Fantasy Themes, Symbolic Power, and Twitter: A Multimodal Analysis of Vice President Kamala Harris’s First 90 Days

Abstract

The first 90 days are crucial for new employees to build credibility in the organizational context. This phenomenon is also applicable to political office holders, who need to build the confidence reposed in them by the electorates. In the present study, I analyze Vice President Kamala Harris’ own tweets to assess the fantasy themes and portrayal of power in her first 90 days. Findings indicate that Kamala Harris’s tweets construct her public persona as a busy and exemplary Vice President who enjoys total spousal support. This can be described as an image-building strategy which enhances her credibility and portrays her as authentic. Vice President Harris also portrays symbolic power through her multimodal discourses which involve actions and symbols by her association with the armed forces, her moderation of official meetings and the display of her swearing-in functions. Her tweets also highlight the Biden administration’s resolve toward racial and gender inclusivity.