Students in Dr. Nicole Pfannenstiel’s summer 2025 writing seminar crafted blog posts exploring Rhetoric & Composition. Over the next several weeks, we will share their work in this space to bring visibility to their posts and offer a variety of perspectives on pertinent topics within Rhetoric & Composition. These posts are written by graduate students currently in the MA and M.Ed. English programs.
Defining Digital Rhetoric: Circulation
By: Keani Hindle
As one analyzes the emergence of “digital rhetoric” as a subject of study, one must also examine its relationship with “circulation.” Digital rhetoric is the art of communication through digital means or also defined as “the study of persuasion in digital environments including computers, video games, websites and discourse on new media” (Media Rhetoric 12). With this being an emerging field of study in rhetorical theory, much of its roots are still grounding in ancient rhetoric. However, the means of circulation and value that derives from that circulation makes it significantly different from its ancient counterparts.
When understanding digital rhetoric’s relation to circulation, one must know that rhetoric cannot exist without circulation. Even during ancient times, one speech was moved and shared verbally within the community, and through that the speakers could stay relevant. Now, the act of circulation may look like “[sharing] preexisting writing, remixing it, or altering its ecology by connecting texts to new assemblages…when we enact, distribute, revise, invent from, or otherwise move its discourse beyond its original location” (LeCourt 152). Overall, the intent of circulation within a digital sphere is to keep the piece of composition alive and valuable by allowing for more interaction through more public spheres. Circulation dictates that it does not have to retain its original form, however, it must allow for ideas to continue reaching more of the viewing public; this may look like sharing, liking, reposting, or even writing in response.
As stated by writer Douglass Eyman, “any method for examining or researching circulation must take into account not only the actors, networks, and interactions but also the specific articulation of media and technology within those networks” (89). In order to truly understand circulation, in depth analysis of the programs and algorithms controlling circulation must be studied as well. Those that write in the digital sphere must also know how the systems of circulation within that sphere operate in order to invite circulation of their own writing. Many spheres dictated by larger corporations have the ability to reflect an “echo sphere” of identical ideas. If one continues to write unaware of the interworking of circulation in the digital public sphere, the impact of one’s own writing will diminish due to lack of value. More circulation or interaction with the composition equals more value for the individual.
All and all, the dissemination of ideas and discourse could not truly exist without circulation to keep such thoughts alive. Means of circulation may vary due to the nature of technological evolution, but the value of the process remains. A true master of rhetoric must take into account the ways in which a composed piece will remain and thrive in circulation, lest they want their piece to be buried among the other pieces within the digital sphere.
Works Cited and Works for More Information
Douglas Eyman. Digital Rhetoric : Theory, Method, Practice. University of Michigan Press, 2015. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=88f23ed4-1080-3bbf-9cb7-4f6575fe590a.
Gries, Laurie E., and Collin Gifford Brooke. Circulation, Writing, and Rhetoric. Utah State University Press, 2018. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt21668mb.
LeCourt, Donna. Social Mediations : Writing for Digital Public Spheres. Pittsburg, U of Pittsburgh P, 2024.
Madison Jones, et al. “Tracking Memes in the Wild: Visual Rhetoric and Image Circulation in Environmental Communication.” Frontiers in Communication, vol. 7, June 2022. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2022.883278.
Media Rhetoric : How Advertising and Digital Media Influence Us, edited by Samuel Mateus, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2021. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/millersville-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6578921.