<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> This essay explains pedagogical experiment at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock using a piece of literature as a case study to examine interpersonal-communication concepts and to emphasize a course theme of objectification of other human beings. The course, entitled Rhetoric and Communication, has two co-instructors. One instructor is from Rhetoric and Writing, the other is from Communication. This essay reviews the course they teach, along with the readings they require, and it selects The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, to illustrate how interpersonal themes play out in a literary text and how objectification thwarts deeply personal values. Initially, the essay summarizes key interpersonal concepts (schema theory, coordinated management of meaning, the work of Martin Buber, and Knapp’s work on relationship stages). It then considers students’ work as they produce a “filtered” summary, a summary that endeavors to apply the interpersonal concepts being studied to Kafka’s work. Finally, it explains how summaries work, the “passage hunt” exercise, and how text-based class discussions can lead to lively discussion, robust student writing and a richer understanding of interpersonal concepts as well as the part objectification plays in damaging relationships. Thus, the paper illustrates several pedagogical strategies as it explores how The Metamorphosis becomes a literary case study that answers the question: how did this fictional family create communication that resulted in such communicative tragedy?</p></abstract>

This essay explains pedagogical experiment at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock using a piece of literature as a case study to examine interpersonal-communication concepts and to emphasize a course theme of objectification of other human beings. The course, entitled Rhetoric and Communication, has two co-instructors. One instructor is from Rhetoric and Writing, the other is from Communication. This essay reviews the course they teach, along with the readings they require, and it selects The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, to illustrate how interpersonal themes play out in a literary text and how objectification thwarts deeply personal values. Initially, the essay summarizes key interpersonal concepts (schema theory, coordinated management of meaning, the work of Martin Buber, and Knapp’s work on relationship stages). It then considers students’ work as they produce a “filtered” summary, a summary that endeavors to apply the interpersonal concepts being studied to Kafka’s work. Finally, it explains how summaries work, the “passage hunt” exercise, and how text-based class discussions can lead to lively discussion, robust student writing and a richer understanding of interpersonal concepts as well as the part objectification plays in damaging relationships. Thus, the paper illustrates several pedagogical strategies as it explores how The Metamorphosis becomes a literary case study that answers the question: how did this fictional family create communication that resulted in such communicative tragedy?

Using literature to explore interpersonal theory: Representation of rhetorical objectification and oppression

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Communication 2801 S. University Avenue Little Rock AR 72204,

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Rhetoric and Writing 2801 S. University Avenue Little Rock AR 72204,

Journal of Pedagogy

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

This essay explains pedagogical experiment at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock using a piece of literature as a case study to examine...

Using literature to explore interpersonal theory: Representation of rhetorical objectification and oppression

Published Online: Dec 30, 2016

Page range: 97 - 115

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jped-2016-0013

Keywords
communication, pedagogy, literature, objectification, interpersonal communication, case study

© by Carol Thompson

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Using literature to explore interpersonal theory: Representation of rhetorical objectification and oppression

Published Online: Dec 30, 2016

Page range: 97 - 115

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jped-2016-0013

Keywordscommunication, pedagogy, literature, objectification, interpersonal communication, case study

© by Carol Thompson

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
communication, pedagogy, literature, objectification, interpersonal communication, case study