Discourse &Society, Volume 34, Issue 6, Page 673-690, November 2023.
This paper investigates the racial discourse in the Afro-diaspora group in Germany. It uses the ‘discourse-historical approach’ – a strand of Critical Discourse Analysis – for the three-dimensional analysis of language biographical data of 67 African migrants in Germany. The study provides African migrants’ accounts of racism, identifies four discursive strategies, and then examines the semantics of a counter-racialisation term developed to cope with racism. The study finds Afro-diaspora racial discourse as a site for confronting the racism problem, legitimising the race idea, and contingent on migrants’ access to material resources in Germany. Furthermore, the term ‘fake-oyinbo’ indicates an ability to use simple linguistic terms in an intended way of racial categorisation within race relations thinking. The paper concludes that Afro-diasporans’ racial discourse is a ‘grassroots’ minority discourse revealing a counter-racialisation linguistic action while explaining and justifying the condition of the ordinary black minority.
Online gathering in times of physical (im)mobility: Facebook practices of Malagasy mothers in France
International Journal of Cultural Studies, Volume 26, Issue 6, Page 750-767, November 2023.
Based on a thematic content analysis of 813 in-group posts, the study presented in this article aimed to analyse first the implications of (social) immobility and lockdowns for vulnerable communities such as immigrants and mothers among them due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and then how Facebook groups helped these communities to cope with such challenges. The analysis was conducted within Le Groupe des Mamans Gasy de France – a Facebook group restricted to France-based Malagasy mothers. It revealed that the group was used as a safe space of benevolence amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, a space for self-acceptance and empowerment, and a space for Malagasy cultural and identity anchoring. These findings align with Leah Williams Veazey's ‘migrant maternal imaginaries’ and Laura Candidatu's ‘diasporic mothering’ conceptual frameworks.
Based on a thematic content analysis of 813 in-group posts, the study presented in this article aimed to analyse first the implications of (social) immobility and lockdowns for vulnerable communities such as immigrants and mothers among them due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and then how Facebook groups helped these communities to cope with such challenges. The analysis was conducted within Le Groupe des Mamans Gasy de France – a Facebook group restricted to France-based Malagasy mothers. It revealed that the group was used as a safe space of benevolence amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, a space for self-acceptance and empowerment, and a space for Malagasy cultural and identity anchoring. These findings align with Leah Williams Veazey's ‘migrant maternal imaginaries’ and Laura Candidatu's ‘diasporic mothering’ conceptual frameworks.
From growth obsession to ecological promotion: The discursive construction of party image in Chinese political discourse on ecological civilization
Discourse &Communication, Ahead of Print.
The traditional definition of party image as being distinct, fixed, and receiver-determined, has been replaced by the understanding that party image is invested with more dynamic and complex features and is dialectically constructed by discourse to influence public perceptions. By adopting Van Dijk’s socio-cognitive model of critical discourse analysis, this study explores party images and how they are discursively constructed in CPC’s political discourse on ecological civilization. The discourse analysis reveals that five images have prominently been constructed: the goal-setter of future blueprints, lesson-taker of past development pattern, the coordinator of ecology and economy, the determined fighter against environmental disruption, and the systematic governor of ecological path. They are constructed through varying linguistic devices such as recontextualization, high-frequency repetition, and conceptual metaphors. The images and their construction are born out of the social cognition, the outcome of political system, changes of historical conditions, economic status, and cultural model, among which the emerging Chinese ideology of ‘moderate green’, and the consistent ideologies man is an integral part of nature (天人合一, tian ren he yi), Doctrine of the Mean (中庸之道, zhongyong zhidao), people-centeredness, and collectivism play a dominant role. This study helps find the fluidity of party images.
The traditional definition of party image as being distinct, fixed, and receiver-determined, has been replaced by the understanding that party image is invested with more dynamic and complex features and is dialectically constructed by discourse to influence public perceptions. By adopting Van Dijk’s socio-cognitive model of critical discourse analysis, this study explores party images and how they are discursively constructed in CPC’s political discourse on ecological civilization. The discourse analysis reveals that five images have prominently been constructed: the goal-setter of future blueprints, lesson-taker of past development pattern, the coordinator of ecology and economy, the determined fighter against environmental disruption, and the systematic governor of ecological path. They are constructed through varying linguistic devices such as recontextualization, high-frequency repetition, and conceptual metaphors. The images and their construction are born out of the social cognition, the outcome of political system, changes of historical conditions, economic status, and cultural model, among which the emerging Chinese ideology of ‘moderate green’, and the consistent ideologies man is an integral part of nature (天人合一, tian ren he yi), Doctrine of the Mean (中庸之道, zhongyong zhidao), people-centeredness, and collectivism play a dominant role. This study helps find the fluidity of party images.
Book review: Understanding Collegiate Esports: A Practitioner’s Guide to Developing Community and Competition
Convergence, Volume 29, Issue 5, Page 1409-1411, October 2023.
Gig workers, critical visuality and humour in a digital context: The graphic representation of riders as a form of social criticism
Convergence, Ahead of Print.
This article studies social perceptions of gig work and its conditions through the lenses of visual humour created and shared in digital environments. Food delivery services have thrived in cities, and riders – gig workers associated with such services – have become popular urban figures, easily recognisable through light means of transport and backpacks. These iconic elements have spread to forms of visual humour like memes and cartoons in social media. We aim to analyse the depiction of food delivery services and riders through graphic humour in digital environments, and its role as critical stances of gig work conditions. We draw from the literature on gig work, as well as critical humour in the workplace, approaching the phenomenon from the perspective of critical visualities and the memetic qualities of digital visual humour. Thus, we have conducted an analysis of rider memes, and carried out a focus group with Spanish cartoonists to better understand each form. From our analysis, we have observed that a) memes showcase less explicit critical stances but reflect a shared understanding of the hurdles associated to rider work; b) cartoons place riders in a contextualised, wider critique of platform economy and capitalism; c) while most graphic humour on riders takes an external, observational position, there is also an ‘inner look’ to the rider work, emphasising the promises and deceptions associated with the gig economy.
This article studies social perceptions of gig work and its conditions through the lenses of visual humour created and shared in digital environments. Food delivery services have thrived in cities, and riders – gig workers associated with such services – have become popular urban figures, easily recognisable through light means of transport and backpacks. These iconic elements have spread to forms of visual humour like memes and cartoons in social media. We aim to analyse the depiction of food delivery services and riders through graphic humour in digital environments, and its role as critical stances of gig work conditions. We draw from the literature on gig work, as well as critical humour in the workplace, approaching the phenomenon from the perspective of critical visualities and the memetic qualities of digital visual humour. Thus, we have conducted an analysis of rider memes, and carried out a focus group with Spanish cartoonists to better understand each form. From our analysis, we have observed that a) memes showcase less explicit critical stances but reflect a shared understanding of the hurdles associated to rider work; b) cartoons place riders in a contextualised, wider critique of platform economy and capitalism; c) while most graphic humour on riders takes an external, observational position, there is also an ‘inner look’ to the rider work, emphasising the promises and deceptions associated with the gig economy.
Cooperative solidarity among crowdworkers? Social learning practices on a crowdtesting social media platform
Convergence, Ahead of Print.
The paper analyzes social interactions among crowdworkers on Discord. The explored crowdtesting platform uses this social media platform to offer their crowdworkers various opportunities for work-related and private communication and to host events that encourage learning practices. The paper investigates to what extent the interactions on Discord can be analyzed as social learning practices and can be understood as a specific form of solidarity among crowdworkers. In an explorative online ethnographic study, two learning related channels of the platform company’s Discord server were observed: the question channel in which testers can ask for help, and the quiz channel in which a testing related quiz event takes place. Additionally, interviews with moderators and crowdtesters were conducted. The observation of learning practices on Discord makes clear that the social media tool is mostly used by testers for situational and functional information exchange like helping each other with bug classifications or solving technical problems. Testers mostly provide each other with brief information that can directly be applied in the work context. Further information are mainly shared by moderators that offer supplementary explanations as a possibility to self-help. The study highlights that a form of weak cooperative solidarity emerges among testers as they support each other via Discord to fulfill individual work tasks. This differs from resistant solidarity in other contexts of platform work, because in the observed case, platform workers’ solidarity is not directed against the platform company.
The paper analyzes social interactions among crowdworkers on Discord. The explored crowdtesting platform uses this social media platform to offer their crowdworkers various opportunities for work-related and private communication and to host events that encourage learning practices. The paper investigates to what extent the interactions on Discord can be analyzed as social learning practices and can be understood as a specific form of solidarity among crowdworkers. In an explorative online ethnographic study, two learning related channels of the platform company’s Discord server were observed: the question channel in which testers can ask for help, and the quiz channel in which a testing related quiz event takes place. Additionally, interviews with moderators and crowdtesters were conducted. The observation of learning practices on Discord makes clear that the social media tool is mostly used by testers for situational and functional information exchange like helping each other with bug classifications or solving technical problems. Testers mostly provide each other with brief information that can directly be applied in the work context. Further information are mainly shared by moderators that offer supplementary explanations as a possibility to self-help. The study highlights that a form of weak cooperative solidarity emerges among testers as they support each other via Discord to fulfill individual work tasks. This differs from resistant solidarity in other contexts of platform work, because in the observed case, platform workers’ solidarity is not directed against the platform company.
Coercive Communication: Compliance with Government Policies to Reduce COVID-19 Spread in Indonesia
Journal of Creative Communications, Ahead of Print.
This article aims to explain the direct and indirect effects of coercive communication on the increase of public compliance with Indonesian government policies to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This study employed a quantitative method. The data were collected for 11 days (29 May–8 June 2020). This research involved 580 respondents who were aged 15 years and over and willingly answered the questionnaire. The research questionnaire was distributed through social media platforms, such as Facebook, WhatsApp group and Instagram. The research data were analysed using statistical path analysis with SEM WarpPLS7.0. The findings indicate that coercive communication significantly and directly affects public compliance with seeking information and performing attitudes to suppress the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia. Thus, coercive communication can be practically applied as an important alternative strategy in other public policy communications to get a fast response, encourage information seeking and trigger public compliance.
This article aims to explain the direct and indirect effects of coercive communication on the increase of public compliance with Indonesian government policies to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This study employed a quantitative method. The data were collected for 11 days (29 May–8 June 2020). This research involved 580 respondents who were aged 15 years and over and willingly answered the questionnaire. The research questionnaire was distributed through social media platforms, such as Facebook, WhatsApp group and Instagram. The research data were analysed using statistical path analysis with SEM WarpPLS7.0. The findings indicate that coercive communication significantly and directly affects public compliance with seeking information and performing attitudes to suppress the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia. Thus, coercive communication can be practically applied as an important alternative strategy in other public policy communications to get a fast response, encourage information seeking and trigger public compliance.
Consumption Patterns of Female Lifestyle Influencers During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Thematic Sentiment Analysis Based on the Comments of Selected YouTube Videos
Journal of Creative Communications, Ahead of Print.
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected every walk of human life in unprecedented ways. During the lockdown, social media tools became a driving force leading to their best usage and receiving recognition for entertaining, learning and influencing daily lifestyles. Social Media Influencers have been admired and acknowledged for influencing people and providing innovative solutions to day-to-day problems maintaining a standard livelihood. This study evaluates the engagement of Indian female influencers during the pandemic extracting the reaction of audiences towards the content uploaded to YouTube through sentiment analysis, by classifying the influencers into five categories, such as Beauty & Fashion, Comedy, Food, Health & Fitness and Travel. The study reveals upload of content to YouTube increased rigorously during the pandemic however comments posted by audiences decrease simultaneously. Yet, the sentiment of the audience is substantially positive, primarily towards the food category. The duration of content uploaded is short and conveniently less time-consuming for the audience, attracting their attention and leading to prompt mention, feedback and comments within the 24-h of uploading content to YouTube. The study highlights that females are abruptly adapting to the social changes and also making it resourceful for the community by practising social media.
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected every walk of human life in unprecedented ways. During the lockdown, social media tools became a driving force leading to their best usage and receiving recognition for entertaining, learning and influencing daily lifestyles. Social Media Influencers have been admired and acknowledged for influencing people and providing innovative solutions to day-to-day problems maintaining a standard livelihood. This study evaluates the engagement of Indian female influencers during the pandemic extracting the reaction of audiences towards the content uploaded to YouTube through sentiment analysis, by classifying the influencers into five categories, such as Beauty & Fashion, Comedy, Food, Health & Fitness and Travel. The study reveals upload of content to YouTube increased rigorously during the pandemic however comments posted by audiences decrease simultaneously. Yet, the sentiment of the audience is substantially positive, primarily towards the food category. The duration of content uploaded is short and conveniently less time-consuming for the audience, attracting their attention and leading to prompt mention, feedback and comments within the 24-h of uploading content to YouTube. The study highlights that females are abruptly adapting to the social changes and also making it resourceful for the community by practising social media.
Does Social Media Exposure Shape Consumer Response in the Form of Panic Buying?
Journal of Creative Communications, Ahead of Print.
This study took an effort to analyse the impact of social media exposure on the panic buying behaviour of people towards health and personal care products during COVID-19 times. The study also analyses the mediating role of anxiety between social media exposure and panic buying. This study attempts to explain the connection between social media exposure, anxiety, and panic buying using the social proof theory, the S–O–R model, and the behavioural inhibition system theory. The study includes a sample of 433 people. The data was collected from 24 items structured questionnaire distributed online. A total of 433 responses were collected online. The relationship between variables was analysed through structural equation modelling using Smart PLS-3. The results revealed that there is a direct effect of social media exposure on panic buying but when anxiety mediates the relationship between media and panic buying then a condition of partial mediation was observed. The result suggests that social media exposure directly affects panic buying among customers but it also affects generating anxiety among the customer. The study contributes by exploring the relationship between social media exposure, anxiety and panic buying. This study has a practical implication towards policymaking and the functioning of appropriate social media communication during an unstructured and disastrous situation.
This study took an effort to analyse the impact of social media exposure on the panic buying behaviour of people towards health and personal care products during COVID-19 times. The study also analyses the mediating role of anxiety between social media exposure and panic buying. This study attempts to explain the connection between social media exposure, anxiety, and panic buying using the social proof theory, the S–O–R model, and the behavioural inhibition system theory. The study includes a sample of 433 people. The data was collected from 24 items structured questionnaire distributed online. A total of 433 responses were collected online. The relationship between variables was analysed through structural equation modelling using Smart PLS-3. The results revealed that there is a direct effect of social media exposure on panic buying but when anxiety mediates the relationship between media and panic buying then a condition of partial mediation was observed. The result suggests that social media exposure directly affects panic buying among customers but it also affects generating anxiety among the customer. The study contributes by exploring the relationship between social media exposure, anxiety and panic buying. This study has a practical implication towards policymaking and the functioning of appropriate social media communication during an unstructured and disastrous situation.
News packaging during a pandemic: A computational analysis of news diffusion via Facebook
Discourse &Communication, Ahead of Print.
Facebook remains the most important platform where social media editors package and try to ‘sell’ media outlets’ online news articles to audiences. In one of the first studies of its kind, we assess how this practice was effectuated during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We use computational analysis to determine the polarity, subjectivity and use of some linguistics features in the status messages of 140,359 Facebook posts of 17 mainstream and alternative news titles from Flanders (Belgium) between March 2020 and 2021. Among other things, we find that status messages score considerably higher than headlines in terms of polarity and subjectivity, and that they, along with the use of question and interrogation marks, peaked in the first months of the pandemic. We contextualise our findings within existing scholarship and wider trends in increasingly digitised and globalised media societies.
Facebook remains the most important platform where social media editors package and try to ‘sell’ media outlets’ online news articles to audiences. In one of the first studies of its kind, we assess how this practice was effectuated during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We use computational analysis to determine the polarity, subjectivity and use of some linguistics features in the status messages of 140,359 Facebook posts of 17 mainstream and alternative news titles from Flanders (Belgium) between March 2020 and 2021. Among other things, we find that status messages score considerably higher than headlines in terms of polarity and subjectivity, and that they, along with the use of question and interrogation marks, peaked in the first months of the pandemic. We contextualise our findings within existing scholarship and wider trends in increasingly digitised and globalised media societies.