNDERSTANDING-Intervention
 
PART 2 • APPLICATION
 
Chapter 6 • Paradoxes of Personalization: Race Relations in Milwaukee
 
Chapter 7 • Notes from a Texas Gun Show
 
Chapter 8 • Simulational Selves, Simulational Culture in Groundhog Day
 
Chapter 9 • Jumping Scale in Steampunk: One Gear Makes You Larger, One Duct Makes You Small
 
Chapter 10 • The Bad Resurrection in American Life and Culture

"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."

Bryan Crable
Villanova University

"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!"

Sarah Scott
Arkansas State University

"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."

Steven Paul Melling
University of Missouri - Kansas City

"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."

Emma Frances Bloomfield
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

"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."

Susan Mackey-Kallis
Villanova University
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • Updated examples such as Tom Brady's Super Bowl win with the Buccaneers and the January 6th Insurrection reflect today’s ever-changing popular culture and help readers apply cutting-edge methodologies to the study of rhetoric.
  • New Learning Objectives have been to every chapter to show what major topics the chapters will be covering. 
  • Recent scholarship on diversity, equity, and inclusion includes the latest studies and findings. 
KEY FEATURES:
  • Engaging exercises, discussion questions, and application chapters show readers how to use rhetorical criticism to analyze popular culture.
  • Fun questions and useful mini-assignments help readers understand the practical applications and relevance of rhetorical concepts in everyday life.
  • A solid foundation in traditional rhetorical theories is enhanced by coverage of the latest theories and the full range of new rhetorical practices.
  • Well-written examples of criticism serve as strong models for readers.