Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Neil Gaiman Commencement Speech


The purpose of Gaiman’s speech was to inspire the students at the University of the Arts.  His main point was for them to pursue what truly makes them happy rather than searching for money and not noticing all the wonderful things around them.  His main point was for them to go out into the world and “make good art.”

Act: Giving advice to the graduates at the University of the Arts

Purpose:  To inspire the graduates to do what they are most happy with, regardless of how frequently        someone may question their work.

Agent:  Neil Gaiman

Agency: Speech given through genuine feelings and humor

Scene: Graduation ceremony at the University of the Arts

The most significant ratio of Burke’s dramatistic pentad I found was between agent and scene.  Although Mr. Gaiman never attended a university, he was able to connect with his audience through personal experience and knowledge of the field most of the graduates were entering.  The point he was trying to get across to the student was not to waist fourteen years of their lives worrying about money but rather enjoy what they do for a living and be happy with the work they create.  Having the ability to connect with the students with advice that Mr. Gaiman wished he had taken would help carry the graduates at the University of the Arts into the real world.

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