Politics as Media Spectacle - Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor Essay

Politics as Media Spectacle - Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of calciumArnold Schwarzeneggers California think back election gubernatorial victory demonstrates theincreasing collapse of the boundaries between delight and politics in an era of mediaspectacle. Over the past decades, major struggles near politics, race, gender, and sexuality haveplayed out in the media. In the 1990s, the O.J. Simpson trial, the Clinton sex scandals, andthe proliferation of tabloid journalism made serious political issues and conflicts the stuff ofpopular entertainment and culture. Moreover, presidential politics on the level of campaigns and governing have also exhibiteda growing politics of the image and spectacle. In our media-saturated society, politiciansbecome celebrities who fine var. their image finished daily photo opportunities, spin outtheir message of the day, and, like celebrities, employ image management firms to makesure that their performance is playing well with the public. In a n era of media politics, celebrities can become politicians and take on increasinglypolitical roles. Hollywood stars of film and television were prominent opponents of theBush disposals 2003 Iraq war, while teams of celebrities were employed by bothsides in the California recall election. Arnold Schwarzenegger had a familiar role to play in the California recall election scenario.The people were angry at higher taxes, energy costs, and what appeared to be a deterioratingeconomy and were looking for a savior. Arnold presented himself as the hero on the uncontaminatinghorse who would ride into California and solve the problems. His Rescue California ... ... how themedia present his policies, actions, and colorful past. Schwarzenegger has allegedly paidover a million dollars to purchase the reliable and outtakes from his 1976 film Stay Hungrythat allegedly has him singing Springtime for Hitler and prancing about in Nazi regaliaand poses, and there are Nazi poses of Schwarzenegger f loating through the Internet. In anera of political spectacle, image is all and negative images can produce critical views ofpoliticians and their policies as George W. Bush is learning from images of daily carnageand mayhem in Iraq that put in question his foreign policy decisions. Schwarzenegger toowill become an important part of the spectacle of contemporary politics and what role heplays will be determined by his policies and politics, the media, and how a volatile andfickle public perceives him.