Political Communication and Representation Lecture 2

the nature of communication From politicians to society a form of democratic education informing us so we can form attitudes/opinions A social rhetoric founded on codes and language we collectively understand should facilitate participation Interactive All are represented and able to participate

From politicians to society

a form of democratic education

informing us so we can form attitudes/opinions

A social rhetoric

founded on codes and language we collectively understand

should facilitate participation

Interactive

All are represented and able to participate

What is Representation Delegative versus Representational Being given voice Wider than electing an MP Sources of representations MPs/Parties, pressure groups/lobbyists, media, celebrities

Delegative versus Representational

Being given voice

Wider than electing an MP

Sources of representations

MPs/Parties, pressure groups/lobbyists, media, celebrities

Perspectives of Representation Actual – they do what we want them to and tell us about how they are doing Symbolic – they feel the same as us and so do what we would Rhetorical – they claim similarity and empathy

Actual – they do what we want them to and tell us about how they are doing

Symbolic – they feel the same as us and so do what we would

Rhetorical – they claim similarity and empathy

Representation and communication Democracy = people power We elect or appoint or allow people to work on our behalf Communication with representative should be circular? But is it really, can it work…..

Democracy = people power

We elect or appoint or allow people to work on our behalf

Communication with representative should be circular?

But is it really, can it work…..

The influence of Marx SUPERSTRUCTURE BASE

The influence of Marx SUPERSTRUCTURE BASE But aren’t these all really the same people?

The Frankfurt School Perspective Political communication is top-down Hegemony creates a false consciousness More about social control than representation

Political communication is top-down

Hegemony creates a false consciousness

More about social control than representation

The Birmingham School perspective Political/economic dominance of those with power Media impartial but ‘political-economy’ powerful Option of ‘oppositionalism’ / Differential decoding

Political/economic dominance of those with power

Media impartial but ‘political-economy’ powerful

Option of ‘oppositionalism’ / Differential decoding

Fresh thinking on the media Commercialisation / Market-orientation Loss of impartiality/weakened hegemony play to the market, populism Lowest common denominators dumbing down Coding of the message reduces abilities to adopt oppositional or differential readings agenda setting and framing

Commercialisation / Market-orientation

Loss of impartiality/weakened hegemony

play to the market, populism

Lowest common denominators

dumbing down

Coding of the message reduces abilities to adopt oppositional or differential readings

agenda setting and framing

Postmodernity Culture and politics is shifting and individual Commodification of society, culture and life Emotionalisation/Femininisation The rise of Obama Pick-and-Mix mentality An emerging participatory culture

Culture and politics is shifting and individual

Commodification of society, culture and life

Emotionalisation/Femininisation

The rise of Obama

Pick-and-Mix mentality

An emerging participatory culture

Postmodern Mass Communication To the individual to each aspect of their personalities building upon their interests Difficult to manipulate, must interact Where does politics fit? Social conscience Social interests Protection of individual - Me Me Me!!! But how much is propaganda?

To the individual

to each aspect of their personalities

building upon their interests

Difficult to manipulate, must interact

Where does politics fit?

Social conscience

Social interests

Protection of individual - Me Me Me!!!

But how much is propaganda?

What is propaganda? Persuasive communication (Edelstein, 1997) Information presented in order to control thinking (Cunningham, 2002) Communication with a goal (Therkelsen & Fiebich, 2001) Communication designed to make the audience volunteer to act in a desired way (Traverse-Healey, 1998)

Persuasive communication (Edelstein, 1997)

Information presented in order to control thinking (Cunningham, 2002)

Communication with a goal (Therkelsen & Fiebich, 2001)

Communication designed to make the audience volunteer to act in a desired way (Traverse-Healey, 1998)

propaganda’s function ‘ social training’ (Dahl, 1956) ‘ democratic education’ (Scammell, 2000) ‘ communication that makes the audience act in a way beneficial to the communicator’ (Jowett & O’Donnell, 1992) ‘ to make an audience change their opinions without question’ (Bartlett, 1940)

‘ social training’ (Dahl, 1956)

‘ democratic education’ (Scammell, 2000)

‘ communication that makes the audience act in a way beneficial to the communicator’ (Jowett & O’Donnell, 1992)

‘ to make an audience change their opinions without question’ (Bartlett, 1940)

Democracy A political system based upon equality and freedom. Where the public are free from coercion and fear, and are protected from agents that would harm them. But propaganda is coercion So democratic politicians never use propaganda?

A political system based upon equality and freedom. Where the public are free from coercion and fear, and are protected from agents that would harm them.

But propaganda is coercion

So democratic politicians never use propaganda?

The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in every country Hermann Goering, interview in his cell, Nuremberg, 1945

Representation v Propaganda If everyone uses propaganda loudly enough is there a problem? But propaganda stifles debate Teleological argumentation Is it ok if we agree with the message? What is the effect on participation?

If everyone uses propaganda loudly enough is there a problem?

But propaganda stifles debate

Teleological argumentation

Is it ok if we agree with the message?

What is the effect on participation?

Thinking for the seminar Who represents you publicly on issues you really care about? How do they represent you? Actual/symbolic/rhetorical To what extent is the communication to you propaganda in style or nature? What is the impact on democracy? What sort of society do we live in?

Who represents you publicly on issues you really care about?

How do they represent you?

Actual/symbolic/rhetorical

To what extent is the communication to you propaganda in style or nature?

What is the impact on democracy?

What sort of society do we live in?