18 Symbolic Convergence Theory of Ernest Bormann A

18 Symbolic Convergence Theory of Ernest Bormann A First Look at Communication Theory 9 th edition Em Griffin Andrew Ledbetter Glenn Sparks Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Symbolic Interaction Theory VIRAL VIDEOS How do videos go viral? Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Symbolic Interaction Theory helps explain the relationships among TASTEMAKERS COMMUNITIES OF PARTICIPATION THAT WHICH IS “UNEXPECTED” How tastemakers encourage communities of participation to respond to the unexpected. Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Slide 4 Symbolic Convergence Theory Symbolic convergence: two or more private symbol worlds incline toward each other, come more closely together, or even overlap Concerned with group response to a message or imagery Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Slide 5 Symbolic Convergence Theory Bormann observed that group members often dramatized events happening outside the group—things that took place at previous meetings, or what might occur in the future Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Symbolic Convergence Theory At times, group members added to the stories or chimed in with matching narratives Sharing group fantasies fosters group cohesion when accepted enthusiastically Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Slide 7 Tastemakers Rhetorical visionaries: persons who communicate the composite drama that catches up large groups of people into a common symbolic reality That is, they appeal to rhetorical communities. Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Slide 8 Tastemakers and Dramatizing Messages Dramatizing message: imaginative language by group member describing past, future, or outside event; a creative interpretations “Dramatizing accounts of past occurrences artistically organize what are usually more complex, ambiguous, and chaotic experiences” Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Slide 9 Fantasy Themes and The Unexpected Fantasy theme: content/essence of the dramatized message Bormann: group members’ meanings, emotions, motives, and actions apparent in fantasy themes Many fantasy themes indexed by symbolic cue – agreed-upon trigger that sets off group members to respond as they did when they first shared the fantasy Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Slide 10 Response of Rhetorical Communities (Participant Community) Fantasy chain: symbolic explosion of agreement within a group in response to a member’s dramatizing message Common ground, meeting of the minds, mutual understanding, meeting of the minds, groupiness, common social reality and/or empathic communion Acceptance of theme does not mean uniform chain response Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Hope and Change How does this …. Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Hope and Change Become this …. Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Hope and Change And lead to that …. Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Hope and Change And result in the ravings of intelligent, professional people …. “He’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. ” “Seriously, I really think he’s a messiah figure for America. ” “The morning after the election, I’m going to wake up and feel like I’m in heaven. ” (Weigel, 2009, p. 24) Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Slide 15 ACTIVITY COM 305 Fantasy Theme Class Song as Symbolic Cue Individual choice (homework) Use rhetorical skills to establish group common ground (in class) Select a visionary to secure class fantasy chain reaction (in class) Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

The Unexpected Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Dramatizing Message Try to replace the reining champion You are free to take inspiration from Me Theories Tests Prior TOP HAT activities Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Slide 18 Fantasy Themes and The Unexpected Fantasy theme: content/essence of the dramatized message Bormann: group members’ meanings, emotions, motives, and actions apparent in fantasy themes Many fantasy themes indexed by symbolic cue – agreed-upon trigger that sets off group members to respond as they did when they first shared the fantasy Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Slide 19 Fantasy Themes Analysis Rhetorical criticism used to interpret fantasy themes and rhetorical visions Characters Plot lines Scene Sanctioning agent Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.

Slide 20 Critique: Judging SCT as Both a Scientific and Interpretive Theory When 6 standards for social science theory and 6 criteria for interpretive theory are applied, SCT stands up Minimal success determining when a dramatizing message will trigger a chain reaction Prosocial bias Ignores issues of power Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education.