Melody as Segue

Lloyd F. Bitzer makes a key statement in his "The Rhetorical Situation": "…a work of rhetoric is pragmatic; it comes into existence for the sake of something beyond itself; it functions ultimately to produce action or change in the world; it performs some task" (219). --from Melody's blog.

Melody didn't have a speech link and I didn't look it up before responding to her (sorry, Melody!)...but the Bitzer quote is what I really wanted to write about. All of the chosen speeches have had this sense of urgency...this call for education and change. This has been the clarifying definition of rhetoric for me, showing me that rhetoric is more than just arguing and persuading, that it is educating and is created because of something greater than itself. I understand that I'm repeating the definition...I'm just trying to emphasize it here, guys.

I'm not really going anywhere in particular with this...I apologize. Sometimes it is better to just let your thoughts ramble. And if rhetoric is for a reason...is focused on something with a purpose, then I guess my blog posting is not rhetorical.

And, as far as Legally Blonde 2 goes, I think the cause greater than the rhetoric would be the movie-makers wanting to sell lots with a bang! ending aimed at making viewers feel mildly inspired/uplifted.