Watching season two of Two-and-a-half Men, episode 7 (A Kosher Slaughterhouse Out in Fontana); the housekeeper gets her sister hired to cater a party for the mother of the two brothers living together.
The sister wakes the older brother standing above him in his room as he sleeps, then asking permission to take a shot of his alcohol (which she has already poured for herself, drinking immediately after permission is given).
She goes on to tell him about her troubled life, saying "My husband left me for another woman. Know how I found out?".
As Charlie, the older brother says "to tell you the truth", she remarks "relax, it's rhetorical."
She then goes on with her story.
About 5 minute, 30 seconds into this clip:
This scene is an encomium of rhetoric for me to assess:
Rhetoric is used here in her asking a question that was "rhetorical," which in asking supported the continuance of composing her discourse effectively.
The Rhetorical Question didn't necessarily have an answer that the audience knew the answer to, other than the fact that he knew the question was asked for reasons relevant to the answer being provided by the person doing the asking.
The rhetorical distance appears to come from the notion "relax" in that she was putting off a scary vibe, but wasn't expecting anything from him, so "relax," because she just wanted him to listen.
The rhetorical situation involved the rhetor (the housekeepers sister), an issue (her being left by her husband), and the audience (Charlie). The issue was at a time where she was expected to cater this party, and the situation involved her letting Charlie know the complexities of her functioning effectively to provide the catering services needed at that time (kairos relevant).
This is where I am left with invective question on my own capabilities as a rhetorician, and my completion of this assignment the way it was suppose to be completed.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Way to make a modern Econium of rhetoric! A picked a common show that a lot of people have watched, disected a simple converstation, and easy explained something complex.I also liked how you provided the clip, just incase someone wasn't clear about the situation just based of your description.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great example. You are a great rhetoricain Mark. You use examples that people know, and give great details. Keep up the great work.
ReplyDelete