Birds of a feather? Trump, Chávez and the populist communication style in times of discursive disruption

Presented by Dr Elena Block

Date: 15 September, 2017
Time: 3pm-4pm
Location: Room 601, Michie Building (#9)

Abstract:

Discursive disruption — loosely defined as the breakdown of the conventions and power relations of a fatigued Western liberal democracy — has become the new normal. The aim of this paper is twofold: first, it will seek to understand the advance and allure of the populist communication style in the era of mediatization. It proposes a critical framework based on three categories—identity construction, rhetorical style, and relationship with the media—to assess the relevant features of the communicative styles of left-wing Chávez and right-wing Trump. Second, drawing on lessons from Chávez’s Venezuela, this paper will seek to explore three threads of analysis:

  1. the rise and normalization of Trump’s populist communication style;
  2. the fierce confrontation Trump-media and intense mediatisation of politics as happened in Venezuela, where Chávez made a ‘brutal’ use of media;
  3. whether the populist communication style – as practiced in Venezuela but also elsewhere – leads to the disruption not only of the political conversation but of the political system itself.

 

Presenter:

Dr Elena Block is a Honorary Research Fellow and sessional lecturer at The University of Queensland's School of Communication and Arts. She has a PhD in Political Communication from The University of Queensland and an MSc from the London School of Economic and Political Science (LSE). She has a long trajectory as a journalist, media relations and public affairs executive in Venezuela. Her main areas of interest include: political communication and public affairs; the populist communication style; discursive disruption; the mediatisation of politics; political communication in Hugo Chávez's Venezuela.

Dr Elena Block

 

About Research Seminar and Workshop Series

 


School of Communication and Arts Research Seminar Series

The research seminar and workshop series occur each semester, each with a different topic and guest speaker from UQ or otherwise.

Friday, 24 March
12-1pm

Hybrid: Online via Zoom and in person at the
SCA Writer's Studio
(Level 6, Michie)

Fire Futures: codesigning for resilience

Dr Skye Doherty

Friday, 31 March
12-1pm

Hybrid: Online via Zoom and in person at the
SCA Writer's Studio
(Level 6, Michie)

From Fatigue Studies to Burnout: A Brief History of Work Exhaustion

A/Prof Elizabeth Stephens
   
   
   
   

 

Venue

Level 6, Michie Building (#9)
Room: 
601