Abstract
We’re continuing our trek into the world of politics and spectacles a la Murray Edelman this week in preparation for the upcoming election. We review what Edelman means when he says, “politics is a spectacle,” and how spectacles can lead us to vote against our own interests. Why is it that people targeted by Trump’s policies voted for him in 2016, and may still vote for him in 2020? How do politicians carefully craft (or impulsively create) spectacles that serve their own good? Tune in here to learn more, and be sure to go out and VOTE!
Keywords
Political spectacle, politics, symbols, material politics, symbolic politics, go vote
Sources
- First source is: GO VOTE!
- If you haven’t heard our first episode on this topic, check it out here!
- The basis for this episode is Murray Edelman’s “Constructing the Political Spectacle.”
- Why do people vote against their own interests? Check out this article from London School of Economics US Center by John Kincaid from 2017, titled, “The symbolic politics behind why sane people vote for (seemingly) insane things”
- What’s the Green New Deal?
- Here’s another interesting article about how people symbolically voted in 2016: When voters are voting, what are they doing?: Symbolic selection and the 2016 U.S. presidential election
- Chris Pratt was the Hollywood Chris that was voted out by Twitter users.
- Don’t let Omar get behind the wheel for this COVID version of a haunted house! Watch out clowns!
- Oh, yeah, and GO VOTE!!