In Ratcliff's exploration of a rhetorical listening concept, she defines the notion of rhetorical listening as a performance that, simply put, allows for identification to occur between a persona and their "self" as well as a person and a "other". This, on a base level, already sounds like Burke's theory of identification in the sense that it recognizes the existence of "recognition" as an idea that is spurred from the sense that there is a disconnect between all things. This all seems very similar in essence, but a part of the theory that Ratcliff expands upon is the ideas of difference recognition being classically associated with negative connotations. Ratcliff says that, through listening, we would "proceed within a responsibility logic, not from within a defensive guilt/blame one." (Ratcliff 204). The notion that through not necessarily privileging, but paying more attention the the act of listening, individuals would experience a more peaceful rhetorical process, isn't groundbreaking to me. The reaffirmation of "listening" as a rhetorical art and practice is a hopeful one for me. Rhetoric as we have been learning it, is either an offensive or defensive act, which indicates conflict. However, listening is neither of the former. For me, it sits as an act of "vulnerability" that quells the interpersonal fire of "needing the be the one that is right.
I like Ratcliff alot,because at her core it seems like she's just asking for humility. Which is so important in a time when people see to be more afraid of being wrong, then finding joy in doing right.
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