When deciding my topic for this assignment, I tried to think outside the box; however, I hadn’t realized just how broad the topic of civic duty could be. Listening to the first set of speeches, I kept thinking, “Wow, I’ve never considered that” or “Oh my, how creative!” Even if someone’s artifact was an obvious call to national or local responsibility, he/she dug deeper, unearthing things normally ignored or overlooked in daily life. Maybe it was the immense enthusiasm, but I thought Zack’s presentation on the importance of voter registration forms during an election year was very well developed. He went beyond the papers’ immediate impact and analyzed why they possess such importance and how their presentation contributes to that effect. Tim also achieved this when he discussed both versions of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” and the differing aspects of each. It was interesting, too, to learn of the release strategy of the two versions to ensure positive audience reception and appreciation.
I also appreciated the creativity and/or personal connection involved with some of the topics. Ben’s idea to use Wikipedia was awesome! The public contribution site is such a great example of public engagement, yet it’s commonplace often thwarts our recognition of its significance. He clearly identified and explained exactly how the popular website supports continuous input and how such involvement may entice us to likewise participate. In addition, Jackie, Ellie, Josh, Polina, and Delia (almost everyone) incorporated an aspect of personal interest/relevance within their subject. For example, Delia and Polina portrayed their interviewees tremendously, illustrating not only their civic roles, but also an element of their strong, active-minded personalities and positive attitudes. Last, Jackie, Rob, and Ellie were able to connect with the audience immediately with their inclusive intros—Jackie inviting us to recall the Haitian earthquake and our subsequent feelings and opinions, Rob initiating his speech with common images of our surrounding society, and Ellie pushing us to understand the loneliness of others.
Everyone did such a fabulous job it’s difficult to pinpoint one singular essence possessed by all that produced success. Instead, I believe it’s our originality in approaching the assignment, innovation, and differing experiences that combine to create great insight on each topic. Listening to people talk passionately about something he/she cares about is extremely refreshing and allows the audience to join him/her in that passion and, in turn, promote new ideas and progression within the listeners.
