Chapter 5:
Summery
Getting them to like you. Something more difficult than you would think and solved with only what can be seen as the simplest solution. Decorum. It’s that simple just find what your audience expects from you and do it. Rhetorical decorum is the art of fitting in. In high school I know having converse tennis shoes is all the rage. Everyone from Technical theatre to Drama wears them whether they are putting up lights or giving a monologue they have them on. Decorum comes from the latin word fit. This means when you are speaking to a large audience you are saying “Do as I say and as I do”. You should sound like a choir in tutti (all together) meaning you sound like one voice of a big group. Now this does not mean be just like your audience. It actually does help if you do something as small as dress a little better than the average person in the crowd. Decorum is often known as how Kenneth Borke said “perhaps the simplest case of persuasion” because who can’t try to slightly emulate their audience. This does not mean act exactly like your audience this means act the way your audience expects you to act. You would never talk to a teacher the same way you talk to your friends. Your teachers expects more respect from you than your friends do. When trying to convince your friends of somthing you might use less intentional decorum because of how close you already are but with your teacher or audience you might have to use more persuasion techniques. With decorum comes indecorum which is the failure to conform to good taste, propriety, or etiquette.This can be used but remember you cannot be indecorous and pervasive they are mutually exclusive. You can tell everyone like it is but you will much of your intended audience if not handled correctly. “I think anyone who has an opinion, and voices it, will offend someone.”- Peter Steele. This quote shows how decorum can be thrown out the window but it can and will hurt your argument without. Decorum is the art of the appropriate now you can fake being apart of a group but no one will believe you. People can sense when someone is being someone who they are not. If you don’t fit in or are not confident in your argument let the audience see that sometimes. Aporia is wondering openly or admitting you cannot fathom a reason. Sometimes the audience will sometimes unconsciously start to reason with you and they can appreciate the honesty. No one want to watch a speaker talk about something they don't believe or at least can’t fame interest because if you aren't interested why should the audience.
Reflection:
This chapter was particularly engaging with its talk of decorum and its focus on the audience. Alot of books and classes on rhetoric barely talk on the audience which is astounding when all you are trying to do is talk to the audience. Being the audiences friend is important and if they don’t like you how are you supposed to get them to agree with you. Your appearance might not seem like a big deal but it’s the first thing people see and judge you on. If you are at a Sunday brunch with your parents it’s not appropriate to wear sweatpants and a dirty t-shirt even if you have a well informed and interesting conversation with everyone they will still see the dirty out of place outfit. You don’t need to outdress the group but if you are trying to impress your parents then try to dress a little nicer than everyone else. Even something as little as a nice pair of shoes can go the extra mile, just to show that you care. If the audience already has a preconceived notion about you it can make or break you. If they have heard good things you can ride on the coattails of those nice things but if they have heard negative things you will need to work extra hard to change their minds. How you present yourself is very important and should be taken seriously.
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