Burke and Dramatism Terministic Screens Pay no attention

Burke and Dramatism

Terministic Screens "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain“

“Even if any given terminology is a reflection of reality, by its very nature as a terminology it must be a selection of reality; and to this extent it must function also as a deflection of reality” (Kenneth Burke).

“Rhetoric is only necessary when there is ambiguity, when an issue or an idea’s merit can be seen from two or more perspectives, each of which may be reasonable” (David Blakesley).

We need “not terms that avoid ambiguity, but terms that clearly reveal the strategic spots at which ambiguities necessarily arise” (Burke). Why?

The function of rhetoric, as Aristotle said, is not so much persuasion but to discover the available means of persuasion. Burke’s Dramatism is a systematic method for articulating these strategic spots where people disagree, these spots where it is possible to use persuasion.

The Pentad Act—names what took place, in thought or deed. What was done? Scene—the background of the act, the situation in which it occurred. Where and when was the act performed? Agent—names what person or kind of person or people performed the act. Who did it? Agency—names the means or instruments the agent used. How and with what was the act performed? Purpose—suggests why the agent performed the act. What motivated the act?

Pentad 1—Massacre Scene: The late 1990 s, when incidents of school violence are becoming more frequent Act: Students massacre classmates in a rampage school shooting Agent: Harris and Klebold Agency: Guns Purpose: 1. To gain attention or notoriety 2. To seek revenge 3. Imitation

Pentad 2—Reporting News Scene: The Information Age, when news is more immediate Act: Reporting news of yet another school massacre Agent: The news organizations and reporters Agency: Print newspapers, Internet, TV Purpose: 1. To report news 2. To increase readership and thus advertising revenue

Pentad 3—Revenge Scene: A school in an affluent suburb where success is measured by material gain, popularity, and privilege Act: Seeking revenge for perceived wrongs Agent: Disillusioned students victimized by rigid hierarchies of success; loners; outcasts Agency: Guns Purpose: To punish those who have unfairly reaped the rewards of their status

Pentad 4—Fame Scene: A society that associates success with fame or notoriety rather than accomplishment, quality, or virtue Act: Seeking fame and recognition Agent: Disenfranchised students with low selfesteem Agency: Actions that people and the media will notice and disseminate widely Purpose: To gain attention

Pentad 5—Gun Control Scene: A society in which guns are readily available to anyone who wants them, and where violence is accepted as a solution to problems Act: Using a gun to commit murder Agent: Guns and their availability; soft gun-control laws Agency: People with easy access to guns Purpose: To settle disputes

Pentad 6—Murder and the Law Scene: A society in which the right to bear arms is guaranteed Act: Committing murder Agent: Criminals Agency: A soft legal system that is too lenient on criminals and that does not enforce existing laws against the misuse of guns Purpose: Evil