Rhetorical Review

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The Rhetorical Review

Editor-in-Chief: Keolanani (Keola) Kinghorn
Last Updated: March 28, 2026

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Welcome

Welcome to The Rhetorical Review, a space I created to bridge my lifelong love of theatre with my academic work in writing, rhetoric, and decolonial theory.

This site is for anyone who believes that storytelling matters, performance can change minds, and criticism is most powerful when it’s rooted in care, lived experience, and critical thought.

These publication policies are meant to guide contributors and readers alike as we grow this platform together.

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What We Publish

The Rhetorical Review features:

• Theatre reviews and cultural criticism
• Artist spotlights and interviews
• Book reviews
• Op-eds (opinion essays with research)
• Poetry
• Event spotlights that highlight meaningful community or artistic work
• Academic essays on rhetoric, power, and performance
• Decolonial, feminist, Indigenous, and BIPOC-centered perspectives
• Community storytelling and counter-archives
• Academic-adjacent writing that speaks to broader audiences
• Multimodal or experimental submissions (audio, visual, or hybrid forms)

We value vulnerability, voice, and vision. You do not need to be a tenured scholar or a professional critic—if you have something meaningful to say, we want to hear it.

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Submissions and Pitches

We’re currently accepting:

Type of Submission	Word Count	Citation Style
Book Reviews	800–1500 words	Chicago Style (Notes & Bibliography)
Theatre Reviews	800–1500 words	Chicago Style (Notes & Bibliography)
Essays & Artist Reflections	1000–3000 words	MLA or APA (depending on discipline)
Articles	3000-8000 words	MLA or APA (depending on discipline)
Op-Eds	1000–2000 words	MLA or APA
Multimodal Work	Variable; pitch first	Determined case-by-case
Poetry	No set amount	N/A

Submit pitches and completed work to:
editor.rhetoricalreview@gmail.com

Please include:

• A short bio (50–100 words)
• An optional headshot or image
• For reviews: performance details (title, company, venue, date attended)
• For multimedia work: ensure you have permission for all third-party content and can provide creator credits

Note: This is currently an unpaid platform. All editorial work and site management are volunteer-based.

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Editorial Values

At The Rhetorical Review, we edit with care and reciprocity. We believe:

• Editing is collaborative, not extractive
• Voice and story come first
• All contributors deserve respect and transparency
• Fact-checking, ethical storytelling, and proper citation are essential
• Writing should be bold, accessible, and intellectually rigorous—academic but not exclusionary

We aim for clarity, warmth, and authenticity. Your writing should sound like you—not like someone performing academic gatekeeping.

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Citation Guidelines

To maintain clarity and respect for source material:

• Book, theatre, and art reviews should follow the Chicago Manual of Style (Notes & Bibliography format) for references and performance details.
• Academic essays and op-eds may follow MLA (common in literature and humanities) or APA (common in social sciences and media studies). Please note your chosen style in your submission email.
• Multimodal projects should include a written description with any necessary attributions or credits, formatted in MLA, APA, or Chicago as appropriate.

All submissions must include accurate citations for any quoted, paraphrased, or referenced material, including interviews, performances, and digital media.

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Images, Media, and Accessibility

Contributors are responsible for securing permission for any third-party content. Please ensure the following:

• Image Sources: Include creator name, title (if applicable), year, and a direct URL or citation. Use only content that is your own, in the public domain, or under Creative Commons licensing.
• Photo Credit Line: Each image must include a credit line beneath it (e.g., “Photo by Jane Doe, courtesy of Plan-B Theatre”).
• Captions and Alt Text: Provide a brief descriptive caption (for context) and alternative text (for screen readers).
• Audio/Video Submissions: Include brief text descriptions and captions or transcripts to ensure accessibility.
• Artwork or Promotional Materials: If submitting promotional images or posters, confirm permission from the producing company or artist.

We are continually working toward full accessibility on the site. If you notice any issues or barriers, please contact us so we can improve.

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Decolonial Commitments

This platform exists to unsettle dominant narratives—those that dictate who gets to speak, who gets published, and whose stories “count.”

We commit to:

• Prioritizing work by BIPOC, Black, queer, disabled, Indigenous, and underrepresented voices
• Uplifting community-based and non-Western epistemologies
• Challenging settler-colonial, racist, ableist, and exclusionary systems
• Supporting contributors in writing from embodied, cultural, and relational perspectives
• Holding space for both rigorous critique and joyful celebration

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Rights and Republishing

• Authors retain full copyright to their work.
• The Rhetorical Review requests first online publishing rights and a non-exclusive license to archive and share your piece.
• You may republish your work elsewhere with proper attribution and a link back to the original post.
• We do not publish AI-generated content without clear disclosure and substantial human authorship.

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What We Don’t Publish

We do not accept work that:

• Promotes hate, bigotry, or misinformation
• Engages in performative allyship or tokenism
• Erases or distorts Indigenous, Black, or marginalized voices under the guise of “objectivity.”
• Feels extractive, appropriative, or exploitative in tone or purpose

If you are writing about a community that is not your own, approach the work with humility, transparency, and deep respect.

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Corrections and Updates

We believe in growth and accountability.
If you notice an error, oversight, or outdated phrasing, please email us.
Corrections will be made transparently and dated for clarity.

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A Personal Note

As someone from the Big Island of Hawai‘i who returned to academia later in life, I care deeply about making space for voices that don’t always get heard.

This site is for reviews, yes—but it’s also for relationships. For archives that breathe. For stories that resist erasure. Thank you for being part of this work.

—Keolanani Kinghorn
Founder and Editor, The Rhetorical Review