Pink and the Power of Pearls at the VMA Awards: Epideictic Excellence

Accepting the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the VMA Awards, pop singer Pink (Alecia Beth Moore) talked about her six-year old daughter, Willow Sage Hart. Someone had told Willow that she looked like a boy. Taken aback, Pink asked Willow a few questions, and said that she then went home and created a PowerPoint presentation for Willow about various androgynous rock stars, such as David Bowie and Elton John, "that live their truth, are probably made fun of every day of their life, and carry on, wave their flag and inspire the rest of us." Pink mentioned all of the people who criticized her appearance.

Two points about Pink's heartfelt speech:

(1) She asked a series of rhetorical questions. We saw the other day that Bernie Sanders use the same rhetorical technique in his Labor Day speech. Rhetorical questions can have a powerful cumulative effect. Here's how Pink did it:

"And I said to her, 'Do you see me growing my hair?' She said, 'No, mama.' I said, 'Do you see me changing my body?' 'No, mama.' 'Do you see me changing the way I present myself to the world?' 'No, mama.' 'Do you see me selling out arenas all over the world?' 'Yes, Mama.' 'OK! So, baby girl. We don't change. We take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl."  

One question by itself would have little effect. But a series of questions can draw the listener to an inescapable conclusion. Beginning speakers often make rhetorical questions kind of boring; Pink pulled her audience along by chaining her questions into a series.

(2) Like all good epideictic (ceremonial) speakers, Pink drew an important lesson about values as she accepted the award. She praised her daughter; she praised several musical artists, and she then drew a conclusion for the audience to emulate: "Keep shining for the rest of us to see." It is very simple to take the easy path. True accomplishment requires taking chances and being a little different.

N.B.: Just for the record, Willow, who professed herself to be unimpressed by Mama's speech, is totally adorable, and mean, nasty people need to stop teasing her. 



Earlier  posts about epideictic speeches: Hillary Clinton at Girls, Inc. luncheon, FDR's War Message, Trump awards a Medal of Honor, family Thanksgiving speeches, A. J. Hinch in Houston, New Year's Speeches. Excellent speeches, every one of them, that drew audiences toward basic values.

I have been fortunate enough to publish a couple of research articles about epideictic speech; ambitious readers can click on my publication list above.