Educational Media Reviews Online

I Have a Dream: The Nature of Great Speaking utilizes an in-depth analysis of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous speech to illustrate elements of great public speaking. The careful analysis by Dr. Michael Osborn is guided by the writings of Roman scholars Longinus and Aristotle. The program begins with Dr. Osborn providing a brief overview of the history of Roman oratory. He then discusses in detail the measures of greatness in public speaking by examining the following qualities as reflected in the "I Have a Dream" speech: 1)elevation of the mind; 2)superior structure; 3)bold imagery; 4)response to great challenge; 5)transport (changing the audience).

The program progresses to provide insight into both the dynamics of extraordinary public speaking and the functions of great rhetorical language, by interspersing the analytical commentary with film footage and still photos of the 1963 speech together with other events during the Civil Rights Movement. In his treatise On the Sublime, Longinus states "That is truly great which bears a repeated examination and which it is difficult or rather impossible to withstand, and the memory of which is strong and hard to efface." As one of the most published and studied speeches of our time, Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" would qualify as great by these standards.

The video and audio production qualities of the program are very good. Dr. Osborn's commentary is clear, concise, and well illustrated. At times, he is almost too low key in his presentation, causing the viewer to either briefly drift away or strain to remain involved with the discussion. However, the program is impressive in its structure and content, making it a worthwhile research tool.

Given the level of thorough analysis in the content of the program, I Have a Dream: The Nature of Great Speaking is recommended for academic libraries only. Possible subject areas for which the program would provide course support include Communication, History, and African-American Studies.