The art of political storytelling : why stories win votes in post-truth politics / Philip Seargeant.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Seargeant, Philip, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Storytelling--Political aspects.

Storytelling.

Journalism--Political aspects.

Journalism.

Social media--Political aspects.

Social media.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (167 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Distribution:

[London, England] : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020

Place of Publication:

London [England] : Bloomsbury Academic, 2020.

Summary:

"In our post-truth world, tapping into people's emotions has proved far more effective than rational argument - and, as Philip Seargeant argues in this illuminating and entertaining book, the most powerful tool for manipulating emotions is a gripping narrative. From Trump's America to Brexit Britain, weaving a good story, featuring fearless protagonists, challenging quests against seemingly insurmountable odds, and soundbite after soundbite of memorable dialogue has been at the heart of political success. So does an understanding of the art of storytelling help explain today's successful political movements? Can it translate into a blueprint for victory at the ballot box? The Art of Political Storytelling looks at how stories are created, shared and contested, illuminating the pivotal role that persuasive storytelling plays in shaping our understanding of the political world we live in. By mastering the tools and tricks of narrative, and evaluating the language and rhetorical strategies used to craft and enact them, Seargeant explains how and why today's combination of new media, populism and partisanship makes storytelling an ever more important part of the persuasive and political process. In doing so, the book offers an original and compelling way of understanding the chaotic world of today's politics."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Acknowledgements

Part I: Apocalyptic Politics

1. Setting the Scene

2. Let's Begin with the Facts

3. Popular Fiction

Part II: Shaping the Story

4. Explanatory Stories

5. What Makes a Good Story?

6. Dramatic Structure Part III: Language and Rhetoric

7. Spectacle and Emotion

8. A Post-Truth Lexicon

9. Digital Disinformation

Part IV: Fiction and Reality

10. The Fabric of Reality

11. Conspiracy Politics

12. The Lie that Tells the Truth

Index

Notes:

Includes index.

ISBN:

9781350107427

1350107425

9781350107403

1350107409