I can’t believe this is my last blog post for Eyman. Still, in this final reading of this article on digital rhetoric’s intersection with fields like Human-Computer Interaction and Critical Code Studies, it’s clear we’re at a moment where boundaries between disciplines are not just blurring. They’re becoming collaborative meeting points. Digital rhetoric, traditionally concerned with meaning-making and persuasion in digital environments, finds natural allies in Human-Computer Interaction, where the user interface becomes both a site of interaction and rhetorical engagement. Eyman’s call for more collaboration between Human-Computer Interaction designers and rhetoricians is spot on. We need rhetorical insight in tech design to make systems more usable, equitable, accessible, and empowering to users.
The discussion of Critical Code Studies pushes us to reconsider what counts as a “text.” Code isn’t just a function; it’s culture, ideology, and communication. The notion of which code can and should be analyzed like literature is radical and deeply overdue. As software continues to shape how we live, think, and connect, rhetoric offers essential tools for critique and understanding.
Yet, digital rhetoric still lingers on the margins of digital humanities and internet studies. In all honesty, this needs to change immediately. As the article suggests, digital rhetoricians have much to offer and gain from engaging in these broader scholarly conversations. The digital world is too complex and consequential to be understood from one perspective alone. Therefore, It’s time to forge stronger ties across disciplines, and digital rhetoric should be at the forefront of that charge.
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