The Art of Political Storytelling: Why Stories Win Votes in Post-truth Politics

by Philip Seargeant

Overview

In our post-truth world, tapping into people's emotions has proved far more effective than rational argument - and, as Philip Seargeant argues in this illuminating and entertaining book, the most powerful tool for manipulating emotions is a gripping narrative.

From Trump's America to Brexit Britain, weaving a good story, featuring fearless protagonists, challenging quests against seemingly insurmountable odds, and soundbite after soundbite of memorable dialogue has been at the heart of political success. So does an understanding of the art of storytelling help explain today's successful political movements? Can it translate into a blueprint for victory at the ballot box?

The Art of Political Storytelling looks at how stories are created, shared and contested, illuminating the pivotal role that persuasive storytelling plays in shaping our understanding of the political world we live in. By mastering the tools and tricks of narrative, and evaluating the language and rhetorical strategies used to craft and enact them, Seargeant explains how and why today's combination of new media, populism and partisanship makes storytelling an ever more important part of the persuasive and political process. In doing so, the book offers an original and compelling way of understanding the chaotic world of today's politics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350107380
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/11/2020
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Philip Seargeant is an author and academic specialising in the study of language and communication. He teaches at the Open University, UK, where his research focuses on the relationships between language, politics and social media. He is the author of several award-winning educational films, and frequently works as a consultant for the BBC and other media outlets. His writing has appeared in publications such as The New European, Prospect, The Huffington Post and Wired.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements xi

Part 1 Apocalyptic politics 1

1 Setting the scene 3

2 Let's begin with the facts 16

3 Popular fiction 35

Part 2 Shaping the story 51

4 Explanatory stories 53

5 What makes a good story? 76

6 Dramatic structure 100

Part 3 Language and rhetoric 125

7 Hope and fear 127

8 A post-truth lexicon 143

9 Digital disinformation 160

Part 4 Fiction and reality 175

10 The fabric of reality 177

11 Conspiracy politics 192

12 The lie that tells the truth 203

Notes 221

Index 252

Editorial Reviews

"The biggest strength of this book is the various examples analyzed within the overarching topic of storytelling and fake news ... The book also draws upon traditional literary theories to interpret current political trends, which offers a compelling theoretical attempt that deserves critical attention from fellow researchers in critical discourse studies ... An enjoyable text for whoever seeks to explore the troubling subject of post-truth politics." - LINGUIST List

“In the first place there has to be a monster, a seemingly unbeatable foe that sweeps all before it and brutalises the citizens. And then of course, you need a hero, a leader, a figurehead for a rebel alliance fighting to reclaim paradise for the people. Is this Star Wars or just everyday politics? There is actually no great distinction, although there may be fewer Wookies in science fiction. This is the central and entirely correct contention of Philip Seargeant's The Art of Political Storytelling, an examination of how politicians win hearts by weaving narratives around themselves.” – Robert Shrimsley, The Financial Times

“Interesting and readable, this survey of the political storyteller's toolbox goes a long way to account for the recent successes of provocative populist leaders around the world and makes an enlightening guide to our current political moment ... 4 stars.” —The Herald

“A brilliant deconstruction of propaganda and how it co-opts dramatic and narrative technique, throwing into doubt truth, fact and identity.” —Irish Times

“Everybody with at least a fleeting interest in politics must read this book.” – LSE Review of Books

“Philip Seargeant's utterly original and fascinating book provides a unique perspective on our current "post-truth" predicament. What to do when you realize that some (or even most) people are persuaded not by arguments but by stories? And what if some of those stories aren't true? The importance of narrative in political discourse is brilliantly illuminated. Read it and lament, read it and understand, or read it to learn how to win an election!” —Lee McIntyre, Author of 'Post-Truth' (MIT 2018) and Research Fellow, Center for Philosophy and History of Science, Boston University, USA

“Enlightening and entertaining, this book reveals how we have become actors in politicians' stories and how we can take back control of our own destinies.” —Peter Pomerantsev, Senior Fellow, Institute of Global Affairs, London School of Economics, UK and Research Fellow, Johns Hopkins University, USA

“In the current interregnum, this is an important and timely book significantly contributing to our understanding of how storytelling that has long been mastered by political leaders has led to the social orders we experience, embrace, and reject. This book offers valuable pathways for us to tell our own counter-stories.” —Christian W. Chun, Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, University of Massachusetts Boston, USA

“In this timely and cogent work, Philip Seargeant analyses how politicians construct their narratives and why voters prefer a good tale to verifiable facts. As conspiracy theories thrive and the very meaning of the word truth is called into question, this is an important book for our times.” —Steve Buckledee, Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics, University of Cagliari, Italy

“This is an engaging and timely account of the fundamental role of storytelling in all aspects of political life. Rich with examples, it gives us tools for understanding how stories are crafted, and how they shape our world. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to understand the current political environment.” —Piia Varis, Associate Professor, Tilburg University, The Netherlands

“Seargeant argues that one really cannot fully understand the recent political successes of the Brexit campaign and politicians such as Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro and Viktor Orbán, without taking into account how much their ongoing communication resembles the storytelling found in popular culture and in Hollywood films in particular. In some ways, this is a frightening book, but it is one that should be read by anyone interested in how political communication is crafted today.” —David Block, ICREA Professor in Sociolinguistics, Pompeu Fabra University, Spain

From the Publisher