Media portrayals of the 'Other'

master's thesis

• Author: Katarina Rudar
• Mentor: Anđel Starčević (mentor)
• Mentor: Marija Bartulović (komentor)
• Committee member: Višnja Josipović-Smojver (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Marija Bartulović (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Anđel Starčević (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of Pedagogy); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2023-09-27, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Pedagogy

Abstract

Different forms of media are becoming more available and consumed by broader audiences. It is necessary to approach media discourse critically in order to analyse the ways in which media plays a role in the reproduction of power, dominance and the hegemonic status quo. This is the central aim of the Critical Discourse Analysis approach. Portrayals of LGBTQ individuals were analysed in political discourse across three media platforms: Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. LGBTQ minorities are negatively portrayed as an out-group in contrast to positive in-group evaluation. The goal of CDA is not only contribution to theory, but also social change. In order to construct a just, democratic society, which results in change for oppressed minority groups, CDA should be considered in connection to critical media literacy and critical pedagogy. The analysis showed that political discourse on media platforms in the United States and Croatia portrays LGBTQ individuals as 'Others', and represents them as an enemy, a threat, immoral and unequal. Analysis of the text on the macro-level, including access, context and overarching themes, reveals LGBTQ representations and their contexts that influence the minds of audiences and support stereotyped and discriminatory social cognitions. In-text analysis reveals discourse strategies and persuasive moves used to legitimize these representations. The implications of CDA for designing educational strategies within the disciplines of critical media literacy and critical pedagogy were considered on the real-life example of the on-going pressing political and social issues for the LGBTQ community in the US.

• Keywords: Others; Media literacy; Critical media literacy; LGBTQ representation; Critical pedagogy; Critical Discourse Analysis
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:508293
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation, TEFL; Course: TEFL; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra edukacije engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra edukacije engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Study programme: Title: Pedagogy (double major); Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra pedagogije (magistar/magistra pedagogije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-09-28 10:52:23