Touro Communication Club Notes #50

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Beginning this coming Wednesday, November 12, we will move our Club meetings across the street to Room 222 of 33 West 23^rd Street.

THIS WEEK: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 – 2 pm – Room 222

“Political Language and the Art of Deception”

During the run-up to the election, charges of mis-statements, quotes out of context, outright lies and 100 other linguistics sleights of hand were thrown about. Now that the emotional temperature has dropped, the mis-use of language isn’t the hot topic it was in the last few weeks of the campaign. We now return to the EVERY DAY mis-use of language. We’ll look at the many ways language can be twisted to achieve a persuasive goal. Turn your ears on!You’ll provide most of the examples..

Now that the suspense has lifted and fears of a close race vanished, people all over the world were dancing in the streets. Kenya declared a national holiday in honor of the election of their almost native son, Barack Obama. Touro students were elated.

Despite the excitement of the election, the problems facing America remain. President-Elect Obama’s first press conference on Friday, November 7^th, created the impression of someone authoritatively in charge, someone who could be reasoned with and someone who conveyed the impression that he knew what he was doing.

In analyzing any Communication situation, there are at least six factors to examine:

• The facts – data, plans, points of view
• How and who Obama chooses for his staff and Cabinet
• Obama’s domestic priorities – financial disaster first
• Obama’s foreign policy priorities – overtures to foreign leaders, etc.
• The analysis of the audience(s) who will hear the facts
• The presentation of the facts – who, what, where, why, etc.
• The interpretation(s) of the facts – the feedback

o How do Obama’s choices create the image of his governing style to the public

o How does the 75 + 100 day honeymoon period mask public reactions

o How much dispute will he have with his own party and the Republican party

• The response(s) to the interpretations.
• The implementation of the plans

Now the Communication fun REALLY begins!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 – 2 pm – Room 314-318 @ 27 West 23^rd Street – The 6^th Speech Contest.

Finalists from the Communication classes will present their winning speeches, competing for cash prizes and recognition by their peers. Faculty judges will make the final decisions.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - Let’s take the day off so we can get ready for Thanksgiving.

What happened during the Election Results discussion on Wednesday, November 5, 2008?

The Communicators – Olushile Akintade, James Millner, Lorinda Moore, Steve Gradman, Marcus Vyandorf and newcomers Rich Cohen and Frank Antwi. Hal Wicke moderated.

It should be noted that Frank saw a poster for the meeting and found us. He is in the DMX program.

It was a homogeneously agreeable group that gathered to discuss the Presidential election the previous day. Most everyone seemed to be on an emotional high.

The personal reactions to Barack Obama’s election included

• “Tremendous”,
• “Scared for his influence on the world,”
• “Fearful.”
• “The election was personal.”
• Lorinda told a personal story as a child growing up in Mississippi.
• “We all now have blood type “O” [Type O is the universal giver- so the metaphor works on another level]
• Jesse Jackson crying.
• Obama wasn’t a candidate; he was a movement!

Several males had great difficulty finding words which were reflective of their emotions. (We must revisit “Gender Communication.”)

James observed brilliantly that he felt that the “Pathos” of the election will change the “Ethos.” [Important learning takes place when people begin to make connections from one area to another. Bravo, James!]

• Male “saggy pants” style and the impact of dress on the larger society.
• Oprah is like Donald Trump – money is thicker than blood.
• The Black “Elite” – The Jack and Jill club – Martha’s Vineyard
• Does money unite or divide/
• Obama is in for a rude awakening.
• Is Obama is really an “oreo”?
• Obama speaks to the people the way Bobby Kennedy spoke to the people
• Saul Alinsky – the father of community organizing
• America had to have a black man become President before a white woman.

Steve shared his experience of running a polling place in Brooklyn and trying to accommodate the crowds.

Shile compared his childhood in Nigeria to his American experience. He was taught to always remember where you came from.

• Pitfalls of celebrity have been avoided by Bruce Springstein – the Boss
• McCain’s concession speech was very effective.

What’s next for Obama?

• Learning how to transition from candidate to president
• Creating the transition team
• Appoint staff and Cabinet

• Obama’s management style becomes important.
• Question – does nepotism (employing your relatives) create difficult management situations?

Comparing conventional management styles vs. artistic management – Lorinda, Rich and Frank are in several aspects of the music business. They contrasted the authoritarian management style of an artistic environment with a democratic inclusive style which seems to be Obama’s style.

These sessions are always open for everyone to attend. Bring a friend and join in the excitement. See you next time.

Hal Wicke