A recurring theme that has echoed throughout the semester is the concepts of literacy and rhetoric, specifically but not exclusively as it relates to the digital realm. This idea that essentially anything can be read and used to persuade. And when I mean anything, I mean anything, including code. In the article, Rhetorical Code Studies: Discovering Argument in and around Code, the author Kevin Brock explains how coded writing is another form of communication and holds meaning.
The Heart bleed Bug
Brock introduced me to a coding disaster caused by a security bug in OpenSSI, a software library designed to ensure secure communication within and between computer networks. The bug exploited a vulnerability in the “heartbeat request message,” a mechanism used to test the security of connections established with Open SSL. The bug later coined the term “heartbleed,” caused implications especially when sent to vulnerable targets. The goal of this bug was to collect memory buffer data
Brock also introduced me to the idea of rhetorical code studies. In his article he defines this as follows:
“Rhetorical code studies provide a means by which software uses and development as well as the communicative work that takes place through its code texts—as well as the algorithmic logics communicated through those code texts (Beck 2016)—could be understood more clearly as rhetorical activity” (Brock 11)
Characteristics of Code
Brock believes that there are three characteristics that encompass the rhetorical study of code and the relationship between language, software, and procedure.
- The rhetorical qualities and capabilities of code, encompassing both source code and the executable programs created from it.
- The discussion surrounding the creation and use of code, including comments within the code and related meta-commentary.
- The social, cultural, and historical contexts that shape its creation, distribution, and evaluation, both broadly and in relation to specific programs or technological applications.
To function effectively, digital rhetoric and literacy rely on the intricacies of coded applications. These software programmers have the ability to portray a certain message that the average person is not necessarily thinking about when experiencing their program. I think about the digital programs I use in my day-to-day life such as social media platforms such as Instagram and Tik Tok. Tik Tok has faced countless accusations of taking user data to tailor algorithms and generating personalized content. In addition, although I personally am not a big video gamers, many of these video games portray certain messages to their consumers that in return affects their experiences. In closing, understanding and writing code encompass various characteristics that literacies that hold power and influence.
Read my latest blog post: Understanding New Media Principles
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