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Accusatory rhetoric on social media

Accusatory rhetoric on social media (2018-2022)
Funding: Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University
 

PI: Rebekka Lykke Ringgaard


This project takes as a point of departure the observation that accusatory rhetoric, e.g. complaints, accusations and allegations, has become a ubiquitous phenomenon in public debate on digital social media. Already in the thinking of Aristotle and Quintilian it was clear that no defense arises out of nothing but is a reply to its counterpart, the accusation. However, a current interest in apologia studies and crisis communication has devoted little attention to the accusation.

The aim of this project is therefore to contribute to our understanding of the forms and functions of accusatory rhetoric in a digital context and the way this kind of rhetoric is presented, shared and remixed across digital social media platforms.