Discourse, music and political communication

Abstract

Political communication is expressed in politicians’ speeches, campaign advertisements and government statements. Politics are also articulated in music, in both traditional political contexts such as anthems and party political broadcasts as well as less traditional contexts including songs, promotional videos and live performances. There is a wide spectrum of opinions as to exactly what are relations between music and politics, though most scholars acknowledge it can communicate meanings, though again, what these are remains contentious. One way to better understand relations between music and politics and meanings expressed in music is to closely examine these issues through the prism of discourses analysis. Through such an examination, not only what is being communicated becomes clear, but also how this is done, contributing to the fields of political communication, musicology and discourse studies.

Political Persuasiveness: Usage Of Metaphors In American Presidents’ Speeches

“…Metaphor does not introduce anything new into the context but actualizes the background knowledge and subconscious representations of the audience, since the interpretation of the metaphor is a purely personal process expressed by the politician; what was said becomes the listener's inner voice and so metaphors can be called the carriers of affective values (Tameryan et al, 2018;Solmaz, 2014;Way 2019).…”

Humbang Hasundutan Regional Head Election In 2020: Empty Box Volunteer Political Communication Movement

“…Politics is represented through music in traditional contexts like songs, advertisements, and live performances and typical political contexts like national anthems and party-political broadcasts. Although past study has shown that music can carry political signals, there are differing views on the precise relationship between music and politics (Way, 2019). Much popular music has the propensity to be reflective and parochial in its subject matter (Chornik, 2018).…”

“…He created songs and staged performances against apartheid that inspired the downtrodden black population of South Africa to overthrow the Afrikaner ruling class (Onyebadi & Mbunyuza-Memani, 2017). Therefore, understanding the connection between music and politics and the meaning conveyed in music can be improved by studying sociopolitical movements through framing analysis (Way, 2019). Such a study enhances the science of political communication by demonstrating not just what empty box volunteers communicated to the sole candidate for the Humbang Hasundutan (Humbahas) Regional Head Election through a song but also how it was accomplished.…”

Music as symbolic action

“…Hunter and Schellenberg, 2010; Juslin and Sloboda, 2013). Cultural and communicative analyses have tended towards semiotic or social semiotic models (Machin and Richardson, 2012; Tagg, 1987; Van Leeuwen, 1999; Way, 2019). Rhetorical approaches tend towards issues of style, symmetry, and epideixis (Graham and Luttrell, 2019).…”