Bitzerian Analysis

2611 Words11 Pages
A Bitzerian Analysis of Ronald Reagan's Challenger Speech (This essay was written for a graduate level rhetorical theory course. The aim of the assignment was to apply Bitzer's rhetorical model to a an artifact.In this instance I chose the Challenger Speech given on January 28, 1986 after the tragic space shuttle explosion.) Due to the tentative and unpredictable nature of the human condition, some of life’s most emotionally tense moments are thrust upon us without forewarning or prior preparation. The unexpected passing of a family member, friend, or some other significant person is an example of an emotionally tense life situation which calls for immediate response. Since such events strike many chords simultaneously, in the early stages of responding to such loss, it is often difficult for individuals to know how to express themselves as their impressions are still forming. In cases where prominent public figures suddenly pass, a similar tentativeness is experienced. Though the deceased may not be known personally, many people are touched by such situations out of empathy for the family or because it jars them into a self-conscious awareness of their own mortality. Knowing how to formulate appropriate thoughts and emotional responses can be very challenging in the immediate aftermath of such an experience. Brief eulogies offered by prominent civic leaders are often a means by which the broader public learns to orient their response to the passing of public officials or otherwise significant public individuals. This essay examines how eulogy is used by political leaders to assist an audience to respond emotionally to the sudden and unexpected death of compelling public figures. On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger Mission (Flight STS-51L) was launched from Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:38am EST (Stathopoulos, 2010). The
Open Document