Focus of Graduate Studies

Doctoral student in rhetoric with an emphasis on social movements, memory studies, and gender in communication.

Research Interests

My research focus is on rhetoric, especially how rhetoric constructs/deconstruct identities of people in less privileged positions. I would like to investigate contemporary social issues and see how rhetoric is used as a means for empowerment or oppression. I plan to investigate racial identity, national identity, and citizenship in groups of Japanese Americans who resisted to the internment during WWII as my dissertation project.

Teaching Interests and Experience

My coursework is preparing me to teach all levels of courses related to rhetoric and gender studies in communication.
Commun 103 – Public Speaking
Commun 362 – Argumentation & Debate

Relevant Professional Service Activities

I am involved in an intercollegiate policy debate community in Japan. I was chosen as one of the two national debaters and traveled around the U.S. to do public debates in 2006.

Recent Research

Yamada, Kaori. “Conflicting National Identities and Ideologies: A Rhetorical Analysis of the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II.” Carolinas Communication Annual, 28. The Carolinas Communication Association, 2012.

Yamada, Kaori. “Restorative Rhetoric for Ethical Rhetorical Leadership: A Critical Analysis of George W. Bush’s Hurricane Katrina Speech.” Proceedings of the 4rd Tokyo Conference on Argumentation: Argumentation, the Law and Justice. Ed. Suzuki, Takeshi, Takayuki, Kato, and Aya Kubota. Proc. of the 4rd Tokyo Conference on Argumentation, 10 Aug. -12 Aug. 2012, Tokyo: Japan Debate Association, 2012.

Conference Presentations

Yamada, Kaori. “Domesticating Police Violence: A critical analysis of YouTube Videos and Media Coverage of the Taser Incidents in the UCLA and the University of Florida.” 98th Annual Convention of the National Communication Association. Orlando, FL, 2012.

Yamada, Kaori. “Special Needs or Universal Designs? : A Critical Analysis of Apple’s Website on Accessibility.” 98th Annual Convention of the National Communication Association. Orlando, FL, 2012.

Yamada, Kaori. “Silenced Agents: An Analysis of Media Coverage on Japanese American Women during the Time of the Internment.” The Wisconsin Women’s Studies and LGBTQ Conference, “Power, Politics, and Performance.” Oshkosh, WI, 2012.

Yamada, Kaori. “Restorative Rhetoric for Ethical Rhetorical Leadership: A Critical Analysis of George W. Bush’s Hurricane Katrina Speech.” The 4rd Tokyo Conference on Argumentation, Tokyo, Japan. 2012.

Yamada, Kaori. “What Makes the Mascot Popular?: College Mascots, Embodiment of Masculinity, and Resistance against Gender Norms.” Gender Matters Conference. Chicago, IL, 2011.

Yamada, Kaori. “Conflicting National Identities and Ideologies: A Rhetorical Analysis of the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II.” 97th Annual Convention of the National Communication Association. New Orleans, LA, 2011.

Miyazaki, Arata. & Yamada, Kaori. “Language Performance, Multiple Social Roles, and Identities: Surviving as a Researcher, an Assistant Instructor, and a Student in the Higher-education Institution.” 97th Annual Convention of the National Communication Association. New Orleans, LA, 2011.

Tajima, Noriaki. & Yamada, Kaori. “Hinkaku in Japanese Contemporary Popular Media: Recovery of National Pride, Codes of Discipline, or Media Hype of Xenophobia?” Midwest Popular Culture Association/Midwest American Association Annual Conference. Milwaukee, WI, 2011.