The War of Words

Anthony Burke, Kyle Jensen, Jack Selzer , Kenneth Burke

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English

University of California Press
13 November 2018

Semantics; Communication studies

When Kenneth Burke conceived his celebrated “Motivorum” project in the 1940s and 1950s, he envisioned it in three parts. Whereas the third part, A Symbolic of Motives, was never finished, A Grammar of Motives (1945) and A Rhetoric of Motives (1950) have become canonical theoretical documents.

A Rhetoric of Motives was originally intended to be a two-part book. Here, at last, is the second volume, the until-now unpublished War of Words, where Burke brilliantly exposes the rhetorical devices that sponsor war in the name of peace. Discouraging militarism during the Cold War even as it catalogues belligerent persuasive strategies and tactics that remain in use today, The War of Words reveals how popular news media outlets can, wittingly or not, foment international tensions and armaments during tumultuous political periods. This authoritative edition includes an introduction from the editors explaining the compositional history and cultural contexts of both The War of Words and A Rhetoric of Motives. The War of Words illuminates the study of modern rhetoric even as it deepens our understanding of post–World War II politics.

By: Kenneth Burke
Edited by: Anthony Burke, Kyle Jensen, Jack Selzer
Imprint: University of California Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 544g
ISBN: 9780520298101
ISBN 10: 0520298101
Pages: 296
Publication Date: 13 November 2018
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Acknowledgments Editors’ Introduction THE WAR OF WORDS Introduction 1. The Devices Of the Devices in General The Bland Strategy Shrewd Simplicity Undo by Overdoing Yielding Aggressively Detection Spokesman Reversal Say the Opposite Spiritualization (the Nostrum) Making the Connection Say Anything Theory of the Devices 2. Scientific Rhetoric I. ”Facts” Are Interpretations II. Headline-Thinking III. Selectivity IV. Reduction (“Gist”) V. Tithing by Tonality VI. News as Drama VII. Polls, Forums, Accountancy 3. [Notes toward] The Rhetoric of Bureaucracy 4. [Notes toward] The Rhetorical Situation Appendix 1. Facsimile of the Outline of ”The Rhetorical Situation” Appendix 2. Foreword (to end on) Appendix 3. Facsimile of “Foreword (to end on)” List of Textual Emendations and Explanatory Notes Index

Anthony Burke is Associate Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at the University of Victoria and the son of Kenneth Burke. Burke worked with his father to organize and catalog Kenneth Burke’s papers. He now contributes to maintaining the archives associated with Kenneth Burke’s cultural legacy. Kyle Jensen is Associate Professor of English at the University of North Texas. He is the author of Reimagining Process and the coeditor of Abducting Writing Studies. Jack Selzer is Paterno Family Liberal Arts Professor at Pennsylvania State University. He has authored, coauthored, edited, and coedited many books and articles on Kenneth Burke, including Kenneth Burke in Greenwich Village and Kenneth Burke in the 1930s.

Reviews for The War of Words

"""The three coeditors of this posthumous publication—Anthony Burke, Kyle Jensen, and Jack Selzer—have done a commendable job assembling this material, which efforts they narrate fully in their valuable introduction. . . . [The War on Words is a] revealing remnant of Burke’s dissertation on motives, a companion volume to his Rhetoric. It is neither a sequel nor a prequel nor a detour nor a summary; it is something more essential."" * European Legacy * ""The volume provides Burke’s fascinating, mid-career reflections upon his intellectual trajectory. . . .[the editors’] efforts have done scholars a tremendous service."" * American Literary History *"