Abstract
In the wake of the January 6th US Capitol riots, mockery of the rioters’ tendency to self-incriminate via social media has proven common. Engaging with Jonathan Beller’s theory of the cinematic mode of production and cultural studies theorists such as Paul Gilroy, this paper argues that, rather than an illogical act, streaming one’s crimes is the perfect instantiation of the logic of the affective attention economy. The more circulation of images, the more affective responses are drummed up and intensified, and the more attention accrues. January 6th signals less a collapse in the American political system (though it may yet prove to be that) and more the ascendancy of a new assemblage of political concerns in which political office is primarily a platform to gain and perpetuate media attention. This has translated into a rush of celebrities, ranging from local notables to big stars, entering politics. Unwinding this trend starts with what Gilroy calls “a pursuit (and a defense) of slowness”.
Presenters
Ian WilliamsStudent, PhD, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Capitol Insurrection, Cultural Studies, Attention Economy, Celebrity, American Politics
