THE MAKING OF BARACK OBAMA: THE POLITICS OF PERSUASION provides the
first comprehensive treatment of why Obama's rhetorical strategies
were so effective during the 2008 presidential campaign, during the
first four years of his presidency, and once again during the 2012
presidential campaign. From his "Yes We Can" speech, to his "More
Perfect Union Speech," to his Cairo "New Beginnings" speech,
candidate-Obama-turned-President-Obama represents what a skilled
rhetorician can accomplish within the public sphere. Contributors
to the collection closely analyze several of Obama's most important
speeches, attempting to explain why they were so rhetorically
effective, while also examining the large discursive structures
Obama was engaging: a worldwide financial crisis, political apathy,
domestic racism, Islamophobia, the Middle East peace process,
Zionism, and more. THE MAKING OF BARACK OBAMA will appeal to
politically engaged, intelligent readers, scholars of rhetoric, and
anyone interested in understanding how the strategic use of
language in highly charged contexts-how the art of rhetoric-shapes
our world, unites and divides people, and creates conditions that
make social change possible. For those new to the formal study of
rhetoric, editors Matthew Abraham and Erec Smith include a glossary
of key terms and concepts. Contributors include Matthew Abraham,
Rene Agustin De los Santos, David A. Frank, John Jasso, Michael
Kleine, Richard Marback, Robert Rowland, Steven Salaita, Courtney
Jue, Erec Smith, and Anthony Wachs. "From the inspiring slogans and
speeches of his campaign to the eloquent successes and failures of
his presidency, Barack Obama has been extravagantly praised and
sarcastically criticized for the distinctive power of his rhetoric.
The essays in this collection persuasively analyze that rhetoric in
all its specific tactics and general strategies, in its idealist
yearnings and its pragmatic compromises, in its ambitious strivings
and its political obstacles. THE MAKING OF BARACK OBAMA is a must
read for anyone interested in how political rhetoric works-and
doesn't-in twenty-first-century America." -STEVEN MAILLOUX,
President's Professor of Rhetoric, Loyola Marymount University "A
readable yet critically engaging collection, THE MAKING OF BARACK
OBAMA offers a robust look at the deft rhetorical strategies
deployed by the first African American President. Moving beyond
sentimental, hypercritical or otherwise dismissive readings of his
oratory, these essays explore how Obama's speeches have addressed
substantive issues, such as globalization, the American dream,
political gridlock, the legacy of racism and religious bigotry.
This book will appeal to rhetorical scholars and laypersons alike."
-DAVID G. HOLMES, Professor of English, Pepperdine University "By
confronting topics often avoided in politically correct
discourse-including religious identity, racial belonging and the
cultural politics of difference- THE MAKING OF BARACK OBAMA doesn't
hesitate to engage divisive and difficult issues; producing some of
the most challenging, insightful and provocative perspectives to
date." -RHEA LATHAN, Assistant Professor of English, Florida State
University
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!