Ideological Criticism In Jfk Inaugural Speech

Through words we have the ability to explain, express, and persuade others. If the speaker is delivering a persuasive speech, or a teacher an educational lecture, we can see these expressed blatantly. However, it is more likely that throughout life one will listen to spoken word and be educated or persuaded without even knowing it. Occasionally, behind these words speakers can deliver a more subliminal message, one that encompasses an overarching theme or idea. It is imperative that we study how these messages are relayed through artifacts, such as speeches, so that we can either learn how to incorporate them ourselves, or how to identify when this is occurring. Scholars do this through a method called Ideological Criticism. In this paper the method of Ideological Criticism will be applied to John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural speech. By using JFK’s word in his inaugural speech, the prevalent ideology of the 1960’s can be determined. When John F. Kennedy was elected as the President of the United States, the world was at a turning point. His inaugural address was given right at the beginning of …show more content…
Foss explains, “an ideology is a pattern of beliefs that determines a group’s interpretation of some aspect of the world” that should reflect that groups interests (209). An ideological belief can be centered on any topic, from feminism to dairy products, and are most always shared within groups. Groups use these beliefs as an “interpretation of some domain of the world”, and allow those beliefs to shape their actions and attitudes (210). The ideologies must be “renewed, reinforced and defended” as time passes and one way this happens is through cultural artifacts (210). The idea here is that if these ideologies are so rooted in a culture or group, they will manifest in works of rhetoric, but it is someone else’s task to find