epideiktinen
Epideiktinen, or epideictic rhetoric, refers to a class of rhetorical discourse whose primary aim is to praise or blame individuals, groups, or values, often in ceremonial or commemorative settings. The term comes from Greek epideiktikos meaning “for show” or “ceremonial,” from epi “upon” and deixis “to show.” In classical theory, Aristotle identified three genres of rhetoric: epideictic, deliberative, and judicial (forensic). Epideictic rhetoric tends to address present character and shared norms rather than prescribing future action; it constructs communal memory and identity by highlighting virtue or vice.
Common purposes include eulogies, laudatory speeches at inaugurations, commemorations, and rites of passage. Typical features are
Modern interpretations treat epideictic rhetoric as an important mechanism of social symbolism and ritual, used in
Related concepts include panegyric, ceremonial rhetoric, and commemorative discourse. Epideictic rhetoric is often contrasted with deliberative