Body Rhetoric

In the 4th chapter in his book Rhetoric for Radicals, Jason Del Gandio wrote about how body rhetoric can easily make an argument. The four ways that bodily argumentation expands the realm of rhetoric are that embodies argumentation is a call to action, embodied argumentation provides more rhetorical options, embodied argumentation is empowering, and embodied argumentation highlights the craft of everyday living, (Gandio 146). They are essential to supporting one’s position because your body is continuously delivering a message. Being aware of your body language gives you more control of what people may think about your position. Your messages should always meet the wants and needs of your audience.

The five steps to cultivating style are to observe your own style and the style of others, to reflect upon those styles, to experiment with different styles, to apply your style, and to take chances with different stylistic choices. 

An individual body argument is using your own body to make all kinds of arguments. For example, you can easily get tattoos or body piercings, wear particular clothes, display buttons or pins, create unique hairstyles, etc to “…communicate social and political messages that others read and respond to,” (Gandio 148).

An collective body argument “…often occurs through protests and actions, which might include: sanctioned rallies, marches, and demonstrations; direct actions; silent die-ins; snake marches; street festivals; both militant and peaceful confrontations; a few people on a street corner or a million people across the globe,” (Gandio 151). Collective body arguments involve a group of people coming together to communicate messages to others.