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Oprah Winfrey's Rhetorical Analysis

Decent Essays

Before analyzing the different canons of neo-Aristotelian criticism in Oprah Winfrey’s 2018 Golden Globe Speech, it is important to discuss relevant information about Oprah as a rhetor. Oprah is an accomplished broadcaster, interviewer, host, and actress. It is no coincidence that Oprah’s speech caught the attention of the room before her and that she was able to connect with those present and those watching at home. As a professional in the rhetorical medium, Oprah established a connection between her personal struggles of being African American and female, which therefore enabled her to transition to the sexual assault issues faced today by females of all race, color, and creed. Beginning with the first canon, invention, we can lay out the main arguments contained within Oprah’s speech. Oprah’s logos, or logical element, is that history has proven that women who speak their truth; regardless if it has the intended affect at the time, creates a story that transcends time and culture. Because these stories stay with us as a society, they effect change at some point. Oprah shares the story of Recy Taylor and Rosa Parks as evidence that speaking …show more content…

Even if the audience was not fully aware of Oprah’s credentials, her name itself can stand alone. Being a media mogul herself, the audience trusts Oprah to know information relating to the Hollywood sex scandals and assaults. With the intent of inspiring change, Oprah is able to use her intellect and public speaking skill to deliver her speech eloquently. Here we can see Oprah’s pathos: her ability to generate emotions from the audience with her speech. Knowing Oprah’s history, the audience believes that her words and argument for change are sincere. While Oprah does place a large amount of blame on “white men,” she does not create a divide for the men in the audience. She calls for them to listen and recognizes that they too are needed in order to make the changes

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