Rhetorical Criticism

Reviews / Votes

In this updated work, Kuypers brings together many of the most articulate and insightful rhetorical scholars to illuminate a wide variety of critical perspectives. This impressive, user-friendly collection covers basic concepts, models their use, and addresses both the potentials and pitfalls of each approach. The result offers a range of insights to illuminate the power of rhetorical criticism. A must-have! -- Kathleen J. Turner, past president, National Communication Association Like its predecessor, the second edition of Rhetorical Criticism: Perspectives in Action offers up a plethora of riches. Not only does it include landmark essays from well-known critics, but those critics then reflect on the method that led to their essay as well as set forth the promises and pitfalls of their particular perspective. An invaluable resource for both established scholars and aspiring critics. -- Thomas Frentz, University of Arkansas Fayetteville Jim Kuypers has brought together an impressive cast of well-published rhetorical critics to create a one-of-a-kind textbook. Covering a broad range of critical perspectives, the volume combines theoretical discussions, critical exemplars, and personal reflections to provide students with a well-rounded understanding of the possibilities and pitfalls of each critical method. Sophisticated yet accessible, the volume would make an excellent textbook for advanced undergraduate courses in rhetorical criticism and should be required reading for graduate students in the field. -- J. Michael Hogan, Penn State Providing a broad foundation for studying rhetoric, Kuypers emphasizes the role of creativity in the production of rhetorical criticism through both his introductory chapters and his curation of contributed chapters, featuring a wide range of perspectives and interpretations of rhetorical theory. Three unique features make this volume especially accessible: First, the essays offer digestible examples of criticism because they were written for this volume and with an audience of novice critics in mind. Second, each chapter includes a list of 'top picks'-published scholarly works that exemplify good criticism using the approach featured in the chapter-annotated to position the recommended reading in a larger conversation and to reveal important aspects of it. Finally, the glossary presents a quick reference guide that students will appreciate. -- Samantha Senda-Cook, Creighton University Kuypers has assembled an all-star cast of rhetoricians to explore critical lenses in which they are most expert and, in some cases, of which they are the actual generative voice. The contributors provide students with theoretical underpinnings of differing 'schools' of criticism, steps to follow when writing within a particular critical perspective, examples of criticism specific to the critical lens, and some professional and personal perspectives on the use of the method under investigation. No other text combines the theoretical with the applied and personal in such a way. Kuypers's volume makes criticism come alive as a public craft and as a personal endeavor. -- Jason Black, University of Alabama Professor Kuypers has assembled an excellent chorus of voices to introduce the art and criticism of public persuasion. In accessible and empowering ways, leading scholars survey a representative range of theories and methods in rhetorical criticism, such as traditional approaches to public speech as well as contemporary approaches to persuasion in popular culture. -- M. Lane Bruner, Georgia State University