Jane Arthurs, Ben Little Russell Brand: Comedy, Celebrity, Politics

Annotation

Russell Brand's arrival as a political activist and his sustained interventions in public debate are a significant cultural phenomenon whose meaning and influence is a matter of widespread interest. A considered academic contribution to this debate is timely and the authors provide a wide expertise on which to draw. This is the first scholarly book on Brand, an entertainer and celebrity who has rarely been out of the news for the past 18 months as he became increasingly involved in activist politics. He has provoked a diverse response ranging from passionate support to equally vitriolic hostility. As a consequence Brand has become a recognized figure of influence at the centre of debates about contemporary politics, and has been described as the most charismatic figure on Britain's populist Left. He has used his publicity and performance skills as a celebrity comedian to encourage an emotional engagement with radical political ideas and to highlight marginalised activist causes. In interviews with key figures, the authors explore his relationship to these activist communities and their views on his political impact.