This paper will be analyzed two different periodicals from the American Periodicals: A Journal of History and Criticism to exemplify African American writers’ use of rhetorical norms within their work to comply with the American academic structure. I’m proud this paper was available to connect to the larger theme of my research this semester which was the underdevelopment of African American literature. I feel I have used more examples to explain the connection between the articles and the underdevelopment of African American literature even better. 

Nia Griffin

Dr. Laura Buchholz

ENGL 327W

12 October 2018

Genre and Discourse Community Analysis Essay

In Western society, British culture is the forefront of the majority of influence that governs morality and societal structure. Because of this, the mentality of those living within the society has to comply with the structure. In order to receive respect, justice, or truth you have to be able to be a reflection of “whiteness”.  If the individual or sub groups cannot project “whiteness” outwardly then they are deemed “unacceptable” or “unfit” for society (Fanon). “Black” is referred to as non-Western in general. The “Merciful God” is white; therefore, “blackness” has to a sin in comparison. This inherently makes “blackness” immoral (Fanon). Being born with any type of “blackness” makes one an “incarnation of evil”. According to the power regime of America, the stalemate should be a welcomed one. The “other” should want to succumb to this “whiteness”, and anything before this ideal should/would be considered mundane (Fanon). The black man, or the “other”, is supposed to submit to his subservient role. This forced projection has led to the underdevelopment of culture, literature, medical advancement, customs, and technology within the African American community.  

The damage of destroying one’s sense of belonging deeply wounds the psyche. Since African Americans have to live within these new parameters, their children will be condemned to this lifestyle of oppression as well. This creates a sort of “generational curse”. In order to combat this forced bleaching of culture, African Americans have still forged their own sources of news, entertainment, medicine, and culture despite constant repression.  One of the biggest proponents of rebellion against cultural hegemony has been African American literature. African American literature has been a legitimate part of America’s literary canon since the 1970s, but its roots extend long before then. It is an express of human experience within the larger American society through a “Black” lens. The literature was born almost prematurely, gaining growth, and then maintaining a stagnate state throughout the generations. The genre has led to development of multiple sources of media content as such music, novels, plays, movies or periodicals. This paper will be analyzing two different periodicals from the American Periodicals: A Journal of History and Criticism to exemplify African American writers’ use of rhetorical norms within their work to comply with the American academic structure.

In the article Memory, Illustration, and Black Periodicals: Recasting the Disappearing Act of the Fugitive Slave in the “New Negro Woman”, Teresa Zackodnik calls for attention to periodical studies’ methodology after the digital age. The field was in need of remediation through the “conceptual language of information technology”. This article is interested in the mutually dependent relation between slavery and periodicals, and the consequences that incudes there after. The purpose of this article is not only to inform, but also to persuade the audience to consider not only how we understand the emergence of American and African American periodicals, particularly, but also the future-oriented thinking in the field of periodical studies.

In contrast, Julie R, Enszer in her article, Fighting to create and maintain our own Black woman’s Culture aims to inform its audience on African American women’s, particularly black feminists and black lesbian-feminists, contribution to print culture, predominantly in the 1970s through the 1980s. Enszer informs the writer of the history of black feminist in print culture, expounding upon the way in which they operated along side an array of local newspapers and national news outlets at the time. The literary journals offered an outlet for lesbians and feminist creative work with language and art. This extraordinary output included a variety of newsletters. At least 3 periodicals were created and produced by African American lesbians.

Zackodnik’s takes a traditional approach to writing in her article by placing her thesis within the beginning of the second paragraph of her introduction. Zackodnik clearly presents and states her thesis for her audience. Zackodnik utilizes logos in the presentation of her thesis. She relies heavily on logical appeal to persuade her audience into the seeing the correlation between periodicals in America and slavery. By using facts and data, Zackodnik is able to present the context for the ideal of  “print capitalism” used in her article. This then adds to her credibility as writer, adding to the Zackodnik affective use of ethos.

Enszer’s thesis is not as readily available for the reader. Enszer article jumps right into the history of African American female presence within literary peridicals, and their influence on print culture. There is no clear-cut statement like Zackodnik did within her article. Enszer weaves her point into the context of the information, leaving her audience to decipher a thesis statement for themselves. Enszer focuses more on the use of pathos while establishing her thesis. Enszer tries to disarm readers who might resistance her information by drawing on the emotional appeal that black feminists’ literary accomplishments would ensue. Therefore when she is presenting her information, the logical argument is more memorable to her audience.

Both Zackodnik and Enszer use a large amount of prior research in their articles. Zackodnik uses the sources she has gathered as means of contextual support and evidence to her thesis statement in order to persuade her audience. Rather than performing a formal literature review, Zackodnik uses formal literature to display a cause/effect correlation to her topic. Zackodink only used photographs as an example of early forms of American periodicals, proving to her audience the cultural significance between slavery and media. Enszer constructs her article like an anatomy. Enszer’s prior research is presented in a color display that is supposed to mimic the colorful, heartfelt literature and art discussed in her article. Enszer uses a surplus poems and pictures from other publications, along with textual research, to help emphasize her thesis.

Zackodnik seems to use ideological rhetorical methodology (Burke) in her article to persuade her audience. The sources that she uses and the information that she provides rely upon the collection of values, beliefs, and ethics of our American society. She dedicates the entirety of her article to her methodology; again, using reasoning and proof to establish trustworthy as an author. Enszer too uses ideological rhetorical methodology in contrast to Zackodnik however because she uses it in order to point back to feminist rhetorical methodology. Enszer use of methodology in her articles denotes the degree to which women’s contributions and perspectives are absent, discredited, or overlooked (Burke) within larger context.

Both authors use jargon that seems to be exclusive to those in the literary field. They both use the jargon in their articles to connect back to their thesis. Jargon in Zackodnik’s article is more technical with words like “proxy” or “colonywide commonality”. Enszer use of jargon denotes inclusivity, making the audience aware the article presents a community that has been underrepresented like the term “watershed moment” which defines an out pour of artwork or “quintanales” which represents a form of editorial being presented in print. Again, both author favor one another writing style when it comes to the conclusion. Each author sums up the information being presented I their articles without having to provide additional research. They recount their thesis statements, and close out their articles. Zackodnik and Enszer use MLA as their citation system. Also, both authors utilize a formal tone, using 3rd person point-of-view, when writing their articles. Both article explicitly discussed different forms of rebellion against cultural hegemony within African American literature through the use of rhetorical norms within their work, which complies to the American academic structure.

Works Cited

Burke, Kennth. “Introduction to Communication.” Lumen Learning, Lumen, courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-introductiontocommunication/chapter/rhetorical-methodologies/.

Enszer, Julie R.”“Fighting to create and maintain our own Black women’s culture”: ConditionsMagazine, 1977–1990.” American Periodicals: A Journal of History & Criticism, vol. 25 no. 2, 2015, pp. 160-176. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/amp.2015.0025

Fanon, Frantz. “Black Face, White Mask.” Pluto Books, Pluto Press , 1987, abahlali.org/files/__Black_Skin__White_Masks__Pluto_Classics_.pdf.

Zackodnik, Teresa. “Memory, Illustration, and Black Periodicals: Recasting the Disappearing Act of the Fugitive Slave in the “New Negro” Woman.” American Periodicals: A Journal of History & Criticism, vol. 25 no. 2, 2015, pp. 139-159. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/amp.2015.0024