Public Speaking

Question

For this discussion board assignment, you will be tasked with watching two very famous special occasion speeches. 

1. First, you will watch President Ronald Reagan’s Challenger speech. As you watch his address, how does it follow the characteristics (listed in question 2) described in your textbook? What specific strategies does he use that sets it apart from other speeches of special occasion?

2. Second, you will watch Jimmy Valvano’s famous 1993 speech. How does this speech differ in tone from that of Reagan’s speech? How are the speeches different in their language? In their tone? In the audience for whom they were written?

Please discuss anything else you find interesting in comparing and contrasting these very different but famous examples of special occasion speaking. 

Your post must be at least 450 words.

Question

Respond to the question below in a response roughly 275-300 words. Be sure to incorporate source material to support your response. Cite throughout in APA format. 

Bourdieu’s book Distinction was based on research conducted in France in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Do you think Bourdieu’s ideas about class culture apply in the 21st century U.S.  If not, what has changed the ways that consumer culture differentiates?  How might you counterpose Bourdieu’s perspective with the idea of mass culture? Do you think that mass tastes are more prevalent than class tastes?  Finally,  what role creativity and ingenuity have in making consumer culture meaningful.