Journal Post #2 - Chelsi Chang

Although Edbauer uses Bitzer’s “Rhetorical Situation” as a framework for her own theory on rhetoric, they have very different approaches on the audience’s level of engagement and influence on rhetoric. A piece of writing that many of us see on a daily basis is different people’s commentary on the Black Lives Matter movement that has commanded the attention of millions with protests, trending hashtags, and demonstrations. I recently read an article in the New York Times where a writer offered his own opinions on the movement.
 The article can be found here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/07/opinion/glenn-beck-empathy-for-black-lives-matter.html?_r=0 While Bitzer would say that the movement’s extremity was exigence, an imperfection marked by urgency, Edbauer encourages us to look deeper. She would argue that this commentary of the movement exists on a much larger scope rather than a “big box.” In this way, there are no clear lines that define what constitutes the Black Lives Matter movement or its subsequent commentary. We would have to consider everything rather than what is simply right in front of us. The BLM movement cannot simply be reduced to unarmed African Americans being shot by law enforcement officers like Bitzer would suggest; the rhetoric of the movement would have to travel back further to include racism and slavery—in other words, history.  She would also reference the All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter movements that stemmed from the BLM movement. All three movements exist together and are connected to one another. Additionally, it is important to note their differences on the idea of “situation.” Bitzer might consider each case in which the life of an African American is taken as a “site” for a new rhetorical situation, while Edbauer would protest that the each situation adds to the BLM rhetoric because they are connected. Each case is not a new exigence but rather a contributing factor to the rhetorical ecology surrounding the issue. Edbauer would concede that because these issues are so complex using Bitzer’s rhetorical situation could be helpful in understanding all of the subtle nuances that exist within the Black Lives Matter rhetoric. However, one cannot deny the fact that many parts of the movement and the subsequent movements are deeply related and must be analyzed as such.