ICR Santa Barbara, October 20-22 2022 

Persuasions: The Rhetoric of Romanticism 

Romanticism, in both theory and practice, has always acknowledged the power of  language to inspire action, change minds, alter perceptions, and otherwise do  things in the world. The concept of rhetoric began with Aristotle as a description of  techniques used to persuade others of the common good; by the Romantic era, it  represented an even broader range of dialogic and dialectical approaches to ideas,  understanding, and language. Understanding Romantic rhetoric may lead us to a  place where we can address the limitations on persuading the unpersuadable  toward a common understanding of civic life. For the return of the International  Conference on Romanticism to Santa Barbara, we invite papers, panels, and  presentation on all aspects of rhetoric and persuasion in Romanticism, broadly defined. Topics may include, but are not limited to: 

• Oppositions, dichotomies, dualities occasioned by language 

• Romantic political discourse 

• Strategic and persuasive productions in language and the arts

• Rhetorical aspects of Romantic-era controversies, such as slavery, colonialism, the French Revolution, and women’s rights 

• Rhetorical elements in Romantic-era discussions of race, gender, class, and  religion 

• Romantic religion and rhetoric; “persuasion” as religious identity

• Romantic rhetorical strategies in the construction and representation of  sexuality, gender identity, and sexual personae 

• Rhetoric and the arts in Romanticism 

Email the following to icrsb2022@gmail.com by no later than June 15: 

• Your full name and institution 

• Brief biography (up to 250 words) 

• Paper abstract (up to 500 words) 

Selected presenters will hear back from the conference coordinators by July 1. 

Thank you for your interest in the ICR 2022, and we hope to see you soon! Questions? Email donelan@ucsb.edu or visit our site, 

https://icr2022.squarespace.com.