A political science perspective on celebrity testimony

Neil Strine, associate professor of political science at Bloomsburg University, recently presented a Lunchtime Lecture about celebrity testimony before Congress in the Schweiker Room of Andruss Library. I felt the topic was interesting and was surprised I was the only student to attend. It seems it would be a popular topic, as celebrities typically have a large following. That’s why they feel the need to testify before Congress, as their influence brings attention to certain issues.

Strine researched this topic for his dissertation as a graduate student at BU. As part of his research, he bought a thesis for $30 that didn’t determine how exactly celebrities spoke to the right people to be able to testify before Congress, only that it was an “insider’s game” that basically used personal connections to obtain a hearing. Once celebrities schedule a hearing, a formal process begins in which they submit a speech that the interviewees read before the hearing. Everything is scripted, as members of Congress prepare questions they have after reading the speech beforehand.

Nothing is much of a surprise.

Strine explained how it’s all a show for viewers. Both members of Congress and celebrities seek to gain some sort of recognition from it. Celebrities get recognized as a good citizen looking out for others or championing a good cause. Members of Congress get publicity that brings attention to them and their constituents. It gives interviewees the opportunity to brag to colleagues and voters that they met a famous public figure. The attention the media gives the hearings put a spotlight on the district or state that the member of Congress represents, helping to amplify a cause for policymakers and get them reelected.

As part of his later work, he collaborated with a rhetorical scholar to examine many opening statements and speeches of celebrities and Congress to determine a basic speech format. The format of celebrity testimony included persuasive tactics such as downplaying their status as a celebrity, claiming they are just like “normal” Americans, and that they are helping the common person.

I found this lecture to be quite informative and interesting. I was disappointed to only see a few faculty and staff there, with no other students. As a communication studies student, I glad to see my discipline represented and used to analyze this type of public practice. I hope to hear and see more of these lectures in the future, as they are fairly conducive to my schedule.

— Gabriel Miller, senior communication studies major