This paper performs a rhetorical analysis of the science-fiction program, Doctor Who, using theories from Kenneth Burke. Series Five of the show is analyzed using Burke’s theory of identification, the representative anecdote and the dramatistic pentad. The analysis with identification theory exemplifies the show’s ability to create identification with the audience that, in turn, drives the audience to watch. While the identification connects the audience to the show, the pentad explains how the characters of the show are driven by a pursuit of idealistic humanism rooted in individuality. The final analysis demonstrates that the program embraces more of a representative anecdote, as it can offer tools for living, rather than a deflective one.
","abstract_html":"<p>This paper performs a rhetorical analysis of the science-fiction program, Doctor Who, using theories from Kenneth Burke. Series Five of the show is analyzed using Burke’s theory of identification, the representative anecdote and the dramatistic pentad. The analysis with identification theory exemplifies the show’s ability to create identification with the audience that, in turn, drives the audience to watch. While the identification connects the audience to the show, the pentad explains how the characters of the show are driven by a pursuit of idealistic humanism rooted in individuality. The final analysis demonstrates that the program embraces more of a representative anecdote, as it can offer tools for living, rather than a deflective one.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Muñiz, Kemp Nishan"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Communication and Training","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Jason Zingsheim, Ph.D.","David Rhea, Ph.D.","Michele McMaster, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2012,"date_issued":"2012-04-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2012-04-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:24:36Z","subjects":["rhetoric","Kenneth Burke","dramatism","identification","pentad","representative anecdote","science fiction","Doctor Who","popular culture","pentadic ratios","Rhetoric and Composition"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://opus.govst.edu/theses/19","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Jason Zingsheim, Ph.D.","David Rhea, Ph.D.","Michele McMaster, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Muñiz, Kemp Nishan"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2014-06-02T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Communication and Training"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["rhetoric","Kenneth Burke","dramatism","identification","pentad","representative anecdote","science fiction","Doctor Who","popular culture","pentadic ratios","Rhetoric and Composition"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://opus.govst.edu/theses/19"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This paper performs a rhetorical analysis of the science-fiction program, Doctor Who, using theories from Kenneth Burke. Series Five of the show is analyzed using Burke’s theory of identification, the representative anecdote and the dramatistic pentad. The analysis with identification theory exemplifies the show’s ability to create identification with the audience that, in turn, drives the audience to watch. While the identification connects the audience to the show, the pentad explains how the characters of the show are driven by a pursuit of idealistic humanism rooted in individuality. The final analysis demonstrates that the program embraces more of a representative anecdote, as it can offer tools for living, rather than a deflective one.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Burke, Rhetoric and The Doctor: A Rhetorical Analysis of Doctor Who"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Jason Zingsheim, Ph.D.","David Rhea, Ph.D.","Michele McMaster, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["Muñiz, Kemp Nishan"],"dc:date.available":["2014-06-02T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This paper performs a rhetorical analysis of the science-fiction program, Doctor Who, using theories from Kenneth Burke. Series Five of the show is analyzed using Burke’s theory of identification, the representative anecdote and the dramatistic pentad. The analysis with identification theory exemplifies the show’s ability to create identification with the audience that, in turn, drives the audience to watch. While the identification connects the audience to the show, the pentad explains how the characters of the show are driven by a pursuit of idealistic humanism rooted in individuality. The final analysis demonstrates that the program embraces more of a representative anecdote, as it can offer tools for living, rather than a deflective one.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://opus.govst.edu/theses/19"],"dc:subject":["rhetoric","Kenneth Burke","dramatism","identification","pentad","representative anecdote","science fiction","Doctor Who","popular culture","pentadic ratios","Rhetoric and Composition"],"dc:title":["Burke, Rhetoric and The Doctor: A Rhetorical Analysis of Doctor Who"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Communication and Training"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:24:36Z"}