“The Quayle quagmire”: Political campaigns in the poetic form of burlesque

Abstract

This essay examines Dan Quayle's 1988 vice presidential campaign according to Kenneth Burke's poetic form of burlesque and argues that public reaction to Quayle reflected a burlesque strategy designed to confront his nomination. Unlike Burke's interpretation of the comic frame of reference, which emphasizes correction and acceptance, burlesque stresses negative aspects of human experience, and emphasizes rejection. This “partial”; frame of reference will be identified in terms of the legitimation and degradation rituals Quayle faced during the campaign. In light of the analysis, Quayle's ascension to office despite the intense ridicule he received during the campaign reveals much ambivalence toward vice presidential nominees and also raises questions about the role of burlesque in political campaigns. The essay intends to contribute to our understanding of Burke's poetic category of burlesque and provide insights on the functions and limitations of burlesque in American political campaigns.

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