The Rhetorical Situation of Signage

In the readings for this week, Bitzer puts for the idea that there's more to the rhetorical situation than was originally considered by academics. Part of me realizes well of course there is, however, I have to constantly remind myself that this article was landmark when it was first published. Nevertheless, I think that Bitzer raised a few key points that are worth discussing.

In his article, he writes, "rhetorical discourse comes into existence asa  response to a situation in the same sense that an answer comes into existence in response to a question, or a solution in response to a problem," (5). I think this very basic premise is key to understanding how the rhetorical situation works.  Often times, texts of all kinds that we come across are a result of a situation or event that happened or is currently happening. The link here leads to college humor where the photo displays a sign that simply reads: NO SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNTS. YOU HAD TWICE AS LONG TO GET THE MONEY. Where this sign is located I cannot say for sure, but it is clear that this sign is responding to a situation going on in America. Seniors get benefits via medicare and social security and yet, some of them berate young people for taking out student loans to get an education and accuse young people of wanting a welfare state. It's a common argument the media drums up. This sign feels like a rebuttal. Essentially responding to the current discourse surrounding so called entitlements.

However, in the Vatz's article, he challenges some of the basic ideas that Bitzer puts forth. Do situations simply exist out in space waiting for a rhetor to respond? This may not always be the case. In the case of the sign, the person who wrote it had to chose to respond to it. Agency plays an essential role in the rhetorical situation. "Instead the choices will be seen as purposeful acts for discernable reasons. They are decisions to make salient or not to make salient...The rhetor is responsible for what he chose to make salient," (Vatz 158). Part of what Vatz is trying to argue is that the content of what a rhetor brings up isn't necessarily a response to a situation that calls for the content to be discussed. In the case of this sign, it may be simply that the person who wrote it thought it would be clever or funny (hence why it's posted on college humor). This sign may or may not be timely. What is important is the fact that the creator decided to make the issue salient to potential readers.

Even though Bizter's initial idea may not be perfect, I think it is still important because it helps formt he basis for understanding how writing to an audience works. As an undergrad, my professor never tired of stressing the rhetorical triangle in every single professional writing class. I guess there was a reason.