Constructing Perception? aka Not what one may think, but kind of...Pt. 1

Often in my childhood, my mother would reiterate the importance of first impressions and one's presentation of themselves, because of the considerable weight that one's audience seemingly places on the two during situational experiences. She would go on to tell me that just because I knew my capabilities and plan, it didn't mean that the rest of the world did. She wanted me consciously thinking about how I was allowing others to perceive who I was, and whether or not that was an accurate reflection as to who I am and my purpose. Unsure of how to more accurately convey her insight, I can only refer to this weeks reading(s), by Helmbrecht and Love, as it states "if rhetors want an audience to respond appropriately to their argument, they must first know whom they are addressing (153)," because if I 'know' who I am addressing, and tailor to them accordingly, I would have then given myself a modicum of power over that situation and the outcome. As I ponder on the conversations I had with my mother, during my youth, I can now say with confidence that she is the reason why I respectfully fear the different audiences that I interact with.

As BUST and Bitchin, two third-wave zines, use their assumed ethos to connect with their readership, I use my assumed ethos, perceived by my first impression/presentation, to connect with my audience. With a concentration on their audience's, these two zine magazines seek to "forge a feminist movement that both absorbs and reconfigures the progress of its feminist 'foremothers'" (Helmbrecht/Love 151). While keeping this goal in mind, zines, such as BUST and Bitchin are able to successfully shape the perception(s), of their work in feminism, by engaging in what is labeled as 'consubstantiality'. Consubstantiality is a term coined by Kenneth Burke, which asserts that "tailoring the content and structure to suit an audience's expectations, a rhetor can work collaboratively with the audience to shape an ethos appropriate for the rhetorical situation" (153)

So now I begin to think of zines, perception, rhetoric, my mother, and I begin to wonder if I have witnessed a student's rural literacy masked by my perception of them as a student. Have I been dooped by their intentional, or unintentional, use of consubstantiality? I wonder if, as a teacher, I have been naively ignorant as to believe that none of my students fit the criteria because they do not fit the "stereotype." Rural literacy immediately makes me think of highly illiterate characters which are displayed in today's media. Characters shown in such movies as Kalifornia, and Meet Joe Dirt. I know the extremities of these stereotypes, but I can only use these as examples as I think of how I can better tailor my classroom to those who, behind the facade, are victims of the literacy, or the lack thereof, in their rural environments.

In preparation for "that" student, I'm thinking that I might adhere, to one of Donehower proposed solutions, and "modernize" my classroom. I'll make a more conscious effort to actively integrate the use of computers, and other forms of "modernized" literacy, with hopes that a "seemingly literate" student will be able to assimilate accordingly without feeling as if they have to relocate to other areas that do not feel like "natural" learning environments.

Rural literacies, and zine magazines...I feel as if I'm beginning to make the make connection between the two, however, what I see, I am unable to name.