Civic Artifact Speech Outline

BASIC Speech Outline

  1. Introduction
  1. Attention getter: Picture this: It’s sunday night at Chargers Stadium, 49s vs Chargers. The crowd’s attention is fixated on the waving American flag. A voice begins to sing our national anthem as Colin Kaepernick finalizes his decision. He takes a knee, using his platform to speak out against police brutality, and his life changes forever.
  2. Topic: When Nike needed a partner for their ad campaign in September of 2018, they chose Kaepernick. The campaign centered around the quote “believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.” This line was emblazoned on a billboard with Kaepernick’s face behind it. This billboard hanging in New York City is my civic artifact.  
  3. HOOK: This billboard asks something of us, speaking directly to everyone that reads it, demanding that we take action now. 
  4. Establishing credibility: I chose Kaepernick’s ad with Nike because of the intense media coverage it received. Upon its release, it sparked outrage amongst American citizens, becoming the most talked about topic in the country. 
  5. Thesis: This civic artifact makes us question the notion of sacrifice, asking us if we’re willing to take a stand for what we believe in, regardless of the cost. 
  6. Preview: Today, I will be examining the ad’s message through its appeals to ethos and logos, its expert use of kairos, and the overarching theme of (the greek word for selflessness. Sorry I forgot)

Transition

  1. Body — Ethos and Logos

  subpoint 1 – The ad appeals directly to ethos by questioning the strength of our values as human beings. It tests our morals. It heavily uses logos simply through the context of the ad. It emboldens us, manipulating tragedy into a rallying cry that hits directly at our emotions. 

subpoint 2 – In doing so, it makes people pay attention to the ad because they are now directly involved. 

subpoint 3 – With such a potent message, it serves as a rallying cry against the issues facing us today. Having an enraptured audience boosts its rhetorical value. 

Transition

 III.  Body — Kairos

  subpoint 1 – The ad would have almost no effect without the use of kairos. Nike released the ad at the perfect time.Gun control activism and the Black Rights Matter movement were at their peaks. Police brutality was all over the news and widely recognized as a national crisis.

subpoint 2 – Having waited until the issues were already relevant, their message carried a much stronger meaning. 

subpoint 3 – Kairos allowed for the ad to receive much more attention and garner a wider audience. 

Transition

  1. Body — Selflessness 

  subpoint 1 – The ad forces us to think outside of ourselves for the greater good. 

subpoint 2 – By playing on the theme of police brutality, the ad enforces that we are honoring those that we’ve lost by taking a stand against these injustices. 

subpoint 3 – We’ll get back to this 

Transition

  1. Conclusion: I’m gonna be honest, I have to write this speech first before I’ll have any idea how to properly conclude it. 
  1. Clear signal of ending
  2. Recap of conclusions made in points
  3. End with a BANG: that’s a surprise

Passion Blog- Jordan 6

Up to this point, every shoe that I’ve covered has been legendary due to its cultural significance. The Jordan 1 will always be remembered as the beginning of the Jordan line . The Jordan 3 will forever be seen as one of, if not the greatest sneaker ever made. And yet neither of these shoes were remembered necessarily for court success, aside from Jordan’s personal accolades in the Jordan 3. In fact, Michael Jordan had never made it to the finals, a glaring mark on his already immaculate NBA resume. People began questioning if he ever would, considering the idea of another NBA legend that never won a champion. The narrative changed with the Jordan 6.

The Air Jordan 6, like the Jordan 3, was designed by Tinker Hatfield. He took inspiration from a pair of Nike Air Trainer 2s worn at one of Michael Jordan’s summer basketball camps. Releasing in 1991, the Jordan 6 brought with it a number of improvements and firsts in the sneaker industry. Michael Jordan specifically requested a clean, strong toe for the shoe. Hatfield acquiesced, adding a reinforcement to the toebox, making the Jordan 6 the first basketball shoe to have the feature. It also had additional eyelets near the tongue for easier lacing, and switched to a clear rubber sole for better traction. The Jordan 6 also marked the last time that a Jordan shoe would prominently feature the signature Nike branding. Another detail to note is that the design of the inlay for the shoe actually writes out the numbers “23,” an ode to Jordan’s playing number. Image result for jordan 6 on jordan

The Jordan 6 is most comparable to the three in terms of memorable NBA seasons. Jordan would wear the six en route to another scoring title, his second league MVP, All-NBA first team, All-Defensive first team, and another steals title. With the shoe’s legacy already cemented, the NBA playoffs gave Michael Jordan, and the Jordan 6, the opportunity to become legendary.  Jordan and the Chicago Bulls steamrolled through the playoffs, sweeping two out of their three opponents en route to Jordan’s first NBA Finals. He averaged absolutely unreal numbers, especially in the finals, where the Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. Jordan had his first championship and first Finals MVP, all with the Jordan 6 on his feet.

The Jordan 6 has always been one of my  personal favorite silhouettes. Its sleek look and unique color blocking stand out as one of the best looking Jordans of all time. Next time you see me, I just might be wearing my Carmine 6s, the same shoe Jordan wore in his first NBA Finals.

 

 

Passion Blog-Jordan 3

In the long and storied history of the Air Jordan line, the Jordan 1 will be remembered as the beginning. Yet no Jordan shoe will ever be as iconic as the Jordan 3. With the designer of the Jordan 1 and 2 leaving Nike, Michael Jordan was days away from departing from the company as well, planning to sign with Adidas instead. With a foot already out the door, the one thing that kept Jordan from leaving was the inception of the Air Jordan 3.

Designed by Tinker Hatfield in 1986, the Jordan 3 made its official debut in the 1987-88 NBA season. The shoe was revolutionary for a number of reasons. For starters, it was the first Jordan sneaker to be mid-cut, allowing for more flexibility and stability than its high-cut and low-cut counterparts. It was also the first Jordan shoe to have visible Nike Air units, now a staple amongst Jordan Brand sneakers. Most importantly, it was the first Jordan shoe to feature the now-iconic jumpman logo, emblazoned right on the tongue. The 1987-88 season would go down as one of Michael Jordan’s greatest seasons ever, having won his first MVP, All-star game MVP, dunk contest champion, scoring champion, and defensive player of the year, all while wearing the Air Jordan 3. Jordan’s success on the court translated directly to the success of his shoes, as the Jordan 3 exploded in popularity with every accolade Jordan collected. But sales began to wane after the first few weeks, leading to Nike’s next great idea.

In order to boost sales for Jordan’s new shoe, Nike enlisted Spike Lee to star in a series of commercials with Jordan. Lee played Jordan superfan Mars Blackman, a character that would become synonymous with Jordan Brand and its sneakers. The commercials highlighted Jordan’s otherworldly talents, claiming that the source of his abilities came from his shoes using the line “its gotta be the shoes.” The commercials served to elevate the popularity of the Jordan 3, ingraining it in popular culture throughout the 80s and early 90s.

My own experience with the Jordan 3 also comes with a story. The Jordan 3 was the first Jordan Brand sneaker I ever owned. Having gotten a pair for my thirteenth birthday, it immediately became one of my favorite shoes of all time. Recently, I was lucky enough to buy a pair of the 2018 Jordan 3 Black Cement, the first colorway of the Jordan 3 to ever release. Every time I wear them, I think back to the fateful day that Michael Jordan almost left Nike, having only the Jordan 3 to thank for his return.

 

RCL-Kairos

For my civic artifact of choice, Nike’s ad campaign with Colin Kaepernick, kairos is virtually inseparable from the artifact’s rhetorical meaning. One could go as far as to say that if the ad was released at any other time, the ad would be almost devoid of meaning.

Nike timed the release of the ad perfectly. The political climate was tense, with Donald Trump’s presidency and political policies coming under fire from both citizens and the media. Gun control activism and the Black Rights Matter movement were at their peaks. Police brutality was all over the news and widely recognized as a national crisis. Amidst all of this, San Francisco 49s quarterback Colin Kaepernick was spearheading his own movement against police brutality, kneeling during the national anthem of every football game. This spread throughout the league, forcing the NFL and all of its supporters to listen. Kaepernick now had a target on his back, and quickly became one of the most hated men in America. When the ad released on September 5,2018, the entire world took notice.

The ad itself had to appeal to a number of different audiences. First and foremost, it had to appeal to Colin Kaepernick and his own beliefs and values. Secondly, the ad had to be embraced by the general public, so it had to pander to their morals and values. In Nike’s case, they had to make sure that the business world would not be displeased with the campaign, as they are ultimately seeking to make profit. Having to please all of these audiences would be difficult, especially when Nike was working with one of the most polarizing athletes in the country. And yet, Nike went through with the campaign, making the debate about police brutality front-page news through the attention that the ad received. Kairos was implemented in precisely the right way, using the social and political turmoil to publicize the message of the campaign.

RCL Artifact

A pair of boots lay in the sand. A rifle is placed in between, the stock draped in a kevlar helmet. This is the fallen soldier’s battle cross, a memorial to a serviceman killed in combat. At first glance, this is nothing more than a tribute honoring the dead, but the battle cross epitomizes one specific trait: selflessness. When a serviceman completes basic training, they pledge to protect and serve, to risk their life for the wellbeing of their fellow citizens. They have made a commitment to give their life for the safety of the United States. We often overlook the significance of this oath. The concept of sacrifice is difficult to truly comprehend until we are confronted with it. The servicemen honored with the battle cross understood sacrifice. They cared not for their own wellbeing, but for that of their country. It was no longer “I” to them. For these soldiers, their pledge to protect and serve would stop only in death, sacrificing everything for the protection of others.

In times as turbulent as these, it is easy to become entangled in anti-military sentiment. The U.S. military is as divisive as it is necessary, as hated as it is revered in our society. The fallen soldier’s battle cross paints a different picture of our military. It removes the atrocities of war, the violence and bloodshed of combat, and leaves only the selfless act of a single soldier. As a symbol, the battle cross works to inspire others to act not for themselves, but for their fellow men. It asks us to think outside of ourselves and perform good for those around us. Persuasion is unnecessary with the battle cross. Its message is clear to all. One life was nobly given for the good of millions.

The Air Jordan 1

Every legend has its beginnings. In the world of footwear, that legend begins with the Air Jordan 1. For Michael Jordan’s rookie year, Nike decided to create a signature shoe for their budding star. Controversy immediately followed. The color blocking on the initial colorway, black and red, violated NBA uniform rules. Jordan was told he would be unable to play in the shoes lest he pay a $5000 fine every time he stepped on the court. It would come to be known as the Jordan shoe “ban”. This “ban” immediately made the shoe iconic. Nike took the ban and created a marketing campaign around it, catapulting the Jordan 1 into the pop culture world.  What was simply a signature shoe for a rookie was now a symbol for brash defiance.

When they eventually hit retail towards the end of the 1985 basketball season, people were outraged to find out that the shoes cost a staggering $65, easily the most expensive shoe on the market. Not even Nike had planned for the shoe to be popular, only expecting to sell around 100,000 pairs upon release. Nike went on to sell $55 million worth of the shoe. Seemingly overnight the Air Jordan 1 became the most popular shoe in America, selling out at almost every retailer. Its popularity would only grow as Jordan would don the shoe for the 1985 Slam Dunk Contest, which he would go on to win. With that, the Jordan 1 officially cemented its place in both footwear and pop-culture history.

The Jordan 1 was my own introduction into the world of footwear. I can vividly remember walking into the mall and seeing the Jordan 1 emblazoned on a banner outside of the shoe store. My eyes gleamed. Even at the age of six, I knew I needed them. That opportunity wouldn’t come around for another six years, when I got my first pair of Jordan 1s from a thrift store. I felt as if I had won the lottery. That single pair of shoes sparked a passion for sneakers that has yet to flicker. All it took was one pair to change my life.

Ask anybody to name the most iconic shoe of all time. Without a doubt, it will be the Jordan 1. This single shoe turned the world on its head, catapulting sneakers into the mainstream. It became a goal, something for people to aspire to. It made a statement. Luckily for us, that statement will likely last forever.