TERMINISTIC SCREENS Meaning and
Definition
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Terministic screens refer to the filtering or selective perception of information through predetermined or fixed frameworks or systems. In this context, screens do not pertain to electronic or digital displays, but rather to cognitive processes that sort, categorize, and evaluate information based on pre-existing beliefs, biases, or ideologies.
These screens shape people's interpretation and understanding of reality by influencing what information is taken in and how it is processed. They function as mental filters that prioritize and limit the information individuals receive, effectively narrowing the range of perspectives and ideas they encounter. Terministic screens can be both conscious and unconscious, and they are greatly influenced by societal, cultural, and personal factors.
The term is derived from the work of American philosopher and rhetorician Kenneth Burke, who emphasized the role of language in shaping human perception. The concept of terministic screens is especially relevant in communication and media studies, as it highlights the ways in which individuals selectively interpret and attribute meaning to messages. It helps explain how people's values, beliefs, and knowledge influence their understanding of the world, and how they may perceive certain information as significant or relevant while dismissing or ignoring others.
Overall, terministic screens are cognitive frameworks that shape and filter the information individuals encounter, affecting their perception, understanding, and communication of the world around them.
Etymology of TERMINISTIC SCREENS
The term "terministic screens" was coined by Kenneth Burke, an American literary theorist and philosopher, in his book "Language as Symbolic Action" published in 1966. The etymology of the phrase can be understood by breaking it down into its constituent parts.
1. Terministic: The term "terministic" is derived from the word "terminus", which refers to a boundary or endpoint. In this context, it conveys the idea of something being limited or defined by specific terminologies or language systems.
2. Screens: In this context, "screens" refers to filters or frameworks through which individuals interpret and perceive the world. It implies that these frameworks, composed of language and its associated symbols, act as barriers or screens that shape how people understand and communicate reality.
