Kairos, the Rhythm of Timing

• Published in: Off Beat Vol. 26; pp. 89 - 101
• Main Author: Gelang, Marie
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United States BRILL 2013
• Series: Thamyris/Intersecting: Place, Sex and Race
• Subjects: Cultural studies; Kairos; MUSIC; nonverbal communication; Philosophy: aesthetics; Retorik; rhetoric; timing
• ISBN: 9042036168; 9789042036161; 9401208875; 9789401208871
• DOI: 10.1163/9789401208871_007

Within Rhetoric there is a wide and complex variety of concepts used to explore and discuss our societies´ different discursive phenomenon. When analysing speakers nonverbal communication, the concept of Kairos have distinguished it selves as more important than others. The concept is trying to make clear and explain some of the processes that at times can seem inconceivable with our nonverbal communication. Kairos and Kronos were the two Greek terms used to refer to time. Kronos was used when referring to measured time; like hours, minutes and so on. Kairos had a more qualitative, interpreting, cultural-based meaning. The concept of kairos captures the process that can be so difficult to comprehend when everything crystallizes to exactly the right moment for someone to act or speak, or both. The primary focus in the article is on explaining how the concept of kairos can help us to understand the sense of timing in our nonverbal communication. One of the aspects that are important for kairos is the sense of rhythm that develops in a situation. A speaker with a good sense of rhythm can come across as very persuasive. In order for kairos to happen someone has to know or believe that he knows that “now” is the time to act. It is an understanding that doesn’t come by itself but demands an active and aware speaker. The speaker has to be aware of the ongoing creativity in the situation, the creativity that charge the sequence with the tension between what is possible and what is not, and does this every time. So, whether kairos appears “now” depends on a range of reflections over a number of ongoing processes in the context, one of them, I mean, relates to rhythm.