{"id":142,"date":"2019-10-05T03:40:30","date_gmt":"2019-10-05T03:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/tristinhooker\/?page_id=142"},"modified":"2019-11-09T22:43:59","modified_gmt":"2019-11-09T22:43:59","slug":"rhet-of-wrestling-assignments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/tristinhooker\/pedagogy\/courses\/rhetoric-of-wrestling\/rhet-of-wrestling-assignments\/","title":{"rendered":"Rhet of Wrestling: Major Assignments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Unit I: Let\u2019s Get Ready to Rhetoric! <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Project One: Rhetorical Analysis of a Performer\/Storyline<\/strong><\/p>\n

In this project, you will perform an extended analysis (2-4 pages) of the rhetorical strategies used to create either<\/em> a particular wrestling persona, or to develop a particular wrestling storyline. Write this as if it were an article for publication on a thoughtful smarky<\/em> website or online magazine\/blog that performs cultural criticism (think longform Buzzfeed<\/em>, Slate<\/em>, Vice<\/em>, or Sports Illustrated<\/em>). We\u2019ve read and will read more pieces that fall into this genre.<\/p>\n

Your essay should focus less on presenting the biography of the wrestler, and more on the rhetorical choices<\/em>that the performer makes in creating that persona and \u201cgetting over\u201d (or failing to). Pay attention to what role the performer is striving to take on. Pay attention to the language and iconography the performer uses. Think about who the specific audience is. Yes, the audience is wrestling fandom, but what part of it? Who is the performer referencing? Who is the performer emulating or seeming to criticize? Does the performer follow a familiar pattern and make effective use of tradition, or does the performer provide something groundbreaking or a revision of an old idea? How does the performer play with audience expectations? How does the performer use particular moves or postures in the ring or outside of it to convey their stance?<\/p>\n

This essay should also incorporate as much of the shared rhetorical and wrestling vocabulary as is possible and relevant for your analysis. Remember: you are attempting to demonstrate not just your knowledge of this particular performer, but your understanding of rhetorical principles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project One Rubric<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Concise description of persona\/storyline<\/span>\n
Briefly summarize the major elements of the persona\/storyline.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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 <\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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10.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Analysis of the performer(s) ethos<\/span>\n
Who is\/are the performer(s)? Are they heels? Are they faces? Are they neither? Is there something more going on? How are the performers attempting to move the audience? What do they want the audience to feel or to do?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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 <\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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20.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Analysis of the performer(s) primary audience<\/span>\n
Who is\/are the performer(s) appealing to, specifically? What traditions are being invoked, rejected, or revised? How do they engage this audience? Identify and evaluate the effectiveness.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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 <\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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20.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Analysis of major rhetorical strategies in the ring<\/span>\n
What does the performer perform in the ring, through physical action, movement, costume, or language to convey the character and move the audience? Identify and evaluate the effectiveness.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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 <\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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20.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Analysis of major rhetorical strategies outside the ring<\/span>\n
What does the performer do\/display\/say\/publish\/sell outside of the ring to effectively create the character and move the audience? Identify and evaluate the effectiveness.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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 <\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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20.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Citations<\/span>\n
Give credit to your sources. You can default to MLA style, but if there is a style you would prefer to use that is OK if you get my approval.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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 <\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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5.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Mechanics and Stye<\/span>\n
Proofread your work. This is a less-formal writing style than a formal paper, but it should be a polished draft.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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 <\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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5.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Total Points: 100.0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Unit II: Performing Culture<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Project Two: Rhetorical Analysis with a Cultural Lens<\/strong><\/p>\n

In this project, you will perform an extended analysis (4-5 pages) of the way a particular culture or cultural element or cultural critique is performed in the world of wrestling. This project asks you to consider matters of identity construction and performance in everyday life as well as in the ring\/on the stage. Like Project One, this is a rhetorical analysis. This time, however, you will choose one of the critical “lenses” we have talked about in class to examine the way gender, ethnicity, class, or other identities are rhetorically performed in the ring and expected in the business. This project should consider wrestling both as a mirror and as a generator of larger culture. For this paper, you will choose one<\/em> identity or lens to apply to a particular performer, storyline, or moment in the ring. <\/p>\n

Write this as if it were an article for publication on a thoughtful smarky<\/em> website or online magazine\/blog that performs cultural criticism (think longform Buzzfeed<\/em>, Slate<\/em>, Vice<\/em>, or Sports Illustrated<\/em>). We\u2019ve read and will read more pieces that fall into this genre.<\/p>\n

This essay should also incorporate as much of the shared rhetorical and wrestling vocabulary as is possible and relevant for your analysis. Remember: you are attempting to demonstrate not just your knowledge of this particular issue as portrayed in wrestling, but your understanding of rhetorical principles. <\/p>\n

Project Two Rubric<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Identifying a Specific Cultural\/Identity Performance<\/span>\n
Identify an instance of a cultural identity being performed in wrestling (in and\/or out of the ring). Choose one of the lenses we’ve looked at in class (race, class, gender, to name a few), or suggest a different identity. The point is to choose something specific, and to argue that this identity *is* being *performed*.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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 <\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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10.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Description of Specific Manifestations<\/span>\n
Give concrete descriptions of the way this cultural identity manifests in the persona or performances in wrestling. This means giving specific examples of promos, storylines, matches, moves, ads, tweets, or interviews. Be concise–choose wisely. But be as concrete and specific as possible (show us, rather than telling us or just referring us).<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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 <\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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20.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Analysis of Multimodal Rhetoric<\/span>\n
Here, practice analyzing your evidence using all of the modalities we have discussed in class. Identify which modalities are used most prominently, and consider the rhetorical effect of emphasizing those modalities.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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30.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Connection to Broader Culture<\/span>\n
What’s the connection to the culture around that identity in broader culture? Do you see this identity appearing or being performed in other media or in life? The focus of this paper is the world of wrestling, but it is important to ground or connect the identity to things we find outside of the ring. Is the performance in the ring a reinforcement of certain ideas, or a challenge to them?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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20.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Questions or Problems Raised by the Performance<\/span>\n
What does this performance of this identity mean, suggest, question, or challenge? Does this performance reinforce certain norms? Are there any problems or complications to doing so? Does this performance challenge norms or make new suggestions? Are there any problems or complications to doing that?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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 <\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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10.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Citations<\/span>\n
Give credit to your sources. You can default to MLA style, but if there is a style you would prefer to use that is OK if you get my approval.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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 <\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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5.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Mechanics and Style<\/span>\n
Proofread your work. This is a less-formal writing style than a formal paper, but it should be a polished draft.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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 <\/div>\n<\/td>\n
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5.0<\/span> pts<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Total Points: 100.0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n

Unit III: Breaking Kayfabe<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Project Three: Researched Argument about Wrestling and the World<\/b><\/p>\n

Wrestling performance is not limited to the ring. The rhetorical choices used in marketing, promoting, broadcasting, and analyzing the business also make up part of the construction of wrestling\u2019s world. In this unit, we will look at the strategies and practices used to construct and maintain the idea of wrestling as character-driven sport, as well as the way the language and tropes of wrestling have entered into broader social discussions, media practices, journalism, and even politics.<\/p>\n

Project Three Article: A persuasive researched argument about either<\/em><\/p>\n

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  • a specific rhetorical strategy used to build or promote the industry of professional wrestling<\/li>\n
  • about an instance of wrestling\u2019s language or practices influencing the world outside of wrestling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Another option\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A few of you have expressed interest in wrestlers, storylines, and themes that emerge as wrestlers from the lucha libre<\/em> tradition became popular in the United States. Luchadores, though, have also played an important role in other parts of Mexican popular culture, and here at UT, the Benson Latin American Archive has an extensive collection of promotional materials from twentieth century Mexican cinema, including a lot <\/em>of materials of luchadores en cine<\/em>. If this is something that is of interest to you and that you\u2019d like to explore further, you might be interested in doing a little archival research.<\/p>\n

    This project would involve visiting the archive, writing a short research narrative of the process, and choosing a specific artifact to describe and perform a rhetorical analysis of. This project would also ask you to do a little research into the performer, film, and genre you are featuring, to provide some historical context.<\/p>\n

    This option is going to be for a limited number of students, so, if this is an option that interests you, it is your job to let me know in advance so we can talk further about how to proceed!<\/p>\n

    Project Three Rubric<\/strong><\/p>\n

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