Though Dr. Knopf is best known on her campus as "the public speaking person," and in wider academic circles as a comics scholar, her work is more fully concerned with political communication - the ways in which political information and ideals are communicated to society; the ways in which entertainment media reflect and shape public opinion; how politicians communicate to the electorate and with each other; how news media report on politicians, parties, elections, and the government; how political actors interact with media; how collective identities are formed and maintained; efforts for and against social and political change; democratic deliberation, dialogue, and debate; political decision making; the influence of interpersonal communication on political actions; interactions of race and gender in the political process; issues of misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy, and transparency; and the history of political communication and rhetoric in the United States.
Concentrating in political communication for both her master's and doctoral degrees, Dr. Knopf has a long history of studying, teaching, researching, and even working in politics.
Studying Political Communication
Education
✦ PhD concentrating in Political Communication & Cultural Sociology: University at Albany, 2005. ✦ MA concentrating in Political Communication: University at Albany, 2001. ⁍featured coursework⁌ •Theory & Research in Political Communication •Communication in Campaign 2000 •Communication in Political Decision Making •Lobbying •Political Communication & Citizen Participation •Civil Society & the Public Sphere •Persuasion & Propaganda independent study •Studies in Specialized Areas: Sociology of Media ✦ BA in public relations, with a minor in journalism: SUNY New Paltz, 2000. ⁍featured coursework⁌ •Political Communication •Press in America
Professional Development
• Repairing the Breach in a Time of Toxic Polarization. National Institute for Civil Discourse. 3 Dec. 2024: livecast. • How Religious Were the Founders? National Constitution Center. 2 Dec. 2024: Zoom. • Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn. National Constitution Center. 25 Nov. 2024: Zoom. • Preview Checkology®. News Literacy Project. 19 Nov. 2024: Zoom. • Teaching Controversial Content in the Collegiate Classroom in an Era of Hyper-Politicization: Strategies for Anticipating, Navigating, and Dealing with Threats to Academic Freedom. NCA Short Course. 21 Nov. 2024. • The Rhetoric of U.S. Social Movements: Theories and Histories of Greater Regard. NCA Short Course. 21 Nov. 2024. • Teach With Tiktok: Help Students Stick to the Facts on Social Media. News Literacy Project. 14 Nov. 2024. • Understanding 2024 Election Results. SUNY Cortland Sandwich Seminar. 14 Nov. 2024. • Interpreting the 2024 Elections. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. 12 Nov. 2024. • White House 101: Exploring the People’s House. National Council for History Education and the White House Historical Association. 7 Nov. 2024. • Teaching in the Age of Political Polarization. Pearson Digital Learning. 7 Nov. 2024. • An Insider’s Guide to the Election Results. Brennan Center for Justice. 7 Nov. 2024. • What Just Happened? Election 2024 Results. SUNY Plattsburgh Institute for Ethics in Public Life and SUNY Cortland Galpin Institute for Civic Engagement. 6 Nov. 2024. • What’s at Stake on State Ballots. Brennan Center for Justice. 29 Oct. 2024. • Election 2024 in Perspective: A Dialogue with American Political and Media Experts. NYU Brademas Center and Brennan Center for Justice. 27 Oct. 2024. • Is the Electoral College Good for America? Pearson Digital Learning. 24 Oct. 2024. • Looking at Key Images from Campaign 2024. The Reading the Pictures Salon, International Center of Photography. 22 Oct. 2024. • Two Americas and Polarization. Pearson Digital Learning. 22 Oct. 2024. • Digital Literacy. BizLibrary (via SUNY Cortland). 16 Oct. 2024. • Breaking Down Political Ads to Build Civic Media Literacy for Election 24. KQED. 15 Oct. 2024. • Artificial Intelligence and Technology Effects on Politics and Civic Engagement. Civic Learning and Civic Engagement Webinar Series, SUNY Center for Professional Development. 15 Oct. 2024. • Navigating Election Misinformation: Lies, Myths, and Scares – Oh My!. News Literacy Project. 9 Oct. 2024. • Fighting Misinformation in the Age of AI: Tips and Techniques to Teach Students. KQED Teach. 7 Oct. 2024. • Teaching Global Issues in a Controversial Election Year. CFR Education. 1 Oct. 2024. • JFK, Oswald, and Ruby: The 60th Anniversary of the Warren Commission. US Capitol Historical Society. 26 Sep. 2024. • Case Study: Course Development Using AI and Civil Discourse. Civic Learning and Civic Engagement Webinar Series, SUNY Center for Professional Development. 24 Sep. 2024. • Teaching Civil Discourse and Critical Thinking: Beyond the Headlines. Common Sense Education. 23 Sep. 2024. • Our Freedom of Speech + the Perils of Misinformation. Civic Learning and Civic Engagement Webinar Series, SUNY Center for Professional Development. 17 Sep. 2024. • 1/6: The Graphic Novel - Imagining a Dark Alternate Outcome of January 6th. U.S. Capitol Historical Society. 9 May 2024. • The Modern First Ladies and Their Jewelry. National First Ladies’ Library. 14 Jun. 2023. • Media Literacy is Lit!: How to Teach Media Literacy in Exciting Ways So Students Apply and Own the Lessons. NCA Short Course. 17 Nov. 2022. • First Ladies’ Night: Edith Roosevelt's Needlework. National First Ladies’ Library. 8 Aug. 2022. • The Visual Framing of Social Issues. Reading the Pictures. 13 Sep. 2022. • Legacy Lecture: The Future of the First Lady. National First Ladies Library. 9 Sep. 2021. • Virtual Tour Premiere! Into the Swamp: The Social and Political Satire of Walt Kelly’s Pogo. Ohio State University, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. 2 Sep. 2021. • A Virtual Conversation on Netflix Film Worth. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. 1 Sep. 2021. • “America United”: Finding Common Ground. Kennedy Library Virtual Forum. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. 4 May 2021. • The Triumph of Nancy Reagan. Kennedy Library Virtual Forum. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. 28 Apr. 2021. • Public Deliberation: Solving Divisive Issues Together. Community Roundtable Series, SUNY Cortland. 1 Apr. 2021. • Inspiring Resilience and Social Activism in Our Students Through Media Based Pedagogies. ECA Short Course. 26 Mar. 2021. • How Community Engagement Leads to Tangible Outcomes. Bang the Table. 26 Feb. 2021. • Project Censored in the Classroom: A Critical Media Literacy Webinar. Project Censored. 8 Dec. 2020. • Q&A with First Draft: Online Misinformation in Real Life. A Conversation with First Draft and Spaceship Media. 4 Dec. 2020. • Valuing Digital Literacy and Argument: Teaching at the Crossroads of Civility. NCA Short Course. 19 Nov. 2020. • Experiments in Deliberation Among Higher Education Institutions. Kettering Foundation Research Exchange. 19 Nov. 2020. • Female Representations in Political Pins 1976-2016. Bowling Green State University Browne Popular Culture Library with the National First Ladies Library virtual lecture. 13 Nov. 2020. • Extinction or Evolution?: Imagining the Future of Political Cartoons. The Future of American Political Cartoons: A Symposium in Honor of Pat Oliphant. University of Virginia Library. 24 Oct. 2020. • Drawing for a Polarized Public. The Future of American Political Cartoons: A Symposium in Honor of Pat Oliphant. University of Virginia Library. 24 Oct. 2020. • Challenges to Freedom of Expression in Political Cartooning Today. The Future of American Political Cartoons: A Symposium in Honor of Pat Oliphant. University of Virginia Library. 24 Oct. 2020. • Vote Woke: Empower Students to Vote with Books and Community Support. School Library Journal Summit. 24 Oct. 2020. • Red, White, Black and Blue: Highlighting America's Racial Illiteracy, Keith Knight keynote. The Future of American Political Cartoons: A Symposium in Honor of Pat Oliphant. University of Virginia Library. 23 Oct. 2020. • The Art of Political Cartooning. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. 13 Oct. 2020. • Voting During a Pandemic: What We Know About Voting by Mail. Hot Topics in Politics: The Election Series, Pearson. 1 Oct. 2020. • Mediactive: How to Participate in Your Digital World. Arizona State University & Canvas. Oct. 2020. • IDW: The Mueller Report in 10-Minutes. Comic-Con@Home. 24 Jul. 2020. • Comics Satire and the New Political Cartoon. Comic-Con@Home. 23 Jul. 2020. • Conspiracy Theories and Propaganda throughout Pop Culture. Comic-Con@Home. 22 Jul. 2020. • 20th-Century Political Cartoons at the Library of Congress. Sara W. Duke, curator of the Prints & Photographs Division. LOC Live Office Hours via WebEx. 16 Jun. 2020. • Utilizing Media to Survive Fake News & More: How Student Understanding of Media Literacy and Critical Pedagogy Can Be Employed for Social Awareness. NCA Short Course. 15 Nov. 2019. • Trump’s Rise and the Future of American Democracy. SUNY Cortland Political Science Department and the President’s Office. 28 Sep. 2017. • How to Think About Masculinities. The Speaking About… Sociology Pearson Webinar Series. 14 Oct. 2015. • AI, the Digital Landscape, and Misinformation-Busting Superpowers for Students. News Literacy Project. 16 Apr. 2024. • Race and Gender in the Struggle for Women's Suffrage: An Interview with Dr. Martha Jones. The Women’s Rights National Historic Park. 23 Aug. 2020. • History of Protest Movements. Unwritten series from Pearson Higher Ed. 18 Aug. 2020. • Partnering with Election Officials for Voter Registration Success. National Voter Registration Day. 16 Jul. 2020. • Women, Rhetoric, and Political Agency: What Do Women Need to Know About Their History in Order (Phronesis) to be Successful Politically? RSA Summer Institute. 26-28 Jun. 2009. • Teaching Political Communication. NCA Short Course. 21 Nov. 2008. • Expanding Public Sphere Vocabulary. Annual Public Sphere Pre-Convention Seminar at NCA. 20 Nov. 2008. • Political Difference and Change: Teaching Gender and Political Communication Courses. ECA Short Course. 1 May 2008. • A Short Course on Teaching American Women’s Public Address. NCA Short Course. 18 Nov. 2006: San Antonio, TX. • Teaching Critical Media Literacy to Undergraduates. ECA Short Course. 27 Apr. 2003. • Discourses of Citizenship. ECA Pre-Conference. 23 Apr. 2003.
Teaching Political Communication
✭Political Advertising
SUNY Albany 🐾
Fall 2004
✭Contemporary Political Communication
SUNY Potsdam 🐻
Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Spring 2015, Fall 2016
✭Wo/Men and Elections
SUNY Potsdam 🐻
Spring 2009, Spring 2014
✭Political Communication
SUNY Cortland 🐲
Spring 2019
✭Oral Discourse & Civic Culture
SUNY Albany 🐾
Fall 2004 (x3), Spring 2005 (x3)
✭Voices of American Women
SUNY Potsdam 🐻
Spring 2007, Fall 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2011
✭Religion & Messages of Change
SUNY Potsdam 🐻
Fall 2009
✭Communication in Social Change
SUNY Cortland 🐲
Spring 2023
✭Rhetoric of Social Movements
SUNY Potsdam 🐻
Fall 2006, Fall 2008, Fall 2010, Spring 2014, Spring 2016 (x2)
✭Rhetoric of Civil & Public Religions
SUNY Potsdam 🐻
Fall 2007
✭Communicating War
SUNY Potsdam 🐻
Spring 2012, Spring 2013
also...
Introduction to Media Literacy
SUNY Cortland 🐲
Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023
Researching Political Communication
Publications
Knopf, C.M. (nd). Political cartoons and comics bibliography. Graphic Possibilities, Michigan State University Press. Knopf, C.M. (2023). The Loner on the “frontier of unfilled hopes and threats”: Serling’s old West in Kennedy’s new frontier. In D. Picariello (Ed.), The Western and political thought: A fistful of politics. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Knopf, C.M. (2023). Familiarity is the path to the Dark Side: Domesticating political problems with Star Wars. Unbound: A Journal of Digital Scholarship, 3(1), 24-31. Knopf, C.M. (2022). AfterShock’s Rough Riders and the reification of race reimagined. In M. Goodrum, D. Hall, & P. Smith (Eds.), Drawing the past, Vol. 1: Comics and the historical imagination in the United States, pp. 212-227. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. Knopf, C.M. (2021). The Democratic primary debates in political cartoons, or Santa Claus gets voted off Fantasy Island. In R. Denton, Jr. (Ed.), Studies of communication in the 2020 presidential campaign, pp. 83-104. Lanham, MD: Lexington. Knopf, C.M. (2021). Politics in the Gutters: American politicians & elections in comic book media. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. Knopf, C.M. (2021). “Like his dad”: Epistolic constructions of American children in World War II. Home Front Studies, 1(1), 59-83. Knopf, C.M. (2020). The American nightmare: Graveyard voters, demon sheep, devil women, and lizard people. D. Picariello, ed. The politics of horror, pp. 3-16. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Knopf, C.M. (2020). UFO (unusual female other) sightings in Saucer Country/State: Metaphors of identity and presidential politics. In S. Langsdale & E. Coody (Eds.), Monstrous women in comics, pp. 257-273. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. Knopf, C.M. (2019, Dec). “Carrie Fisher sent me”: Princess Leia as an avatar of resistance in the Women’s March(es). Unbound: A Journal of Digital Scholarship, 1(1). Knopf, C.M. (2019). Politics as “the sum of everything you fear”: Scarecrow as phobia entrepreneur. In D. Picariello (Ed.), Politics in Gotham: The Batman universe and political thought, pp. 159-176. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Knopf, C.M. (2018, Jun 11). BrainDead: The horrors of election 2016. In Media Res, Politics & Horror Week. Knopf, C.M. (2012). Relational dialectics in the civil-military relationship: Lessons from veterans’ transition narratives. Political & Military Sociology: An Annual Review, 40, 171-192. Knopf, C.M. & Ziegelmayer, E.J. (2012). Fourth generation warfare & the US military’s social media strategy: Promoting the academic conversation. Air & Space Power Journal – Africa & Francophonie, Q4, 3-22. Knopf, C.M. (2011). Those who bear the heaviest burden: War and American exceptionalism in the age of entitlement. In J. Edwards & D. Weiss (Eds.), The rhetoric of American exceptionalism: Critical essays, pp. 171-88. Jefferson, NC: McFarland Press. Knopf, C.M. (2010). Al Gore’s rational faith and unreasonable religion. In D. Weiss (Ed.), What Democrats talk about when they talk about God: Religious communication in Democratic party politics, pp. 93-113. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. Knopf, C.M. (2005). Providence, presidents, & the press: Inaugural rhetoric of religion in a historical perspective. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University at Albany. Knopf, C.M. (2000). Power plays by the powerless: A study of attempted diffusion of innovative reforms by the New York State Assembly Minority Conference. Unpublished master's practicum. University at Albany.
Selected Presentations
Knopf, C.M. (2024). "Misinformation, manipulation, & media misdirection." Reflections on the 2024 Presidential election. National Communication Association. New Orleans, LA. Knopf, C.M. (2024). “Going rogue, the sequel: MTG and MAGA.” Frightening, feckless, felonious, funny, and feeble: The Trump 2024 chronicles. NYS Com Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2024). “Fighting like cats & dogs: Politics in (not so) ‘funny animal’ comics.” Calling out the symbol rulers. Annual AKML and the Symposium on Communication, Consciousness, and Culture. Knopf, C.M. (2024). “Distortions and distractions: The visual rhetoric of celebrity spectacle surrounding Trump’s indictments.” The shifting currents of Trump's legal imbroglios: Indictments, integrity, & impenitence. Eastern Com Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2024). “The national recurring nightmare: Ford’s inaugural speech 50 years later.” Public Address of 1974, Fifty Years Later. Eastern Com Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2023). “Politics as unusual: Editorial cartooning & the 2024 election.” Are We on “The Eve of Destruction?” – Looking Ahead to the 2024 Election. Eastern Com Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2022). “Roe, reproduction, & representation: Artists on abortion.” Denial, Derogation, & Divisiveness after Dobbs: Communication Perspectives on a Post-Roe World. NYS Com Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2022). “The Statue of Trumpery: Ironic metaphor & the visual ideograph.” Top Paper Panel: Memorializing Public Messages of American Presidents. Eastern Com Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2021). “Compassion & the apocalypse: Commanders (and communities) in Crisis.” Navigating Superhero Communities. Comics Studies Society. Knopf, C.M (2021). “‘I am altering the [art of the] deal’; Or, the In-Sidious threat of Dark Side allusions in political satire.” The Imperial March. Realizing Resistance Episode II. Knopf, C.M. (2019). “Cartoon commemoration & commentary on the death of John McCain.” Bidding Senator John McCain Goodbye: Memorializing Across Genres & Contexts. Eastern Com Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2019). “We are all wonder women & handmaids in the resistance – or are we?: The limits of pop culture icons & avatars in feminist protest.” Global Citizens & Impediments: Modern Feminism around the World. NYS Com Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2018). “Pun dites: Artists’ re-framing of Trump’s words.” Trump Time: Communication Lessons or Trump’s Communication Primer. NYS Com Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2018, Oct). “Campaign carnage: Horror & politics in comic books.” Political horror. Popular Culture Assoc/American Culture Assoc, So. Knopf, C.M. (2011, Sep). “Free expression, information superiority, image, & operation security: Crafting a military communication model for the cyber age.” Are your data private: Cyber security in a Wikileaks world. American Political Science Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2010). “Hidden costs & unsung heroes: Issues of media coverage and cultural scripts in noncombat military deaths.” The political discourse of waging war & combating terrorism. Eastern Communication Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2009). “The rhetoric of polarization: Media, mediation & the new politics of division.” Defining the Genre: The Rhetoric of Polarization Revisited. Eastern Com Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2009). “Lipschtick: Masculine political metaphors get a makeover.” Campaign Frames: Meaning Making and Constraint in ‘08. Eastern Communication Association. Philadelphia, PA. Knopf, C.M. (2009). “Eco-nfessions: CMC, secrets, and environmental action at TrueGREENconfessions.com.” Old & new media on the Internet: Economics & adaptations. Eastern Com Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2008). “IR, PR, the E.U. & the U.S.: Bush’s and Chirac’s conflicting sacred/secular national identities regarding Iraq.” Bent emotions: Perspectives on foreign policy & candidate evaluations. Eastern Communication Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2003). “Redefining crisis rhetoric in the wake of localized national tragedies.” Political Rhetoric. National Com Assoc. Knopf, C.M. (2002). “Capturing character: Variations in media coverage of candidate character in the first 2000 presidential debate.” Debates 2000: A Close Look. Eastern Com Assoc.
Affilliations
•National Communication Association - Political Communication, American Studies, Communication & Military Divisions •Eastern Communication Association - Political Communication, Rhetoric & Public Address Interest Groups •FLARE: First Ladies Association of Research & Education •International Communication Association - Political Communication Division •American Political Science Association - Political Communication Group •International Studies Association - International Communication Section
Honors
•A Top Paper in Political Communication, Eastern Communication Association: 2023 •A Top Paper in Political Communication, Eastern Communication Association: 2022 •A Top Paper in Political Communication, Eastern Communication Association: 2020 •A Top Paper in Political Communication, Eastern Communication Association: 2019 •A Top Paper in Political Communication, Eastern Communication Association: 2016
Working in/with Political Communication
Work Experience
•Primaries: The Defining Battle in New Hampshire [documentary], Films for the Humanities & Sciences. Production Assistant: Jan 2004 •WebArchivist.org, Mayoral WebSphere Project. Archivist/Co-editor: Sep 2001-Dec 2001 •NYS Assembly Minority Research & Program Development. Albany, NY. Graduate Intern: Jan 2001-Jun 2001 •129th New York State Assembly Race. Canandaigua, NY. Campaign volunteer: Jul 2000-Oct 2000 •129th New York State Assembly District Office. Geneva, NY. Intern (constituent relations, clerical work, runner): Jun 2000-Aug 2000 •College partisan-political organization, New York State. Press secretary: 1999-2000. •New Paltz Town Elections. New Paltz, NY. Volunteer (web designer, staff): Oct 1999-Nov 1999 •Student Government Association, Finger Lakes Community College. Student Senate Secretary: Spring 1997- Fall 1998
Service Activities
• Political Communication Interest Group, Eastern Communication Association. Chair/program planner: 2023-2024 & 2008-2009. Vice-Chair/Wine & Spots coordinator: 2007-2008 • Pfau Outstanding Article Award Committee, Political Communication Division, National Communication Association. Member: 2022 • Cortland Votes. SUNY Cortland. Member: Summer-Fall 2020. • Know Your Vote. Student Liaison Committee and the Student Government Association. SUNY Potsdam. Speaker: Oct 2008 • Campaign '08 Open Discussion. Student Life, Draime Hall, SUNY Potsdam. Speaker: Feb 2008 • Commission on Presidential Debates, Debate Watch 2000. Albany, NY. Focus Group Facilitator: Oct 2000