Political Communication and Rhetoric

Catalog description

Students will explore three main components of political communication and its rhetorical functioning: the theory and practice of “public opinion management,” the role of legacy and new media, and the ethical responsibility of political communication. First, we will discuss how political communication requires us to view political campaigning through the lens of managing public opinion. Second, we will focus on how various forms of interpersonal and mediated communication play a distinctive role in political interactions and democratic functioning. Finally, we will examine what, if any, the ethical responsibility is of those who work in political communication. While this class will focus on the U.S.-based political contexts, the conversations will involve global politics as well.