The Rhetorical Evolution of the Alamo

Abstract

The Alamo has become a source of great rhetorical power as the central myth of Texas. Many scholars, in fact, point to the myth of the Alamo as an explanation as to the bifurcated Anglo/Tejano social structure that exists today in the state. However, the myth used to support this structure bears little resemblance to the original event. This essay uses the Alamo to propose a rhetorical theory of mythic development that explains the general purpose through which mythic narratives evolve rhetorically over time and their subsequent impact on social structures. Drawing from the theories of Kenneth Burke, this article advances a three-part evolutionary form based on affirmation, negation, and reaffirmation to outline the progression of this myth.

Keywords:

• Ideology
• Kenneth Burke
• Myth
• Priestly Rhetoric
• Prophetic Rhetoric
• The Alamo

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mike Milford

Mike Milford (Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2005) is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism at Auburn University.