Digital rhetoric is a part of rhetorical tradition in that it still heavily relies on the written word. Writing is at its core, and without that persuasive writing, there is no rhetoric. However, digital rhetoric departs from historically traditional definitions of the art due to the second part of its name: digital.
According to Eyman, it is the “application of rhetorical theory to digital texts and performances” (44). Its related fields consist of digital literacy, visual rhetoric, new media, human-computer interaction, and critical code studies. All of these related fields contribute to the overarching concept of digital rhetoric.
Digital Literacy. It’s writing but with a whole new code system, and thanks to this code system, we can consider the multiliteracies of computer literacy, technological literacy, etc.
Visual rhetoric considers the meaning of design and image, looking at the aesthetics that make digital rhetoric rank on scales of appeal.
New media could otherwise be defined as multimedia. Without these modes of media, and understanding older and newer forms of them, rhetoric would be ineffective in the digital world.
Human-computer interaction studies people, technologies, and the interaction between the two. Understanding these interactions allows digital writers to present rhetoric in a more persuasive manner.
Finally, critical code studies examine the software behind the digital presentation. How does the numerical system of code manifest into writing and design? What are those systems and how do certain topics translate through this language of code? Experts in digital rhetoric must also be aware of this coding system, its basic functions, and to be even more effective, well-versed in the coding language.
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