Series Editor’s Preface

Page ix →The University of South Carolina series “Movement Rhetoric/Rhetoric’s Movements” builds on the Press’s longstanding reputation in the field of rhetoric and communication and its cross-disciplinary commitment to studies of civil rights and civil justice. Books in the series address two central questions: In historical and contemporary eras characterized by political, social, and economic movements enacted through rhetorical means, how—and with what consequences—are individuals, collectives, and institutions changed and transformed? How and to what extent can analyses of rhetoric’s movements in relation to circulation and uptake help point the way to a more equal and equitable world?

In this timely monograph, Dr. Jessica L. Ouelette speaks to both animating questions of the series. She does so by addressing an additional question, one which is particularly apt in our digital age: How can we imagine circulation not as something that just happens to us but as something we can shape more ethically and collectively? Ouelette develops a nuanced theoretical discussion of digital circulation in the context of rhetorical studies, extending the concept beyond distribution and delivery to an embodied process that involves power, affect, and social relations. She then examines the nature of digital circulation in relation to the body in her analysis of the case of Amina Sboui, relying on a deep archive of textual evidence. Ultimately, this monograph illuminates both the limitations and potential for transformative action rather than ongoing ideological reification and provides helpful reflections for writers, rhetoricians, and activists who seek to circulate texts to promote social change.