Monster Metaphors: When Rhetoric Runs Amok - Paperback

by Peter J. Adams (Author)

This book explores ways in which common metaphors can play a detrimental role in everyday life; how they can grow in outsized importance to dominate their respective terrains and push out alternative perspectives; and how forms of resistance might act to contain their dominance.

The volume begins by unpacking the dynamics of metaphors, their power and influence and the ways in which they are bolstered by other rhetorical devices. Adams draws on four case studies to illustrate their destructive impact when they eclipse other points of view--the metaphor of mental illness; the metaphor of free-flowing markets; the metaphor of the mind as a mirror and the metaphor of men as naturally superior. Taken together, these examples prompt further reflection on the beneficiaries of these "monster metaphors" and how they promote such metaphors to serve their own interests but also on ways forward for challenging their dominance, strategies for preventing their rise and ways of creating space for alternatives.

This book will be of interest to scholars interested in the study of metaphor, across such fields as linguistics, rhetoric and media studies.

Author Biography

Peter J. Adams practiced as a psychologist before engaging in research on applied rhetoric, addiction studies, existential issues and industry conflicts of interest. He has published seven sole-authored books on these topics. He is employed as a full professor at the School of Population Health at the University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.