When a Small Movement Makes Big Changes

I am amazed at influence of artistic movements over worldviews and a person’s perception of reality. I like to credit these bold movements of humanity for helping us to progress, for denying, and breaking away from, convention and creating new approaches and techniques; this goes for all disciplines; In this case, the example of the artist, Christo shows this (100).

As well, I like the way Williams gives the readers a history lesson in every section so far. The process movement in art emphasizing on just that, the process, gave it place of prominence. I appreciate the consideration Williams gives to the factors which caused the shift in writing pedagogy over the years, the contradiction between Postmodernism and process. I sincerely believe without Williams’ information we cannot truly see the character of writing instruction today.

But I am concerned with the frailty of any writing pedagogy. It seems so much outside the realm of writing instruction easily influences it. And I am so not relieved. I am not for or against student-centered writing instruction. I get the notion of how writing is intimate, of how many very intricate parts, dependent on the writing. I truly appreciate the “top-down” ideology. And I think that, again, these unconventional ways of thinking, of breaking dogmatic molds are so necessary for a “better” system. But is the process writing just a symptom of an artistic movement?

When Williams discusses how Postmodernism is concerned with “performance” not “communication”, I am at an impasse. I believe that what we write for—if it is that w are writing “for” something—has got to be a finished product. Maybe I am that much of a victim of such writing instruction as process writing has attempted to change. I, as well, believe that communication skills must take center stage at times in writing instruction. But I cannot get past the idea that we write for a finished product. In this sense, I guess I am an advocate of “performance” (100). So it comes down to—for me anyway-- this chasm between performance and communication, I know.

This blog, obviously is a reflection of my disconnected thought pattern. So I am not writing for a refined finish product. I guess I am trying to expand my thinking as I go. So, the communication aspect is in charge here. I am not really going to read over this blog. I hope Dr. Kearney takes this with a grain of salt because I am practically free-writing.

The Power of Rhetoric

First, I wish to express how Williams impressed me with his--quite thorough--
tour of the history of rhetoric. Not only that, but I think I can include an introductory overview of the History of Western Philosophy. My first degree was in Philosophy back when I live as impractical as I now find the study of philosophy to be. But Williams helped re-kinder that certain appeal that I had forgotten about. The very nature of human inquiry allows us to take a bird's eye view off where we are, what we are doing and what needs to b done.

Even the very act of writing--of course my point must stay connected to the point of this class, to learn to write--escapes the very purpose of the act of writing itself. Somehow, we forget what we are tying to accomplish. I mean, no longer do we practice the "acrobats" of speech as Williams expresses. We are actually trying to "Convince", "Persuade"! At least, this is the rhetorical character which stands for, what we know as: writing papers, writing letters, even writing song lyrics. I think it's all about enticing others with your point-of view, bringing others over to your side It's about getting what you want to say into the readr's mental path. They must hear;they must consider.

Williams outlined the progression of the evolution--so to speak--of rhetoric. From simple acts of entertainment, as the Sophist specialized in, to the litigation of Cicero, to the pure quest for a priori truths, to writing a really powerful-- or even a pretty good paper-- understanding the various elements to rhetoric, the devices and how to effectively use them, can transform one's writing into another level of good.