Digital Rhetoric: Writing in Today’s Day and Age
By D. A. Youngblood
Though the nature of writing may never change, the methods involved are transforming rapidly. With the emergence of technologies such as smartphones, laptops, tablets and the like, sharing opinions has never been easier. Whether this kind of freedom is positive or negative is subject to discussion, but one thing is certain; having an understanding of the internet, and all that it includes, is essential for a writer’s success.
There are many aspects to the growing field of study known as digital rhetoric. Convergence, circulation, delivery, identity and technology are the five major factors I will discuss in this article. These elements, and how they interact with one another, delve into the essence of what contemporary writing asserts.
Convergence is the most practical point to begin with, as it concerns how old media is colliding with the new age. News, games and even gossip are all subject to convergence. For example, news used to be received primarily by a newspaper, but technology now allows it to be published online, for almost everyone to see. Games are converging as we move away from dice and boards, and move towards interlinked networks that allow gamers to connect across oceans. Gossip is converging, especially within the medium of social media, as opinions and discussions are able to be posted instantaneously. However, whether or not someone takes your post as credible has everything to do with the concept of digital identity.
Identity within a digital scope is an important aspect, especially for writers. Digital identity is how one presents themselves on a digital plane. Establishing credibility within one’s identity is particularly significant, as it lays the groundwork for how a digital work will be circulated. Additionally, it dictates how an audience will respond to the given writing. Consider how you may want to be seen by the world. Do you want to present yourself as professional, or comical? Opinionated, or reserved? Think about how you may be constructing your own digital identity before making your next internet post.
Delivery is the mode of presenting discourse. It is important for a writer to judge how they want their work to be delivered. That is, do they want to post a video to YouTube, a tweet to Twitter, a picture to Instagram or a post to Facebook? There are many more delivery methods than the four I have mentioned above, but the main concept is that delivery is everything the author does right up to the point in which they post their work, including how they prepare their writing. Moreover, delivery is important because it is how a certain discourse will be perceived by the authors audience. This, in turn, effects the standing of one’s digital identity.
Circulation is the potential for discourse to move about an online medium. Unlike delivery, the author has no control over how his or her text may be circulated. You may have heard the term “viral” used before on the internet or by news. When a digital text becomes viral, it means it has moved about the internet so rapidly that a person in Massachusetts might be viewing the post at the same time as someone in California. Harambe the gorilla being shot at the Cincinnati Zoo was a viral event. It became national news almost overnight. When something is posted to the internet, there is an intent for that specific idea to be seen. For this reason, circulation is an important aspect to digital rhetoric.
Finally, and arguably most importantly, there is technology. Technology is the driving force behind the emergence of digital rhetoric, and it is the medium that allows us to partake in digital discourse. It ties together convergence, identity, circulation and delivery. The iPhone, for example, is a tool that does exactly that. In most cases, it is our connection to the internet, and allows us to interact with everything the online world offers.
Keeping these five elements of digital rhetoric in mind, one must always remember that the field is constantly changing and developing. New technologies emerge religiously, and the digital world is becoming increasingly intricate. It is up to writers of all genres to understand the internet’s complexity, as it seems very likely that this new way of writing will overcome the classic art of rhetoric.
Known for his eccentric personality, D. A. Youngblood is an aspiring writer. He currently attends school at Auburn University, in pursuit of a major in English — professional and public writing. Youngblood enjoys long walks on short piers, and cannot refuse a slice of rhubarb pie.
If you have questions for Mr. Youngblood about this article, or anything at all, feel free to contact him at his email account, daldenyoungblood@gmail.com
Chair & Pen publishes stories on the writing process and the writing life. It is edited and curated by Writing Coach Annalisa Parent. To learn more about how to work with Annalisa, visit www.DateWithTheMuse.com
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