The development of the salon described in the Rhetorical Tradition's section on Madelene De Scudery as a venue of rhetoric was certainly intriguing to me, as it does not correspond with my perceptions of rhetoric at all. When I envision rhetoric as employed by figures of the past it is always in the context of the classical era. The forums are always serious, with direct correlations to the formal education that the rhetoricians received at academies on the techniques to speaking effectively. As it states in the Rhetorical Tradition, "The salon was a sort of adjunct to the French court, or the place to which courtly conversation of the sort described by Castiglione migrated under Louis XIV, in whose presence even the most circumspect and complaisant speech might be dangerous" (764). With the advent of the salon as a forum of rhetoric, the notion that rhetoric can be engaged casually along with light conversation was particularly illuminating as it revealed the progression of rhetoric from the classical period to the Renaissance, reinforcing it again as a constantly evolving field.
I also enjoyed the insight into the career of a well-established woman author in rhetoric. Though she used her brother's name in her first attempts at publishing, she was able to establish herself through the merit of her extensive volumes, establishing a distinct form of rhetoric that the text classifies as "private discourse with public implications" (766). In her eloquent piece, Of Conversation, Scudery personifies Conversation, Transactions and various elements of speech to emphasize the value of well-executed conversation. Her aptitude for salon rhetoric is made clear in the sheer delight she takes in iterating the points that make a truly skilled conversationalist. In her opinion, conversation should be a joy and not the source of stagnation in a room. Wit and poignant discourse that is pleasant to listen to but not superfluous, engaging but not weighted, are evidently the standards of speech that she prizes above all else. Finally, by specifically addressing the audience as "women" and "ladies" she fosters a sense of sisterhood, that I would imagine was generally unmatched during the Renaissance.
I also was intrigued by the information provided about the place of women in rhetoric during this time period. The salon society was especially useful and interesting, because it highlighted the true importance of women within society, as they were beginning to have more of a place within social conversation. I liked your analysis of Scudery, as I believe she was a true breaking point for women to become more engaging within society.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the further discussion of the importance of salon society today in class. Professor Condon really elaborated on the key points of why it was significant in extending rhetoric to the wider population along with the increasing rates of literacy of the time period. Where ancient rhetoric was strictly elitist, the salon society began to blur the boundaries of rhetoric between aristocracy and the middle class which in turn would lead to the mass media form of rhetoric that we know today.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hannah's take on the salon rhetoric as well as de Scudery's writings. What intrigued me the most was the idea of woman rising up in their social standing, if their verbal skills allowed them to do so. The rhetoric of the salon surprised me as well. Similar to Hannah, I had always viewed rhetoric as a very professional, stout approach to speech. Seeing that it was later used in the salons to analyze literary events and hold various word games is enlightening. It brings to light the role of women as well as the wealthy circle's need for a more lenient yet eloquent form of entertainment.
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