social constructionism a discourse analysis

DISCOURSE ANALYSIS This discourse analysis attempts to answer several questions regarding Chairman Hyde’s speech against the president. Firstly an attempt has been made to uncover some of the more prevalent themes and discourses in the hope that they will give some kind of enlightenment of American society and culture. Secondly, this analysis describes the many ways in which Chairman Hyde attempts to persuade his audience of his cause. The portrayed image of President Clinton …

…solely on an idealised version of American society Hyde manages to discredit the President quite effectively. Within Hyde’s speech, the audience are placed within a utopic America, and confronted by the supposed corrupter of that utopia – the President. The speech expresses classic discourses of nationalism, truth, freedom, liberty and the American way that serve to reinforce and glorify a capitalist social order based on economic rationalism rather than the ideals it claims to protect.