Ellen DeGeneres’ speech to the Class of 2009 at Tulane University is an excellent example of how to deliver a serious message with humour. This 9-minute speech has humour, it has relevant stories, it has an inspirational message, and it has a call-to-action to set her listeners on the right foot as they leave university for the real world.
Ellen is blessed with a deadpan humour that leaves her audience in stitches (especially the man sitting to her right, who is seen laughing throughout most of the video). In the first two minutes of the speech, she doesn’t actually say much of anything – but her jokes and funny delivery warm up her audience and leaves them wanting more. And isn’t that the purpose of any speech introduction anyway?
In the body of the speech, the more serious topics come out. She tells stories about difficulties encountered while growing up, living in a flea-ridden apartment, conversations with God, and friends dying. Yet she peppers these serious stories with light humour. This ensures that her speech never gets too heavy, but at the same time, the humour never takes away from the impact of these stories. The core messages of these stories are never too far behind – that some of the most devastating things will teach you the most, that visions of success change as you grow and evolve, and that it’s important to follow your dreams and be true to yourself. Read the rest of this entry »
