Brent Cotton
Biography
Brent received his PhD from Laurentian University with a focus on rhetoric and environmental communication.ÌýThrough his research, Brent explored the use of melodramatic rhetoric in the industrial wind turbines controversy in Ontario.ÌýUsing the insights gained from this research, he continues to explore the intersections between rhetorical melodrama and public controversies.Ìý
Ìý
In addition to teaching communication courses at Â鶹ֱ²¥, Brent also teaches film studies including courses on cinema genres and documentary film.ÌýIn his documentary film course, Brent works with his students to create short documentary films (films under five minutes in length).ÌýThrough this work, Brent continues to research the rhetorical dynamics of short documentaries and how they can be used as a form of advocacy in a variety of contexts, including public controversies.Ìý
Research interests and areas of expertiseÌý
- Rhetorical dynamics of public controversiesÌý
- Advocacy and argumentationÌý
- Short documentary filmsÌý