Rant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A rant is a widespread and distinctive phenomenon of emotional speech or writing usually consisting of complaints or attacks. Rarely, rants express great praise, defending an idea or a person from attack.
Street Definition: a form of speech, spoken word or written word, of an angry and political nature. A form of artistic political expression used by members of the lower classes to participate in discussion of the political issues of the day that affect them.
Speakers Corner at Hyde Park is the most famous outdoor public rant space.
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[edit] Scholarly foundation
The scholarly foundation for a discussion of ranting begins with the observation that ranting is likely universal, probably evolutionarily conserved, and therefore putatively performs a vital function affecting reproductive success. It has been hypothesized that ranting is part of the behaviour pattern of male bonded, small group, coalitionary lethal violence directed against outsiders. If that hypothesis has merit then the ranting behaviour pattern may have biological roots extending to the epoch of the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees. It would also follow that ranting may have a powerful non verbal, probably emotional, component.
[edit] Biological basis
The biological basis of ranting is found in a distinctive temporary excitation of the central nervous system. Functional-neuroimaging studies suggest that during a rant the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (the conscious reasoning center of the brain) is not activated. Instead activation is found in parts of the central nervous system which function outside conscious awareness, including those systems which process emotional reward. Other biologically based behaviours include the fear of falling, and the fear of the stranger's stare. The foremost scholars of biologically based behaviours are found in the field of evolutionary psychology but see also the discussion under the title prehistory.
[edit] Characteristics
A rant is distinguished by an emotional, sometimes angry and usually political in nature. There are two very distinct perceptions of "A Rant."
Middle Class & Upper Class Perspective: Commonly rants are partially incoherent, or are buttressed by shallow arguments or logical fallacies. Ranting behaviour is very similar to the phenomenon of adherence to a "fixed idea" in the face of contrary evidence. The purpose of a rant is the public display. Today many rants are placed online for wide distribution.
Working Class Perspective: The Poor White Persons version of RAP, in the sense that it a specific kind of spoken or written format, blending artistic expression, personal experience and politic protest and is usually written for an audience of peers in mind. Like RAP, it is an angry but non-violent form of political expression. Punk Music is to Ranting as Rap Music is to Rapping. Today, poor whites, perform Rants in pubs, pod-casts and on the Internet.
[edit] Format
A rant is like a poem, in that there are many forms and types. The length of a rant varies. It can be either written or spoken word. It can be personal and nonsensical, but in artistic terms is usually angry and political, raising issues of political importance or complaint within an entertaining format of written or spoken word.
[edit] Rants in social settings
Speakers Corner in Hyde Park is the most famous place for outdoor rants. Rants have been prohibited and still are in places where Freedom of Speech or Political Protest is discouraged or outlawed.
Rants are discouraged or prohibited in some scientific and decision-making groups. The prohibition of rants has a long history in Europe.
[edit] Rants in history
Well studied examples of rants in a historical context occur in the study of the pervasive inflammatory written ranting which preceded the American Civil War of 1861 to 1865.
Speakers Corner in Hydes Park, Britain.
