John Benjamins Publishing Company
Chapter 4. Disenchantment with politics and the salience of images
Abstract
Iconic images are often used to reduce complex political questions into simple divisions which ultimately exclude alternative voices and preserve hegemonic ideology. This chapter discusses fundamental questions concerning the role of images in public’s view of politics and, in particular, three tendencies associated to the current visual turn: the fictionalisation of politics, the politicisation of fiction; and to glocalisation of hegemonic political values. The focus is here on the use of images and TV soaps in the discursive construction of political events. The main argument is that visual representations of the political such as The West Wing or similar are reinforce public’s disenchantment for politics and politicians, fostering depoliticisation and ultimately the ‘democratic deficit’ in Western politics.
Abstract
Iconic images are often used to reduce complex political questions into simple divisions which ultimately exclude alternative voices and preserve hegemonic ideology. This chapter discusses fundamental questions concerning the role of images in public’s view of politics and, in particular, three tendencies associated to the current visual turn: the fictionalisation of politics, the politicisation of fiction; and to glocalisation of hegemonic political values. The focus is here on the use of images and TV soaps in the discursive construction of political events. The main argument is that visual representations of the political such as The West Wing or similar are reinforce public’s disenchantment for politics and politicians, fostering depoliticisation and ultimately the ‘democratic deficit’ in Western politics.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Approaches to visual communication and the question of power
- Chapter 1. Images 11
- Chapter 2. The critical tradition in visual studies 39
- Chapter 3. The map, the mirror and the simulacrum 55
- Chapter 4. Disenchantment with politics and the salience of images 69
-
Part II. Case studies
- Chapter 5. Organising political consensus 91
- Chapter 6. Walls, doors and exciting encounters 113
- Chapter 7. The politics of visual representation 151
- Chapter 8. The politics of identity and visuality 181
- Chapter 9. Visual politics and celebrity humanitarianism 199
- Chapter 10. The economics of gay reality television 225
- Chapter 11. Mending endings 245
- Chapter 12. Representing the state of exception 269
- Index 291
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Approaches to visual communication and the question of power
- Chapter 1. Images 11
- Chapter 2. The critical tradition in visual studies 39
- Chapter 3. The map, the mirror and the simulacrum 55
- Chapter 4. Disenchantment with politics and the salience of images 69
-
Part II. Case studies
- Chapter 5. Organising political consensus 91
- Chapter 6. Walls, doors and exciting encounters 113
- Chapter 7. The politics of visual representation 151
- Chapter 8. The politics of identity and visuality 181
- Chapter 9. Visual politics and celebrity humanitarianism 199
- Chapter 10. The economics of gay reality television 225
- Chapter 11. Mending endings 245
- Chapter 12. Representing the state of exception 269
- Index 291
