TED Talks are absolutely an important rhetoric development. We live in an age of instant gratification. Not only are TED Talks easily available on the internet, but the length of them are relatively short. This forces the speaker to have to best summarize his/her idea in a quick, yet efficient manner. This also forces the speaker to only say the most important things that are to be said, which may leave unnecessary information out of it.
These are also fair unconventional speeches, in a good way. Historically, speeches have been formal and it often relies solely on the speaker to make a connection with the audience. This type of speech opens things up easier. It makes it easier to form a connection as the speech isn’t so formal. The informality and overall lax nature of these speeches are beneficial in making a connection with a specific member of the audience.
TED Talks also use technology effectively. In some speeches, the content matter may be thick. The use of images and different multimedia devices allow the speaker to more easily explain something, or to just farther prove a point. In some of the TED Talks that I have seen, the speaker used a powerful image to drive home how severe of a topic that is being discussed.
Mostly of all, I get entertained by TED Talks. I find the way that the information is being delivered to be incredibly entertaining. This entertainment allows me to more easily pay attention to the content that is being spoken about, thus helping me learn more than I would if I had no interest in it.
Overall, TED Talks are an absolute important rhetoric development. I know that without them, many school projects that I completed wouldn’t have been as good as they were by using them as an aid. In an age of instant gratification and technology, TED Talks are fitting in perfectly,
I definitely agree with you. One thing I enjoy the most about TED Talks is how they are a bit more informal. I think that builds a stronger connection between the speaker and the audience. The technological aspect is great too. The foundation of TED Talks is the ability to incorporate multimedia to help support the speaker’s theme. For me, its easier to pay attention and stay engaged by a TED Talk than to listen to a formal lecture.
I totally agree! I like how you said TED talks are like a new form of entertainment. That is probably part of the reason they are so successful. If you think back to the educational videos we were subjected to in elementary and middle school and even high school, they were often outdated and uninteresting. TED understands the importance of multimedia and length required to capture today’s audiences. You also made a good point about the conversational manner of the speeches. I wonder if the live TED audiences have an opportunity to answer questions at the end after the recording is over. I certainly hope so! I would love to see a talk in person!