Presentation: "The Production and Transformation of Symbols: The Political Language of the News" Friday, May 4, 3:30 - 5:30 PM
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Robert R. Alford, Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Graduate Center,City University of New York
who will present a talk on his current project:
"The Production and Transformation of Symbols: The Political Language ofthe News"
on Friday, May 4, 2001, 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Rm. 001 Main Library (SLIS entrance on 10th)
Abstract:
Dramatic events--assassinations (Kennedy, ML King, Jr,), scandals (Monica, Watergate), disasters (Love Canal, Agent Orange, Exxon Valdez, the Challenger), policy failures (Clinton health care reform), dramatic environmental campaigns (Greenpeace and Rainbow Warrior), riots (Rodney King), strikes (Flint sitdown)--sometimes generate symbols that crystallize the political meaning of those events. Sometimes public investigations quell the uncertainty of interpretations of the meaning of these events, sometimes they fuel the fire of controversy. When the language of the news becomes "iconic," there are important implications for the production and transformation of political culture. Existing theories of culture do not adequately describe or explain these processes.
Professor Alford's is an internationally known political sociologist, whose most recent book is "The Craft of Inquiry: Theories, Methods, Evidence" (Oxford University Press, 1998). His books on "Powers ofTheory: Capitalism, the State and Democracy" (1985) and "Health CarePolitics: Ideological and Interest Group Barriers" (1975) have been translated into Spanish and Italian.
He received the Woodrow Wilson Foundation Award for the best book published on American politics during 1975 from the American Political Science Association and, most recently, the 1997 Distinguished Contribution to Teaching Award from the American Sociological Association. He is currently writing a book (with David Peerla) tentatively entitled "Clashing Icons: The Symbolic Politics of Public Investigations", a comparative analysis of the rhetorical strategies of science, journalism, policy analysis, and partisan appeals, as found in the history of such iconic investigations as the Warren Commission, Watergate, Three Mile Island, the Starr Report, and the Holocaust.
Posted April 24, 2001
