We spent a decent amount of time in class going over audience as a function in the Rhetorical Situation. It sparked a number of questions in me, including “Should an author try to write to a specific audience?” “How much should the author tailor their work towards the audience in general?” “How great are the differences in a written text based simply on catering to different audiences?”

I am inclined to say that an author should not write to a specific audience. For some reason, it feels like conceding to the pressure of the world. However, I understand that there are benefits in defining an audience before writing. It allows you to make intentional choices on how to connect with them and appeal to them pointedly. On the other hand, it seems to me that even shooting for a demographic is inherently wrong. Grouping people into arbitrary categories and deciding they would or would not like to read about a topic seems like simplifying something that is actually exceptionally dynamic. So I guess maybe I don’t think that writing to an identified audience is a good practice for a writer to implement. However, I am very willing to hear dissenting opinions.