The major in rhetoric offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of human communication. Students complete a series of core courses in rhetorical theory and criticism, complemented by courses on language, media, and communication drawn from the curricula of other departments. All students complete a senior thesis.

Major Requirements. The major in rhetoric consists of eleven courses distributed as follows:

a) Required Core Courses.

Rhetoric 155. What is Rhetoric?
Rhetoric 185. Public Discourse or Rhetoric 291. Introduction to Debate.
Rhetoric 257. Rhetorical Criticism or Rhetoric 276. Television Criticism.
Rhetoric 265. The Rhetoric of Womens Rights or Rhetoric 260. Lesbian and Gay Images in Film.
Rhetoric 275. African American Public Address or Rhetoric 386. Language and Communication of Black Americans.
Rhetoric 331. Rhetorical Theory and Practice or Rhetoric 390. Contemporary Rhetoric or Rhetoric 391. Topics in Rhetorical Criticism.
Rhetoric 457 and/or 458. Senior Thesis.

Students are also required to complete at least one course from each of the following areas. No single course may be used to complete more than one requirement. No more than one Short Term unit may be counted toward the major.

b) Theories of Communication.

Anthropology 333. Culture and Interpretation.

Philosophy 195. Introduction to Logic.
Philosophy 235. Philosophy of Mind and Language.

Psychology 380. Social Cognition.

Rhetoric 150. Trials of Conscience.
Rhetoric 160. Classical Rhetoric.

c) Representation.

Art 225. Iconography: Meaning in the Visual Arts from Late Antiquity to the Renaissance.
Art 287. Women, Gender, Visual Culture.
Art 288. Visualizing Race.
Art 375. Issues of Sexuality and the Study of Visual Culture.
Art s32. The Photograph as Document.

Rhetoric 195. Documentary Production.
Rhetoric s30. Television Criticism: Prime-Time Women.

Theater 102. An Introduction to Film.
Theater 110. Women in Film.
Theater 225. The Grain of the Black Image.
Theater 226. Minority Images in Hollywood Film.

d) Social and Political Movements

History 261. American Protest in the Twentieth Century.

Philosophy/Religion 212. Contemporary Moral Disputes.

Political Science 346. Power and Protest.
Political Science 352. Women as Political Subjects.

Religion 247. City upon the Hill.

e) Critical Methods.

African American Studies/American Cultural Studies/Women and Gender Studies 250. Interdisciplinary Studies: Methods and Modes of Inquiry.

English 295. Critical Theory.

Pass/Fail Grading Option. There are no restrictions on the use of the pass/fail option within the major.

Secondary Concentration in Rhetoric. The secondary concentration consists of six courses. A coherent program for each student's secondary concentration is designed in accord with the following guidelines and in consultation with a member of the rhetoric faculty who is chosen or appointed as the students departmental advisor for the secondary concentration.

The courses or units required for the secondary concentration in rhetoric include:

1) Rhetoric 155. What is Rhetoric?

2) Rhetoric 257. Rhetorical Criticism.

3) One of the following:
Rhetoric 275. African American Public Address.
Rhetoric 386. Language and Communication of Black Americans.

4) One of the following:
Rhetoric 265. The Rhetoric of Women's Rights.
Rhetoric 260. Lesbian and Gay Images in Film.

5) One of the following:
Rhetoric 185. Public Discourse.
Rhetoric 291. Introduction to Debate.

6) One of the following:
Rhetoric 331. Rhetorical Theory and Practice.
Rhetoric 390. Contemporary Rhetoric.
Rhetoric 391. Topics in Rhetorical Criticism.

General Education. Any one rhetoric Short Term unit may serve as an option for the fifth humanities course.

Courses
150. Trials of Conscience. Why do people sue when they could kill? This course examines trials from the classical and medieval periods (e.g., Socrates, Joan of Arc), as well as theoretical models for the role of litigation in Western culture. The course considers the role litigation plays in both generating and containing a critique of dominant ideology. It explores the interpretative problems that the rhetorical nature of the sources poses for historical analysis of these trials. Students analyze the rhetorical strategies that the actors in these trials deployed to fashion an identity in opposition to their communities, and analyze why these strategies usually failed at the trial but succeeded in subsequent historical memory. All readings are in English. This course is the same as Classical and Medieval Studies 150. M. Imber.

155. What is Rhetoric? Although the oldest discipline, rhetoric may be the least understood. Aristotle defined rhetoric as "the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion." In this course, students learn to identify the various means of persuasion and understand how they work in different rhetorical situations. Rhetorical artifacts examined include political speeches, campaign advertising, television programs, print advertisements, editorials, music, film, Internet sites, and social movement rhetoric. Required of all majors. Enrollment limited to 30. S. Kelley-Romano.

160. Classical Rhetoric. The Romans ran the ancient world by the sword, but also by the word. This course explores how they did the latter. Readings include classical works about rhetoric, examples of classical oratory, and the variety of exercises by which the practice of rhetoric was taught. Writing assignments include analyses of speeches by classical orators, as well as a range of ancient rhetorical exercises such as fables, speeches of praise and invective, persuasive speeches to historical figures, and mock courtroom speeches. The course concludes with an examination of the Gettysburg Address and consideration of its debt to classical rhetorical theory. All readings are in English. This course is the same as Classical and Medieval Studies 160. M. Imber.

162. White Redemption: Cinema and the Co-optation of African American History. Since its origins in the early twentieth century, film has debated how to represent black suffering. This course examines one aspect of that debate: the persistent themes of white goodness, innocence, and blamelessness in films that are allegedly about black history and culture. Historical and cultural topics examined in film include the enslavement of Africans, Reconstruction, and the civil rights movement. Some of the films include the mini-series Roots, Mississippi Burning, the four versions of Uncle Toms Cabin, Glory, Birth of a Nation, and Rosewood. Particular attention is given to films in the interracial male buddy genre, such as The Defiant Ones, In the Heat of the Night, 48 Hours, and Lethal Weapon. Not open to students who have received credit for African American Studies 160. This course is the same as African American Studies 162. C. Nero. Cross-listed with African American Studies as of 11/2/01.

185. Public Discourse. This course is designed to develop an awareness of and skill in the techniques needed by a speaker in varying situations, from the large gathering to the small group. Students study and compose public speeches on various political issues. Enrollment limited to 24. Staff.

195. Documentary Production. This course provides an introduction to documentary production, including videography, sound, lighting, and editing. Students learn both to produce documentaries and to recognize the importance of production decisions in shaping the meanings and influence of documentaries. Students collaboratively produce short documentaries on subjects of their own design. Recommended background: prior production experience and course work in film criticism. Enrollment limited to 16. Written
permission of the instructor is required. Staff.

257. Rhetorical Criticism. In this course, students apply rhetorical theories to a variety of artifacts to understand the unique insights afforded by rhetorical studies. Students write, present, and discuss papers in which they apply and analyze different rhetorical perspectives. Rhetorical artifacts examined include political speeches, campaign advertising, television, print advertisements, editorials, music, film, Internet sites, and social movement rhetoric. Prerequisite(s): Rhetoric 155. Open to first-year students. S. Kelley-Romano.

260. Lesbian and Gay Images in Film. This course investigates the representation of lesbians and gays in film from the Golden Age of Hollywood to the contemporary independent filmmaking movement. Topics may include the effect of the "closet" on Hollywood film, homophobic imagery, international queer films, "camp" as a visual and narrative code for homosexuality, the independent filmmaking movement, and the debates about queer visibility in contemporary mass market and independent films. Open to first-year students. C. Nero.

265. The Rhetoric of Women's Rights. Prior to the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, women were almost totally without political, economic, or social power. Because of their situation, women necessarily employed rhetorical means to attain the goal of women's suffrage. This course is a study of the oratory of the womens suffrage movement. Specifically, it highlights the barriers women faced and how they dealt with those difficulties rhetorically. Students in this course learn and apply the tools of rhetorical criticism in order to identify, describe, and evaluate the speakers of the movement and their ideas. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. S. Kelley-Romano.

275. African American Public Address. This course is a study of the history of oratory by African American women and men. Students examine religious, political, and ceremonial speeches. Historical topics include the abolition of slavery, Reconstruction, suffrage, the black women's club movement, Garveyism, and the civil rights and Black Power movements. Contemporary topics include affirmative action, gender politics, poverty, education, and racial identity. Open to first-year students. C. Nero.

291. Introduction to Debate. A theoretical and practical study of academic debate designed for students without extensive previous experience in the activity. Lectures in debate theory are accompanied by student participation in several different debate formats, including a regularly scheduled public discussion forum. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 20. Staff.

331. Rhetorical Theory and Practice. A study of the historical evolution of rhetorical theory through reading and analysis of primary texts, from classical times to the present. Students write, present, and discuss papers analyzing divergent rhetorical perspectives and refining their own. Specific attention is given to feminist and African American rhetoric. Prerequisite(s): one course in rhetoric. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 15. S. Kelley-Romano.

360. Independent Study. Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair is required. Students may register for no more than one independent study per semester. Staff.

365. Special Topics. Offered occasionally in selected subjects. Staff.

386. Language and Communication of Black Americans. Charles Dickens wrote in 1842 that "all the women who have been bred in slave states speak more or less like Negroes, from having been constantly in their childhood with black nurses." This course examines the linguistic practices of African Americans alluded to by Dickens. Readings focus on the historical development of "Black English" as a necessary consequence of contact between Europeans and Africans in the New World; on patterns and styles of African American communication such as call-and-response, signifying, and preaching; and on sociopolitical issues such as naming traditions, racial/ethnic identity, gender and language acquisition, and education and employment policy. Enrollment limited to 15. C. Nero.

390. Contemporary Rhetoric. A seminar devoted to the close textual analysis of recent and provocative political discourse. The texts for analysis are drawn from various media, including controversial political speeches, documentaries, music, and advertising. This course is designed to offer students extensive personal experience in criticism and to introduce key concepts in critical theory and practice. Enrollment limited to 15. Written permission of the instructor is required. Staff.

391. Topics in Rhetorical Criticism. The topic varies from semester to semester. The seminar relies largely upon individual student research, reports, and discussion. Enrollment limited to 15.

391B. Presidential Campaign Rhetoric. In this course, students explore the wide array of discourse surrounding presidential campaigns. Texts examined include political speeches, political advertisements, debates, and news reporting on the campaign. Special attention is paid to newspaper and television coverage of candidates and the development of image. Prerequisite(s): Rhetoric 155 or 185. S. Kelley-Romano.

391C. The Harlem Renaissance. This course examines the extraordinary creativity in the arts and in other aspects of intellectual life by African Americans in the 1920s and 1930s. Although this cultural phenomenon was national in scope, most scholars agree that New York City, and Harlem in particular, was its epicenter. Possible topics include: the artist as iconoclast; contributions to the theater and the performing arts; racial and cultural identity in literature; the formation of a community of black critical theorists; the role in promoting the arts by political movements such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Marcus Garveys Universal Negro Improvement Association; the visual arts and racial identity; and the New Negro Movement, campus revolts, and the "first wave" of demands for black studies in the college and university curriculum. Prerequisite(s): one of the following: English 250, Rhetoric 275, or History 243. Enrollment limited to 15. This course is the same as African American Studies 390A. C. Nero. Cross-listed with African American Studies as of 11/02/01.

457, 458. Senior Thesis. A substantial academic or artistic project. Students register for Rhetoric 457 in the fall semester or for Rhetoric 458 in the winter semester. Majors writing an honors thesis register for both Rhetoric 457 and 458. Staff.

Short Term Units

s18. Goldberg's Canon: Makin' Whoopi. Whoopi Goldberg has been a locus of cultural contradictions since her arrival in the public's consciousness. Her dark skin and perennially nappy hair defy cultural standards about female beauty, yet she is one of a handful of actresses who can open big budget Hollywood films. The same Hollywood film industry acknowledges her as a "leading lady," yet it has seldom given her "leading lady" roles. This course examines Goldberg's film and television performances, her career as a humorist, and her controversial persona as an antagonistic public figure. Some of the social and cultural issues students address in this unit include skin color and hair texture chauvinism, the grotesque and the comical, racial and gender stereotypes, black lesbianism, and discourses about the black female body. C. Nero. Unit reinstated into the curriculum beginning Short Term 2002.

s30. Television Criticism: Prime-Time Women. In this unit, television programs are examined to understand how they negotiate social issues. Specifically, rhetorical approaches to television are employed to underscore the usefulness of critical attention to television discourse. Programs such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Bewitched, Charlie's Angels, The Honeymooners, I Dream of Jeannie, and Murphy Brown are examined to reveal how women's roles have been articulated and represented to the American public. The development of feminist themes are then examined in contemporary television programs, such as Law and Order, The X-Files, Ally McBeal, Friends, and Sex and the City, to assess the current condition of "prime-time women." Prerequisite(s): one course in rhetoric. Recommended background: a course in criticism/critical methods. Enrollment limited to 30. S. Kelley-Romano.

s31. Conspiracy Rhetoric. "Just because you're paranoid does not mean they're not out to get you." This unit examines the rhetoric that has surrounded conspiracy theories in American culture. Specifically students focus on the argumentative form as well as the social functions of conspiracy discourse. Particular attention is paid to those conspiracies that surround UFO and alien abductions discourse. Prerequisite: at least one rhetoric course. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 15. Written permission of the instructor is required. S. Kelley-Romano.

s50. Independent Study. Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair is required. Students may register for no more than one independent study during a Short Term. Staff.

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Last Modified: 1/22/01 by mkm