Producing Popular Politics: The Infotainment Strategies of American Campaign Consultants

摘要

Popular culture is increasingly intertwined with U.S. political communication; this research studies this intersection from the perspectives and practices of professionals who work behind the scenes on campaigns. Drawing upon dozens of interviews with these elite operatives, this research examines their roles in and attitudes toward the venues and values necessary to popularize politics. The findings demonstrate how consultants seek to re-position political narratives from traditional media formats to more pleasurable genres (particularly comedic) by scripting campaigns and messages with attentiveness to visual stunts, personal appearance, and pop culture and social media opportunities.