Graduation Term
2024
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
School of Communication
Committee Chair
Byron Craig
Committee Member
Stephen Rahko
Abstract
Allegiance to the ideology of fascism is growing in the United States. Racist, misogynist, and xenophobic sentiments are prevalent throughout far-right groups in America. Despite fighting fascism worldwide in World War I and World War II, powerful American figures have and still hold strong ties to fascism. To consolidate control, fascists construct an aesthetic of themselves and their ideological opponents. Using visual rhetorical theory and Marxist theory, I will conduct three visual rhetorical analyses on three images from modern American political events to examine how the fascist aesthetic expresses itself in different situations.
Access Type
Thesis-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Lawler, Caleb, "Burning Torches, Eyes, and Empires: a Visual Rhetorical Analysis of the Modern American Fascist Aesthetic" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 1984.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/1984
DOI
https://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2024.20240827063557337163.999979