Herndl and Brown, “Introduction” to Green Culture: Environmental Rhetoric in Contemporary America

1. Who is talking/writing?
2. Who is the primary audience for this text?
3. What does the text say (or imply) “rhetoric” is?
4. What is the main argument or message of this text?
5. What is the texts primary rhetorical purpose (i.e., what is the text trying to do)?

In the text “Environmental Rhetoric in Contemporary America”, there are two editors: Herndl and Brown. Stuart C. Brown teaches rhetorical history and criticism at New Mexico State University, he is also the author of several composition textbooks. Carl G. Herndl is the Associate Professor of English at New Mexico State University. He teaches and writes about discourse theory and cultural studies. The primary audience for this text is environmentalists that are trying to make a positive change to the environment. I think the main argument or message of this text is to explain that nothing is anything, until humans give it meaning. Obviously, life has existed far before humans, but before humans nothing could be described as anything/ nothing had a name. Humans made all the names of everything up, using language. The main argument the text has is, “The environment about which we all argue and make policy is the product of the discourse about nature established in powerful scientific disciplines” (page 3). An example used is that the environment we all live in today is not just shaped by science, it is also shaped by different literary pieces that give life to nature and the environment. Herndl and Brown think that language connects almost every part of our social and intellectual life, crossing the boundaries between various academic disciplines and social institutions.