CMJR 205 Three Questions 1/26-1/30

Olivia Hernandez

1/26/09

CMJR 205

Three Questions for 1/26-1/30

1) In George Lakoff’s and Mark Johnson’s three chapters that we read this week, the authors explore the concept of metaphors being an intrinsic part of the way that we communicate. They discuss the idea that, not only do we use metaphors in our communication, but our communication is in a way a metaphor. In particular, they explore the idea of “Argument is War.” They explain that this idea takes on its own life in Western culture in that even in nonmetaphorical speech about arguments, there exist allusions to war---such as “I’ve never won an argument.” Lakoff and Johnson write, “Though there is no physical battle, there is a verbal battle, and the structure of an argument—attack, defense, counterattack, etc.--- reflects this. It is in this sense that the ARGUMENT IS WAR metaphor is one that we live by in this culture; it structures the actions we perform in arguing…. Argument is partially structures, understood, performed, and talked about in terms of WAR.” I find this concept interesting and something that I did not think about previously. In thinking about it, though, their ideas make a lot of sense. This concept, as well as that of “Time is money”, are duly represented in our culture even outside of their metaphorical meanings. In our culture, these metaphors transcend speech and become custom in the way we communicate. Do you find the authors’ ideas to fit your ideas of metaphors in communication?

2) In Chapter 11 of Hauser’s book, we read about ideas of action and motion in interaction and communication and how rhetoric plays its part in these two aspects. Hauser addresses Kenneth Burke’s “definition of the human.” Among its designations for symbolic communication and creation of negativity, Burke also describes humans as “rotten with perfection.” Hauser further explains this concept as humans need to strive for perfection, and the repetition with which we make attempts. “We are ‘rotten’ with the spirit of perfection as we seek the logical extension of some principle,” Hauser writes. I am not sure if Burke means this as a trait that all humans possess or just something that is a common trait for the human race. To consider perfection as a systematic, “compulsive”, quest carried about by every human being seems too lofty. What do you think if meant this part of Burke’s definition of the human, especially as it relates to Hauser’s idea of action as an attachment “of interpretations to the raw data of existence”?

3) We watched the presidential inauguration of President Barack Obama this week. President Obama was expected to make an inauguration address that was up to par or even exceeded the level of his previous speeches he had made as a Senator and on the campaign trail. Though we may not think of his speech as just informative, it fits within the boundaries of writer Rudolph Verderber’s “Public Lecture” as defined in the two chapters we read in class. Knowing both the expectations of his speech to rouse the American public with his rhetoric, as well as the current state of the nation, what do you think Obama outlined as his speech goal as defined by Verderber? What about his “Strategies for getting and maintaining audience interest”? Do you think his speech was a success in these two aspects?