Perspectives on Politics
Teaching with Simulations and Games
Submission Deadline: May 15, 2018
Celebrity and fame permeate political life. In the United States and internationally, well-known celebrities advocate for humanitarian causes and even run for political office; elected officials are often renowned for their personal style and social media presence; and the multi-national media and consumer products industries use famous people to increase profits and shape political discourse (to name just some examples). Given that the study of politics is centrally concerned with power, this Special Section aims to examine the power and politics of “celebrity.” We therefore invite scholars to submit theoretical and empirical pieces that build on existing celebrity/celebrities and politics research or break new ground to explore the power of “celebrity” and interrogate the forces that produce and maintain it.
The list of possible paper topics for this Special Section might include, but is not limited to:
Theorizing the link between fame and political discourse and processes;
The “celebritization” of the political sphere in historical perspective;
The politics of celebrity in the sports and/or entertainment industries;
Celebrities’ impact on public opinion and voting behavior;
Social movements and the mobilization of celebrity/celebrities;
Methodological approaches to/challenges for celebrity research in political science.
The submission guidelines, style guidelines, submission instructions, and peer review process information can be found online: www.apsanet.org/perspectives.
