![Sample our Communication Studies journals, sign in here to start your access, 2013 & 2014 volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5927/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Information-Science2.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
This paper examines Obama’s “Eulogy for John Lewis,” identifying the importance of the convergence of Lewis’ oeuvre, historical exigence, and kairos in Obama using Lewis’ eulogy to engage in decidedly political messaging – a rhetorical hybrid, or hybrid genre, that negotiated a eulogy with a deliberative subform. Further, I argue that because of historical exigence and Lewis’ oeuvre, there was a kairotic imperative for Obama to speak, during which he redefines American historical time.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1. See also, Liptak, Kevin. “Obama presses for voting rights in pointed eulogy honoring John Lewis.” CNN Wire, July 30, 2020, NA. Gale OneFile: News (accessed September 28, 2020). https://link-gale-com.libproxy.dixie.edu/apps/doc/A631087323/STND?u=dixiesta&sid=STND&xid=ec45b8f7
2. See also, Kane, Paul and John Wagner. “Obama delivers call to action in eulogy for Lewis, likens tactics by Trump and administration to those by racist Southern leaders who fought civil rights.” Washingtonpost.com, July 30, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/john-lewis-in-essay-published-on-day-of-his-funeral-urges-others-to-continue-tradition-of-good-trouble/2020/07/30/84b39450-d251-11ea-8c55-61e7fa5e82ab_story.html
3. See Fisher (Citation1984). Narration as a human communication paradigm, 1–22; Bennett and Edelman (Citation1985). Toward a new political narrative. 156–171; and Lucaites, & Celeste Michelle Condit (Lucaites & Condit, Citation1985). Re-constructing Narrative Theory, 90–108.