Module B: An Australian History For Us All Flashcards
when
1996
Pearson, presenting to a highly educated audience including then PM John Howard directly
engages his audience through his criticism of current political discourse.
negative diction and alliteration
“brain dead dialogue” as he criticises John Howard’s arguments.
Effect “brain dead dialogue”
“the new free speech is tabloid free speech”
He comments that our ability to engage with delicate issue of reconciliation and the treatment of Aboriginal issues is severely inhibited when people fail to truly contemplate the facts.
We realise through Pearson’s more confrontational delivery (in contrast to Sadat’s irenic tone)
how the circumstances surrounding the delivery of a speech and the audience by which it is received greatly influences the ways in which they resonate in a society.
Pearson whilst being critical of the nation’s political discourse, also
reiterates the values of compassion and kindness. The is evident through the intertextuality of former Prime Minister Paul Keating’s ‘Redfern Speech’….
The is is evident through the intertextuality of former Prime Minister Paul Keating’s ‘Redfern Speech’ with repeated reference to the need to
“Open our hearts a bit”.
Effect This evident through the intertextuality of former Prime Minister Paul Keating’s ‘Redfern Speech’ with repeated reference to the need to “Open our hearts a bit”.
lightens the mood of the serious oration, reiterating audience’s values as he conveys notion that empathy and recognition are essential in overcoming past injustices and building a future founded by justice and equality.
Purpose:
Pearson’s oration “An Australian History For Us All” powerfully emphasises the common values of his audience through his engagement with them and wider Australian society to illustrate the need to recognise discrimination and seize responsibility of the past, present and future.
“the new free speech is tabloid free speech” technique
negative diction, critical tone
Effect “the new free speech is tabloid free speech”
criticises the political dialogue and its focus on opinion polls instead of resolving critical issues in a morally dignified way. Furthermore he argues that how we respond shouldn’t be emotionally triggered by ‘tabloid style slogans’ but through considered, empathic thought and dialogue
Pearson promotes “collective responsibility” and that
‘we should open our hearts’ as we strive to overcome past injustices and build a future founded by justice and equality/
Juxtaposed emotive language
“legacy of unutterable shame”
“celebration” and spirit of compromise”
Was delivered at a Chancellor’s club dinner at Western Sydney University at a time when Aust was debating
whether it should pursue a national ‘Sorry Campaign’
