Not Just Another Graduation Speech

Agent: Neil Gaiman

Agency: A direct speech from a podium

Act: Directly addressed the graduates

Scene: Commencement Ceremony for The University of the Arts Class of 2012

The Purpose: Inspire the graduating class to pursue their dreams

As aforementioned, the purpose of this speech was to inspire the graduating class to pursue their dreams. The main point Gaiman made was that life is tough and unpredictable, but you have to continue to pursue your dreams. In the pursuit of your dreams, you must also do something that you love and strive to do it well. The purpose of the speech seems to be broader while the main point focuses in on one-two tag lines for the graduates to remember. 

Although there were several ratios in the speech, I think the two most effective were the agent/purpose and scene/agency. 

Gaiman is an artist and has written many books and comics. He has pursued his passion, which is something that a lot of people give up on when times get tough. Because of Gaiman’s success, he is able to confidently and passionately convey the purpose of this speech. He is not telling these graduates to chase their dreams even though he did not. Instead, he is a real-life example of what it looks like to chase your dreams and to do what you love. The graduates can relate to him and trust what he is saying. In addition, he tells that graduates that they need to be good artists (they need to do what they love and do it well). Clearly, Gaiman does what he loves and he has done it well. The purpose of Gaiman’s speech is to inspire, but he is an inspiration as well.

The other strong ratio is scene and the agency. Usually, when I think of graduation speakers, I think of boring people who say things that no one remembers when they leave the building. Gaiman, being an artist, made his speech interesting and captivating. Although the act was a speech from a podium (just like any other graduation speech), Gaiman utilized the excitement (for graduation) in his audience to really drive home the idea of passion and excitement for the arts. He did this through humor and inspiring words. Most graduation speeches end up being a podium speech, but Gaiman’s truly was a motivational speech, which is why this agency/scene ration is so strong.