Briana Verdugo

We thought about this through the experience of watching Netflix (something we’ve all been doing a lot of). There are so many options available on this new media/digital platform, it allows for a better understanding and dissemination of cultural knowledge. When watching Netflix, you have the ability to view different world perspectives through many different cultures, or different perspectives of one culture. By watching multiple experiences, it allows viewers to not think of culture as just one thing, but as a range of varied culture. 

Going back to the rhetorical practices as a means of conversation in social discourse, the engagement in cultural conversation impacts the knowledge transferred from one generation to the next. One can say that an effective measure for professional communicators to disseminate knowledge on a digital scale would be the use of modern media such as Ted Talks. Through thorough research, scholars can breakdown and create a comfortable environment to have these discussions.

-First Jesuit missionaries who went to Goa found it in their best interest to learn the local language to most effectively spread the Christian word in the local language. In doing this they were able to gain the trust of the community. 

-One of the ways that the Christian and Hindu practices collided followed how the bible was difficult to translate into the language of Hindu. There were many phrases that could not be directly translated therefore, Stephen had to create new words or ways to describe many important details from the text (pg 215).

-Jesuit and Hindu cultures also collided in dress, nutrition, traditions. At times these differences were embraced by those like Nobili and at others, they were not (the Portuguese who demonized any Hindu values.

-The cross-fertilization of religion occured after the missionary scholars also took a distinct interest in Hindu religious literature and by doing so, they used rhetoric skill in their compositions of Indian-language to Christian texts which enabled them to translate Christian meanings to Indian idioms. Learning the other person’s language in your own language makes it more acceptable and easier to understand. We feel this was an effective way to communicate their religion to the people. 

-They were able to use mimetic methods and borrowed from poetic models and various styles of the local Hindu religious literature. Translating the stories from the bible were difficult because of the difference in text and  symbols used to communicate the language. 

-One of the ways the Christian values collided against each other in the 16th century was when combined forces of the Portuguese crown and the Catholic Church were launching a violent campaign of destruction against Hindu culture.

-Similarities in theology e.g the Christian Trinity and the Hindu Trimurti, and the  Christian Mother of God and the Hindu  Devi.

-It all comes down to power and control. No matter how the Jesuits were communicating the word of God, it was all in an effort to assert control over a population, so of course, cultures would collide. But if they tried to communicate the religion in the local language, it at least feels as though they had some investment in the prosperity of the people.

Rachel, Ashley, Briana

How would you characterize Minga Peru’s use of a radio program (Bienvenida Salud) to help the indigenous people in Peruvian Amazon? 

• The media form of radio and the public access (free) nature of the show is beneficial to the indigenous people because it gives most community members the ability to tune in and hear about vital topics that they may not have available to them otherwise.

• It’s progressive … moves away from traditional health communication/PSAs 
  • • Talks about taboo/controversial topics

Would that be considered a cultural rhetorics approach to effective communication? 

• Yes, because it is a form of media that most Peruvians have access to. Additionally, the rhetoric is so specifically relevant to Peruvian culture based on the vernacular and social relevance, it feels nearly impossible to separate it from a cultural perspective.

Discuss the ways such community-oriented programs could enhance communication for human rights and social justice.

• Radio/entertainment format makes more relatable
• More presentable
• Information is presented in a way that makes it palatable to listeners
• Cultural rhetoric allows an issue to be presented in the listening audiences’ perspective
• The more the topic is discussed, the more the issues are brought to light for people to feel comfortable participating and become activists for change.

Briana Verdugo Neha Harve London Harrah

The less accounted for rhetorical strategies noted in Fatima’s article disrupt mainstream political or cultural ideologies in a few ways.

First, with the use of combining languages to make the dominant language less prestigious. By using the dominant language to attack itself it reduces the power distance between the dominant majority and the minority. A broad example of this is how English was used to flight colonialism.

Another strategy might be how people use vernacular to create communities. One can belong to that community or not belong to it. One can be excluded from it or that community can give you power.

An example of alternative strategies from the reading includes the use of English language on the graffiti, which was implemented to garner international support while vernacular was used to create belonging with a community.

All in all, these less accounted for strategies allow for ideologies and cultural practices to continue to thrive with more ease as those who are not looking for them may not be able to find them as easily as if they were mainstream rhetorical techniques.

My name is Briana Verdugo, I’ve lived in San Francisco for about 10 years but I am originally from Orange County in Southern California. I got my BA in Creative Writing at SFSU and since graduating from there I’ve always worked in some writing, editing, or publishing type of position, which is somewhat shocking because I am a terrible speller. I like to say this upfront instead of trying to hide the fact and then worry about being found out. For the past two years, I‘ve worked as a writer on the creative marketing team at Sephora. When I’m not working, I love to travel (I just got back from Sri Lanka!), playing music, and hanging with my husband and cat Monty.

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