Back in the days when the memories of the 2008 primaries were fading and Hillary was Secretary of State, some readers used to get lonely for her when she was out of the public eye for a few days. I used to post thematic slide shows here in those days so they wouldn’t miss her so much.
When I came upon this “cultural study,” I simply had to respond.
When Hillary Clinton told her audience at a rally in Las Vegas on Thursday “Here’s what I believe,” she punctuated those words with not just a vocal flourish but a physical one. Up went her hand, placed over her heart.
It’s a gesture unfamiliar from her past campaigns, but it’s a favorite this time around. In Columbus, Ohio, and Omaha, Mrs. Clinton spoke of her late father, and up went her hand, placed over her heart.
At the Democratic National Convention, when she took the stage to wild applause, she cued the audience on how grateful, moved and humbled she felt by putting her hand to her heart, once, twice, then a third and fourth time.
It’s a subliminal message of sincerity that some language experts consider contrived.
I am a language expert. I taught applied linguistics for more than 25 years. That includes paralinguistic devices such as kinesics (gestures and facial expressions) and proxemics (use of space). I contend that in Hillary’s case it is neither contrived nor even conscious. In fact it is not new. Here is something I posted back in 2010. 2008 supporters will recognize a familiar photo from that campaign.
Hillary’s Heart
May 16, 2010
Hillary Rodham Clinton often mentions her heart. There are cultures, countries, causes, people that are close to her heart. She works her heart out. Her heart breaks – or threatens to. She says what is in her heart, and she loves her country with all her heart. Often, she touches her heart in a gesture that touches mine.
Adding this from Petra de Asis.
I did contact Alessandra Stanley and sent this to her.
Will they ever stop over-analyzing Hillary and just accept her for who she is? Alessandra Stanley needs to read this post. The cynicism of the media when it comes to Hillary is just awful – seems to be in their DNA..
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Please feel free to send this to her yourself. I did, but another email can’t hurt
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Done!
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Let’s not forget, Hillary carries hot sauce in her purse-hot sauce!!
Okay, I never understood that one.
But, let’s prepare ourselves for eight years of this nonsense (if the Gods smile on us and fate is kind.)
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I am not beyond squirting hot sauce in the eyes of offenders. Tell Alessandra you do not approve.
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