The Play of Political Culture, Emotion and Identity

Abstract

The Play of Political Culture, Emotion and Identity offers a uniquely 'psycho-cultural' perspective on the psycho-dynamics of UK political culture. It uses an interdisciplinary approach that draws on psychoanalysis, cultural and media studies, sociology and political studies to explore the cultural and emotional processes that shape our relationship to politics in the late modern, media age. Against the backdrop of promotional, celebrity culture and personality politics, the book uses the notion of 'play' as a metaphor to explore the flirtatious dynamics that are often present in the mediatised, interactive sphere of political culture. The discussion is elaborated upon by considering different aspects of cultural and political identity, including gender, class and nation. These themes are engaged with through selected case studies and examples, including the flirtation of Tony Blair, Joanna Lumley's Gurkha campaign, Margaret Thatcher's funeral, David Cameron's identity as a father and the populist appeal of the UK Independence Party. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)