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Research group for rhetoric, democracy and public culture

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Bilde professor Jens E. Kjeldsen

The research group for rhetoric, democracy and public culture teaches and researches the genres and roles of the media in relation to influence, democracy and public conversation. In short: We examine the rhetoric in the media and the media's rhetoric.

We work with rhetoric in the broadest sense and our research examines media genres (e.g. debate, humour, political advertising, press photography and social media); strategic communication; credibility, trust and ethos; the rhetorical possibilities of the media; gender and identity; reception of rhetoric; visual communication and argumentation; everyday rhetoric and rhetorical citizenship; influencing the public; fraudulent communication as well as political communication.

We are particularly concerned with issues of publicity and democracy. In our work, we weave together traditional humanistic and text analytical methods with sociological and social science perspectives and methods.

 

To read publications and research projects from each member, you can click below:

Debate
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Communicating with the people - where the people are

Jens Kjeldsen argues that much of what is considered traditional communication – such as lectures and presentations – is invisible, because it takes place in forums that are not public to everyone.

Article
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Children's speeches

Member of the Research Group Ida Andersen takes a closer look at the Children's New Year's speech from 2022 and discusses how children's speeches can and should be evaluated.

Podcast
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Forskning til Folket!

In this podcast, keen mediators and experienced professionals share their best tips on how you can work with mediation. Use their advice and expertise as a tool in your own communication work!

Article
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Rhetorical citizenship and the environment

In this paper, group member of the Research group for rhetoric, democracy and public culture, Ida Vikøren Andersen, discusses rhetorical studies’ contribution to the study of environmental communication.

Article
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'Well, That's Just My Opinion': The Principle of Expression and the Public Debate

The public debate is commonly criticised for lacking deliberation. Therefore, the group member of the Research group for rhetoric, democracy and public culture, Ida Vikøren Andersen, argues that we need a better understanding of the rhetorical modes occurring instead of deliberation