The following coursework deals with the first Kennedy - Nixon debate that was
broadcast live on television, on September 26th1960. In its first part it will concentrate on the question of what constitutes a debate and how it can be contrasted with other types of conversation like discussion or arguement. Especially political speech has always been reproached for ambigious language or persuasive usage to deceive the listener. Thus, the coursework will digress a bit to investigate the matter a bit further before starting to juxtapose the video material of the television debate - important terminology shall be introduced beforehand - and the speeches as such in their raw material.
At the end of the coursework you will find a DVD attached that shows the first television debate of Kennedy and Nixon. As several pictures of this debate are included in this coursework, I will quickly explain how to find them on the DVD.
The DVD contains two chapters with 4 tracks each. The tracks, however, are not as important as the chapters since the counter starts again at 0:00:00 as soon as the second chapter starts. The entire DVD has an approximate running time of 30 minutes, 15 minutes for each chapter. Thus, referring to a specific point in the video material, I simply put down the time-code where to find it, for instance 0:12:23, which means 12 minutes and 23 seconds in the first chapter, while 0:12:23 [2] refers to the same time-code but in the second chapter, as indicated by the number in brackets.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What is a debate?
- Political debates and the communication process
- On the subject of 'persuasive' language
- Setting up a debate on TV
- Evaluation of the visuals
- Evaluation of what is audible
- Ear vs. Eye - A conclusion
- Appendix - Opening statements
Objectives and Key Themes
This coursework analyzes the first televised Kennedy-Nixon debate in 1960, examining the nature of political debates and their communicative impact. It investigates how the debate format influences political discourse and explores the role of visual and auditory elements in shaping audience perception.
- Defining and contrasting 'debate' and 'discussion' in the context of political discourse
- Analyzing the communicative strategies employed by politicians in televised debates
- Exploring the role of visual and auditory elements in shaping audience reception of political debates
- Evaluating the effectiveness of televised debates as a platform for political communication
- Examining the influence of the television medium on the presentation and reception of political messages.
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the subject of the coursework, focusing on the first Kennedy-Nixon debate and its significance in the context of political discourse. It outlines the structure of the analysis and provides a brief overview of the key themes to be explored.
- What is a debate?: This chapter delves into the distinction between 'debate' and 'discussion,' examining the defining characteristics of each and highlighting the relevance of this distinction for understanding political discourse. It also explores the concept of 'persuasive language' in the context of political speech.
- Political debates and the communication process: This chapter analyzes the communication process in televised political debates, exploring the roles of the speakers, the audience, and the media itself. It examines the inherent complexities of communication in this context and the challenges posed by the potential for manipulation and propaganda.
- On the subject of 'persuasive' language: This chapter delves into the specific features of persuasive language in political speech, examining techniques used to sway audiences and the potential impact on political communication.
- Setting up a debate on TV: This chapter explores the technical and logistical aspects of setting up a televised debate, focusing on the visual and auditory elements that influence audience reception. It examines the role of camera angles, lighting, and sound in shaping the presentation of political candidates.
- Evaluation of the visuals: This chapter analyzes the visual aspects of the first Kennedy-Nixon debate, examining the impact of camera angles, lighting, and candidate appearance on audience perception. It explores how these visual elements contributed to the communication process and influenced the interpretation of the debate.
- Evaluation of what is audible: This chapter examines the auditory aspects of the Kennedy-Nixon debate, focusing on the speakers' voices, tone, and choice of words. It explores how these audible elements influenced audience reception and the overall effectiveness of the debate.
Keywords
The key topics and concepts explored in this coursework include political debates, communication process, persuasive language, televised discourse, visual and auditory elements, audience reception, and the Kennedy-Nixon debates.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2004, The Kennedy-Nixon Debates - Political Speech on TV, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/46955