On 19.12.2024 (Thursday), at 5 p.m. CET, Prof. Agnieszka Piskorska (Institute of English Studies, University of Warsaw) will give an online lecture entitled:

On the concept “cringe”

and its rhetorical applications 

in political discourse

Abstract. The talk explores the concept of cringe and the role it plays in political discourse. First, the current use of “cringe” is discussed as a common word in English and in Polish, and as a complex social emotion. Two variants of the definition of cringe are presented: based on embarrassment by proxy, and based on disgust as its key components. Then the application of cringe as a rhetorical tool in political discourse is discussed and illustrated with examples drawn from press articles on American and European election campaigns. As the analysis indicates, cringe is a fluid concept which may be used in order to undermine an opponent’s authority and status, in which case it appears to be strongly associated with disgust, or it may be used to label a person as “not serious”, in which case it appears to be tinged with humour. 

REGISTRATION

Interested persons are requested to register by 18.12.2024 (6 pm. CET):

https://forms.gle/7QD5ecrCVuaMQ2pb7

On 19.12.2024 a link to the online lecture will be sent to the participants.