Communication & Media Studies
Event Title
Every Man a King: Progressive Appeals and Narrative Rationality
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
Communication & Media Studies
Start Date
11-4-2014 1:15 PM
End Date
11-4-2014 2:15 PM
Sponsor
Anna Carmon (Indiana University/Purdue University at Columbus)
Description
Huey Long, a 1930's Louisiana Democrat, has been considered one of the most impressive speakers of Depression Era America. Even so, little attention has been paid the strategic narrative quality of his rhetoric and his popularity has mainly been attributed to his use of emotional appeals and the 'ignorance' of his constituents. I suggest that the success of one of Long's most famous speeches, "Every Man a King," can be better explained through Walter Fisher's Narrative Paradigm, specifically by examining the "good reasons" of Long's audience. I will illustrate my argument by explaining the historical context of Long's speech, narrative qualities of Long's rhetoric, and Narrative Rationality.
Every Man a King: Progressive Appeals and Narrative Rationality
Indianapolis, IN
Huey Long, a 1930's Louisiana Democrat, has been considered one of the most impressive speakers of Depression Era America. Even so, little attention has been paid the strategic narrative quality of his rhetoric and his popularity has mainly been attributed to his use of emotional appeals and the 'ignorance' of his constituents. I suggest that the success of one of Long's most famous speeches, "Every Man a King," can be better explained through Walter Fisher's Narrative Paradigm, specifically by examining the "good reasons" of Long's audience. I will illustrate my argument by explaining the historical context of Long's speech, narrative qualities of Long's rhetoric, and Narrative Rationality.