Dramatizing Messages: Creative Interpretations of There-and-Then Ernest Bormann classifies cracking a joke, describing a movie, or talking about plans for the upcoming weekend as dramatizing messages. In the world today, many people seem to embrace the idea that different forces control the earth. People seem to agree to the idea that there are some evil forces responsible for the bad things happening in the world today (Jackson 194). This theory allows theorists and practitioners to anticipate or predict what will happen and explain what did happen. [13] Some terms that portray a shared group consciousness are a common ground, mutual understanding, created social reality, meeting of minds and empathic communication. For instance, the Star Wars Episode II-Attack of the Clones presents Jango Fett who raises an indistinguishable genetic copy of himself as his son Bobba in order to retain the same resilience in the child clone (Kaufman 4). Likewise, in the World today, people expect that lovers will go to the extreme ends to save their love. A good objective theory explains what occurs and why it happens. I, being a typical young adult female, am obsessed with … [13], A rhetorical vision is a composite drama that unifies people in a common symbolic reality. Persuasion occurs at the end of the process when a person understands a position and then compares the position it advocates to the other person’s position on the issue. Communication Theory. End of a rhetorical vision 2. The Star wars films provide the timeline expansion of technology in nature and machinery. Basically, through this study on the Cold War, they see how unrelated rhetorical visions may be combined in to a masterful rhetorical vision providing rhetorical continuity over time.[17]. … Although SCT can predict a fantasies will happen, it cannot predict when dramatizing message will trigger a chain reaction. With the Truman Doctrine speech, emerging fantasies of Red Fascism (e.g., communism vs. democracy), Power Politics (e.g., containment strategy), and the Hot War vision (e.g., make the world safe for democracy), crystallized into the yet unknown concept of "the Cold War. Emergence 5. The mutual relationship creates a fantasy lifestyle that the audience of the film Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace identifies with collectively each wishing to be either the youth or the adult according to age demographics. It takes the shared fantasies of a group of people, perhaps the audience for a business presentation or a public speech, and examines them for inside jokes and other cues to a shared consciousness. Self-interest is not necessarily bad and can actually enhance relationships. Social Construction of Communication Technology (Fulk). They are the means through which interpretation is accomplished through communication. Symbolic convergence theory of ernest bormann 1. This page was last edited on 9 January 2021, at 13:29. In order to use Fantasy Theme Analysis, the artifact must have symbolic convergence. [1] Symbolic convergence theory provides a description of the dynamic tendencies within systems of social interaction that cause communicative practices and forms to evolve. Therefore, the biological transfer of genes through the reproduction system is systematical challenged by the development of the clone and how easy it is to decide which character attributes, personality type and resilience power could be decided for someone before birth . Bormann compared SCT as similar to Darwin's biological theory of evolution in that respect.The theory even suggests that without shared fantasies, there will be no cohesiveness. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Bormann and his group observed that a group of people dramatized the events that they experienced together. Every star wars film fan identifies with the spacecraft that disperse at the speed of light. [13], A shared group consciousness must exist within a rhetorical community in order for a fantasy theme to chain out, a rhetorical vision to develop, a saga to exist, or a symbolic cue to imbue meaning. [email protected] 804-506-0782 350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10118, USA. Also key to this stage is the principle of dedication, which asserts that when planned events inspire individuals to act according to the key emotions present in the rhetorical vision their consciousness is raised. In conclusion,the films The Star Wars are an application of the symbolic convergence theory by Ernest Bormann. The idea that men and space entities could work together against a similar enemy creates a fantasy type using symbolic imagery that triggers group of cinema audience to interpret the situation as if it were really happening and would happen in future. Many people seem to embrace the message. The process of dramatization of events by members of a group experience together creates an identity. Darth Vader is possessed by the natural greed of an intolerable entity whose desire is to conquer and rule regardless of the ill effects of his methods of war. SCT isn't concerned with finding truth, but the reaction from the group when these fantasies are shared. Assessing communication efforts and persuasive campaigns. A symbolic convergence forms once a large number of people start thinking in the same way (Bormann 398). Anakin was a slave in the desert before Jinn found him. A good objective theory predict what's going to happen. Terminus Dramatic event that leads to uncertainty and a need to develop rhetoric to explain the current state of reality. [13] Symbolic cues can also heighten a group's cohesiveness. The film creates a rhetorical vision that people will only succeed after a sacrifice. SCT explains that meanings, emotions, values, and the motives for action are in the communication contexts by people trying to make sense out of a common experience. This period in history was plagued by laws perpetuating racism. [26] Ernest G. Bormann, John F. Cragan, & Donald C. Shields responded to initial criticisms in 1994. Communication technology use is influenced by workgroup attitudes and behaviors. Opposing forces control and try to fight each other for the control of the galaxy. The ideology has changed the modern world in that more people belonging to this rhetorical community are ready to make sacrifices in their lives in order to achieve success. Though the two individual share agreements, they also share disagreements that mirror normal life. For example, people will use examples from the films as they communicate with each other. These fantasy chains may begin, but often do not last very long. Interpersonal exchanges are analogous to economic exchanges where people are satisfied when they receive a fair return on their expenditures. SCT can predict that when a fantasy chain erupts among members, symbolic convergence will occurs as well. Young fans sometimes try out to use their hands to move objects in vain but the symbolic cue yet to be satisfied and thus remains fantasy. [12], Fantasy themes are broken down into the following three forms:[11]. Six days after the crisis, Nixon addressed the public by radio to respond to the charges against him. The films present an idea that in every crisis, there is a person who is there just to save the situation. The act of predestinating how a child is supposed to look, act and behave is a social shared fantasy by parents, a rhetoric vision that is realized in the film and leaves the audience wondering how to adopt the same technology. The idea is now a common knowledge probably among all the people that have seen the film. In contrast, Gunn proposed a post-modernist construct working in unconscious, and critiqued Bormann's work as a passing era prior to Michael McGee taking rhetorical study onto issues of ideology. Star Wars: Episode V-The Empire Strikes back details an event in which Obi-Wan’s spirit or ghost mentors Luke. This theory does not explain what happens when someone that is ignored is left out or excluded from the group because people don't mesh well when they are ignored. [4] It explores the human tendency of trying to understand events in terms of the people involved, who have certain personality traits and motivations, and have agency over how the events unfold. A symbolic cue is a word, phrase, slogan, or a nonverbal sign or gesture that works to trigger previously shared fantasies and emotions. Symbolic Convergence Theory "...explains how certain types of communication shape a group's identity and culture, which in turn influence other dynamics such as norms, roles, and decision making. All the people having the same conscious about betrayal form the rhetorical community (Jackson 196). We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Along similar lines, the principle of resurfacing competitive rhetorical visions asserts that with opened channels of communication, competition from alternate rhetorical visions increases. Symbolic convergence gives details about how causal processes transform into results. SCT offers an explanation for the appearance of a group's cohesiveness, consisting of shared emotions, motives, and meanings. 6 Effective Content Marketing Strategies You May Have Overlooked, Market Analysis Definition (With Explanation and Examples). Below are four of the tests that can be interpreted for SCT on an objective side. Without this chain eruption, there will no be cohesiveness within the group. Man aspires to create a mutual symbolic convergence by resolve their differences to maintain their mutual intimacy and respect. Consciousness Rating 4. Once a group has reached shared group consciousness, they no longer think in terms of "I" or "me" but in terms of "us" and "we." [13], Fantasy theme artistry is the rhetorical ability to present situations in a form that appears attractive to people so that they will share them. Symbolic Convergence Theory Who developed this theory? The planet of Tatooine which is the first home of Anakin is featured to comprise of twin suns, a situation that arouses the human mind to wonder how the earthly life would have been if we also had two suns (Kaufman 5). [16], A dramatic event or series of events leads to uncertainty and a need to develop rhetoric to explain the current state of reality. Obi-Wan develop the symbolic cue when related with his young apprentice Anakin during the Star Wars Episode II-Attack of the Clones. The principle of explanatory deficiency assert that when a rhetorical vision loses its explanatory power, it begins to decline. The emotional energy attached to the mutual relationship between the youth and the mentor remains a celebrated event among the audience as a form of rhetorical vision portraying a perfect youth-adult relationship that even a father and his son could emulate as a mutual symbolic cue. The double archetype of the youth-adult relationship creates a fantasy that every young boy or older man might want to experience in life. The symbolic-convergence theory is also known as the fantasy-theme analysis, which can be created in small groups or interaction between two people, thus creating a similar perspective. The beliefs are what the theory of symbolic convergence describes as a fantasy theme(Bormann 395). In a sympathetic critique aimed at making the theory better, he contends that "SCT does not sufficiently explain why humans are predisposed to dramatizing reality and sharing fantasy in the first place. Symbolic convergence theory was created by Bormann in 1972. Political symbolism links the two faces, culture as a system and culture as a practice, through the symbol (Video notes Spring 2014). These stories, or fantasies, can help businesses, corporations or politicians guide the positive and negative feedback directly back to those in power. One thing SCT does not do is allow for control of human communication. Just as the evil forces in the films are responsible for the destruction of property, evil forces are responsible for the destructive things happening in the world today. Week 10 Symbolic Convergence Theory of Ernest Bormann Presented by : Raka Tantra D. Pamungkas Afriana Dyah R Putri Hutajulu The London School of Public Relations MA in Communication Studies 2012 2. [35] This is tantamount to intentionally creating false representation on the walls of Plato's cave. What Is the Macro Environment in Business Analysis? Social influence is greater when individuals are more attractive to their work group. Vision-Declining Fantasies begin to chain out among a collectivity of Since Bormann asserts that common or collective rhetoric vision is the best way to relieve tension, it is true that people would indulge in talking to their family and mentor ghost partly to relieve pain or tension within the group and find relief to pressing questions and challenges. Symbolic convergence occurs as everyone in the group starts to think towards the same direction. It is most heavily used within political campaigns. However, a young male Jedi is depicted to have the ability to commune with his ancestor ghosts of his father and male mentors. During his speech over the radio, he emphasized how he made his own way in the world and had to work for living. [2] It attempts to explain how communication can create and sustain group consciousness through the sharing of narratives or fantasies. Ernest G. Bormann, the theorist behind Symbolic Convergence Theory, a past professor of communication at University Minnesota, claimed that SCT is both objective and interpretive theory. [13] By presenting situations in a form that appears attractive to an audience, or showing that you have an understanding of the stories that group shares, you can speak to their stories and turn their opinions into your favor. The people derive the idea from the film in the episode that Obi-Wan defeats Anakin. The mutual fantasy lasted shortly before Darth Maul impaired Qui-Gon (Kaufman 4). SCT highlights the values of rhetorical community by creating a common ground, meeting of minds and empathic communication. The antagonistic war between light and darkness is mirrors the struggle on man between good and evil. The message that the films suggest is what Bormann calls a fantasy. Similarly, the adult is inspired by the new acquired strength of the younger person who actual help the elder to experience a self-actualization. The purpose of this fund was to help Nixon pay for expenses that he could not otherwise pay for out of his income. [7] Bormann defines the basic communicative dynamic of symbolic convergence theory as, "the sharing of group fantasies which bring about symbolic convergence for the participants" (p. 4). In Ernest G. Bormann …known as the originator of symbolic convergence theory (SCT) and its attendant method, fantasy theme analysis, which both explore how the sharing of narratives or “fantasies” can create and sustain group consciousness. In 2003 Joshua Gunn delivered a sophisticated criticism of what he considered Bormann's outdated conception of SCT involving a humanist construct of conscious human actors working with agency. Whether unintentionally or intentionally, SCT can be seen at work in revisionist history. [13] The lack of a rhetorical vision reality link, with no clear observational impressions of the facts, may lead to disprovable fantasies, characterized by rumor, innuendo, gossip, and even paranoia. [9], An important element of Symbolic Convergence Theory is the propensity of the phenomenon it illustrates to be used against the public good. Chapter 18: Symbolic Convergence Theory. For example the [1] Symbolic Convergence Theory is objective because it focuses on sharing group fantasies that create symbolic convergence which is framed as a universal principle that holds true for all people regardless of the time, culture, and communication context. By shaping their own culture, this can influence norms, roles and even decision making. Would you like to get a custom case study? An example of a symbolic cue would be a bumper sticker, which actuates the observer into a larger shared reality. A good interpretive theory clarifies people's values. 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