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Trinity Long Room Hub Arts & Humanities Research Institute presents Behind the Headlines: History, Hope, and the Political Speechâ on Monday, March 1.
What makes a political speech? From Aristotle to Hannah Arendt, philosophers have seen the arts of rhetoric and oratory as essential to the proper functioning of the public sphere.Â
Some speeches, like Martin Luther Kingâs 1963 dream vision or Greta Thunbergâs 2019 âHow dare you?â address have defined a generation. Others have embedded lasting images, metaphors, and poetic borrowings â âthe iron curtainâ, ârivers of bloodâ, âwhen hope and history rhymeâ â in the public imagination.
In Ireland, powerful speeches have patterned our history, from Robert Emmetâs 1803 declamation from the dock to Mary Robinsonâs 1990 presidential acceptance speech, that heralded the women of Ireland for rocking the system instead of rocking the cradle.