In this pop-up course, we will be deconstructing a media spectacle by studying its signs, symbols, and discourse. Using the Donald Trump presidential campaign as a case study, we will observe the visual codes and linguistic scaffolding of political ‘branding’ and messaging. We will explore various registers of populist and authoritarian rhetoric by carefully analyzing how those messages are designed, perceived, responded to, and incorporated in the current electoral cycle. We will also seek out context for the apparent effectiveness of this strategic spectacle by looking for the historical precedents, and understanding the contemporary social conditions which might support the phenomenon.