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The Symbolic Uses of Politics Political lens, paranoia or genius? Let’s play a game…

The Symbolic Uses of Politics Political lens, paranoia or genius? Let’s play a game…. Edelman, M. (1964, 1985). The Symbolic Uses of Politics. Chicago: University of Illinois Press. Reviewed by Robin Havens . Let’s Practice Symbolism!.

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The Symbolic Uses of Politics Political lens, paranoia or genius? Let’s play a game…

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  1. The Symbolic Uses of PoliticsPolitical lens, paranoia or genius?Let’s play a game… Edelman, M. (1964, 1985). The Symbolic Uses of Politics. Chicago: University of Illinois Press. Reviewed by Robin Havens

  2. Let’s Practice Symbolism! • Your group will use the basic Symbolism tools of Edelman –page #1 of Cheat Sheet The Symbolism Game: • Your group has three minutes to use at least one of Edelman’s Symbolic tools to “reframe” an issue • Choose a spokesperson to state your group strategy in one sentence: • “We are ___________ and we reframed the issue of ____________ by using Edelman’s Symbolic tool of _________ and our plan is to___________.” Clinton 2012 DNC speech (45:30 – 46:15): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzDhk3BHi6Q

  3. Get started! Only 3 minutes!! Evaluation criteria (how Dr. Gen will judge): • Use of symbolism tool (as defined on the Cheat Sheet) that plays on emotions • Ability of group to keep your answer to one sentence • Innovation/feasibility (don’t use some tired old symbol or totally impractical strategy)

  4. Edelmans’ other claims • Symbolicforums/vehicles: Elections, administration, groups, rituals, ceremonies and more • Symbolism generally supports elite goals • Patterns – Like art, use of symbolic devices can play on repetition, in this case symbolic forms instead of shapes or colors • Political “Quiescence” – apathy, status quo • “Man and politics as reflections of each other” • Digestion of symbolism made easier by people’s stereotypes, prejudices

  5. My opinion • Edelman – hard to read, summarize and organize • Favorites: Pesky sonic booms from airplanes are really the “Sound of Freedom” • Absent evidence, hard to buy some of his theories, like resource allocation argument • Symbolism is an excellent lens, but don’t use it alone!

  6. Discussion • Is Edelman’s theory still generalizable – still a classic? • Do you agree that symbolism really allows elites to escape equitable resource allocation? • “…this book concentrates on the mechanism through which politics influences what [the people] want, what they fear, what they regard as possible, and even who they are (p.20).” How is this different from other study of politics?

  7. But, who won?! • Dr. Gen, who won the first round (big business) and why? • Dr. Gen, who won the second round (the nicer side of Symbolism) and why? • Congratulation to the winners and thank you all for participating!

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