This thesis considers the question of how to communicate orally and effectively in an audio-visual culture. It investigates what preachers can learn from the work of selected British and American religious radio broadcasters, in a social context where a whole range of audio-visual stimuli compete for the congregations' and audiences' attention. In the first part of the dissertation (Chapters 1, 2 and 3), it is argued that preachers hoping to be heard in an audio-visual culture have much to learn from radio broadcasters. The case is made by investigating three fields: homiletics, radio and aspects of our audio-visual culture. It is argued in the first chapter that homileticians have already responded in a variety of ways to the challenge of communicating orally and effectively in a media-saturated society. Whilst many have drawn upon the language of television and film, radio has been almost entirely ignored. The second chapter shows how radio broadcasters have constantly adapted their techniques in order to survive continually changing conditions. It claims that preachers have much to learn from the theory and practice of radio broadcasting. It is suggested, for example, that Ed Murrow and Richard Dimbleby's aptitude for creating pictures with words, have lessons for preachers aiming to connect with their listeners today. An important strand of the argument in the third chapter is the suggestion that the skill of creating pictures with words remains a powerful tool for preachers seeking to be heard in an audio-visual culture. In particular, it is concluded that the use of pictorial language may assist preachers as they attempt to act as critical interpreters, orally deconstructing or building upon televisual stereotypes. In the second part of this dissertation (Chapters 4, 5 and 6), a number of specific homiletical lessons are discerned from the practice of various religious radio broadcasters. Both positive and negative insights are drawn from speakers operating in a range of cultural and communicative settings.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:657868 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Mitchell, Jolyon P. |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/30523 |
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