The NRA wants to scare you. In the viral ad “Violence of Lies” (first released on April 7, 2017), spokeswoman Dana Loesch warns viewers of a looming danger. The ad alternates between her commentary, delivered in front of a somber blue background and footage of social unrest. The footage is black and white, evoking the … Continue reading Them: The NRA’s American Nightmare
Author: achenm
Rehearsing the Personality Cult at Trump’s Rallies
Trump stages a vision of leadership unfettered by democratic checks and balances.
Trump’s Crowds and the Myth of National Unity
Trump rallies feature symbolic purges of dissenting voices.
The RubioBot and Henri Bergson
The mechanical quality of Rubio’s performance generated its inadvertent comedy.
Performing Populism: How the Bernie Sanders Campaign Portrays Its Supporters
By signaling who their supporters are, candidates attempt to demonstrate a key element of who they themselves are.
Threat, Salvation, and Political Theater
The policies that political actors embrace are part of the public roles they perform, and their communication of these policies to the public is always to some degree a performance of self.
Monica Achen 