Burke and Terministic Screens

"Even if any given terminology is a reflection of reality, by its very nature as a terminology it must be a selection of reality; and to this extent it must function also as a deflection of reality." --Burke (45)

This is my second time reading this excerpt and I am still a bit stumped. I tried to tackle it the best I could. First, what are terministic screens? According to Burkes Language As Symbolic Action, he defined the concept as “a screen composed of terms through which humans perceive the world, and that direct attention away from some interpretations and toward others.” Burke first devised his concept of "terministic screens" as a way of understanding the relationship between language and ideology. In other context, like race theory, terministic screens would be at work. Because of the distinction of many types of races within the world, race theory would probably stir up some trouble. We have so many different people coming from totally different backgrounds, cultures, values, etc. that the terms included in each screen vary from person to person. The topic of slavery would mean something different to every person and their attention would be guided by their established particular terms.

This also goes for picture theory and cultural studies. It all comes down to the personal perspectives of so many. It is hard to agree or have the same outlook on just one topic. We were all raised differently and view the world through our eyes only. 

The quote above introduces the idea that language reflects, selects, and deflects reality. Probably one of the hardest concepts to grasp is the idea that language can do all three at the same time. Of course selection and reflection seem acceptable, but deflection is a bit harder to comprehend. Burke states that the kind of deflection he has in mind "concerns simply the fat that any nomenclature necessarily directs the attention into some channels rather others" (45). Basically what I think he is trying to say is that our terministic screens deflect our attention to certain things than others. For Pascal's problems with Church law and dueling, he deflected reality by viewing the dueling as "proper to protect oneself" (45). Not only does the nature of our terms affect the nature of our observation, in the sense that the terms direct the attention to one field rather to another (46).  By using his own terministic screen, he was able to find a way to view his actions differently. Also, his other example of the textbook on physics, which deflects reality from law or psychology. 

Works Cited

Burke, Kenneth. “Terministic Screens.” In Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method. Berkeley: U of California P, 1966. 44-57.