GMG Classical Music Forum

The Back Room => The Diner => Topic started by: Tapio Dmitriyevich on September 03, 2008, 08:10:13 AM

Title: Why do americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: Tapio Dmitriyevich on September 03, 2008, 08:10:13 AM
Hi,

Americans. I always asked myself: Why do you want to see people/supporters behind the guys who are performing a political speech? Like here:

(http://www.foxnews.com/images/183488/12_23_111405_bush_speech.jpg)

European speakers, in general, do not have supporters/claquers/Jubelperser positioned behind them. It's something really US specific I'd say.

Is it something like "being in the bosom of the family", familial feelings, the feeling, that the spokesman isn't alone?

Why is this?
Title: Re: Why do Americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: karlhenning on September 03, 2008, 08:11:46 AM
I like to see the look of boredom even on the faces of people who are actually there, so I don't feel so bad . . . .
Title: Re: Why do Americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: маразм1 on September 03, 2008, 12:42:47 PM
Quote from: karlhenning on September 03, 2008, 08:11:46 AM
I like to see the look of boredom even on the faces of people who are actually there, so I don't feel so bad . . . .

funny thing is that these people cannot hear anything being said.  It's for the show
Title: Re: Why do Americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: SonicMan46 on September 03, 2008, 12:50:29 PM
Quote from: karlhenning on September 03, 2008, 08:11:46 AM
I like to see the look of boredom even on the faces of people who are actually there, so I don't feel so bad . . . .

Agree w/ Karl - always fun to see who is fallin' asleep, bored, picking their noses, or possibly doin' 'rabbit ears'!  ;D

(http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/52040343.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1939847EC77F5F8D1CE9B1B64202BFD6703A40A659CEC4C8CB6)
Title: Re: Why do americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: drogulus on September 03, 2008, 01:08:10 PM


     It's the political consultants doing their subliminal advertising shtick.
Title: Re: Why do americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: Sergeant Rock on September 03, 2008, 01:19:03 PM
Quote from: Wurstwasser on September 03, 2008, 08:10:13 AM
Hi, Americans. I always asked myself: Why do you want to see people/supporters behind the guys who are performing a political speech?

Show over substance. American politics are embarrassing...embarrassing to this American anyway.

Sarge
Title: Re: Why do americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: karlhenning on September 03, 2008, 01:23:12 PM
We don't need debates; do the swimwear walk!
Title: Re: Why do americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: hornteacher on September 03, 2008, 02:19:46 PM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on September 03, 2008, 01:19:03 PM
Show over substance. American politics are embarrassing...embarrassing to this American anyway.

Sarge

This one too.
Title: Re: Why do americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: eyeresist on September 03, 2008, 07:53:39 PM
Love the bear - is that America's answer to Godzilla? And is that a sea of blood he's wading through? Talk about subliminal advertising...


BTW, there's a mobile blood donation truck that sometimes parks outside my office window, which has a huge cartoon wave of blood painted of the side to illustrate the relevant theme.
Title: Re: Why do americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: Gustav on September 03, 2008, 10:32:28 PM
i dunno, maybe it's because the arena(in most cases, they speak in sporting arenas) has seating in all directions.
Title: Re: Why do americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: ezodisy on September 03, 2008, 11:04:50 PM
dunno but the people at any of those rallies are mad, absolutely mad.
Title: Re: Why do americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: eyeresist on September 03, 2008, 11:59:35 PM
Quote from: ezodisy on September 03, 2008, 11:04:50 PM
dunno but the people at any of those rallies are mad, absolutely mad.

A particularly American madness - "Look at me! I'm waving a guy's name on the end of a stick while wearing a silly hat!! I'm into politics!"

Title: Re: Why do americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: The new erato on September 04, 2008, 12:01:58 AM
Better behind a speaker than behind a gun.
Title: Re: Why do americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?
Post by: Shrunk on September 04, 2008, 02:30:56 AM
The most peculiar thing I find about American politics is the preoccupation with candidates' wives.  It seem to be expected that the wife of the presidential candidate give a prominent speech at the National Convention for each party, and they are actively used as campaign issues, both pro and con.  I wouldn't even be able to recognize pictures of the wives of the last three Canadian PM's (Although admittedly Margaret Trudeau and Mila Mulroney achieved a certain degree of notoriety).  There are exceptions, of course (c.f. Nicolas Sarkozy's wife) but it seems in the US it is assumed that First Lady is almost an elected position and that the "candidate" must sacrifice any presumption of privacy just as her husband has.  (I'm using female pronouns only, because I'm not convinced the situation would be the same for the husband of a female candidate.  Hillary Clinton, of course, is not a typical case.)