Opinion: Savvy politicians know how to ‘perform’ authenticity
By Associate Professor Susan Fountaine.
A documentary film about Jacinda Ardern offers a masterclass in authenticity. Ardern reflects on her rise to prime minister, saying she had "no time to redesign myself [...] I could only be myself".
I had "no time to redesign myself [...] I could only be myself"
This statement signals a commitment to political authenticity. However, in political communication, authenticity is seldom straightforward. It is primarily understood as a "performance" of self, filtered by news and social media.
Skilled politicians know how to perform authenticity, regardless of their political leaning.
Author's summary: Politicians perform authenticity for voters.