The Changing Conversation in America; Lectures from the Smithsonian

by William F. Eadie

• ISBN13: 9780761916574
• ISBN10: 0761916571
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-10-24
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc

Summary

Contributors: W. Barnett Pearce, Stephen E. Lucas, Donal Carbaugh, Molefi Kete Asante, Everett M. Rogers, William B Hart, Roderick P. Hart Jr., and Julia T. Wood

Table of Contents

Conversation in America: Changing Rules, Hidden Dimensions	1	(12)
William F. Eadie
Paul E. Nelson
Moral Order and the Pursuit of a National Conversation	3	(1)
The Declaration of Independence as a Key to Understanding American Public Rhetoric	4	(2)
American Conversation as Distinctive	6	(1)
Identity and Discourse From an Afrocentric Perspective	7	(1)
New Technologies, New Conversations	8	(2)
Media and the Changing Political Conversation	10	(1)
Social Diversity and the Changing Conversation	11	(1)
Conclusion	11	(1)
Reference	12	(1)
Toward a National Conversation About Public Issues	13	(26)
W. Barnett Pearce
What Is Conversation Like?	14	(4)
The Quality of Public Discourse	18	(2)
More Characteristics of Conversation	20	(2)
``Rules of Engagement'' in the National Conversation	22	(1)
Four Criticisms of Contemporary Public Discourse	23	(10)
Conclusion	33	(2)
References	35	(4)
The Declaration of Independence in the Rhetoric of American Politics	39	(22)
Stephen E. Lucas
The Sacred Text	40	(5)
The Preamble as a Site of Rhetorical Struggle	45	(5)
The Declaration as a Rhetorical Template	50	(7)
References	57	(4)
Some Distinctive Features of U.S. American Conversation	61	(16)
Donal Carbaugh
An American Metaphor, Morals, and the Mundane	61	(1)
Enlarging the Idea of Cultural Conversation: Examples From Finland and America	62	(3)
American Conversation and One Form of Popular Culture: How Talk Shows Exploit the Bizarre and Reveal Common Culture	65	(2)
A Cultural Form of Participation: Problematize!	67	(2)
Managing Point of View: Personalize!	69	(1)
Self-Interested Groups: Politicize!	70	(1)
Whither (or Withering) Community?	71	(1)
Countercultural Conversation: Some Correctives From Others	72	(3)
References	75	(2)
Language and Agency in the Transformation of American Identity	77	(14)
Molefi Kete Asante
References	88	(3)
New Communication Technology and the Changing Nature of Conversation	91	(28)
Everett M. Rogers
William B. Hart
Computers as Communication Tools	93	(1)
The Influences of Society on Communication Technologies	94	(9)
The Influences of New Communication Technologies on Society	103	(10)
Conclusion	113	(2)
References	115	(4)
Political Conversation: A Distortion	119	(14)
Roderick P. Hart, Jr.
The Bush-Rather Exchange	121	(5)
Implications of the Exchange	126	(1)
Alternatives?	127	(3)
Conclusion	130	(2)
References	132	(1)
Changing Relationships, Changing Conversations	133	(18)
Julia T. Wood
Social Diversity and Its Impact on Communication	135	(5)
Differences in Dialogue: The Practical Side	140	(7)
Summary	147	(1)
References	148	(3)
Name Index	151	(4)
Subject Index	155	(8)
About the Editors	163	(2)
About the Contributors	165