What is Text?

In Douglas Eyman’s “Defining and Locating Digital Rhetoric”, he dives into how we need to rethink what we mean by “text” in the digital world. He argues for a more broad definition of this while also discussing features that make a something a text.

Redefining

Eyman argues that our traditional view of text which is often limited to printed texts like books and articles needs to change. My definition of text would be a communicative event that conveys meaning regardless of its format or medium. In the digital world, text can include websites, social media, and other content. While links, images, and videos make up websites, so does text which can inform or entertain readers. Additionally, no matter how short or unserious, tweets and Facebook updates, likes, or posts are text because they communicate messages. Also, other content like podcasts are forms of text even though the text is not written but instead spoken.

What Makes Something a Text?

Eyman writes about Beaugrande and Dressler, where they outline specific features that make something a text. Seven features make a text which includes cohesion, coherence, intentionality, acceptability, informativity, situationality, and intertextuality. One that got me thinking was intentionality, in other words, the creator’s purpose.

As Eyman redefines text, it is important to recognize how these broader definitions apply to social media. A good example is the rise of memes. Memes are sometimes solely for entertainment purposes and a good laugh. Nevertheless, many of them can also be thought-provoking.

I’m currently seeing a lot of memes about Kamala Harris. In one meme, she’s doing stand-up comedy and says her famous line “I grew up a middle-class kid”. Then, someone says something along the lines of “Boo, get better material, that’s getting old”. In the last frame, Kamala is seen sweating because that line is the only line she has prepared for her set. These memes make me laugh because I’m always amazed by the things people come up with and create online. However, it got me thinking about how often she says this same thing.

Because of the interviews and debates I’ve watched her participate in (intertextuality), I know that she uses this line to try and connect with Americans. Most of the time though, it feels like she dodging the questions which are often about the economy and how to make things more affordable for people. These memes that we see every day can be more than just entertainment, sometimes they get us thinking without us even knowing it. Have you ever considered how a meme can influence your view on current events even in the slightest?

Why is this Important?

The way we define text can allow us to better understand communication in everyday life. Memes, often dismissed as useless entertainment can serve as powerful rhetorical tools that provoke thought and reflect societal conversations. As we continue to engage with these digital texts that are everywhere as we now know, it is important to be mindful of the texts we share and consume.