Introduction & History
Dramatism Theory, introduced by literary critic and philosopher Kenneth Burke in the mid-20th century, provides a unique lens through which communication is analyzed as a form of drama. Burke’s theory is rooted in the belief that human interaction mirrors a dramatic performance, with people playing roles, delivering messages, and influencing others through their “performance” in social life.
Dramatism Theory revolves around the concept that life is a drama, and communication is a symbolic action where individuals enact roles to convey messages.
Burke’s Dramatism Theory
Burke’s Dramatism Theory is deeply connected to rhetoric, especially the persuasive use of language. The idea behind the theory is that all communication acts are dramatic and inherently persuasive because individuals are constantly involved in symbolic actions designed to influence others.
Burke believed that life is not merely a set of events but a symbolic process where meaning is constantly created and recreated through communication.
This theory emphasizes that humans, as symbol-using creatures, communicate to resolve conflicts, navigate social structures, and understand their world through symbols.
The Dramatistic Pentad
Burke’s most well-known contribution to dramatism is the “Pentad,” a model that outlines five key elements found in any communicative act, similar to elements in a dramatic play. Burke developed the pentad framework using a mix of rhetoric, psychology, and sociology concepts to explain communication dynamics.
The Pentad serves as a framework for understanding how individuals construct social reality through communication.
Let’s break down each element of the Pentad:
●Act: This refers to what has been done, the primary action being discussed or performed in a communicative situation.
In any conversation or a piece of communication, the act is the central event or action. For example, in political speeches, the act might be the promise of passing a particular policy.
● Scene: The scene provides the context or environment in which the act takes place.
This could be the physical location, the cultural background, or the broader societal conditions. The scene helps explain the circumstances under which the act occurs.
For instance, a protest happening in a politically unstable country would be seen differently from one happening in a stable democracy.
● Agent: The agent is the person or group performing the act.
In Burke’s view, understanding the agent is crucial because motivations, values, and intentions are closely tied to the individual or group enacting the communication. Agents bring their own identities, experiences, and power dynamics to the interaction.
● Agency: This refers to the means or tools used to perform the act.
It could be verbal language, written text, or even non-verbal cues like body language or visuals. The choice of agency can greatly influence how the message is received and interpreted.
● Purpose: Purpose is the underlying motivation or reason for the act.
Why did the agent perform the act? What are they hoping to achieve? Burke believed that every action, particularly in communication, is driven by a purpose, whether explicit or implicit. Understanding the purpose provides insight into the agent’s motivations.
Burke believed that communication is not neutral but always intentional, aiming at something greater, often aligned with social dynamics. Thus the pentadic framework helps analyze any communicative act to understand the motivations of the agent, the context of the scene, and how these influence the symbolic interactions at play.
The context of the scene, and how the agent does the symbolic interactions at play portrays his underlying emotions and motivations. Hence, Burke later added “attitude” as an element to explain the manner or style in which the agent performs the act.
● Attitude: Burke later added “attitude” as an element to explain the manner or style in which the agent performs the act. It addresses the disposition or approach of the agent toward the act and can dramatically influence how a message is interpreted.
For instance, two political candidates may propose similar policies, but the attitude they bring—whether conciliatory, aggressive, or optimistic—can alter the impact of their messages.
Guilt and Redemption
An essential aspect of dramatism is its focus on human emotions, particularly the concept of guilt. Burke believed that guilt is a driving force in communication because humans are always trying to resolve a sense of imbalance or imperfection in their relationships and society. This guilt might arise from conflicting values, social hierarchies, or individual desires.
Burke introduced the idea of “mortification” and “scapegoating” as two ways people deal with guilt.
Mortification refers to self-punishment or self-sacrifice to absolve oneself of guilt, while scapegoating involves transferring guilt onto someone else, often an outsider or minority group.
Burke also coined the term victimage to describe this scapegoating process, where a victim is blamed for societal or individual guilt, thus symbolically purging the community of guilt.
Burke argued that communication is often a ritual of guilt-purging, where societies symbolically rid themselves of guilt through rhetoric and symbolic acts.
Kenneth Burke’s Dramatism Theory emphasizes both hierarchy and order as central to human motivation and social structure.
● Hierarchy reflects the inherent social ranking in human society, where individuals are driven to ascend or maintain their position. This hierarchical structure creates tension and guilt, as people often feel inadequate or out of place. Burke argues that communication is used to navigate these tensions, either by reinforcing one’s place or challenging it.
● Order refers to the societal norms that maintain this structure. When the social order is violated, guilt arises, prompting individuals to use rhetorical acts to restore balance. This is part of Burke’s guilt-purification-redemption cycle, where communication helps to either conform to or challenge the existing order.
Identification and Division
In Burke’s dramatism concept “identification,” is the foundation of persuasion.
For effective communication to occur, the speaker must establish identification with the audience, making them feel connected through shared values, beliefs, or experiences.
However, alongside identification comes division—since people naturally have a set of unique life experiences, diverse conclusions and perspectives, everyone is unique.
Burke argued that communication is often an attempt to bridge the divide between identification and division.
Successful communication reconciles these differences, fostering a sense of solidarity and common purpose, while failed communication can deepen the division.
Example: Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech
Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered during the 1963 March on Washington, serves as a powerful example of dramatism in action.
King uses the speech to bridge the deep division between Black and white Americans through the symbolic power of shared dreams and aspirations. He creates identification by invoking the ideals of freedom and equality embedded in American society.
The act of the speech is King’s call for racial justice, set against the scene of a divided America grappling with systemic racism.
King is the agent, using the moral authority of his position as a civil rights leader to convey his message, and his agency is the power of his rhetoric, imbued with biblical allusions and references to the Declaration of Independence.
The purpose is clear: to inspire action toward racial equality and justice.
King’s attitude is one of hope and moral righteousness, framing the struggle for civil rights as a necessary and inevitable pursuit.
His speech also reflects Burke’s idea of guilt and redemption; By highlighting America’s betrayal of its founding principles, King positions the nation as guilty of injustice.
Yet, through his vision of a future where all Americans live in harmony, he offers a pathway to redemption, urging the country to redeem itself by embracing racial equality.
Effective communication accommodates these contrasts, cultivating a sense of solidarity and common reason.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
1. Holistic Perspective: Dramatism considers multiple elements of communication, providing a comprehensive view of how people interact.
2. Focus on Motives: Exploring the “why” behind actions reveals the deeper motivations that drive communication.
3. Cultural Relevance: Dramatism helps analyze symbolic acts within the context of culture, allowing for nuanced understanding.
4. Ethical Insights: Burke’s focus on guilt, redemption, and identification can shed light on ethical considerations in communication.
Cons:
1. Overemphasis on Drama: Not all communication fits neatly into a dramatic framework, which can limit its applicability.
2. Complexity: The theory’s use of terms like “mortification” and “scapegoating” can be difficult for beginners to grasp.
3. Subjective Analysis: Interpreting motives and symbolic actions can be highly subjective, leading to varying conclusions.
4. Limited Practicality: Dramatism may not provide much utility in some practical communication contexts, such as technical communication.