Symbolism- A way to think about arguing differently

In my personal blog this week I talk about symbolism. Crowley said "symbols represent belief, but they also produce it" (65). I am exploring this further to see if this could be a way to think about arguing differently. For example, if we think of symbols, and even bodies as symbols, we can possibly expand how we think about argument and rhetoric. Typically and traditionally rhetoric is though of as the art of persuasion, as the art of public speaking, as an art typically tied to a speech act.

In the communication discipline performance theory suggests that performance is also communication, and arguably can be rhetorical.

With this, I believe we can think of arguing, of rhetoric, of debate- as different.

If we explore symbols, and even bodies as symbolic, we can possibly entertain rhetoric in a different way that has been traditionally taught and thought of.

For example, if we were to think of major topics for debate and argument through traditional rhetorical and argumentation lenses, we could potentially look past symbols, and the symbolic and rhetorical nature of bodies. Thus, I propose as an individual exercise to think about your own topic of exploration in this class, and ask: Would it, could it be thought of differently if you were to focus on symbolism and even bodies?