Voices of Recovery: A Rhetorical Analysis of Narrative and Persuasion in AA’s Grapevine Magazine

Abstract

Grapevine magazine connects its members, showcasing AA members’ experiences, strengths, and hopes. Grapevine magazine is a powerful tool in members’ recovery journeys, providing them with relatable stories, personal experiences, and valuable insights. By reading the magazine, members gain inspiration, find solace in the shared struggles, and acquire practical guidance on applying recovery principles to their daily lives. Numerous research papers have cited Grapevine magazine, a product of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). However, no study has examined Grapevine magazine’s historical significance. This research applies a rhetorical/historical approach to understand how Grapevine created a sustaining message for its target audience. This study contributes to rhetorical history, direct and indirect communication, including rhetorical frames and strategies that promote epiphany through the use of three voices that transcend the message of recovery. In this process, readers embody and identify the message by allowing it to be “heard” meaningfully. According to Craddock (2002), information can be delivered through storytelling to establish a heart-to-heart connection with the reader so as to illuminate new perspectives and concepts. As Grapevine was created by and for AA members, it stands firmly on the foundation of AA, making it a significant study.