Abstract Maldonado, Chandra
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ABSTRACT MALDONADO, CHANDRA ANN. Recovering Roosevelt: Memory and the Restoration of American Exceptionalism in Contemporary Visual Culture. (Under the direction of Dr. Victoria Gallagher). Scholars and historians have long noted that in many of Theodore Roosevelt’s publications notions of masculinity are synonymous with American national character (Cullinane, 2017; Dorsey, 2007; McCullough, 2003). As such, this dissertation looks at the rhetorical values inscribed in the act of preserving the image of Teddy Roosevelt in contemporary popular culture. Through a rhetorical analysis of multiple case studies, including the American Museum of Natural History’s efforts to restore the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, my own auto-ethnographic account of the Roosevelt Memorial on Roosevelt Island as a way to illustrate the rhetorical agency of the researcher/visitor, an illumination of the archival work of Ken Burns in The Roosevelts (2014), and finally an examination of performances in episodes from Comedy Central’s Drunk History and You Tube’s Epic Rap Battles of History, I demonstrate how these texts participate in rhetorical reconstructions of history that serve to restore common “essential” characteristics which lie at the nexus of American national identity and patriarchal rule. Further analysis and explanation is needed in order to determine the extent to which discourses and their visual and material instantiations are visual exemplars of how old ways of thinking become templates for understanding present-day circumstances and events in our current national/political moment. Through these case studies, my overall aim for this project is to understand how and to what extent public memory is used as a lens to articulate contemporary notions of American identity and citizenship. Examining these practices not only helps us to discover the rhetorical interpretations and implications of Roosevelt remerging as an iconic symbol of Americanism, but also potentially provides a greater understanding and awareness of the rhetorical limitations to recovering institutionalized histories. Thus, with this study rhetorical critics may better understand the impact of visual culture through uses which highlight material changes to artifacts/ commemorative sites, and how and to what extent these communication networks act as nodes of memory which work together to circulate specific collective values of identity, rather than just focusing on the rhetorical output of singular texts or issues regarding representation alone. As such, I see this dissertation as a contribution to visual rhetoric not solely because of the performativity of these texts, but because of the extent to which the fluid nature of their material components and composition craft identities along with the audiences that perform them. I refer to this as the flow of memory. © Copyright 2019 by Chandra Ann Maldonado All Rights Reserved Recovering Roosevelt: Memory and the Restoration of American Exceptionalism in Contemporary Visual Culture By Chandra Ann Maldonado A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media Raleigh, North Carolina 2019 APPROVED BY: _______________________________ _______________________________ Dr. Victoria Gallagher Dr. Devin Orgeron Committee Chair _______________________________ _______________________________ Dr. Sarah Stein Dr. Kenneth Zagacki ii DEDICATION For my big brother, Eric. Until I see you again. #bigbrotherlittlesister iii BIOGRAPHY Chandra A. Maldonado is a rhetorical scholar whose areas of expertise focus on presidential memory and commemoration and visual rhetoric. Her primary work focuses on the rhetoric of Theodore Roosevelt and American national identity in visual culture. Other projects include the rhetorical functions of contemporary advocacy documentary films, as well as gender and the labor movement. Prior to pursing a doctoral degree in North Carolina State University’s Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media program, she graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Multimedia Studies and Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a focus in Rhetorical Studies. Chandra’s work has been published in multiple peer-reviewed venues such as Recovering Argument, Networking Argument, Trespassing Journal, and Rhetoric Society Quarterly. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There is not enough space to encompass the love and gratitude that I have for the individuals listed in these acknowledgments. First, I want to thank the team of archivists in the Special Collections Library at the American Museum of Natural History for their assistance while gathering archival documents for this project. This project would have not been possible without you all. A special thank you to the Naumoff-Burg family for opening up their home to me during my many trips to the Museum over that year. I want to extent my gratitude to my dissertation committee. To Dr. Kenneth Zagacki, Dr. Devin Orgeron, and Dr. Sarah Stein, thank you for your words of encouragement not only on this project, but your support and guidance throughout my time at NCSU. The appreciation that I have for my advisor, Dr. Victoria Gallagher goes without measure. The most valuable takeaway that I have learned under your direction is that it all can be done. You are truly a powerhouse. Next, I thank my support system. To the Graduate School’s Dissertation Completion Grant team, thank you for the opportunity to be part of your program. To Chris Kohan, Patrick and Kerri Varvel, Tanya Sue Todd, Barbara Howard, Lisa Kruger, Jeannie Bogner, and Sharon Desjarlais, thank you for your mentorship, friendship, and even a space to write away from home. I could not have asked for a better tribe in life. Lastly, I want to thank the best in my life. To Juan, words cannot describe the depth of love that I have for you. Your unending love, encouragement, and support not only during this process, but also in life continue to take my breath away. Thank you for grounding me and continuing to be my partner in crime. I am truly grateful for you all. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter One: Recovering Roosevelt Where We Are Now ..................................................................................................................... 1 National Status: Patriotism and the “reincarnation” of Teddy Roosevelt .......................... 4 Visual Rhetoric and Memory and Commemoration Studies ............................................ 8 Rhetorical Artifacts and Justification ............................................................................... 11 Research Questions .......................................................................................................... 19 Proposed Method and Contributions .............................................................................. 21 Overview of Chapters ...................................................................................................... 23 Limitations and Outcomes ............................................................................................... 26 Chapter Two: Visual Memories Where We May Go ................................................................................................................... 28 Visual Rhetoric: A Literature Review ......................................................................................... 28 Nature, Function, and Scope of Visual Rhetoric .................................................................. 30 Nature ............................................................................................................................... 30 Function ........................................................................................................................... 32 Scope…………………………………………………………………………………….37 What is Visual Public Address?………………..…………………………..……………39 Memory and Commemoration Studies: A Literature Review ..................................................... 46 Why Do We Preserve the Memory of An Event? ................................................................ 46 Nature, Function, and Scope of Memory and Commemoration Studies .............................. 46 Nature ............................................................................................................................. 47 Function .......................................................................................................................... 50 Scope.………………………………………………………………………………….. 55 Iconicity and Circulation as Methodology ................................................................................... 58 Where We Are Now ............................................................................................................. 58 Circulation Methodology ..................................................................................................... 60 Discussion of Literature and Concluding Thoughts .................................................................... 63 Where We May Go ............................................................................................................... 63 Themes and Questions .......................................................................................................... 64 What Can Be Offered: The Flow of Memory ...................................................................... 67 Chapter Three: Circulation