MSCI Mackinac Spring Tournament
2025 — Mackinac Island, MI/US
Pop Culture Analysis
Event Description:
Recommended time - 5 - 8 minutes.
Concept of Event: Pop Culture Analysis is an original persuasive speech that discusses any aspect of pop culture from any era. Speakers can persuade how their pop culture phenomenon has influenced society, values or trends; examine how it has impacted historical events, social movements, culture, or controversies; analyze the key figures, creators, and their roles in shaping the phenomenon, or investigate the impact and implications of audience reception and engagement surrounding the phenomenon. The speech should be presented in a persuasive manner to lead the audience to accept the presenter’s interpretation and analysis. Performances must comply with the Standards For Performance. All other MIFA rules apply.
Presentations could include elements such as but not limited to historical context, key figures/creators, theme/message/influences, cultural impact, analysis of specific examples, audience reception and engagement, future trends/developments, cross-cultural comparisons, ethical considerations, controversies, etc.
Examples: The Impact of Hip-Hop on American Culture, The Influence of Alfred Hitchcock on Modern Film, The Reality TV Phenomenon, The Cultural Significance of Comic Books, Cultural Significance of Memes, The Impact of Disco on the Evolution of Modern Music
The topic should be suitable for the audience, yet reflect originality. A good oration is developed through organization, amplification, clarity, and interest.
BASIS FOR DECISION
Oral Presentation: The delivery of the speech should be enthusiastic, direct, sincere, and communicative. The speaker should give the impression of genuineness and authority. The speaker's delivery should be effective in enlisting and holding the interest of the audience. The speaker may deliver the speech from a manuscript, memory, an outline, or any combination thereof.
Action and Platform Conduct: The speaker should exhibit personality, maintain direct eye contact with the audience, show physical poise, and demonstrate freedom in posture, movement, and gesture. Prompting from the audience is not allowed and could be the basis for disqualification.
Script requirements: Contestants must have a manuscript or an outline available for a judge to review in the round if requested. Supporting material should be presented in a logical manner designed to maintain a high level of interest for the listener. Contestants must use proper documentation of all source material used in the manuscript or outline. The manuscript or outline must include directly quoted material and/or paraphrased material, which is used in the speech. Plagiarism, the failure to provide accurate credit to the author(s) of directly quoted material or paraphrased material, is a serious offense and is a basis for disqualification. The script may be a hard copy or an electronic version on a device that can be made available to the judge in the round. A judge request for a contestant’s script must be made within the time frame of the round of competition. Should a judge need more extensive review time, the judge should make arrangements through tournament officials and the contestant’s coach.
Visual aids: The speaker may wish to incorporate the use of visual aids, such as screenshots from the show discussed. All visual aids must be handheld or smaller and must be able to fit into a pants or jacket pocket comfortably (no fanny packs or backpacks). Competitors may store, reveal, and return visual aids to their pockets during the speech, but all aids must be on the speaker’s person at all times (not strewn across the floor, thrown in the air, or taped on a surface). No easels, projectors, or other technological means of display may be used, including a phone screen. Visual aids are limited to still images; no audio or video clips, animations, GIFs, etc. may be used. Live animals are not permitted even if they can fit in your pocket.