This edited collection proposes a series of challenging debates around the rhetorical nature of computation and the complex relationships between humans, digital technologies, computational processes and ethics. Taking the rhetorical machine as a critical figure of enquiry, the collection problematises the boundaries of digitality and human-computational persuasion. A special feature of the book includes interviews with chatbots that try to tackle critical questions from what robots are to how fashion magazines for robots would look like. |
Peer-reviewed Articles and Book Chapters
Sánchez Martín, C., Hirsu, L. , Gonzales, L.and Alvarez, S. P. (2019) Pedagogies of digital composing through a translingual approach. Computers and Composition, 52, pp. 142-157.(doi:10.1016/j.compcom.2019.02.007) |
In this collaborative project, an international group of colleagues share practical experiences around the teaching of digital composing in translingual contexts. We share our classroom activities and approaches to exemplify the diversity in digital composing, the challenges of working in contexts where language ideologies may be less favourable, and the potential vulnerability of writing teachers' positions in increasingly unstable environments.
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"'Where am I? Do you have WiFi?' Cell Phones and Precarious Living in the Syrian Refugee Crisis." Hesford, Wendy, Adela Licona and Christa Teston. Precarious Rhetorics, Ohio State University. (accepted for publication) |
This article looks at Syrian refugees' access to digital technologies and the often adversarial public response to their use of smartphones. I advocate that digital technologies should be viewed not only as a matter of vital access to resources, but as a human right that needs to be defended on ontological grounds. The article also opens critical discussions on possible implications for digital humanitarianism. |
"Clicks, Tweets, Links, and Other Global Actions: The Nature of Distributed Agency in Digital Environments". Rice, Rich and St. Amant, Kirk (eds). Thinking Globally, Composing Locally. Utah University Press. (2018) |
In this piece, I look at the circulation of the viral video Kony 2012. With this case in mind, I consider the role of distributed action in digital environments and the implications of global audience response and public engagement. Kony 2012 is an interesting artifact not only for its impact on public discourse, but also for the implications it has on how teachers of rhetoric and composition approach circulation and digital production. |
"An Overview of Digital Feminist Scholarship (2005-2014):
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In this project, I investigate feminist scholarship published in six leading journals in rhetoric and composition over the past decade. I presented my findings at the New Work Showcase event hosted by the Coalition of Women Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition at the CCCC Conference in Tampa, March 18-21, 2015. The infographic that captures this research has been published in Peitho. |
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In this project, I discuss the importance of tag writing and search engines. I analyze the online campaign "Romanians Are Smart" that focused on revising the Romanian identity by 'training' Google, the search engine, to change its descriptors and offer more positive search results. Based on this analysis, I call for a more expansive pedagogy that help students engage in writing practices other than the production of texts (traditional or multimodal). |
"Reflections on Accidental Testimonies and Spectacular Witnesses." The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Writing 18 (2012-13): 40-55. Print. |
This is an article written in light of a few classroom experiences that marked my teaching experience. In this piece, I reflect on moments in the classroom when my students and I became accidental witnesses of stories shared by their peers. These moments seem to be disruptive and they tend to be avoided by instructors and students alike. However, I argue that accidental testimonies are very important visual, emotional, and intellectually-stimulating experiences.
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Book Review
Review of The Available Means of Persuasion: Mapping a Theory and Pedagogy of Multimodal Public Rhetoric. David M. Sheridan, Jim Ridolfo, and Anthony Michael. Anderson, SC: Parlor Press, 2012. Computers and Composition 32 (2014): 19-21. Web.
Available here.
Hirsu, L. (2018) Translanguaging: Exploring rich resources and navigating diverse contexts (Paulsrud, B., Rosen, J., Straszer, B., & Wedin, Å. (Eds.). New perspectives on translanguaging and education. ). System, 74, pp. 227-228.(doi:10.1016/j.system.2018.04.007)
Digital Contributions
"Branching out and Staying in: Inviting a Transmedia Approach." Sweetland's Digital Rhetoric Collaborative. October 23, 2014. Web. |
In response to a blog carnival entitled, "Beyond 'Single Language/ Single Modality' Approach to Writing," I have written this post in which I call for a transmedia view of composition. While the label may sound pretentious, a transmedia turn is primarily a push to think beyond mode-based and monolingual models of composing. To illustrate this argument, I offer the example of transmedia narratives. |