Emotions, Media and Politics

Emotions have long been neglected in media research, although their role is a vital ingredient in shaping our shared stories and the ways we engage with them. But emotions, as they circulate through the media, can also be divisive and exclusionary. Karin Wahl-Jorgensen makes the case for researching the role of emotions in mediated politics. Drawing on a series of studies, she explores the complex relationship between emotions, politics and media. The book includes analyses of how Facebook structures emotional reactions; the anger of Donald Trump; the use of personal storytelling in feminist Twitter hashtags; the role of emotionality in award-winning journalism; and the communities created by political fandoms. Essential reading for scholars and students, this important volume opens up new ways of thinking about and researching emotions, media and politics.

Acknowledgments  Introduction: Understanding Emotions in Mediated Public Life  1 Taking Emotion Seriously: A Brief History of Thought  2 Emotions are Everywhere: The Strategic Ritual of Emotionality in Journalism  3 Authenticity, Compassion and Personalized Storytelling  4 Towards a Typology of Mediated Anger  5 Shifting Emotional Regimes: Donald Trump’s Angry Populism  6 The Politics of Love: Political Fandom and Social Change  7 The Emotional Architecture of Social Media  Conclusion: Nine Propositions about Emotions, Media and Politics  Notes  References  Index