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The History and Meaning of the Election Night Bonfire.
- Source :
-
Atlantic Journal of Communication . 2007, Vol. 15 Issue 2, p153-169. 17p. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- The paper examines a practice commonly associated with American political elections in the nineteenth century—the building of large bonfires by gangs of young boys on the night of the vote—in order to make a larger point about the meaning that an election ritual communicates to a voting public. I argue that the ritual message that elections send to public is more fluid, even contradictory, than is often acknowledged. The election night bonfire operated as a symbol of the polysemic nature of the election ritual for nineteenth century urban publics. Its disappearance can be associated with a more general attempt on the part of American political elites to control the meaning of politics in American democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *RITUAL
*VOTING
*ELECTIONS
*RITUALISM
*RITES & ceremonies
*POLITICS & culture
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15456870
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Atlantic Journal of Communication
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25138397
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/15456870701212740