Abstract
In Richard Hofstadter’s seminal essay on the paranoid style in American politics, he writes, “A distorted style is . . . a possible signal that may alert us to a distorted judgment, just as in art an ugly style is a cue to fundamental defects of taste” (1964, 6). Hofstadter’s reference to art is merely a brief aside intended to give colour to his claim that alarmist and conspiracist sentiments must be read as a sign of impoverished thinking and unstable decision-making. Fleeting though this comment is, I focus on “ugly style” and “defects of taste” in this chapter to explore how aesthetic disposition might operate as an under-examined factor in why, at least in the limited context of British and American liberal milieus, right-wing populist conspiracists might garner more ire and airtime than left-wing counterparts
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Populism and Conspiracy Theory |
| Subtitle of host publication | Case Studies and Theoretical Perspectives |
| Editors | Michael Butter, Katerina Hatzikidi, Constanze Jeitler, Giacomo Loperfido, Lili Turza |
| Place of Publication | London |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Chapter | 15 |
| Pages | 323-343 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781040108598 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781032754215 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2024 |
Keywords
- populism
- Conspiracy theories
- Donald Trump
- Taste
- Style