Journal 2

Lloyd Bitzer’s definition of rhetorical theory revolves around one key term, rhetorical situation. This term consists of 3 separate components:  the exigence, the audience, and the constraints. Each of these terms is important, but some more than others. Each of these ideas stands alone, but together they create the overall definition of the rhetorical situation. For Bitzer, anything that calls for a response from someone would be considered a rhetorical situation. An example of this could be a problem that someone is facing, such as climate change. The problem that climate change poses to the world would be the exigence. People feel inclined to find different solutions to this problem and offer different perspectives on why the Earth is actually undergoing these changes. The audience is whoever is receiving the text. For this example, that might be scientists studying the changes of the Earth’s climate, or the general population who might share concern for these unprecedented changes. The constraints would be anything that might have an effect on the response to the situation. An example of a constraint for climate change might be those who think that it is not a real threat and that what we are experiencing is just a natural change in the Earth’s climate.

Jenny Edbauer’s definition of Rhetorical Ecology shares many underlining concepts with Bitzer’s definition of rhetorical situation. She uses similar terms to explain her theory, such as exigence, constraints, and audience. She differs from Bitzer because she believes each of these terms connects with one another and at times these things will “bleed” into each other. She focuses on how ideas develop and how things interconnect. For Edbauer, the progression of something overtime and the different perceptions someone has of a single event, all goes into rhetorical theory. An example of this could be the different adaptations of a single event. An example of this is the story of Rome and Juliet, or forbidden love. This story has been recreated in many different ways (film, literary adaptations, plays, etc.). Each of the recreations of this story follow a similar premise, but use different methods for telling it. The original play and the 1996 film adaptation are very similar, yet incredibly different. Though they follow the same script and characters, the characters and story are portrayed in a drastically different way.