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Industrial Apocalyptic: Neoliberalism, Coal, and the Burlesque Frame
Rhetoric and Public Affairs (2014)
  • Jennifer Peeples, Utah State University
  • Pete Bsumek, James Madison University
  • Steve Schwarze, University of Montana, Missoula
  • Jen Schneider, Colorado School of Mines
Abstract
Rhetorical scholarship and cultural commentary have demonstrated that environmentalist voices are consistently associated with apocalyptic rhetoric. However, this association deflects attention from the apocalyptic rhetoric that comes from industry and countermovements to environmentalism. This essay seeks to remedy that oversight by proposing the concept of "industrial apocalyptic" as a significant rhetorical form in environmental controversy. Based on analysis of the rhetoric of the U.S. coal industry, we find that these industrial apocalyptic narratives rely on a burlesque frame to disrupt the categories of establishment and outsider and thus thwart environmental regulation. Ultimately, we argue that industrial apocalyptic co-opts environmentalist appeals for radical change in the service of blocking such change and naturalizes neoliberal ideology as the commonsense discourse of the center.
Keywords
  • rhetoric,
  • environmental communication,
  • energy,
  • energy policy,
  • coal,
  • industrial rhetoric,
  • corporate rhetoric
Publication Date
Summer 2014
DOI
10.1353/rap.2014.0023
Citation Information
Jennifer Peeples, Pete Bsumek, Steve Schwarze and Jen Schneider. "Industrial Apocalyptic: Neoliberalism, Coal, and the Burlesque Frame" Rhetoric and Public Affairs Vol. 17 Iss. 2 (2014) p. 227 - 254 ISSN: 10948392
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jen_schneider/32/