Rhetoric, often described as the art of persuasion, is often thought to have begun in Ancient Greece, popping up just as democracy began to take shape. This view paints rhetoric as a uniquely Western tradition, but historians have since broadened our view, showing that rhetoric exists in many different cultures around the world. In this course, we’ll dive into these rich global traditions—looking at Indigenous cultures of Turtle Island, Asian, African, Latin, and South American perspectives, and more—so we can better understand how people across history, geography, and cultures have used language and communication to make meaning. 

We’ll ask: what is at stake in these varied histories of rhetoric, why do they continue, what can we learn, why should we care, and perhaps even, what might we contribute? Through studying storytelling, placemaking, policy, art, and performance, we’ll dig into how people create meaning in all kinds of forms. Assignments and activities may include reading and responding to course texts and cultural productions, a collaborative historiography project, and a self-designed final project.