Kenneth Burke’s Dramatism Essay Example for Free

Kenneth Burkes Dramatism EssayLife is drama compete roles in relation to other people. Interest in the interaction of language and action. Symbolic InteractionistLanguage is symbolic action. Verbal symbols are meaningful acts from which motives can be derived (Griffin, p. 329). Human beingsare a symbol-creating, symbol-using, and symbol misusing animal (Littlejohn, 1978, p. 69). A theory of Motiveswhy do people act (particularly rhetorically) the way they do? Assess motives.Texts/Speeches created by people to DO SOMETHING. Can be analyzed to determine what it is they are trying to do. Distinguishes human Action from Animal MotionAction Motionthrough on purposeBehaviors that are non-voluntary behavior purposeful/non-meaningfule.g. DramatismAll animals and objectsPeoplehave motion Forms of ThoughtThe study of motion ismechanismUnderstood through motives Pentad(tool for sagaciousness motives)Motive Linguistic Product of Rhetorical Action Created a Grammar of Motives (grammar meani ng rules, principles, elements, structure and/or book) Motives are viewed by Burke in terms of innate sources of action but rather in terms of how language and terms are used to make actions understandable. Guilt as Motive guilt is an general-purpose word for any feeling of tension within a personanxiety, embarrassment, self-hatred, disgust, etc. (Littlejohn, 1978, p. 70).We communicate to purge ourselves of guilt.Guilt arises out of language.Three sources of guilt1. The banish Language allows for rules, morals, etc. that surround us and we cant escape violating.2. The Principle of Perfection Language allows us to imagine the ideal (should).3. The Principle of Heirarchy bodily structure society with competing class and group distinctionsWe seek redemption (reduce or eliminate guilt) through communication/rhetoric/dramatism1. Mortification self- goddam2. Victimage external enemy is the source3. Scapegoating blame other(s)Substance general nature of a thingConsubstantiation (share d substance, commonality)Identification (same as consub) degrees of conscious or unconscious1) material identificationgoods, possessions, things2) idealistic identificationvalues, ideas, feelings, attitudes3) formal identificationform or arrangement ofact/conventions roles, customs, etc.Divisiondifferences with others (source of guilt)PENTADTool for understanding motivesActSceneAgentAgency Purpose(Hexad Attitude slow or incipient action)Statement of motives will answer What was done (act), when or where it was done (scene), who did it (agent), how it was done (agency), and why it was done (purpose).