Twitter Presidency - Donald J. Trump and the Politics of White Rage

The Twitter Presidency explores the rhetorical style of President Donald J. Trump, attending to both his general manner of speaking as well as to his preferred modality. Trump's manner, the authors argue, reflects an aesthetics of white rage, and it is rooted in authoritarianism, narcissism, and demagoguery. His preferred modality of speaking, namely through Twitter, effectively channels and transmits the affective dimensions of white rage by taking advantage of the platform's defining characteristics, which include simplicity, impulsivity, and incivility. There is, then, a structural homology between Trump's general communication practices and the specific platform (Twitter) he uses to communicate with his base. This commonality between communication practices and communication platform (manner and modality) struck a powerful emotive chord with his followers, who feel aggrieved at the decentering of white masculinity. In addition to charting the defining characteristics of Trump's discourse, The Twitter Presidency exposes how Trump's rhetorical style threatens democratic norms, principles, and institutions.

List of contents

1. Situating Trump 2. The Politics of White Rage 3. Trump Tweets 4. In Defense of Democracy

About the author

Brian L. Ott is Professor of Communication Studies and Director of the TTU Press at Texas Tech University, USA.
Greg Dickinson is Professor and Chair of Communication at Colorado State University, USA.

Summary

The Twitter Presidency explores the distinctive rhetorical style of President Donald J. Trump, attending to both his general manner of speaking and his preferred modality of speaking.

Product details

• Authors: Greg Dickinson, Dickinson Greg, Brian L Ott, Brian L. Ott, Brian L. (Texas Tech University Ott, Ott Brian L.
• Publisher: Routledge Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 04.02.2019
• EAN: 9780367149758
• ISBN: 978-0-367-14975-8
• Dimensions: 140 mm x 225 mm x 15 mm
• Series: Print on Demand; NCA Focus on Communication Studies
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > Other languages / Other literatures; Non-fiction book; USA, Media Studies, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Popular Culture, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Media Studies, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Communication Studies, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Rhetoric, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / Media & Internet, Political leaders & leadership, Communication Studies, United States of America, USA, Political leaders and leadership, COMPUTERS / Social Aspects