Neil deGrasse Tyson Response

Neil deGrasse Tyson Response

02/04/2015

Neil deGrasse Tyson’s two sources, “The Case for Space” and “The Astronaut Session” both involve the idea of Space and its exploration. The actual purposes and themes are different, as well as the target audiences. 

            “The Case for Space” has the approach of a scientific paper. This paper has Neil take a very serious approach to the matter of space exploration and the history of The United States Space Race against Russia.  Neil shares his knowledge to his audience, but he takes a very specific and educational approach that makes him seem like an educator and a scholar. The target audience for this paper is for the higher educated, that being for scholarly peers and possibly higher government officials. Tyson states on the multiple chances about space plans under different presidents. These could be him making a case to congress or the senate. Neil also talks about the Obama’s plans and his looks on the space program. Neil’s great amount of detail and information also tell me that he is writing on a much more professional level, as he is trying to fight for the funding to increase the idea of space travel. Neil’s tone makes him seem very serious and very passionate on the matter at hand, which helps in the care of making his paper very powerful and knowledgeable.

            “The Astronaut Session” is definitely the more “carefree” of the two pieces. This one features multiple hosts and guests, and also portrays Mr. Tyson in a very laid back attire. Neil is also very comical in this video, constantly laughing and making jokes with his co-hosts. The target audience can be viewed as not so much less educated, but definitely is designated towards a less serious audience, unlike his other piece. Tyson does bring educational material through the lecture, by standing up and explaining to the audience certain aspects and points. This can be seen when he explains the ideas of comets and when he talks about the transition of gravity from Earth and the Moon.  Neil’s style and teaching method definitely make him more entertaining in this sense but does not limit his science and knowledge, nor does it limit his purpose of trying to educate people on the topic of space and astronauts. His approach makes him friendlier and in my mind much more likable, which may help get his idea across to his audience more easily. Both articles though strain the importance of a space program in the United States. Many times He said how the only reason we had a space program was for “flexing” our Military muscles. And I thought it was interesting about his comments on China and Russia, and how very real they were. No matter which setting, He did a very good job of pointing out that fact.

            Overall, Neil deGrasse Tyson shows in both of these works that he is a very good spokesperson, both in the formal sense and in and very natural sense. And I found myself agreeing with him in most of his points he made in both of his works.