Seducing America: How Television Charms the Modern Voter

by Roderick P. Hart

Roderick P Hart′s Revised Edition of Seducing America is a revealing examination of how television′s format of presenting politics has changed the way viewers act, vote and feel about politics in the United States. With a rigorous blend of rhetorical and statistical research, Hart asserts that while television makes viewers feel knowledgeable, important, informed and close to the political representatives, it disguises increasing apathy and inaction as voter turnouts decrease and a general dissatisfaction with the political system is expressed.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 1994

Reviews

[Adrian Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think anyone who wants to become involved in politics needs to grab a copy of this book on how television transformed politics, voting, civic involvement and the public's involvement of public affairs. It seems pretty dated (written in the 90s), but still relevant in the 21st century where similar effects occur in social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. These modern devices, like television or social media accounts, are not bad per se, but they are not harmless. One of the takeaways from the book is the importance of developing virtues like cooperation, civility, generosity, negotiation, tolerance, regularity and compromise. Virtues both television and social media rarely capture in today's world.