Media representations of the “other” Europeans
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Katarzyna Molek-Kozakowska
Abstract
This introductory chapter explains the rationale and the objectives of the collection focusing on the choices taken to frame the project in a coherent manner despite the apparent diversity of approaches, materials and scopes. First we highlight the role of the national media in European public spheres in sustaining, but also reconstructing, collective identities. Then we proceed to explaining the key concepts permeating all contributions, namely “the other” and othering, distinguishing between two of their key discursive functions – differentiation and discrimination. Next, we provide reasons for looking to semi-public media environments for a more calibrated analysis of othering, arguing that – following the rise of participatory media technologies – the public sphere has been extended to encompass new actors and non-elite voices. We also justify this choice with the reference to the ideological plurality of the contemporary public spheres in Europe and the fact that (critical) discourse analysts have been trying to grasp this complexity by resorting to a range of methodological approaches. We specify the research questions that guide our research, or any research aimed at documenting the diverse discursive forms of othering in media-related contexts. After an overview of the individual contributions, the chapter suggests that a multidisciplinary approach is needed to explore diverse forms of othering. We argue that the exigency and merit of this line of research has become particularly acute in connection with the recent social and political developments throughout Europe.
Abstract
This introductory chapter explains the rationale and the objectives of the collection focusing on the choices taken to frame the project in a coherent manner despite the apparent diversity of approaches, materials and scopes. First we highlight the role of the national media in European public spheres in sustaining, but also reconstructing, collective identities. Then we proceed to explaining the key concepts permeating all contributions, namely “the other” and othering, distinguishing between two of their key discursive functions – differentiation and discrimination. Next, we provide reasons for looking to semi-public media environments for a more calibrated analysis of othering, arguing that – following the rise of participatory media technologies – the public sphere has been extended to encompass new actors and non-elite voices. We also justify this choice with the reference to the ideological plurality of the contemporary public spheres in Europe and the fact that (critical) discourse analysts have been trying to grasp this complexity by resorting to a range of methodological approaches. We specify the research questions that guide our research, or any research aimed at documenting the diverse discursive forms of othering in media-related contexts. After an overview of the individual contributions, the chapter suggests that a multidisciplinary approach is needed to explore diverse forms of othering. We argue that the exigency and merit of this line of research has become particularly acute in connection with the recent social and political developments throughout Europe.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Media representations of the “other” Europeans 1
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Part I. Othering as political and media practice
- Chapter 1. Orbán’s Hungary 25
- Chapter 2. Togetherness or othering? 55
- Chapter 3. The European “stranger” in Le Monde ’s headline discourse 81
- Chapter 4. Profiling of new Europeans in the British conservative press 103
- Chapter 5. Construing the Other 121
- Chapter 6. Discursive legitimation of criminalization and victimization of sub-Saharan immigrants in Spanish El País and ABC newspapers 135
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Part II. Othering as interpersonal and interactional practice
- Chapter 7. Negotiating an identity 157
- Chapter 8. Representations of Eastern Europeans in the UK in reader comments of two British online newspapers 183
- Chapter 9. Othering others 207
- Chapter 10. The othering of Roma migrants in British and Czech online news discussion forums 235
- Chapter 11. The Roma as ultimate European minority and ultimate outsider? 259
- Chapter 12. Othering in Estonian online discussions about refugees 281
- Contributors 305
- Index 309
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Media representations of the “other” Europeans 1
-
Part I. Othering as political and media practice
- Chapter 1. Orbán’s Hungary 25
- Chapter 2. Togetherness or othering? 55
- Chapter 3. The European “stranger” in Le Monde ’s headline discourse 81
- Chapter 4. Profiling of new Europeans in the British conservative press 103
- Chapter 5. Construing the Other 121
- Chapter 6. Discursive legitimation of criminalization and victimization of sub-Saharan immigrants in Spanish El País and ABC newspapers 135
-
Part II. Othering as interpersonal and interactional practice
- Chapter 7. Negotiating an identity 157
- Chapter 8. Representations of Eastern Europeans in the UK in reader comments of two British online newspapers 183
- Chapter 9. Othering others 207
- Chapter 10. The othering of Roma migrants in British and Czech online news discussion forums 235
- Chapter 11. The Roma as ultimate European minority and ultimate outsider? 259
- Chapter 12. Othering in Estonian online discussions about refugees 281
- Contributors 305
- Index 309
