The Iconic Obama: Essays on Media Representations of the Candidate and New President

Abstract

This book, The Iconic Obama, 2007-2009: Essays on Media Representations of the Candidate and New President, edited by Nicholas A. Yanes and Derrais Carter, critically examines Barack Obama's representations across various media platforms from his candidacy to early presidency. Divided into six thematic sections, it explores how Obama was portrayed through branding, popular culture, television, film, hip-hop, news media, and global contexts. The first section delves into the construction of Obama’s identity as a multi-layered figure with "global appeal," particularly focusing on his status as the first African-American president. Subsequent sections analyze his appearances in film, television, music, graffiti, and comics, offering insights into how these mediums shaped public perception. Essays explore the influence of black presidents in media on real-world political outcomes, such as the positive reception of Obama’s presidency by some segments of society. The book also investigates the complexities of race and post-racial America through critical analyses of media representations, challenging simplistic narratives about Obama's impact. Overall, this collection provides a nuanced understanding of how Obama was constructed and consumed in diverse cultural contexts during his formative years as president.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)