Rhetorical Situations

(Ah, doesn't this bring back memories...)

In this reading Bitzer talks about the rehtoric and his idea of the rhetorical situation.

Why make a website? Well, when I think of making a website, my hypothetical situations revolves around me being hired by someone who needs a website. They usually need a website because they need to reach their desired audience to convince them they need whatever good or service this company or person provides. My website is constrained by my skill, the wants of one who hired me, and the needs of my audience. Without truly meaning to I give myself, the rhetor,  exigency - or what needs to be changed - and audience, and constraints.

This is what I like about the concept of a rhetorical situation. While not flawless, it makes the broader of concept easier to understand. Bitzer himself argues that rhetorical must be situation, so it is unsurpsing that the general definition of rhetoric is so argued about. When I understand the idea of exigency - even just the idea that there is something that needs to be changed - it is easier to understand what rhetoric is and what it isn't. After all, I have yet to hear an argument about why the sun rises in the east (though I don't want to Google it because I probably would eventually find something...). If there is no audience to persuade, then there is not need for rhetoric. A client would not hire me to make a website that would never be viewed. Finally, the idea of constraints means that my website will never be expected to do everything. That constraints will be given by me, my client, my audience, the technology, etc.

With this in mind I know that I will need to keep in mind what the goal of my work will be, who my audience is, and what I can and cannot do in these situations. This will make my overall work better and more successful.