Analyzing
Caroll’s “Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis”, I realized that we analyze
rhetorical situations subconsciously. Also, almost any situation involving
other people is a rhetorical one. When my two partners and I had to come up
with examples of everyday rhetorical analysis in Monday’s class, countless
examples just flowed into my mind. One of the most relatable examples was the
typical guy-girl Isla Vista party encounter.
It’s a trivial event that some people may say
doesn’t deserve much thought. Yet the Isla Vista party scene and opposite-sex
interactions within it constitute the biggest aspect of Isla Vista culture and
reputation. Although these interactions are known to occur between intoxicated people,
rhetorical analysis between guy and girl is being performed instantaneously.
The girl’s outfit is the first piece of visual rhetoric. When going out, most
girls dress to look good, whether it’s to outdo other girls or to win a guy’s
attention. The second rhetorical event is when a man approaches a woman (responds
to her rhetoric) and uses his persuasive skills to get him to like her. The
initial first few seconds of the interaction are crucial; the man needs to make
a great first impression through his word choice, his confidence level
(confident but not cocky), his style of clothing, etc. in order to win the girl
over. This is a risky encounter because the man does not know his audience; he
doesn’t know for sure which “tools” will be persuasive and which will be
offensive. The overall purpose of the encounter is usually to get the girl’s
number or even go home with her (as shallow as that may be).
Just
stopping to think about the unconscious effort that goes into such a
spontaneous and uncertain event is quite fascinating. It really tells you a lot
about the town we live in. Of course, not everybody lives that shallow and
sexually-unsafe lifestyle, but enough people do to make Isla Vista one of the
major know college towns known for its alcohol use, sex, and STD’s.
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