echo brings together scholars with a shared interest in thinking about rhetoric as a media practice. While it is commonplace to refer to "classical rhetoric" as an immutable set of rules and figures of speech, we diverge from this notion by drawing inspiration from the early modern period (c. 1400-1750). During this era, rhetoric underwent a profound transformation influenced by the advent of print and the interactions between the scholastic and humanistic communities. It evolved into one of the most dynamic intellectual domains, leading to a fundamental renegotiation of the relationship between orality and writing, as well as between presence and distance communication. Embracing this perspective, we conceive of rhetoric not as a rigid system but rather as a historically variable array of media-bound practices.

In the present context, the digital sphere inspires us to shed new light on historical configurations. The digital prompts us to take a fresh look at the codex, the calendar, personal devices, community, and free speech. But more generally, our overarching interest lies in examining the dynamics of persuasion within what is conceived of as old and new media at specific points in time —whether it is the interplay of orality and literacy, manuscript and print, text and film, radio and television. These intersections, in turn, contribute valuable insights into the intricate underpinnings of digital media, transcending mere technological considerations.

 Why name such a center after the nymph Echo who, famously tongue-tied, was not able to express herself and was supposedly relegated to copying the speech of others? However, in the early modern period, the nymph Echo was thought of not as a mere source of reverberation, not as a secondary instrument, as the producer of a shortened, mutilated copy, but as an oracle that is as unruly as it is truth-telling. Far from being confined to replication, Echo emerged as a figure of resistance and, paradoxically, a representation of the freedom of speech.

echo unites projects of varied scope and duration, including editions, doctoral and post-doctoral endeavours, and book projects, all of which will incorporate workshops and presentations. Furthermore, the center extends its reach beyond theoretical pursuits by having a practical arm dedicated to crafting teaching modules and spearheading digital literacy initiatives. This dual focus underscores echo’s commitment to both scholarly exploration and the practical application of its research in the broader educational and digital landscape.

If you wish to receive updates on echo’s activities from time to time, please drop us a line at echo@geisteswissenschaften.fu-berlin.de.

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