Writing about Writing #6 Rhetorical Velocity

Have you ever watch a video on YouTube and within days it seems like EVERYONE has seen it, and those who haven't are considered behind the game? Or other times when you read a really great book and when you go to speak about it no one has a clue what you're talking about? It all boils down to Rhetorical Velocity... or how fast something travels through the world.

"Rhetorical velocity – Rhetorical velocity is, simply put, a strategic approach to composing for rhetorical delivery. It is both a way of considering delivery as a rhetorical mode, aligned with an understanding of how texts work as a component of a strategy. In the inventive thinking of composing, rhetorical velocity is the strategic theorizing for how a text might be recomposed (and why it might be recomposed) by third parties, and how this recomposing may be useful or not to the short- or long-term rhetorical objectives of the rhetorician." - Jim Ridalfo

When creating something the thought of who is going to see the creation and the rate that they see it comes into play; the speed of the rhetorical velocity is all dependent on the medium used. When posting something on the internet it is very easy for it to be re-posted, shared and linked to many others in a quick amount of time. When writing a paper or book the speed of rhetorical velocity is much slower due to the process of editing, revising and publishing the material written or created. The same could be said for a painting or sculpture, unless the a photo has been taken of the artwork, which could be posted in a newspaper, magazine or the internet, allowing more eyes to see the piece. You must think of many factors. Who is going to see this? how fast will publication be? Who may be interested?

Jim Radalfo came up with a great diaphragm posted below to help explain rhetorical velocity in a simpler way.

Sometimes it feels that the rhetorical velocity of a creation could be a toss up because something that is really great could be out shined by something that is absolutely terrible... like Rebecca Black's music video "Friday"... but we won't even go there! One of my favorite videos that has a fast rhetorical velocity rate are below. These girls made it to the Today Show because of their adorableness. Enjoy!