Wrestling with Politics: A Multi-Tiered Analysis of Jesse Ventura's Campaign
Location
CSU
Student's Major
Communication Studies
Student's College
Arts and Humanities
Mentor's Name
Daniel Cronn-Mills
Mentor's Department
Communication Studies
Mentor's College
Arts and Humanities
Description
When former professional wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura began his quest for the governorship of Minnesota, most people wrote him off as a joke. Even after his victory, many people still related him more to his professional wrestling days than to his political prowess. In reality, there is a strong connection between the most popular form of programming on cable television and Minnesota's new governor. By analyzing the rhetorical strategies behind professional wrestling, and drawing critical implications from the analysis, we can understand that the rhetoric of professional wrestling is applicable to many other aspects of society. Furthermore, we can extend the implications to understand how and why Jesse Ventura used many of the same tactics in his successful campaign. Professional wrestling is gaining in social acceptance, and has immense popularity. The "sport" that many people write off as mind-numbing entertainment has many social implications, including many on Ventura's campaign. Wrestling is slowly power slamming its way into society. If we "beef up" our knowledge, we can be ready.
Wrestling with Politics: A Multi-Tiered Analysis of Jesse Ventura's Campaign
CSU
When former professional wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura began his quest for the governorship of Minnesota, most people wrote him off as a joke. Even after his victory, many people still related him more to his professional wrestling days than to his political prowess. In reality, there is a strong connection between the most popular form of programming on cable television and Minnesota's new governor. By analyzing the rhetorical strategies behind professional wrestling, and drawing critical implications from the analysis, we can understand that the rhetoric of professional wrestling is applicable to many other aspects of society. Furthermore, we can extend the implications to understand how and why Jesse Ventura used many of the same tactics in his successful campaign. Professional wrestling is gaining in social acceptance, and has immense popularity. The "sport" that many people write off as mind-numbing entertainment has many social implications, including many on Ventura's campaign. Wrestling is slowly power slamming its way into society. If we "beef up" our knowledge, we can be ready.
