Bitzer and Gilmore Girls

Author Lloyd Bitzer states that rhetoric is situational, meaning that our rhetoric is based off of the context we use it for. Bitzer claims that rhetoric has three parts, “the exigence, the audience, and the constraints.” the text book definition of exigence is and urgent need or demand, but Bitzer goes deeper into this meaning. He explains that exigence is a reason, “something waiting to be done.” Our rhetoric comes as a response from a situation and that is the main part that Bitzer wants the readers to understand.

An analyzes of my favorite TV show Gilmore Girls is long overdue. I have seen the series two times and am now venturing on my third round. The mode for this TV show is visual and audio. You get the sensation from the beautiful colors on the screen while the dialogue from the character travels through your ears. Although this is a digital form of media so the experience will be different for everyone. This also effects who is viewing this TV show, who is the audience? Personally I started watching Gilmore Girls when I was 14, not because of the material but just because my only hobby at that time was binging Netflix TV shows. So this leaves the audience being young adults (majority being females) who have a Netflix or cable subscription. This TV show would also fall under the narrative genre for the purposes of this class. It contains a combination of romance and comedy with no intent to teach nor persuade the audience- the intent being simply to entertain. This show has an appealing nature to it, the setting for one being consistent. Having this consistent setting creates a feeling of comfort towards the audience. The show also portrays the value of family throughout its entirety. From all of these levels of composition the main reason this show was such a success is because it aims to connect- it aims for pathos. Through the comfort of this little town called Stars Hallow and Lorelai’s motherly actions there’s no question to why this show relates so much to young girls all around.