Topic: Reflecting on the 2020 Presidential Candidates Goal: Consider how class concepts can be used to deconstruct both the presidential candidates’ communication as well as the documentary’s approach to portraying the candidates Length: At least 900 to 1,000 words, which is about 4 pages double-spaced. You can go longer than that, if you want. Instructions: We are going to watch a 2-hour PBS Frontline documentary called The Choice 2020: Trump vs. Biden. You have two weeks to complete this assignment. This is the link: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/the-choice-2020-trump-vs-biden/ (Links to an external site.) This is a very thorough biographical look at the two candidates who ran for president in 2020. I absolutely guarantee that you will learn a lot about Trump and Biden. It is very engaging. Interviews range from supporters and opponents of the two men to journalists and authors reporting on the two men. This assignment is a chance to reflect on the course content thus far. After you view the documentary, please answer the following questions: 1. Apply the concept of political socialization to the (a) Trump family and (b) Biden family. How were (a) Trump and (b) Biden socialized into politics? What early events in their lives impacted their political views, engagement, and behavior? Refer back to Ch. 5 and Week 6, Video 3: Political socialization in our childhood. 2. To what extent does the documentary frame (a) Trump and (b) Biden as populist leaders? Refer back Ch. 7 and to our discussion of populist identity frames in Week 8, Video 4: Right-wing and left-wing populist frames 3. What does the documentary reveal about (a) Trump’s relationship with news media and journalists, and (b) Biden’s relationship with news media and journalists? When (a) Trump and (b) Biden face political challenges, how do they use (or treat) the media to their advantage? 4a. How does Trump’s entertainment show The Apprentice relate to his style of politics, political communication, and/or political behavior as a presidential candidate and the president? 4b. How do Biden’s appearances on political entertainment shows and his appearances at various events as vice president relate to his style of politics, political communication, and/or political behavior? 5. Beyond the topics that we’ve discussed above, what is one additional concept that we’ve discussed in this class that you can apply to this documentary. You can discuss framing, priming, persuasion theories, political knowledge, ethical and effective political communication, facts vs. opinions, emotion and politics, etc. 6. Finally, what new information did you learn about (a) Trump and (b) Biden that surprised you and/or impacted you in a meaningful way?Show more
