Kenneth Burke’s Dramatism Essay Example for Free

Kenneth Burkes Dramatism EssayLife is drama playing roles in relation to former(a) people. Interest in the interaction of language and action. Symbolic InteractionistLanguage is symbolic action. Verbal symbols atomic number 18 meaning(prenominal) acts from which motives can be derived (Griffin, p. 329). Human beingsare a symbol-creating, symbol-using, and symbol misusing animal (Littlejohn, 1978, p. 69). A theory of Motiveswhy do people act (particularly rhetorically) the way they do? Assess motives.Texts/Speeches created by people to DO SOMETHING. merchant ship be analyzed to determine what it is they are trying to do. Distinguishes human exploit from Animal MotionAction MotionDone on purposeBehaviors that are non-voluntary behavior purposeful/non-meaningfule.g. DramatismAll animals and objectsPeoplehave trend Forms of ThoughtThe study of motion ismechanismUnderstood through motives Pentad(tool for understanding motives)Motive Linguistic harvesting of Rhetorical Action Cre ated a Grammar of Motives (grammar meaning rules, principles, elements, structure and/or book) Motives are viewed by Burke in terms of internal sources of action but rather in terms of how language and terms are used to make actions understandable. Guilt as Motive guilt is an all-purpose word for any spirit of tension within a personanxiety, embarrassment, self-hatred, disgust, etc. (Littlejohn, 1978, p. 70).We communicate to purge ourselves of guilt.Guilt arises out of language. troika sources of guilt1. The Negative Language allows for rules, morals, etc. that surround us and we cant escape violating.2. The dogma of Perfection Language allows us to imagine the ideal (should).3. The Principle of Heirarchy Structure society with competing class and classify distinctionsWe seek redemption (reduce or eliminate guilt) through communication/rhetoric/dramatism1. Mortification self-blame2. Victimage external oppositeness is the source3. Scapegoating blame other(s)Substance general nat ure of a thingConsubstantiation (shared substance, commonality)Identification (same as consub) degrees of witting or unconscious1) material identificationgoods, possessions, things2) idealistic identificationvalues, ideas, feelings, attitudes3) formal identificationform or arrangement ofact/conventions roles, customs, etc.Divisiondifferences with others (source of guilt)PENTADTool for understanding motivesActSceneAgentAgency function(Hexad Attitude delayed or incipient action)Statement of motives will answer What was through with(p) (act), when or where it was done (scene), who did it (agent), how it was done (agency), and why it was done (purpose).