Digital Rhetorics

Catalog description

This course applies the principles of rhetoric to attempts at persuasion and other speech acts on digital platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. It’s often pointed out that we’re more connected than ever, and yet making real human connections feels harder than ever. What makes digital communication effective? How does rhetoric work differently in text- vs. video-based media? How does “context collapse”-the breakdown in interpretation that happens when an online post leaves its intended audience-affect the efficacy of digital speech acts? Restriction: No freshman permitted. Offered regularly.