Affective Politics of Digital Media: Propaganda by Other Means

This collection explores how advanced digital practices and technologies exploit and capitalize on emotions, particularly through the use of social media, to exacerbate social conflicts surrounding racism, misogyny, and nationalism. It bridges humanities and social sciences to investigate affective information economies and the weaponization of emotions in mediatized political landscapes. The chapters cover topics such as clickbait, fake news, and the use of emotion by right-wing actors, as well as new theoretical approaches to understanding affect, algorithms, and public spheres. The book includes original interviews with media scholars and journalists and features contributions from established and emerging scholars in communications, media studies, affect theory, journalism, policy studies, gender studies, and critical race studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 366 pages
Publication date: 03 September 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive and interdisciplinary collection delves into the intricate ways in which advanced digital practices and technologies harness and capitalize on emotions, with a particular emphasis on the role of social media in exacerbating social conflicts surrounding racism, misogyny, and nationalism. By broadening the scope of media and political communication studies, this book seamlessly bridges the humanities and social sciences to investigate the dynamics of affective information economies and the weaponization of emotions within mediatized political landscapes. The chapters encompass a diverse range of topics, including the strategies employed by clickbait, fake news, and right-wing actors to leverage and weaponize emotion; innovative theoretical frameworks for understanding affect, algorithms, and public spheres; and the groundbreaking possibilities offered by the fusion of big data and behavioral science, as exemplified by the Cambridge Analytica and Facebook scandal. The collection features original interviews with renowned media scholars and journalists, adding valuable insights and perspectives to the discourse.

Contributions from established and emerging scholars in the fields of communications, media studies, affect theory, journalism, policy studies, gender studies, and critical race studies are included in the book, addressing pressing concerns for scholars, journalists, and students within these disciplines and beyond. This multidisciplinary approach ensures a thorough exploration of the complex interplay between emotions, technology, and society, providing valuable insights into the evolving media landscape and its impact on our lives.

Weight: 548g
Dimension: 151 x 227 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367510657