The Rhetorical Situation of Ask Amy

In Lloyd F. Bitzer’s “The Rhetorical Situation,” Bitzer claims that “rhetoric is situational” (3). By that, Bitzer means that rhetoric exists for something more than simply rhetoric’s sake. It exists to enact change and encourage an audience to act. Bitzer outlines six characteristics of rhetorical situations:

1.     Situation is what invites the rhetor to create rhetorical discourse. 

2.     The rhetorical discourse must fit the situation. 

3.     The situation is what determines the proper rhetorical discourse. 

4.     If the situation isn't grounded in reality, then the discourse isn't rhetorical. (Unless the discussion continues outside of the fictional situation.) 

5.     Rhetorical situations are either simple or complex and highly structured or loosely structured. 

6.     Rhetorical situations must “mature or decay or mature and persist” (12). 

In order to fully understand the six characteristics of rhetorical situation, I applied them to a regular video series produced by actress Amy Poehler, called Ask Amy, where Poehler answers questions sent to her by teenage girls that deal with everything from body image to personal relationships. Ask Amy is a part of Smart Girls at the Party, a digital series that Poehler co-produces that encourages young girls to be themselves. 

According to the first characteristic set forth by Bitzer, the situation is what invites the rhetor to create rhetorical discourse. In this case, teenage girls with questions that deal with personal issues (the situation) called for Poehler (the rhetor) to answer those questions. This also plays into the larger situation, the lack of positive resources for young girls, perceived by Poehler. 

The second characteristic—the rhetorical discourse must fit the situation—can also be seen in this clip from Poehler. In this video, and in the other episodes, Poehler addresses her audience in a relaxed, intimate setting. She addresses the person who asked the question by name, and she speaks simply and straightforward in a kind manner. In the same vein, Bitzer’s third characteristic (the situation is what determines the proper rhetorical discourse) can also be seen in this episode of Ask Amy. Since the situation involves a younger audience, Poehler has tailored her rhetorical discourse to a younger crowd.

Bitzer’s fourth characteristic of rhetorical situation—discourse grounded in fiction cannot be rhetorical unless the discussion continues outside of the fictional situation— doesn't really come into play here. Poehler is answering questions from real teenage girls. The situation, in this case, is real. 

The fifth characteristic of the rhetorical situation calls for the situation to be either simple or complex and highly or loosely structure. In this case of Ask Amy, the situation is simple and highly structured. Ask Amy’s rhetorical situation is simple since there are “relatively few elements which must be made to interact” (11). Ask Amy simply involves one member of the audience asking a question, which the rhetor (Poehler) answers. Its rhetorical situation is highly structured since “all of its elements are located and readied for the task to be performed” (12). 

Finally, to address Bitzer’s sixth characteristic of rhetorical situation, it is important to look at whether or not the rhetorical situation of Ask Amy continues after the discourse is completed. The lack of positive programming for young girls is a prevalent issue in our society. Therefore, I think the rhetorical situation “matures and [persists]” outside of the episode (12).