Any campaign—like any good drama—will have its stylized performances. So too will it have one final dramatic element—a plot. The classic unfolding story of any drama involves an introduction, rising action, turning point, falling action, and conclusion. A presidential campaign has all of these essentials—an introduction in the way of speculation about candidates “available” for party nominations; rising action in the form of early organizational efforts, qualifying for public funding, formal announcements, etc.; turning points in the multitude of caucuses and primaries leading to party conventions and nominations; falling action (spiced with unexpected events) in the general election campaign; and a conclusion on election day.
ATTRIBUTION:
Dan Nimmo. “Elections as Ritual Drama,” Society (May/June 1985).
