In the Lozano and Cloud article, “The Uncivil Tongue: Invitational Rhetoric and the Problem of Inequality” they talk about the concept of invitation and power. They define invitational rhetoric as a “means to create ethical exchanges in difficult situations’’(220). They talk about how the invitation should be utilized to create a relationship rooted in equality, immanent value, and self-determination. When considering these definitions in relation to power it's important to realize that although invitation rhetoric is used with the intention and illusion of mutual invitation between the oppressor and oppressed, generally the people in power rarely invite those who are less powerful into conversation or if they do it is under their terms. I think that this is really important to consider how power dynamics can affect invitational rhetoric and even if it may appear that there is an equal dynamic there are often underlying conditions that might not allow that to be true.
For example, in a lot of my classes similar to what we did in the class, my professors have the students meet up for a one-to-one meeting just to get to know each other and talk. We, the students and professor, mutually agreed to meet to talk, and although these are informal meetings just to get to know each other and talk about the mutually agreed upon topics the professor still has more power. Even if the student agreed to the topic it was the professor who came up with it and it's generally the professor who picks the place and/or mode of communication.
Lozano-Reich, Nina M., and Dana L. Cloud. “The Uncivil Tongue: Invitational Rhetoric and the Problem of Inequality.” Western Journal of Communication, vol. 73, no. 2, 2009, pp. 220–26, https://doi.org/10.1080/10570310902856105.
Great example of how this concept can be seen in our daily lives. These 1:1's with professors are very open spaces, but it is important to recognize the power dynamic there. The professor has the ability to guide and direct the conversation, report information, and even end discussion for various reasons. The student "has the floor" but within fairly strict guidelines because they were invited to a conversation essentially as a "less than".
ReplyDeleteThis is a funny example but it almost reminds me of break ups. When couples meet to "break up" or discuss problems they're having, but there's almost always someone who initiates that conversation, one person who's having stronger opinions and is inviting the other to listen and change. Hence a power dynamic where one party may be feeling victimized and helpless. It's quite literally an invitation to discuss how things are going and the future for the couple.
Great post! I think it is important to discuss the power dynamics in communication between the oppressed and oppressor like you did. It is interesting to note that people with more power tend to have apprehension when inviting those with less power into conversation. And even when they do invite these people in, they talk to them rather than with them. I personally have felt a lack of inclusion in conversation in social dynamics when I am younger than others or the only female. When a group of individuals come from the same background and have the same demographics, and you are different from that, it is hard to feel equal in conversation. Have you ever felt this?
ReplyDeleteHi Alix, similarly I also find the ideal behind power dynamics an intriguing and important one. I have found that in my own experiences, it is common in some conversations to feel as though there is an equal opportunity to express oneself while in reality there is someone who usually may hold power over the others in the situation. The example of professors in this context really does match the realities behind what we as students participate in more often than we may realize. In your specific example, while tame and very common, it expresses how even within the little things, when it comes down to it, oftentimes students will usually be the "oppressed". Do you think there is any way to facilitate equal and open power between people such as students v professors?
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