The Importance Of Contemporary Rhetorical Theory

Rhetorical perspectives in the field of communication offer dynamic looks into not only the field itself, but into the civic-life aspect of this field, also called “lifeworld”. A lifeworld, according to Habermas, is all the immediate experiences, activities, and contacts that make up the world of an individual or corporate life. Specifically, Contemporary Rhetorical Theory offers a way to understand the communicative process and what the communicative process is. Contemporary Rhetoric itself is not communication - rather, it provides important aspects into understanding what communication is; rhetoric is praxis. “Praxis is when theory and action are combined…” (Farrell, 1999). Contemporary Rhetorical Theory establishes theoretical assumptions of human society and the communicative act, as well as, test those assumptions by analyzing human society through the everyday civic life. “…rhetoric derives its materials from the real conditions of civic life, the appearances of our cultural world. At the same time, this activity makes room for disputation about the meaning, implications, direction, and
Contemporary Rhetorical Theory aligns most critically with Habermas’s ideals of the public sphere as it draws from, analyzes, and opens dialogue within civic life (It is important to note that I am not formatting an argument here, but to understand that they are the same. Indeed there are many separations between Habermas, critical theory, and contemporary rhetoric that could be disseminated). Civic life is concerned with community and nation rather than the privatized or institutionalized life. Contemporary Rhetorical Theory is the bridge between understanding human society and human communication, and civic engagement - which aims to develop community. This paper will examine the theory in a mass communication culture, agency, and the debate surrounding rhetorical theory in communication