Hylistics can even be applied to a more in-depth analysis of the “narratives” behind political statements.
Example:
Slogan for the presidential election campaigns of Donald Trump:
“Make America Great Again!”
Contains at least eight (have a go yourself before you look it up!) implicit messages, creating a veritable historical panorama, as can be precisely determined by hyleme analysis. Result of the hyleme analysis:
- 1. America once was great.
- ➢ nostalgia for past national pride
- 2. Predecessors of Trump make America weak.
- ➢ degradation of political opponents
- 3. America looses its greatness.
- ➢ diagnosis of crisis
- 4. America is currently not great.
- ➢ present-state diagnosis of crisis; creates rhetorical urgency
- 5. America can be great again!
- ➢ encouraging message with a positive vision of the future
- 6. It’s me, Donald Trump, who can make America great again!
- ➢ offering a bright hope as a simple solution to all problems
- 7. You, the voters, have the power to make America great again!
- ➢ giving voters a sense of power: they can become part of a success story, if they do the right thing
- 8. Then, America will be great again!
- ➢ vision of future national pride
- ➢ vision of future national pride
Outcome: It’s hard to kill more birds with one stone.