Linking dissent, incivility, the trickster myth, and outlaw discourse: Exploring and expanding outlaw discourse

The purpose of this study is to clarify and expand the relatively new rhetorical framework, outlaw discourse. The concepts of dissent, incivility, and the trickster myth all serve as a foundation for an expanded and improved outlaw discourse. This dissertation explores these four bodies of literature, highlighting the connections between them. Using a new conceptualization of outlaw discourse, it takes outlaw discourse out of the political realm, where it has been used to study the discourse of more sympathetic and progressive activists, and discusses how outlaw discourse could be used in more disruptive and transgressive ways. The European airline, Ryanair, uses outlaw discourse, and this dissertation explores and explains a new conceptualization of outlaw discourse through the example of Ryanair, highlighting both the progressive and potentially destructive nature of the airline's discourse. This dissertation discusses the ethical issues related to outlaw discourse and also raises questions for future research studies.