This dissertation explores 14 publics that emerged throughout three polygamist controversies from 2006 through 2008. The first two chapters seek to establish a framework through which each controversy is explored. Specifically, warfare, pathogen stress, male absenteeism, and labor distribution are identified as plausible and possible rationales for the practice of polygamy. Subsequently, the history and contemporary role of polygamy in the United States is traced back to Native American culture and the contemporary practice of polygamy within the United States to members of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). Additionally, key terms such as controversy, abductive criticism, textual fragments, and publics are defined and situated within the literature.
The three analysis chapters reveal 14 publics that emerged throughout the polygamist controversies. An exploration of responses to the premiere of HBO's fictional drama about polygamy, Big Love, reveals six publics. These six publics include members of the Mormon Church, those engaged in polyamorous relationships, polygamists, gay marriage opponents, those who believe polygamy has inherently bad consequences, and those who believe that polygamy itself is a neutral practice. An examination into the Yearning for Zion raid reveals four publics. Included among those publics are those who attempt to shift attention away from the controversy, those who blame the raid on Child Protective Services (CPS), those who blame the raid on the FLDS, and those who criticize newspaper coverage of the raid. The final analysis chapter delves into audience responses of photographs taken of former FLDS leader, Warren Jeffs, kissing underage girls. In this analysis, four publics emerge including those who are repulsed by the photographs, those who believe the photographs are evidence of the raid's necessity, those who are opposed to the FLDS, and those who believe that the photographs should not be understood as evidence of abuse. The final chapter draws connections across the analysis chapter in terms of implications for the larger polygamy controversy, the difficulty of using textual fragments, and limitations in existing theory. A writing story concludes the dissertation.