Angels versus Devils
The Portrayal of Characters in the Gun Policy Debate
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6328129 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Melissa K Merry (0000-0002-6669-0388, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2019 |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 882-904 |
| Publication date | 2019-11-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Policy Studies Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0190-292X • E-ISSN: 1541-0072 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/psj.12207 |
| OpenAlex | W2742759364 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 43 |
| References cited | 22 |
This research examines the role of the devil shift and angel shift in interest group rhetoric using the case of gun policy. The Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) suggests that the devil shift—whereby political actors characterize their opponents as more malicious and powerful than they actually are—is common in intractable policy debates. Through an analysis of e‐mails and press releases by two gun control organizations and two gun rights organizations, I examine how groups portray themselves and their opponents. I identify two dimensions relevant to these portrayals: (1) whether a character in a policy narrative is portrayed as good or evil, and (2) whether a character is portrayed as strong or weak. The findings indicate that while the devil shift is present, the angel shift—that is, the glorification of one's own coalition—is more common in gun policy groups' communications. Two alternative characterizations, which I call the angel in distress and the devil diminished, are also present. The use of these character portrayals varies significantly across political coalitions and as a function of communication purposes. The results suggest a need to reconceptualize character portrayals to better understand how they operate as narrative strategies in the NPF
Art · Character (mathematics · Function (biology · Linguistics · Literature · Narrative · Political science · Politics · Rhetoric · Sociology · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Law · Media Studies and Communication · Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering · Philosophy
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| Unique citing works | 43 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 5,38 |
| Citation span | 2018 - 2026 (9) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 42 |