Three Artifacts

The first artifact I chose to analyze using the ideological method of criticism is an article talking about the impact of hip hop on today’s youth. I think this would be appropriate because it asks the audience to not only become aware of the impact that hip hop culture is having on teenagers, but to also believe that such an impact exists. The artifact commends the fact that today’s youth are no different than our parents and grandparents when they were younger when it came to setting themselves apart from their parents to create their own culture. This artifact doesn’t necessarily view any of the behavior of today’s youth as unacceptable, but instead suggested that parents should ask their kids what it is that they are into and why.

The second artifact I chose to analyze is about the dangers of social networking sites. The preferred reading is to those who frequently use online social networking, including parents whose children are interested in using it. This artifact wants the audience to understand the dangers of online social networking as well as being aware of the risks that come with it. It talks about the good that comes out of social networking, which is staying connected to family, friends, and colleagues. However it also talks about the bad that comes out of it which is lack of privacy and posting too much personal information, the dangers of online predators, and scammers. This artifact wants the audience to think about both the good and bad aspects of social networking, as well as ways to monitor the usage of young children on the Internet.It also asks the audience to avoid putting too much information online because it is possible for anyone to see your online activity.

The last artifact I want to analyze is an article discussing the fashion trends for this upcoming spring season. The preferred reading of this article are for people interested in fashion, whether they are in the fashion industry, studying it, or just like keeping up with the latest trends. The article wants the audience to understand the top 10 colors for women's fashion in spring 2010. The arguments being made in the artifact supports the claim of what will be in style. The article states something good as getting something to complement what you already own as means to save money. The artifact doesn't want the audience to think about fashion for other seasons or colors which aren't featured in the article.

Idealogical Criticism

This chapter talks about ideology, which is a pattern of beliefs that determines a group's interpretations of some aspect or aspects of the world. A focus on ideology consists of what rhetoric suggests about beliefs and values. According to the text, another way to think about an ideology is as a language that that a group deploys to make sense of and define the world or some aspect of it. The primary components of an ideology are "evaluative beliefs about which there are possible alternative judgments."

Neo-Aristotelian Criticism

In chapter 3 of the textbook, Neo-Aristotelian criticism is said to be the first formal method of rhetorical criticism developed in the communication field. This rhetorical approach uses invention, organization, style, memory, and delivery as units of analysis. According to the text, because this approach required that a critic determnine the effect of rhetoric on an immediate audience, rhetorical criticism became the study of speeches and neo-Aristotelianism wasn't used to study written discourse or nondiscursive rhetoric.
The three basic steps in analyzing the artifact include reconstructing the context in which the artifact occurred, applying the five canons to the artifact, and assessing the impact of the artifact on the audience. The second step of analyzing an artifact mentions the application of the five canons. The five canons of rhetoric are the steps that go into the process of public speaking which include invention, organization, style, memory, and delivery, as mentioned before.