Influence and Influencer as Keywords in the Digital Humanities

Influence and Influencer as Keywords in the Digital Humanities interrogates the concepts of influence and the influencer, tracing their cultural genealogies from medieval theology to digital modernity and examining their relevance to contemporary cultural production and online politics. Readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of how influence has evolved from its origins as a cosmic force to a central mechanism of persuasion in the digital age. The book employs cultural genealogies, media-philosophical analysis, and rhetorical theory to explore the theoretical significance of influence in contemporary society. It delivers these insights through novel examinations of alt-lite influencers, "Dirtbag Left" podcasts, and the Trump presidency, offering critical perspectives on the ways that influencers shape cultural production and political discourse. This book is written for scholars and students in the digital humanities, media studies, cultural studies, rhetoric, and political communication. It will appeal to researchers investigating social media culture, online politics, and the evolution of persuasion in digital contexts, as well as instructors teaching courses on digital culture, media theory, and contemporary political discourse.