Peking University, Nov. 8, 2012: The Third Biennial Conference of the Chinese Rhetoric Society of the World & (CRSW) International Conference on Rhetoric, themed “International Rhetoric Studies at the Time of Global-cultural Amalgamation and Conflict: East Asia and the World”, was held at the University of Inchon from October 26 to 28.

Group photo of the conference

PKU Professor Chen Rudong, president of CRSW, gave an inaugural address and a keynote speech.

Professor Chen stated that although the research of international rhetoric is in the process of globalization, the lack of academic understanding among different countries still exists. The opinion that “there is no rhetoric beyond the Western” not only reflects the arrogance of western scholars, but also restricts the prosperity of global rhetoric. He hoped that western rhetoric could reach out of the ancient Greek and Europe to have a communication with Asian and African rhetoric cultures in order to build the global rhetoric.

At the same time, the scholars of every country decided to establish the Global Rhetoric Society (GRS), which aims at promoting the development of global rhetoric, and elected Chen Rudong to take charge of it. In the closing speech, Chen Rudong pointed out that the GRS is an academic organization, a kind of academic vision and a bridge that leads to academic exchange and cultural fusion. “Academy, culture, friendship” will be carried forward as the purpose of this association.

Nearly 80 papers were received by this conference. The scholars present, such as Lucia Montefusco from the University of Bologna and David Frank from the University of Oregon, made in-depth discussions on several problems such as “global rhetoric”, “rhetoric and mass media”, “rhetoric and international order” and “rhetoric of science” in the conference.

This Biennial Conference was sponsored by the CRSW, the Rhetoric Association of Korea and the University of Inchon. More than 80 scholars from China, America, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Bulgaria and Brazil attended this conference.

Written by: Xu Yang
Edited by: Arthars
Source: PKU News (Chinese)