Summary Of Strategic Dramaturgy In The Civil Rights Movement By Greg Mcadam

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Doug McAdam is a Professor of Sociology at Stanford University. He has written several exceptional pieces of work, including one that speaks about the framing processes. Doug McAdam depicted the concept of framing as a vital portrait that paints a picture of ideas, and/ or thoughts that interest and catch the eye of the people it is geared towards. Framing, is structured to give the viewer all the “pretty things”, nothing that is ugly, that would turn the viewer away. In “Strategic Dramaturgy in the American Civil Rights Movement,” Doug McAdam discusses how the importance of framing in the successes and failures of southern civil rights campaigns (SCLC.) Doug McAdam also discusses how the media was so critical to the south civil rights campaigns fate. (McAdams, 340) On page 340, McAdam …show more content…

Ideational framing is basically framing geared to connect with the viewers on an emotional, and spiritual level. For example, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was famous for his speeches that truly spoke to the people’s hearts. “…In accounting for King’s success in attracting sympathetic media coverage, much of the credit must go to the substantive content of his thought.” (McAdam, 346). King used the theme of Christian Forgiveness in his speeches, this clearly adhered to many people. Their hearts were locked into the words that he spoke. He used the media and his speeches to grab the attention of all viewers and used different tactics to “keep them locked in.” Finally, they used the signifying function of the SCLCs actions. In the planning of their campaign to end segregation, he and the SCLC “staged compelling and resonant dramas in their 1963 campaign in Birmingham, Alabama.” Basically, they used the media to sway the peoples opinions, they knew how they could get the most out of everyday people. Adhering to their hearts, and minds, they could get the best