Rhetoric And Marxism

by James Aune

Overview

This book is the first extended study about the relationship between Marxism and the rhetorical tradition. Aune suggests that the classical texts of Marx and Engels wavered incoherently between positivist and romantic views of language and communication–views made possible by the decline of the rhetorical tradition as a cultural force. Though Western Marxism attempted to resolve this incoherence, it lacked a satisfactory theory of its own. Aune argues that the liberating impulse of Marxist tradition, ultimately, would be better served if we paid closer attention to the rhetorical history of the labor movement and to the role of public discourse in arousing or quieting revolutionary consciousness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781000310085
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/26/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	187
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

James Arnt Aune is associate professor of communication at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Preface -- Introduction -- “The Ruthless Criticism of Everything Existing” -- Marxism After Marx -- Marcuse’s Disappearing Audience -- Time, Place, and Cultural Studies -- Rhetoric Between System and Lifeworld -- Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

Aune's (communication, U. of St. Thomas, St. Paul) study of the relationship between Marxism and the rhetorical tradition suggests that the classical texts of Marx and Engels wavered incoherently between positivist and romantic views of language and communication--views made possible by the decline of the rhetorical tradition as a cultural force. He argues that the liberating impulse of the Marxist tradition would be better served if closer attention were paid to the rhetorical history of the labor movement and to the role of public discourse in arousing or quieting revolutionary consciousness. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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