Mark Wheeler 
Celebrity Politics [PDF ebook] 

In this new book, Mark Wheeler offers the first in-depth analysis
of the history, nature and global reach of celebrity politics
today.

Celebrity politicians and politicized celebrities have had a
profound impact upon the practice of politics and the way in which
it is now communicated. New forms of political participation have
emerged as a result and the political classes have increasingly
absorbed the values of celebrity into their own PR strategies.
Celebrity activists, endorsers, humanitarians and diplomats also
play a part in reconfiguring politics for a more fragmented and
image-conscious public arena.

In academic circles, celebrity may be viewed as a
‘manufactured product’; one fabricated by media
exposure so that celebrity activists are no more than ‘bards
of the powerful.’ Mark Wheeler, however, provides a more
nuanced critique contending that both celebrity politicians and
politicized stars should be defined by their ‘affective
capacity’ to operate within the public sphere. This timely
book will be a valuable resource for students of media and
communication studies and political science as well as general
readers keen to understand the nature and reach of contemporary
celebrity culture.

Tabella dei contenuti

Introduction
1. Celebrity Politics in an era of Late Modernity
2. A Historical Analysis of Celebrity Politics: The American Experience
3. The Mediatization of Celebrity Politics
4. Celebrity Politicians: Politicians as the Stars of Modern Election Campaigns
5. Politicized Celebrities: Agency and Activism
6. Transnational Celebrity Activism: Advocacy and Diplomacy
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography

Circa l’autore

Mark Wheeler is Professor of Political Communications at London Metropolitan University