Calls for papers : Rhetoric and communication standards (24-25 nov. 2014) & Rhetoric in the Knowledge Society (24-27 june 2015)

L’équipe du GRAL est heureuse de relayer les appels à propositions de deux Congrès en rhétorique qui se dérouleront en Pologne : (1) Rhetoric and communication standards, Warsaw, Poland, 24-25 November 2014, (2) Rhetoric in the Knowledge Society,  University of Warsaw, Poland, 24-27 June, 2015.

Rhetoric and communication standards – 24-25 November 2014, Warsaw

Polish Rhetoric Society in association with The Institute of Literary Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences invites you to 13th Conference of Polish Rhetoric Society « Rhetoric and communication standards » (24-25 November 2014, Warsaw, Nowy Świat 72, Staszic Palace, room 144).

Ancient rhetoric had developed a comprehensive model of persuasion. Following its rules and recommendations was thought to increase the chances of the speaker to persuade the audience. The ancient ideal of the vir bonus dicendi peritus (a good man, an experienced speaker) was linked to ethical standards and oratorical competence. From antiquity till today a number of suggestions and recommendations on the principles of effective persuasion has been formulated. In addition to the normative approach, the current research interest lies in the descriptive approach: what standards, practices and cultural norms of persuasive communication developed over the centuries? How are they changing now? What are the new standards and expectations which shape contemporary persuasive communication? We invite you to a joint reflection on rhetoric in the context of norms, standards, practices and social expectations about persuasion. Your paper may addresses the following issues:

• Formulation of standards, rules and recommendations with reference to persuasion (logic, ethics, effectiveness, appropriateness, politeness, etc.)
• Genres of speech and principles of persuasion
• The standards, bans and requisitions in language policy (e.g., censorship, political correctness)
• Violations of communication standards and their impact on persuasion (e.g., provocation, scandal)
• Communication norms and ethics of persuasion in various professions (marketing, commerce, politics, PR, business, science)
• Cultural diversity of guidelines and rules regarding persuasion
• Historical changes of persuasive practices and recommendations for persuasion
• The didactics of persuasion (textbooks, guides, courses).

During the English part of the conference we will be pleased to present our guest speaker Alejandra Vitale (Universidad de Buenos Aires), the President of the Rhetoric Society in Argentina.

Practical information

Calendar:

30 September 2014 – deadline for on-line submissions of paper proposals (20 min presentation) via form

15 October 2014 – notification of acceptance

30 October 2014 – registration deadline: conference fee 350 zł (70 EURO), includes conference materials, lunches and coffee breaks;

31 January 2015 – sending a text for publication. The articles will be selected after a review process.

For additional information please contact us at retoryka.ptr@gmail.com.

Website

Rhetoric Society of Europe
Polish Rhetorical Society and Italian Language Department of the University of Warsaw

Fifth « Rhetoric in Society » Conference (RiS 5)

Rhetoric in the Knowledge Society

University of Warsaw, Poland
24-27 June, 2015

Call for papers

The ideal of sapere aude (« do dare to know ») has been known since antiquity. However, the conceptualization of the Knowledge Society is relatively recent. Knowledge, as one of the key concepts in modern society, may also be viewed from a rhetorical perspective. Knowledge is created within discourses and articulated in texts. These texts contribute to creating the very concept of knowledge and its internal qualifications such as scientific and non-scientific knowledge. The texts persuade the audience to various knowledge claims and dissuade it from others.

The goal of the conference is to articulate ways in which knowledge is conceptualized and made manifest through different rhetorical practices in various contexts of communication within society. We invite papers that address at least one of the two notions of ‘rhetoric’: rhetoric as an object of analysis and rhetoric as a theoretical and methodological framework. Rhetoric as an object of analysis may include, e.g., texts constitutive of academic discourse, scientific popularization, expert discourse, lay discourse on knowledge and dealing with knowledge, as well as representations of knowledge in literature, advertising, art, or humor. Rhetoric as a theoretical and methodological framework encompasses the conceptual and methodological tools elaborated within the long tradition, from the Aristotelian naturalist model of rhetoric to modern developments and innovative approaches that foster the theoretical progress of the discipline.

Proposals may include, but need not be limited to, such areas as:

  • rhetorical strategies involved in the creation, transmission, criticism, and evaluation of knowledge in academic and non-academic settings
  • rhetorical features of texts qualified as conveying scientific knowledge, pop-knowledge, folk-knowledge, common knowledge, pseudo-knowledge
  • the rhetorical analyses of discourses on and carried out within institutions of knowledge (e.g. universities, schools, museums, think-tanks)
  • social mobilization of emotions related to knowledge (e.g. concepts of risk society; confidence or diffidence towards experts; appreciation or depreciation of the humanities)
  • knowledge and power (“disciplinarization” through knowledge vs. empowerment through knowledge; policies of knowledge)
  • knowledge and knowledge workers as object of cultural representations in literature, art, film, humor, advertising.

The above topics is by no means closed; we are open to further proposals. Please do not hesitate to contact us with other suggestions and ideas that best satisfy your expectations concerning the programme. We welcome also ideas for panels from scholars willing to lead a session.

Website

Rhetoric Society of Europe (RSE) : création d’une « Researcher Database »

L’équipe du GRAL informe de la création d’une base en ligne (par la Rhetoric Society of Europe) répertoriant les chercheurs en rhétorique. Cette « Resercher Database » vise à promouvoir la recherche, l’étude et l’enseignement de la rhétorique en Europe. Elle entend faciliter la coopération professionnelle et les échanges scientifiques à l’intérieur de notre champ disciplinaire. N’hésitez pas à vous inscrire en remplissant le formulaire disponible sur le site.

Site de référence : http://eusorhet.eu/members_database/

The database consists of lists of rhetoric scholars and is divided both by nationality and by research interests. The latter features a list of several issues within rhetorical studies, which people have been sorted under. However, the entry for each person in the database also lists his or hers particular interests. We hope that this will make it possible for rhetoricians to find others with the same research interests as themselves, allowing for a strengthening of regional and international cooperation.

The Rhetoric Society of Europe (RSE) is an organization for European researchers and teachers working on the art of rhetoric. The purpose of RSE is to promote and advance the research, study and teaching of rhetoric in Europe, and to facilitate professional cooperation between its members. The society provides a forum where researchers and others involved in rhetorical research and teaching can meet and exchange ideas, information and documentation about their work. Even though it is an important aim of the RSE to stimulate European research and teaching in rhetoric, we welcome members from all parts of the world. The RSE not only wishes to improve and enhance European research, but also to facilitate international cooperation in the research, study and teaching of rhetoric.