Since the presidential campaign season has intensified with media coverage of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, I have unhappily considered the speeches and speaking styles of the two candidates. The media have also paid close attention in criticizing both parties, and the idea for my semester project sprang from the continuous campaign coverage. I will use examples from both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton to begin a larger discussion of political writing and speaking in an article/story. Criticizing linguistically and in the contexts of history, political climate, party, and more, I will call out the tropes and tactics of political rhetoric today and the fact that little has changed since the 20th century.
Media literacy is especially important in this presidential election, dubbed “post-truth” or “post-fact” by some media outlets. While information is more freely available than ever, some Americans don’t consider the biases of their news sources, the skewed sense of “objectivity” in our media, and just don’t have time to find the entire truth in a 24/7 news cycle. The language of politicians is rooted in vagueness, and while many cry that the rhetoric of this election (especially from Donald Trump) calls on our most base fears and prejudices, it is nothing the American public hasn’t seen before. A look at linguistics also raises questions about voters and their media literacy. Why, for example, do nearly eight out of 10 evangelicals support Donald Trump when Hillary Clinton has referenced religion, faith, and her Methodist values far more than he has?
I plan to reference two pieces of writing (so far) that will put our current political climate and speech into historical relief. This terrifyingly-titled New York Magazine article suggests that a Donald Trump presidency, or even his GOP candidacy, could signal the beginning of the end of our democracy. The article will also allow me to connect to a much older essay, George Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language” from 1946. Together they speak to the effect of mass media on politics and political language- a relationship complicated in our time, when, as Andrew Sullivan writes, “Online debates become personal, emotional, and irresolvable almost as soon as they begin.” Researching that relationship will be the most the most important part of my semester project.
Erin! It is great you want to write on the recent presedential election. However, what is not clear to me is whether you will be focusing on the political speech, the effects of media on political speech, or none of the above. You have a good start, clearly state it in the beginning and move forward. Hope to read the final piece. Best of luck!
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