Cause And Effect Of The Rhetorical Situation

On November 13th, 2015, everything changed in Paris. It started out as a typical Friday night, but ended with the death of around 130 individuals and injury of many more. Since then, news outlets, blogs, social media, etc. have continuously covered the events of that night. While the facts of the event are indisputable, the interpretation of those facts and communication of those facts remains in a state of constant debate. The rhetorical situation and response exemplifies the philosophical differences and debate between Bitzer and Vatz. Bitzer holds the stance that “rhetoric is situational” (3). Rhetoric arises as a result of an ‘exigence’ or urgent problem that the audience can positively affect. The rhetor than gives a fitting response to the situation. In the case of the attacks that occurred in Paris 10 days ago, the ‘exigence’ that created the rhetoric was those attacks. The positive effect would be future prevention of such attacks. The fitting response of the rhetor would be the characterization of this event as an act of terrorism. …show more content…
One particular politician, Ms. Marine Le Pen, especially indicates what Bitzer would view as the effect of the rhetorical situation on the rhetor. She, as leader of the National Front, along with her fellow “far-right politicians”, is described by a French entrepreneur as “going to capitalize on this” (Alderman and Yardley). The rhetor, Ms. Le Pen, having observed the rhetorical situation, uses the situation to create a positive affect which in this case would be “closing borders and increasing national security” which is “actually happening” (Alderman and Yardley). From the social media response to the news coverage to the political response, using a Bitzerian approach, one can trace the origins of the rhetorical situation back to the attacks in Paris on November