In 1972 Ernest Bormann and his students were in the process of developing and applying what was later called "fantasy theme analysis" to various kinds of communication including the political campaign communication of 1972. Fantasy theme methodology ultimately developed into "Symbolic Convergence Theory," which has generated a wide variety and impressive quantity of research since 1972. Numerous conference papers, articles, and books using the methodology to explain various aspects of political communication have appeared. These applications of the theory have had impact on at least four levels of the study of political communication: (1) the redefinition of political invention and style; (2) a focusing on the consumer and co-creator of political messages; (3) an understanding of the role of mass media journalism in promoting themes which chain out; and (4) the legitimation of studying short political messages, especially in investigation of non-discursive message elements. (Seventeen notes are included.) (RS)