08.07.06 – What’s Important ‘Bout Canons, Kairos, and Isegoooooria

What are the three most significant things you've learned in this course, and how will you make use of them in your studies and/or work?

The most significant idea I learned in this course was the five canons. I find them inordinately (yes) useful as a model to develop both oral and written discourse. In some ways, the concepts presented within the canons are practices that we already use or practices that are pretty much common sense. However, to have them detailed as they are is of great worth. As to how I will use this concept, colour me inspired - I am seriously considering doing something with ancient rhetoric and new media (yes, podcasting) for my dissertation. In such, I would definitely address all of the canons.

Another significant concept I learned was that of the isegoria. Again, putting this in the realm of podcasting, I have long wanted to write a paper that discusses the egalitarian nature of podcasting, including both positive and negative outcomes of this condition (actual and potential). Under the guise that I wish to write on the application of ancient rhetoric in new media, this would be an excellent tie-in.

A third significant concept learned this semester is Kairos. Prior to the summer, I had a very cursor knowledge of the concept. The May workshop bulked that understanding a bit, but this course (and our readings) delved deeper into the actual theory, as well as how it applies to various other ideas.