What is Kairos?
- Understanding kairos
- Kairos vs. chronos
- Kairos in classical rhetoric
- Kairos today
- Why kairos matters
- How to use kairos
- Examples of kairos onscreen
In Ancient Greek, the word kairos (pronounced 'KAI-ros') means 'time' – but not just any time. It's about timeliness: the special moment when it's the opportune time to say or do a particular thing.
Kairos is about seizing the 'right' time, distinguishing it from the more generic concept of chronos, or chronological time. It involves understanding the nuances and dynamics of a situation, recognizing the unique opportunity it presents. This concept is especially crucial in rhetoric and communication, where the impact of words greatly depends on their timing.
In this post, we'll explain how you can recognise when it's the opportune or appropriate moment to say something. And how to know when a statement's perfect for a particular situation.
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Get Started for FreeUnderstanding kairos
The concept of kairos is pretty complex. It's not a simple device or technique, like ethos, pathos or logos. Instead, kairos depends on context.
Calling something 'kairotic' is also subjective, like beauty. So what may be the 'right moment' for one person could be totally wrong for someone else.
In stories, people employ kairos to create a decisive moment – trying to capture in words what will be immediately applicable, appropriate, and engaging for a particular audience.
Kairos is timeliness, appropriateness, decorum, symmetry, balance – being aware of the rhetorical situation. It's about crafting serendipity, like when the sun comes out at the end of a romantic comedy after all the conflicts are resolved. It's delicate, like a flower. Naw.
Originating as an ancient Greek word, kairos emphasizes the criticality of time and place, underscoring the importance of 'the right moment' in the art of persuasion and communication.
In this nuanced understanding, the kairos definition hinges on the alignment of circumstance, emotion, and action. It's not just about choosing the right words, but also about selecting the right moment for those words. This concept teaches us to be more attentive and empathetic, to read the room and understand the dynamics at play. It's about harnessing the power of the moment, making a connection that resonates deeply and meaningfully with the audience, whether in speech, writing, or action.
Kairos vs. chronos
Kairos and chronos are both Ancient Greek words that literally mean 'time.' But kairos doesn't mean time in the same way that we use it in contemporary English.
The word Kairos represents a kind of 'qualitative' time, as in 'the right time'. It means taking advantage of or even creating a perfect moment to deliver a particular message.
Chronos represents a kind of 'quantitative' time, as in, “What time is it?” or “Will we have enough time?”
Kairos is about the art of finding opportune moments within the ongoing flow of chronos. It’s about discerning those unique instances where circumstances align in a way that presents a window of opportunity. These kairotic moments are crucial for effective communication and decision-making. They require not just the recognition of exactly the right time but also the agility and wisdom to act upon it. While chronos ticks on in its predictable pattern, kairos challenges us to be alert and responsive to the unpredictable yet potentially transformative moments in our lives.
“"Kairos is a passing instant when an opening appears which must be driven through with force if success is to be achieved." – E. C. White, ,[object Object]”
Kairos in classical rhetoric
Waaay back in olden times, specifically Ancient Greece, both of the two main schools of thought used kairos in the field of rhetoric.
The Sophists
In the red corner, you have the Sophists. They thought it was crucial for rhetors (people who teach rhetoric) to adapt to, and take advantage of, changing circumstances.
Sophism approached rhetoric as an art form, and members of the school would travel around Greece teaching citizens about the art of rhetoric and successful discourse.
John Poulakos defines rhetoric from a Sophistic perspective like this:
“"Rhetoric is the art which seeks to capture in opportune moments that which is appropriate and attempts to suggest that which is possible"”
Aristotle, Plato, and co.
In the blue corner, you have the opposition, led by people like Aristotle and Plato. They saw Sophistic rhetoric as a tool used to manipulate others and criticized those who taught it.
While Aristotle and his pals didn't dig the Sophistic approach, they did discuss the importance of kairos in their teachings. Aristotle believed that each rhetorical situation was different, so you needed to apply different rhetorical devices at different times.
One of the most well-known parts of Aristotle's Rhetoric is when he discusses the roles of pathos, ethos, and logos. Aristotle ties kairos to these concepts, claiming that there are times in each rhetorical situation when you need to use one device over another.
This ancient debate highlights the timeless nature of kairos in classical rhetoric. It underscores the idea that effective communication isn't just about what is said, but also about when and how it's said. Kairos, in this context, serves as a critical lens through which rhetors assess and respond to the fluid dynamics of discourse. It is not merely about seizing a moment, but also about creating and shaping it to achieve the desired impact, a skill that was as valued in ancient times as it is today in various forms of communication and persuasion.
Kairos today
Kairos has been hot topic in various disciplines for a long time. But the importance of kairos in writing and new media has been a big source of debate over the last few decades.
Nowadays, in modern rhetoric, the definition of kairos is making exactly the right statement at exactly the right moment.
Smart cookie James Kinneavy is largely credited with reintroducing the importance of kairos into the discipline of Rhetoric and Composition – and, therefore, composition studies.
Kinneavy says kairos is:
““The appropriateness of the discourse to the particular circumstances of the time, place, speaker, and audience involved"”
Other scholars – Sheridan, Michel, and Ridolfo – say that:
““Kairos refers to a struggle, at the point of rhetorical intervention, between situational factors””
Taken together, the two definitions highlight just how tricky it is to define kairos. It's dynamic, not static. It's constantly shifting. And that's why it's so dang hard to get kairos right.
In modern rhetoric, this evolving concept of kairos has become integral to effective communication, especially in a world dominated by digital media and instant communication. The challenge now lies in adapting to the rapid pace of information flow while maintaining the essence of kairos – the art of saying or doing something not just correctly, but in a way that resonates with the current context and audience. As society and technology evolve, so does the application of kairos, making it a critical skill in navigating the complexities of today's communication landscape.
Why kairos matters
If you're trying to deliver a message to an audience, you need to think deeply about those people. What do they think about this issue? How are they likely to respond to your message?
The concept of kairos is vital when crafting your message. Your audience is made of real people who live in a certain place and time. That place and time affects the way they receive your message, so it's important to dwell on it and get it right.
Kairos emphasizes the importance of seizing the opportune moment, understanding that the effectiveness of your message hinges not just on its content, but also on when and how it is delivered. It's crucial to align your message with the cultural, emotional, and intellectual climate of your audience. Doing so ensures that your message resonates deeply, not just being heard but truly understood and felt. This understanding of kairos transforms mere communication into a powerful connection with your audience.
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How to use kairos
There are no hard and fast rules for using kairos in your narrative. You need to consider your audience, the current moment that you're living in, and what message your audience needs at that exact time.
Here are some helpful pointers for delivering the right message at the right moment:
- Create an important moment in your story
- Consider how your audience will feel about this moment
- Understand the times you’re living in and how this affects the moment
- Create a meaningful message about that particular moment
To truly master kairos, it's essential to remain flexible and adaptable in your approach. You should be ready to adjust your narrative as the situation evolves, staying tuned to the subtle shifts in your audience's mood and the broader socio-cultural context. This involves a keen observation of current events, trends, and social sentiments, allowing you to tailor your message so it resonates powerfully and pertinently. Remember that timing is everything - knowing when to present your message is just as crucial as crafting the message itself. By harmonizing your message with the right timing, you amplify its impact, making your communication not only heard but also felt.
Examples of kairos onscreen
Her
Released in 2013, the movie Her came at exactly the right moment. It deals with themes like isolation, artificial intelligence, and the artificiality of life in a digital world. At the same time, smartphones were taking over the world, and people were starting to use artificial intelligence, like Siri.
Her asks how this technology might affect our minds and societies, at a time when people were becoming more aware of the higher rates of depression and loneliness in our society. Its timeliness no doubt helped the film to resonate with so many people – and clinch a few awards, too.
Selma
Arriving at the same time as a huge social movement was sweeping the USA, Selma is extremely kairotic. It tells the story of Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement, tieing into modern conversations about protest and racial injustice at the exact right moment.
Kairos is a time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action – which sums up Martin Luther King's work, and the release of Selma, perfectly.
Nike
The start of 2020 was a time of isolation and division thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic – as well as police brutality and racial injustice in the USA leading to more Black Lives Matter protests.
Which meant that Nike was up against severe time constraints if it wanted its 'You Can't Stop Us' campaign to land at the opportune moment. Thankfully, it released this technically mind-blowing ad – with themes of unity, resilience, and triumph over the odds – at the opportune moment.
Pizza Hut
With this advert, Pizza Hut cooked up a kairotic moment to create a sense of urgency. While its pizza is available all the time, this particular flavour was only available for two weeks – meaning that viewers had to act now (!!!) or miss out.
Like its pizza, the message is a little cheesy. But there's a reason why these types of ads appear so often – they work. And it's all thanks to kairos.
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