Bogost’s Rhetorical Moves

Rhetoric and the Information Technology Industry

In The Expressive The Problem With Diversity in Computing (2007), Ian Bogost describes the connections between rhetoric and the information technology industry, demonstrating how the processes and systems of the computer represent a form of persuasion and communication. Ian Bogost writes this article as an author and game designer. Additionally, his background includes serving as the Ivan Allen College Distinguished Chair in Media Studies and a Professor in Liberal Arts, Computing, Business, and Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology; Founding Partner at Persuasive Games LLC; and a Contributing Editor at The Atlantic. To make his point, Bogost writes in an informal, story-based narrative style. This serves to convey the writer’s point while keeping the reader interested.

Sexism

Bogost starts out by associating the notion of sexism with computers. The computer program has a somewhat sexist analogy in the backscatter machines by identifying women’s underwire bras as problematic. Apparently, the system sometimes can’t distinguish Victoria’s Secret from potential weapons. Webb says her airport experience can be traced back to the fact that “someone like me wasn’t in the room” when the system was designed. One can surmise that the creators of the system were male. I see this as Bogost’s use of a pathos-based rhetorical device in which he relays the emotional story of a woman feeling vulnerable. He’s using this vulnerability to get us (the audience) to agree that his argument is a persuasive one.

Racism

By sharing personal stories that the reader could feel a connection to…once again going through the TSA at the airport, the pathos-based rhetorical device is utilized. It’s pointed out that discrimination based on hair texture appears to be at play with the computer systems confused by ethnic hair. Unfortunately, having mop of thick, curly hair results in additional screening and cranial pat-downs for individuals based on what I perceive as the long-standing Eurocentric views of hair style. One can surmise that the creators of the system were not racially diverse. This description puts the audience in an emotional frame of mind as they can relate to being pulled aside due to discriminatory treatment that could derail an individual’s confidence and cause public embarrassment.

Teach Concepts Not Coding

Bogost is clearly attempting to get his audience to think about the time and effort being utilized by the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing. The center’s goal is to increase access to computer-science education among women and people of color. Among its activities, it has funded and supported computer-science classes in Atlanta public schools primarily teaching students coding. Bogost’s point is that when you teach a kid to code, what benefit do they actually get? For example, teaching students Python isn’t necessarily going to help them get an IT job in 10 years because Python probably won’t be the premier language in a decade. However, if students are just learning Python, that’s the real issue. Learning Python should teach concepts and create intuition about the methodology that computers utilize to solve problems. That is the enduring skill and what the focus should be. As Amy Webb is quoted as saying, “If everyone is focused on the nuts and bolts of making software quickly at scale, where will they learn to design it with equity and care? “Critical thinking is what the computers won’t be able to do,” she said.”

Bogost relies on logos as a rhetorical move during this part of his article. He is utilizing logic and objective evidence to appeal to the audience. His argument appears to be non-biased so that enhances the feeling of logos.

Diversity and integration

According to Aristotle, “More than any other technique, the use of metaphor will help you achieve a unique, clear, and interesting style” (2017) and Bogost uses this rhetorical move in his writing style. Bogost quotes Charles Isbell by noting that “Diversity is just membership and “Integration is influence, power, and partnership.” I think of the urban area that has an immigrant and refugee population that brings in individuals with different backgrounds.   These areas are diverse however are they truly integrated?

Diversity may stimulate cultural understanding of unique backgrounds and viewpoints, but it doesn’t encourage inclusion.  Keep in mind though this cultural understanding will only grow if these individuals intermingle with each another.

The rhetorical move of an implied metaphor is utilized in two ways diversity is compared to membership while integration is associated with partnership.

Computers as judges

Personification is a rhetorical move in which human attributes are given to animals, objects, or ideas. These human attributes can be in classified in form, behavior, feelings, attitudes, or motivation. Bogost makes use of this when he comments that computers have started issuing prison sentences. By assigning computers the title of judge we can recognize human behaviors and emotions in this inanimate object.

Conclusion

As Horace once said, “I will aim at a friendly style that others will think is easy enough to copy. But those who try will grind their teeth in frustration. What they don’t know is that it is the arrangement of the words that adds both power and elegance to the friendly style” (Harris, 2017).  As I read the article, I appreciated not only the rhetorical moves but rather the friendly style as well as power in which Bogost conveyed the information and convinced the audience of his point of view as well as the power of interactive technology.

Reference

Harris, Robert A. (Robert Alan), 1950. (2017). Writing with clarity and style: A guide to rhetorical devices for contemporary writers. Routledge.