Media and Pop Politics

Media and Pop Politics examines the changing relationship between political communication and popular culture, tracing how political figures, media organisations and online creators make public affairs visible, familiar and emotionally resonant. How did politics become part of popular culture, and what happens when public debate unfolds through entertainment, social media and digital platforms? This book introduces the foundations of pop politics and explores its relationship with media, public opinion, influencers and political memes. It considers how personalisation, spectacle and everyday digital practices reshape the presentation of political leadership and the ways citizens encounter and discuss politics. Moving between traditional media and platform-based communication, the study brings together perspectives from political communication, sociology and media and cultural studies to examine the opportunities and tensions of this transformation. The final chapter addresses the ethical limits of pop politics, including manipulation, disinformation and the responsibilities of political actors and media institutions. Media and Pop Politics will appeal to researchers, students and scholars interested in Contemporary Politics, Communication and Media Studies, Cultural Studies, and Public Relations, offering an integrated account of how popular culture and changing media environments influence the form, circulation and interpretation of political messages.