Chapter 4. Knifed in the back
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Ben Fenton-Smith
Abstract
A politician’s first public address in the role of party leader is a crucial performative act, as it presents him/her with a rare opportunity to (re) negotiate his/her personal narrative and ‘brand’ before an attentive national audience. Metaphors play an important role in this discursive management of power transfer. The data for this paper comprises speeches given in the aftermath of political deposals in Australian federal politics in the past quarter century. Reasons for variations in the metaphors found therein are considered, including the influence of genre, function and ideology. Four metaphor scenarios are found to be recurrent: leadership as direction, leadership as conflict, leadership as foundation, and leadership as hard work. The significance of novel metaphors is also considered.
Abstract
A politician’s first public address in the role of party leader is a crucial performative act, as it presents him/her with a rare opportunity to (re) negotiate his/her personal narrative and ‘brand’ before an attentive national audience. Metaphors play an important role in this discursive management of power transfer. The data for this paper comprises speeches given in the aftermath of political deposals in Australian federal politics in the past quarter century. Reasons for variations in the metaphors found therein are considered, including the influence of genre, function and ideology. Four metaphor scenarios are found to be recurrent: leadership as direction, leadership as conflict, leadership as foundation, and leadership as hard work. The significance of novel metaphors is also considered.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction: Studying variation in political metaphor 1
- Chapter 1. First Lady, Secretary of State and Presidential Candidate 13
- Chapter 2. Fairies, Christmas miracles and sham marriages 35
- Chapter 3. The rhetorical use of political metaphor before, during and after the presidency 61
- Chapter 4. Knifed in the back 83
- Chapter 5. Greek metaphors in the fiscal straightjacket 107
- Chapter 6. The use of sensorimotor-based concepts during and after presidential campaigns 131
- Chapter 7. Variations of metaphors in party manifestos about EU finality 151
- Chapter 8. Variation in methods for studying political metaphor 177
- Conclusion 195
- Biographical notes 207
- Index 211
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction: Studying variation in political metaphor 1
- Chapter 1. First Lady, Secretary of State and Presidential Candidate 13
- Chapter 2. Fairies, Christmas miracles and sham marriages 35
- Chapter 3. The rhetorical use of political metaphor before, during and after the presidency 61
- Chapter 4. Knifed in the back 83
- Chapter 5. Greek metaphors in the fiscal straightjacket 107
- Chapter 6. The use of sensorimotor-based concepts during and after presidential campaigns 131
- Chapter 7. Variations of metaphors in party manifestos about EU finality 151
- Chapter 8. Variation in methods for studying political metaphor 177
- Conclusion 195
- Biographical notes 207
- Index 211
