Elections in Popular Culture

Americans hold contradictory attitudes toward elections. On the one hand, we are regularly urged to see elections as the sine qua non of democracy, a symbol of fairness, individual freedom, and popular control of government. On the other hand, cynicism about elections is widespread, focused on the corrupting power of corporate money, the distortions of mass media, and citizen apathy. In this course we will examine the roots of these contradictory attitudes. We will look at historical and contemporary interpretations of elections in journalism, film, fiction, and other popular media. We will pay special attention to the treatment of historically significant elections and to coverage of the 2008 elections. Students will be expected to produce a substantial portfolio of writing about elections and their changing narratives. This course can be used to satisfy Division I distribution requirements. REA, WRI