Unconventional: The Variant of Third-Party Nomination Acceptance Addresses

Abstract

Through an analysis of the genre of nomination acceptance speeches, this essay argues that third-party presidential rhetoric follows unique norms that address candidates’ obstacles as political outsiders. I contend that their acceptance addresses are a variant of the acceptance genre and that their violations of traditional generic norms are warranted by the recurring situational barriers, perceived strategic constraints, and overall purposes for third-party presidential campaigns. The essay describes the function and form of both traditional nomination acceptance addresses and the third-party variant, and illustrates the variant with three case studies.

Keywords:

• Conventions
• Genre
• Nomination Acceptance Speech
• Presidential Rhetoric
• Third Parties

Additional information

Funding

The research was partially funded through an Office of Graduate Studies Summer Research Fellowship at the University of Kansas.