Political perversion : rhetorical aberration in the time of Trumpeteering / Joshua Gunn.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gunn, Joshua, 1973- author.

Series:

Chicago scholarship online.

Chicago scholarship online

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Trump, Donald, 1946-.

Trump, Donald.

Communication--Political aspects--United States.

Communication.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (211 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Chicago : The University of Chicago Press, 2021.

Summary:

When Trump became president, much of the country was repelled by what they saw as the vulgar spectacle of his ascent, a perversion of the highest office in the land. In his bold, innovative book, 'Political Perversion', rhetorician Joshua Gunn argues that this 'mean-spirited turn' in American politics (of which Trump is the paragon) is best understood as a structural perversion in our common culture, on a continuum with infantile and 'gotcha' forms of entertainment meant to engender provocation and sadistic enjoyment. Drawing on insights from critical theory, media ecology, and psychoanalysis, Gunn argues that perverse rhetorics dominate not only the political sphere but also our daily interactions with others, in person and online.

Contents:

Introduction: Eating poorly, or ketchup on a steak

On critical violence

The psychoses of speed, with the example of social networking

The perverse style, with eventual reference to Pee-Wee Herman

Showmancing the Presidency: perverse genres and the problem of judgment

Conclusion: Don't play (with) that.

Notes:

Previously issued in print: 2020.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from home page (viewed on May 6, 2021).

ISBN:

0-226-71358-X

OCLC:

1181841410