Use the 6 Characteristics for the Conceptualization of Discourse Community to freewrite/brainstorm about a particular dicourse community. Example on next page.
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discourse.docxUse the 6 Characteristics for the Conceptualization of Discourse Community to free write/brainstorm about a particular discourse community. Example on next page.
1. "A discourse community has a broadly agreed set of common public goals."
Why does this group exist? What are its shared goals? What does this group do?
2. "A discourse community has mechanisms of intercommunication among its members."
How do group members communicate/share information with each other? Are they participatory?
3. "A discourse community uses its participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback."
What are the purposes of the group’s communications? What informational opportunities are available to the group? How does communication further the group’s goals?
4. "A discourse community utilizes and hence possesses one or more genres in the communicative furtherance of its aims."
Which of the above communications are considered genres (conventional textual responses to recurring rhetorical situations that provides a recognizable pattern for providing specific kinds of information that all group members recognize and understand)? What are some conventions of these genres?
5. "In addition to owning genres, a discourse community has acquired some specific lexis."
What kinds of specialized language (community-specific shared terminology) do group members use in spoken and written communication? What language is used for efficient communication among members?
6. "A discourse community has a threshold level of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discoursal expertise."
Who are the group members with expertise? Who are the group members with less expertise? What is the ratio between experts and novices in the ever-changing membership of the group? How do newcomers learn the appropriate language, genres, and knowledges of the group?
Here's an example of a discourse community I belong to: Local Artists and Musicians (primarily IE, some OC and LA). You'll notice that I use the characteristics to brainstorm about how my discourse community communicates, and how this communication helps further our goals. You can write about any discourse community you are in: church group, sports team, hobby/interest groups, political groups, community organizations, even fandom!)
My example:
6 Characteristics for the Conceptualization of Local Art and Music Discourse Community
1. "A discourse community has a broadly agreed set of common public goals."
Why does this group exist? What are its shared goals? What does this group do?
Riverside and San Bernardino local artists and musicians work together to create public arts events in order to connect to other artists, exhibit their art, and inspire other artists and musicians to get involved. We believe in supporting and inspiring each other to create art and music and to share it with the world. We don't need to go to LA or some other large city when we create opportunities for local artists to gather and appreciate home-grown creatives.
2. "A discourse community has mechanisms of intercommunication among its members."
How do group members communicate/share information with each other? Are they participatory?
We network at events, spread the word through social media and our personal contacts, local listservs, festivals, shows, and exhibits, and participate in creating our own media (zines, newsletters, flyers, and word-of-mouth). We create ways for artists to discuss and promote each others' work and to communicate.
3. "A discourse community uses its participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback."
What are the purposes of the group’s communications? What informational opportunities are available to the group? How does communication further the group’s goals?
We are able to give feedback on each others' events and organizations through meetings, list servs, and social media. We communicate in order to get people to come to our events and to solicit new and upcoming artists. We want to promote each others' projects and grow our community. When I see an exhibit at an art gallery I have not been to yet, or a band that sounds promising, I can receive information about these art events and decide if I can attend. When I do attend, I keep an eye out for flyers and other media that can connect me to other artists.
4. "A discourse community utilizes and hence possesses one or more genres in the communicative furtherance of its aims."
Which of the above communications are considered genres (conventional textual responses to recurring rhetorical situations that provides a recognizable pattern for providing specific kinds of information that all group members recognize and understand)? What are some conventions of these genres?
Social media: The FaceBook event invitation- dates and times, venue information, who's exhibiting or performing. Twitter or Instagram: sharing flyers and event invitations through personal and communal networks. Sharing new music or teasing a new art project with photos of the art.
Zines, small and mainstream press: articles about the organizers or artist for an upcoming event in the "Entertainment" section.
ArtsWalks and Festivals: booths with artists selling their art, "local" stages with local musicians playing a set, programs that list dates, times,and artist information.
Overall, it is important for fellow artists to know when, where, and how a show is happening, Does the show have an entrance fee or is it free to the public? Is the show "all ages" or for people over 21 years of age?
5. "In addition to owning genres, a discourse community has acquired some specific lexis."
What kinds of specialized language (community-specific shared terminology) do group members use in spoken and written communication? What language is used for efficient communication among members?
Some vocabulary words local artists and musicians use:
DIY (Do-It-Yourself) and "DIT (Do-It-Together).
Genres of music like punk, metal, Hip Hop, etc.
Mediums of art such as sculpture, murals, and paintings, etc
"NOTAFLOF" - "No One Will Be Turned Away For Lack of Funds"
Venue: where the show takes place (includes address)
DIY venue: not a business, a community space where you are not expected to buy something to participate
Benefit show: artists often use their talents to support community and political movements and causes.
Promotion: Flyers/Fliers/Posters: posted in venues, art galleries, and record store to promote the event.
Curator/Promoter: the person organizing the event
Record release show: when a band releases a new album and organizes a show to promote it
Tour: when a band releases a new album and organizes a series of shows in other cities to promote it
"Pay for Play": when a crappy venue requires your band pay a fee or pre-sale tickets in order to perform. This is scam, NEVER DO THIS.
6. "A discourse community has a threshold level of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discoursal expertise."
Who are the group members with expertise? Who are the group members with less expertise? What is the ratio between experts and novices in the ever-changing membership of the group? How do newcomers learn the appropriate language, genres, and knowledges of the group?
We evaluate expertise based on experience and reputation. If an organizer, curator, or artist has organized many events that were successful (highly attended, runs smoothly, bands or artists paid), then they gain a reputation for fairness. Newer organizers and bands should be able to ask more experienced organizers for advice on throwing shows, what venues are trustworthy, borrowing equipment. More experienced organizers try to offer advice when asked. For example, If a band asks me to buy a pre-sale ticket to their upcoming show, I give advice on "Pay-For-Play" venues being shady. Another example: new organizers often reach out to me for advice on how to organize an event they want to throw, or ask me to help organize. Experienced organizers tnd to be happy to share their expertise and grant access to their artist networks to help out newer community members. As mentioned above, it is part of our ethos to help each other.
