Saturday, April 4, 2009

Historiographies

Vitanza is concerned with the writing of history and its relationship with ideology. He contends that "there is no escape whatsoever from ideology" identifying "common sense" as an often overlooked type along with clarity and coherence. The main thrust of his article centers on the assertion that the writing of history is always in some way ideological and how this impacts the writing of the history of rhetoric.

He identifies three major historigraphical categories:

1) Traditional Historiography -narrative events/ beginning-middle-end, Man is the agent of history (85)Documentary style / archival - based on documents, write from POV that documents are not influenced by ideology - law like explanations - written and interpreted along ideological lines
A. History that has "time" (narrative) as a major category -
B. History that does not emphasize time or man as a major category

2) Revisionary (correction centered) Historiography - addresses wrong interpretation of facts or accomodates previously undisclosed facts
A. Full disclosure -rewriting of history with primary purpose of "the full disclosure of the facts" (95)- the partial representation added to so as to create a whole
B. Self Conscious Critical Practices - distrust and interrogation of one's own (ideologically embedded)consciousness - recognition of one's own relationship with language and its implications.

3) Sub/versive Historiography - nonlinear - rhizomatic -POV multiplicity, critically conscious, nondisciplinary, dialectically based, non-selfexpressive, opposes history as knowledge, against history as reminiscent or for recognition,history as not representative of tradition(111-112)

Zappen: Revisionist - self conscious critical practice
Zappen discusses the historiography of scientific rhetoric with regards to Francis Bacon. He delves into the predominate interpretations of Bacon's work pointing out how the assertions made within these interpretations were based on specific underlying ideology. He then puts forth his own interpretation (86)but is quick; however, to qualify it by stating that his interpretation is not the end all be all and that indeed it must be taken only as a "suggestion"

Corbett: Traditional Historiography
In this article Corbett ties contemporary business and professional communication with classical rhetoric.
It is told from a POV that documents are not influenced by ideology which is additionally supported by his own lack of referencing the ideology that underscores his own writing.

Howard: Revisionary - Full Disclosure
In discussing the history of copyright and it's current place within electracy Howard work discusses and clarifies our relationship with copyright as a priviledge. In re-establishing this relationship he in fact "revises" wrong interpretations of copyright laws that are held by the majority.