Penn State would be an excellent choice for anything that has to do with rhetoric. Berkeley might also be of interest. There are a number of seminaries in the Bay Area and I'm sure you would be able to take advantage of those institutions. Professors you might consider working with are:

Thomas A. Carlson, UCSB
James Fodor, the Divinity School at Duke
Stephen Happel at Catholic University of America
Stanley Hauerwas, also at Duke
Walter Jost at Virginia
David Tracy at Chicago

I applaud your interest in Martin Buber. I am not sure what to say about his relationship to rhetoric except that I might imagine that the concept of persona and situationality might be somewhat alien to the Hebraic tradition. For me, rhetoric is essentially a Greek phenomenon: that is to say, that the concepts of persona, forum, argument, contingency all have roots in that historical framework. When you move to other traditions, ie ancient China or ancient Judea, I think it's difficult to describe what's going on as 'rhetoric.'

I also applaud your interest in pragmatics. Unfortunately, the term is too loaded to be helpful here. Pragmatics is a way of understanding langauge in use and for more information read the journal _Pragmatics_. Don't confuse that discipline with philosophical pragrmatism championed by William James and John Dewey.

MGGreer

Thank you, MGGreer, for your reply. I will have to look at the two distinctions between--as you stated--philosophical and more linguistic-based field of pragmatics. I am going to look into the people you listed. I studied Martin Buber in relation to I and Thou and the discourse studies subfield of rhetoric. From reading your other posts, you may not consider this as revelant or appropriate for the study of rhetoric...just a guess.

Thank you again for your quick reply. It is good for me to read how others define 'rhetoric' in its uses (pragmatics), history, cultural context, and in relation to my new-founded interest--religion.

To others as well, I am wondering if my interests are already founded within an established "niche" of rhetoric. That is what I am trying to determine right now, as I research universities. My concern, as I stated before, is credibility. Because some of my leanings approach similar questions within 'rhetoric of religion'--including Burke, Booth, and Buber--I do not want to be seen as a religious fanatic...rather someone who seeks to explore the issues that rhetoric of religion raises from the place of as academic...or pragmatist. With that said, I don't want to end up at a university whose religious affiliation sets strict boundaries specific to a their belief system.

The thing is, I am looking at rhetoric of religion, and trying to link the idea of "essence" "presence" or "Being" with cognition, and learning styles. This is the part which may sound far-fetched...or eccentric. Nevertheless, it is where my interests lie. I hope to find a program with professors to support this.

Shannon

Hey, Shannon, welcome to Knews! Anyway, I was wondering if you'd clarify what it is you're seeking, exactly. You had said you'd like support for your thesis; are you talking about an outside reader? It sounds like you're not applying for PhD programs at this time and looking for recommendations on that, but you're also not just looking for a bibliography of sources either.

CultureCat

Clancy,

Thanks for your reply. I am rather new at rhetoric, although I have been reading everything I can find.
Maybe I am a bit muddled as well, so my post is reflecting this. Until three months ago, I was working in Korea for the government in a new immersion program (looking something like Disneyland) called "English Village." Then I went back to New Orleans and had to flee due to Katrina. Then we came to Oregon where I have been studying rhetoric. Until a month ago, I was not clear on my concentration within the field of rhetoric. Only recently, have I been able to narrow my interests to something that I THINK would be useful for me as a teacher, and maybe even the field of rhetoric.

So now, I am looking for my 'niche' within rhetoric. For me, I am thinking of any outside support that I can find such as : faculty within universities which will be an advisor to me and on a panel for my MA thesis, rhetoricians who have already grounded the thesis (or raw idea) that I am trying to develop (so far I have been directed to pragmatics, reader response, and rhetoric of religion, and just found--but need to look into--cognitive rhetoric), and finally, universities which have faculty open to my proposal of linking rhetoric of religion to cognition...and even pedagogy. My concern with the last one is, finding a university with rhetoric of religion, or open to the integration of the concerntrations I listed above without leaning towards a specific organized religion. I want to keep my inquiries to academics.

I would like to get my MA first, then apply to the same universitiy's PhD program, or take classes so they transfer to a PhD program.

I hope this is clear enough. Like I said, this is new to me. I am using what I studied in the past to try and orient myself with rhetoric: creative writing (deals with mind processes), second language acquisition, and my training as an EFL teacher, a background in philosophy, and rhetoric.

UC Irvine appeals to me, but I do not have the 2nd lang. competency, or time for Literature GRE.

I hope I this is a little more cohesive now.

thanks for asking me to break it down...

Shannon

Hi Shannon,
What a wierd coincidence!
I wrote a piece last April connecting Buber and Burke. It is because of I and Thou that my interest in the rhetoric of religion was piqued.
I, too, am in search of a good program where I can continue my work in rhetoric of religion. I received my BA in Religious Studies and have found that through the study of rhetorical devices in religion that I am truly happy and involved.
I would love to read your paper.
Your post was of great help to me!
Thanks
Sara Bryan

Sara,

Hi! I am glad to hear from you as well. Actually, I am working on the paper right now. The presentation that I did on Buber in relation to cognition was an oral presentation. I am now trying to re-write it from the speech form to an essay form. However, I would LOVE to read your Burke/Buber essay, as I did not concentrate on Burke as much, only mentioned him. It is probably because I am not as well versed in him as the others I mentioned. My email is shannonenglishteacher@yahoo.com

As soon as I finish my essay, I will send it to you.

thanks,

Shannon

PS Any idea how to find a program that connects rhetoric and religion with a MA in rhet/comp.? I am having a hard time finding professors who would be open to my ideas without them being of any specific denomination.

Have you tried the H-Rhetor listserv? I believe that they might be able to help you figure out which program is best for you.

This may sound stupid...but I've looked and I can't figure out how to post on this recommended site (H-Rhet). Any tips?

thanks,

Shannon

PS The site is great...

Try the Religion and Critical Thought program at Brown University. They only admit for the Ph.D though. Martin Bagger works with epistemology of religious experience.