Bowers v. Lawrence: the Narratives of the Supreme Court
Date of Graduation
Spring 2007
Degree
Master of Arts in Communication
Department
Communication
Committee Chair
Eric Morris
Abstract
This thesis examines the rhetoric of the Court's opinions in Bowers v. Hardwick and Lawrence v. Texas from a narrative approach informed by theories on the rhetorical situation. The Bowers majority opinion is framed around themes of history, morality and a reductionist understanding of sexual orientation which allows the Court to endorse sodomy laws. In Lawrence v. Texas a competing narrative was shaped that reframed elements of the Bowers narrative in order to ultimately reject the Court's decision in Bowers. This analysis demonstrates that narrative method of rhetorical analysis is helpful in understanding what is happening when the Court acts.
Keywords
rhetoric, United States Supreme Court, judicial, Bowers, Hardwick, Lawrence, Texas, sodomy
Subject Categories
Communication
Copyright
© Daniel Christopher Bohlmann
Recommended Citation
Bohlmann, Daniel Christopher, "Bowers v. Lawrence: the Narratives of the Supreme Court" (2007). MSU Graduate Theses. 1039.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1039
Dissertation/Thesis