Bodily pathos: Rhetorics of the disabled veteran
Abstract
The history of rhetoric has, traditionally, looked upon the body with suspicion. Derived from Aristotle, the view that the body is merely a supplement to verbal appeals is a common view that still retains its presence in scholarship today. In particular, rhetorical theory has glossed over or abandoned the rhetorical potential of the disabled body. In this thesis, I investigate the function of pathos as it pertains to the body of disabled veterans. Re-thinking the traditional notion of pathos as psychological affectation, I suggest that a phenomenological methodology allows us to view pathos as "being-taken" from our everyday, commonplace existence. In order to support this claim, I utilize several theoretical constructions that allow us to analyze and interpret the role of the body within more traditional discussions of discourse and political power. The goal of this analysis is to illustrate the ways in which the disabled veteran is cut off from the innate rhetorical capacities of their disabled body, be it through political, cultural, or organizational means.
Degree
M.A.
Advisors
McCormick, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Philosophy|Rhetoric
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