Al and Public Speaking

[Carol]

Is there anyone here who's familiar with Toastmasters? I've been going a lot lately, I've joined and am working on some speeches.
THIS TOTALLY WASN'T MY IDEA ( ), but I wore my White and Nerdy hoodie to the last meeting, and it sparked a bit of discussion on Al amongst the members. Someone suggested the theme for a future meeting be Weird Al, yay!So I'm writing a 5-7 minute speech on .... help? Al is kind of a very broad topic to cover in 5 minutes. I'm looking for something with a solid 3 point structure, and my speech objectives are to emphasize descriptive language and word choice (rhetorical devices, etc).

On the same lines, has anyone done a speech or presentation or what have you, not necessarily for TM or school, on the parody meister?

[stupidsurgeon27]

I have. That was also...goodness...6 years ago? Yikes. All I remember from it is that I did the basic points over him and his career. I know I covered the main points over him. I couldn't go very in-depth because well, there's a lot to talk about him. I covered childhood/early career, career, and current. I think. I can't remember it that well now. Sorry I couldn't have been more help.

[Carol]

Yeah, there really is a lot to talk about. I think I might do something along the lines of how he's inspired me to not take life/art/myself too seriously.

[JCM]

Yeah, there really is a lot to talk about. I think I might do something along the lines of how he's inspired me to not take life/art/myself too seriously.

Actually, you should take those seriously. Al has never even implied you shouldn't. I'm pretty sure Al pays as much attention to his work at the artists he's parodying does. Yeah, a little fun every once in a while is a good thing, but don't think this stuff is a joke.

[algonacchick]

Really? I think you missed the point Carol made. She said not to take those three things too seriously.

There's a difference between thinking life is one big joke and having a little fun once in a while. We all know Al works hard at what he does, but we also know he does have fun, and that he himself has said not to take things too seriously.

[Wizzerkat]

You could talk about parody as an art form and how Al makes it an art form. A lot of people write off parody as "easy" and such and your speech could use Al's work to prove it isn't.

[Carol]

That's exactly it, Patti. JCM: I'm borderline OCD so I tend to take things TOO seriously sometimes. Al is a reminder to laugh a little and find the happy medium. Just as you have to be able to take a compliment graciously and sincerely and to be proud of yourself, you have to be able to laugh at yourself on occasion as well. The same goes for life, art, music, what have you.

Wizzerkat: I vaguely remember doing a high school English paper on that exact topic. I should see if I still have it, thanks for the suggestion.

[Carol]

*bump*

If anyone wants to see my speech, it's here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MW_p8_eh_A

[NannerPuss]

I gave a speech last year in school about Al. I talked about him and all his greatness.

[algonacchick]

Nice speech, Carol, but the video and audio were out of sync, so I just listened. Too hard to try and watch when things don't match up.