Watt’s text Story-List-Sanction: A Cross-Cultural
Strategy of Ancient Persuasion is the first text up to this point that I
have understood the purpose of reading. It may be because it finally has to do
with something that is familiar to me, namely persuasion. I find it interesting
that there are so many examples of the story-list-sanction strategy from
ancient times, as it is quite similar to the way many would use rhetoric in
their daily life today, without even being aware of it. A mother would for
example tell her child not to put that piece of Lego in their mouth (story)
because the child would possibly swallow it, which would lead to pain on the
child’s part (sanction). Like many of the examples Watt provides in the text,
one of the tools may be omitted, and may not necessarily use the complete
pattern. The Greek were not too fond of rhetoric, as we already know, and
especially not of the persuasive aspect. They thought it was only useful to “…manipulate
an audience’s emotions…” (Watts 208) and for the telling of actual truth. To me that is exactly what rhetoric is all about, for the most part. Not necessarily in an evil manner, but for one individual to be able to convince another individual of something. It is how we live and learn from each other.
This text shows that
there are even are ties to today’s use of rhetoric all the way from ancient
times. Even though the ancient time rhetoric was mostly just spouting of how
much the kings, priests and land-owners owned and how it was made, followed by
a “Dare those who destroy my property!” speech, it still does follow a pattern
that is useable today. The ancient time story-list-sanction strategy was mostly
used to manipulate the masses with fear of gods, which honestly is not very
unlike how many religious extremists brainwash their ranks today. Do anything
to further the god, because the god is righteous and can never be wrong(story).
He has done this this and this and created the world for you. You are the
chosen people to do his bidding and cleanse the world of scum (list). If you do
not do as the god says, you will end up like every other heathen and go to hell
(sanction).
I agree with your position that Story-List-Sanction is just as relevant today as it was in ancient times. We can see it's uses in religious sermons as well as political speeches. It will be interesting to see how many candidates in the upcoming election utilized this method for their speeches and how they use each section to persuade their audiences.
ReplyDeleteAlex, can you give us a link to a contemporary speech or sermon to give evidence of this relevance?
ReplyDeleteI agree with your argument. I have also noticed the prevalence of this type of persuasion in modern times. Some of the most common comes from fairy tales. Santa Claus is a magical being (story) who rides around in a sled, delivers presents to the good boys and girls, and gives coal to the bad ones (list). So you better be a good child or else you don not get presents (sanction). Sanctions are best paired with myths, either fairy tales or religious texts. This particular strategy is just fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you have a positive view of Watt's text and even enjoyed it, contrary to the majority of the others that wrote responses to it. I'm curious as to why that is, do you think there's a specific reason your reaction to it is so different?
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your view on rhetoric, that it seems to be ultimately a tool to manipulate another person to your point of view - not always for a bad purpose, as you have said. It is just how things go in communication, nearly all of the time!
This idea of the continuation of rhetoric is extremely interesting to me. I find it interesting that we see the same ideas transfer across culture and time to become a part of our rhetoric. I believe that no rhetoric ever really goes away, but just evolves. It seems as though our world is a continuing narrative that is constantly evolving.
ReplyDelete