SYMBOLIC CONVERGENCE PERSPECTIVE By Marcela Lopez What is

SYMBOLIC CONVERGENCE PERSPECTIVE By: Marcela Lopez

What is symbolic convergence theory? ◦ It was developed by Ernest Bormann in 1972. ◦ It is a shared reality used by a particular community to make sense of the world around them.

Examples of symbolic convergence Bormann focused on the stories themselves and how they create a rhetorical community of shared believers.

Basics of SCT ◦ Many scholars refer to SCT as a fantasy theme analysis. ◦ Fantasy theme analysis is the tool rhetoricians use to identify, understand, and interpret those converged symbols. ◦ A fantasy theme is a basic unit of communication, like a joke, pun, metaphor, analogy-that when shared with others constitute the base of reality.

Fantasy themes ◦ Popular culture is filled with fantasy themes. ◦ Fantasy themes include dramatis personae, protagonists, antagonists, plotline, scene, and sanctioning agent. ◦ Dramatis personae are characters of a show. ◦ Protagonists are usually the hero of the show. ◦ Antagonists are villains.

Fantasy themes (cont. ) ◦ Plotlines provide the action to the narrative. ◦ Plotlines can be augmented by scenes. ◦ The sanctioning agent is the force that drives the narrative. ◦ The way we put things together is called rhetorical vision.

Rhetorical Visions ◦ Rhetorical visions are often shared by fans of a specific show or music artist. ◦ Regardless of the geological location, fans of a show like Game of Thrones share the same rhetorical vision. ◦ They share a common reality based on their mutual heroes and villains.

Master Analogues: Righteous ◦ The righteous master analogue stresses on the correct way of doing things with its concern about right and wrong. ◦ Examples: superhero movies

Master Analogues: Social ◦ Social master analogues focus on friendship, trust, camaraderie, brotherhood and sisterhood and being humane.

Master Analogues: Pragmatic ◦ Pragmatic master analogue focuses on getting the job done and doing whatever it takes to achieve it.

Stages of rhetorical vision life cycle ◦ All the rhetorical visions tend to exist in one of 5 stages of a rhetorical vision life cycle. ◦ Think of it as a life cycle of a human and how we develop from birth through death. ◦ First stage: consciousness creating; it’s where a rhetorical vision is initially formed.

Stages of rhetorical vision life cycle ◦ The second stage is consciousness raising, is where those who already share an existing vision, try to attract newcomers. ◦ The third stage is consciousness sustaining is where you try to keep the narrative alive. An example is when you rewatch a show or movie.

Stages of rhetorical life cycle ◦ The fourth stage is decline, where the shared story or narrative loses its power. ◦ The final stage is terminus. It’s where the rhetorical vision fades out of the public consciousness or it ends abruptly.