Kenneth Burke 1897-1993

"The Rhetoric of Motives." 
Goal of communication is to achieve Identification

Sharing self definitions among people. 

“The sharing of substance.” -- Burke

     Central problem is human alienation -- People don't feel that they fit in.  
 

The solution is for leaders to find

      Common Ground among people.
 

Types of identification:
       Rite of passage experience

      Geography
      Nationality

      Group membership

      Religion

      Language

      Shared values and beliefs

      Common goal

Three levels of identification in public speaking: 

1.    Audience identifies    with speaker.

 

2.    Audience identifies with topic.  
“Salience.”
 

3.    Topic identifies with situation. 
“Right thing spoken at the right time.”

Apply to Lincoln

Dramatistic Pentad
-- model of communication and method for analyzing communication.  

Act  --what is happening?
 

Scene --  when and where?
 

Agent – Who is acting, what are they like?
 

Agency -- How is action carried out? "Props"
 

Purpose – why? Universal theme? Mythos -- cultural values that define who a people are.

Ratios asks two questions together:   Agent/ Purpose     Agent/Act     Agency/Purpose

Victimage

-- a theme or story about a martyr or enemy that creates common ground.

Two kinds:

Martyr Victimage -- crucifixion:
"Let us unite to live out the victim's values."

Enemy Victimage -- war rhetoric:
"Let us unite against a common threat."

apply to Lincoln

Kenneth Burke's

Definition of Human:

• humans are
  the symbol-making, symbol-using, symbol-misusing animal

• inventor of the negative

• separated from our natural condition by instruments of our own making [technology]

• goaded by the spirit of hierarchy

• acquiring foreknowledge of death

• and rotten with perfection.

Read this article explaining Burkes theory of Symbolic Action in detail