Reading selections from Sonja Foss's Rhetorical Criticism Exploration & Practice

I like the way Foss lays out her first chapter. It is easy to understand and follow, explaining a specific method while still leaving room for creativity on the part of the analyst. Because I am new to rhetoric this introduction is beneficial to me because it gives me a sound structure to start from. I usually find it advantageous to work from the ground up, using established methods to begin an endeavor, then moving on to my own methods.

I also understand why feminist rhetoric is important and looks at artifacts in entirely new ways. I am thrilled to finally have a method for deconstructing those ridiculously sexists ads I see everywhere. I also think that Foss's method begins with a concrete strategy that can enable us to explore the more abstract issues of gender, class, sexuality, religion, etc. I can finally tell my family that I'm not the only person who deconstructs Swiffer ads and toy commercials.

The close examination of feminist rhetoric in pop culture has also shown me what kind of expectations are placed on men. I think that studying both feminism and masculinism in texts simultaneously would be greatly beneficial. Like we were discussing in class Tuesday, very few people fit into the "Norm," and everyone must feel slighted, rejected, or ostracized in comparison with the way we are "supposed" to perform our respective genders, classes, races, etc.

In fact, every concept in this class reminds me of the show Mad Men, which is probably the most though-provoking and explorative show regarding sex and gender that I've ever seen. For every blatant sexist remark towards women, there is a slightly more hidden slight against men. While nearly every regular character in the series performs male, nearly none of them portray their true personalities.

So, I see feminist rhetoric as a way of charting a path for exploration into gender studies for all variations of chromosomes. Not only looking at the dichotomy of man/woman but at the continuum of sex and gender. I'm excited, but at this point still feel ill-equipped to put these newfound rhetorical tools to use.