About this chapter

The chapter explores humour as a potent way to make serious advocacy in impromptu and prepared remarks. It identifies some strategic, rhetorical uses of humour, based on the assessment of rhetorical humour in the speeches and media interviews of leading Australian public figures. 

These include the use of humour to gain attention, set an agenda, build personal relationship, assert or affirm culture and values, project dynamism, intelligence and sensitivity, demonstrate competence or cleverness, deflect criticism or attack an opponent. 

Also noted are the multiple values of humour to laugh with or at politicians, to counter sexism and otherwise encourage consideration of a serious subject. 

Keywords: rhetoric, humour, speech, advocacy, media interviews, leadership, language, rhetorical analysis, semantics, style, stylistics, political communication, Australian politics, Australian history, international relations.