Williams Ch. 2

The chapter reads like a eulogy for postmodern rhetoric. With more and more campuses questioning its relevancy and its supporters themselves the victims of academic politics, classical rhetoric does appear to be on the ropes if not down for the count in most high schools. Williams points out that contrary to Faigley’s claim, “the only dark side of consumerism for consumers is the prospect of diminished buying power and the inability to find anyone willing or able to fix our electronic gadgets when they break” I would say that at this point, getting someone to fix our gadgets barely even registers as a concern as most of the products are portrayed as obsolete within a year or less of purchase. Verizon makes it pretty easy and tempting to constantly upgrade that if there is even a small problem with it well fuck it, give me that next gen Android. We live and thrive in a disposable world with only an inkling of a need for sustainability. I feel like this idea of disposability is equally as influential as consumerism and if you are lucky enough to still have a local Barnes & noble, take a look at their best seller shelves and you will see what I mean. Williams is especially prescient on the current status of the middle class and some of his assertions echo the protests of the occupy movement. Ultimately he seems pessimistic about the teaching of rhetoric and its relationship to writing pedagogy and I would agree with him on that. Unless there are some paradigm shifts in the teaching of writing and composition I think there will continue to be a shift away from rhetoric. But with the whole “No child left behind’ nonsense so thoroughly   discredited, there is at least an opportunity for a discussion.