Carl Sagan's Cosmos inspires audiences to look at the universe with new eyes and to appreciate humanity's importance in it. Sagan's deft use of rhetorical strategy creates an experience that pushes beyond the limits of a mere "educational" program to reveal a mythic adventure. Although Sagan contributed much to the field of science as well as to public understanding of it, Cosmos remains his signature brand. Cosmos and the Rhetoric of Popular Science builds on Thomas M. Lessl's observations regarding Cosmos' connection to the mythic and science fiction. It delves deeply into Sagan's rhetorical construction of the program in order to understand what elements contributed to its mythos.
Autorentext
Karen Schroeder Sorensen is assistant professor and coordinator of the Writing Across the Curriculum program at Winona State University.
Zusammenfassung
Carl Sagan's Cosmos inspires audiences to look at the universe with new eyes and to appreciate humanity's importance in it. Sagan's deft use of rhetorical strategy creates an experience that pushes beyond the limits of a mere educational program to reveal a mythic adventure. Although Sagan contributed much to the field of science as well as to public understanding of it, Cosmos remains his signature brand. Cosmos and the Rhetoric of Popular Science builds on Thomas M. Lessl's observations regarding Cosmos' connection to the mythic and science fiction. It delves deeply into Sagan's rhetorical construction of the program in order to understand what elements contributed to its mythos.
Inhalt
Contents
Chapter 1: Cosmos' Epic Journey
Chapter 2: Cosmos' Context in Time
Chapter 3: Ethos and the Popular Science Persona
Chapter 4: The Forum of Television
Chapter 5: Cosmos and the Creation of a Popular Science Mythos
Chapter 6: The Rhetorical Art of Cosmos
Chapter 7: Cosmos for Another Generation
Appendix 1: Cosmos: A Personal Voyage Scene Index
Appendix 2: A Spacetime Odyssey Scene Index
Appendix 3: Terms and Definitions
References
About the Author