Televisualization of Politics in Greece

Abstract

The article argues that the deregulation of the television sector in Greece resulted in a series of sociocultural changes in the national political culture. Commercial television quickly assumed a hegemonic position in the Greek mediascape. The television medium has dislodged the press from its traditional role as the official vehicle of political communication. Furthermore, through the broadcasting of significant portions of `political programming', television has exposed large segments of the viewing female population to political discourses. Such televisual exposure has resulted in the growing politicization of women, who have been traditionally excluded from the public political culture. The `televisualization of politics', i.e. the dissemination and absorption of politics via television, not only affects electoral campaigns but it also constructs a symbolic distance between citizen viewers and televised central political figures that leads to feelings of political dealignment and apathy. Moreover, the conferral of equivalent television status on the new entertainment elites has modified the received political hierarchy. Lastly, politicians are obliged to assume `flexible' televisual personalities in order to abide by a new set of criteria of telepolitical evaluation instituted by television.