D'Angelo and the Divide Between Literary Criticism and Rhetorical Criticism

D'Angelo's article, "The Rhetoric of Intertextuality," is an interesting piece because it highlights a fascinating problem that finds its roots in the divide between literary theory, and rhetorical theory.  Rhetorical studies and literary studies have had a very problematic history together, with rhetoric study scholars finding some difficulty in establishing their programs.  Thus, the entirety of D'Angelo's introduction seems to be an attempt at explaining how the use of the term and concept of "intertexuality" will not further blur a divide which seems to already be blurry.  The use of a literary studies term in order to describe a rhetoric based concept would, necessarily, cause a sense of unease in the academic community. 

D'Angelo states, "there have been few articles connecting rhetoric to intertextuality," the reason being the fact that "the term has been introduced through literary studies" (33).  It would seem that "intertextuality" would have a very obvious place within rhetorical theory, but D'Angelo attributes its absence to the divide between literary studies and rhetoric.  He also addresses the concern "that rhetorical criticism is dissolving into literary criticism or some amorphous form of criticism" (32).  Thus, it can be assumed that the divide between literary studies and rhetorical theory has made any form of helpful cross-pollination very difficult to accomplish. 

D'Angelo goes on to state that "despite their similarities, rhetorical criticism can be distinguished from literary criticism or other modes of criticism by its emphasis on the intended effect of the object of criticism on its readers, and by its emphasis on the interrelationships that exist between the text and its source or the text and its audience" (32).  Thus, D'Angelo has established that the appropriation of the term and concept of "intertextuality" has not threatened the divide between literary studies and rhetoric studies.