TY - JOUR
T1 - The discursive construction of authenticity
T2 - The case of Jeremy Corbyn
AU - Mueller, Frank
AU - Whittle, Andrea
AU - Gadelshina, Gyuzel
PY - 2019/10/1
Y1 - 2019/10/1
N2 - In recent years there has been a yearning for a new, more authentic type of political leader: one who is more ‘true’, ‘real’ and ‘honest’. In this paper, we analyse the discourse through which Jeremy Corbyn was framed as an ‘authentic’ leader in the British press during the 2015 Labour party leadership contest. We use an ethnomethodological approach to the study of media texts to investigate the methods used by journalists and commentators to establish authenticity. Our analysis uncovers three methods that were used to establish Corbyn's authenticity: consistency, atypicality and commitment to beliefs. We conclude by drawing implications from our findings for the search for authenticity in politics and society.
AB - In recent years there has been a yearning for a new, more authentic type of political leader: one who is more ‘true’, ‘real’ and ‘honest’. In this paper, we analyse the discourse through which Jeremy Corbyn was framed as an ‘authentic’ leader in the British press during the 2015 Labour party leadership contest. We use an ethnomethodological approach to the study of media texts to investigate the methods used by journalists and commentators to establish authenticity. Our analysis uncovers three methods that were used to establish Corbyn's authenticity: consistency, atypicality and commitment to beliefs. We conclude by drawing implications from our findings for the search for authenticity in politics and society.
KW - Authentic leadership
KW - Authenticity
KW - Ethnomethodology
KW - Media discourse
KW - Political discourse
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070715096&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.dcm.2019.100324
DO - 10.1016/j.dcm.2019.100324
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85070715096
SN - 2211-6958
VL - 31
JO - Discourse, Context and Media
JF - Discourse, Context and Media
M1 - 100324
ER -