Date of Award

1-1-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Heather Crandall

Second Advisor

Dr. Carolyn Cunningham

Abstract

This study focuses on the speech given by Clint Eastwood on August 30, 2012 at the 2012 Republican National Convention. Using the neo-Aristotelian method to conduct a rhetorical analysis, the persuasiveness of Eastwood’s speech was analyzed and discussed. The uniqueness of this deliberative speech was the use of a visual prop, an empty chair, to convince the audience of President Obama’s inadequacies as a leader. While the speech contained persuasive components, it was the visual communication of the empty chair that turned the Eastwood’s speech into a national discussion. This study had to then turn to research on visual communication in post-modern cultures conducted by Jonah Rice (2004). Many news media venues discredited the unorthodox political speech by Eastwood, but just as many news analysts found it to be effective in reaching the Independent voter (Flock, 2012). This study concludes speech was effective and was enhanced by the visual of the empty chair.

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