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The Rhetorical Power of Popular Culture
Considering Mediated Texts
Fourth Edition
- Deanna D. Sellnow - Clemson University, USA
- Thomas G. Endres
January 2024 | 376 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Can television shows like Stranger Things, popular music by performers like Taylor Swift, advertisements for products like Samuel Adams beer, and films such as The Hunger Games help us understand rhetorical theory and criticism?
The Fourth Edition of The Rhetorical Power of Popular Culture offers students a step-by-step introduction to rhetorical theory and criticism by focusing on the powerful role popular culture plays in persuading us as to what to believe and how to behave. In every chapter, students are introduced to rhetorical theories, presented with current examples from popular culture that relate to the theory, and guided through demonstrations about how to describe, interpret, and evaluate popular culture texts through rhetorical analysis. Authors Deanna Sellnow and Thomas Endres provide sample student essays in every chapter to demonstrate rhetorical criticism in practice. This edition’s easy-to-understand approach and range of popular culture examples help students apply rhetorical theory and criticism to their own lives and assigned work.
The Fourth Edition of The Rhetorical Power of Popular Culture offers students a step-by-step introduction to rhetorical theory and criticism by focusing on the powerful role popular culture plays in persuading us as to what to believe and how to behave. In every chapter, students are introduced to rhetorical theories, presented with current examples from popular culture that relate to the theory, and guided through demonstrations about how to describe, interpret, and evaluate popular culture texts through rhetorical analysis. Authors Deanna Sellnow and Thomas Endres provide sample student essays in every chapter to demonstrate rhetorical criticism in practice. This edition’s easy-to-understand approach and range of popular culture examples help students apply rhetorical theory and criticism to their own lives and assigned work.
Chapter 1. What Is Popular Culture and Why Study It?
Chapter 2. Expanding the Rhetorical Tradition
Chapter 3. A Narrative Perspective
Chapter 4. A Dramatistic Perspective
Chapter 5. A Symbolic Convergence Perspective
Chapter 6. A Neo-Marxist Perspective
Chapter 7. Feminist Perspectives
Chapter 8. A Music Perspective: The Illusion of Life
Chapter 9. Visual Perspectives
Chapter 10. Media-Centered Perspectives
Appendix. Writing a Popular Culture Rhetorical Essay
It provides a practical and relatable approach to Rhetorical Criticism theories. The text is approachable for students with little knowledge of rhetoric. Perfect for new students of rhetoric.
Communication Dept, Utah Valley University
March 21, 2025