"The era of procrastination, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to a close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences."
In the study of history, one area to find consistent, instant gratification is that of rhetoric - the great speeches.
There is Churchill ( as above ), JFK's inaugural, Lincoln's Gettysburg address, Pericles' funeral oration...
To cut to the chase, I have a problem with statesmen whose speeches are not predominately theirs - it's a missed opportunity; we shouldn't be electing people who need a team of writers to generate an attempt at powerful language. This said, I realize that there is a sliding scale of outside involvement.
Obama's (self-authored) speech on race was OK (yes, just OK), made more blah by the occasion which it addressed: him artfully distancing himself from a minor scandal. Somehow I'd be more impressed if it wasn't a defensive move. Furthermore, I've read 'Politics and the English Language' too many times not to gag on these mantras of change and hope - I don't know whether to chant them before I go to bed, as I sit down to dinner, or while my plane taxis on the runway (an anxious time for me). I hope for more specifics (and i think we're starting to see some of this).
Obama does use speech writers, but they vouch for his involvement (slippery slope?)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/fashion/20speechwriter.html?_r=1&oref=
http://www.newsweek.com/id/84756
Before anyone launches into a counterpoint on how authorship is overrated and delivery is ultimate:
1. Authorship influences delivery (as stake and accountability for what is said)
2. Divorcing authorship from the spectacle of oration over-emphasizes the ability to manipulate a crowd (which brings to mind an orator like Hitler)
3. Lets face it: Neither candidate is 'Wowing' us with their deliveries at this point.
So, an admission: I'm being kind of hard on Obama. I realize JFK didn't write all of his own speeches ( though the inaugural address was his), and I also recognize that Obama is one of the more eloquent statesmen we've seen in a while. There is no disputing that writing partners are a fantastic tool.
Did anyone see Gore's endorsement?
Even now, as legitimately righteous as he's become, the man somehow manages to evade passion when he speaks publicly.
PS - To be continued. I think a survey of famous movie speeches, and how they all make me cringe (especially braveheart) is in order.
Comments (3)
John,
I agree with you... there is something that feels almost mechanical about Obama. He's a great speaker, yes, but I also don't believe he's actually saying the words all the time. He's super-polished to a seemingly inhuman degree. I think it's disconcerting, but then again the sheer amount of rhetoric is somewhat mind-numbing.
I'm really looking forward to your Braveheart analysis. Personally, I would love to see a presidential candidate's speech followed up by a slow clap, too.
Posted by RJ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://interactive.usc.edu/members/jbrennan/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 17, 2008 10:51 PM
Posted on June 17, 2008 22:51
Hey John,
When you do your Braveheart analysis can you also do an analysis of a speech you like? So we can see the comparison. Also, so there is a positive admist the negative. Having never seen Braveheart I don't know what you are talking about specifically but can imagine...given the amount of other movies I've seen.
-Maya
Posted by Maya![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://interactive.usc.edu/members/jbrennan/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 25, 2008 10:10 AM
Posted on June 25, 2008 10:10
Hey!
The famous speeches i listed were the ones I love:
>>There is Churchill ( as above ), JFK's
>>inaugural, Lincoln's Gettysburg address,
>>Pericles' funeral oration...
With Braveheart, I'm just pointing out the (cringe) 'rallying speech' that we see, with minor alterations, so often in the theatre - it's kitsch.
(if you think about it, these aren't even limited to dramas, many romantic comedies have the climactic public speech -- you know, where the well-intentioned guy grabs the microphone at some packed house and ravages any notion of plausibility... in the name of love)
When i hear most of them, and when i'm through biting my lip, I'm always reminded of one of the times an author got it right:
http://www.chronique.com/Library/Knights/crispen.htm
Posted by jb![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://interactive.usc.edu/members/jbrennan/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 25, 2008 1:23 PM
Posted on June 25, 2008 13:23