The voiceless in The Voice: A multimodal critical discourse analysis

Ibrahim Er

doi:10.1515/text-2020-2071

Article

The voiceless in The Voice: A multimodal critical discourse analysis

Ibrahim Er
Ibrahim Er earned his Ph.D. in the interdisciplinary program of Language, Literacy, and Culture at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2020. His research interests encompass media, culture, and globalization, with a specialization in Turkish television, politics, and culture. His research focuses on the global flow of transnational television formats and their reproduction and reimagining in different national settings as they work their way through different political landscapes and media cultures. Address for correspondence: Language, Literacy, and Culture Doctoral Program, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA. Email: ibrahimer@umbc.edu

Published/Copyright: July 13, 2020

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From the journal Text & Talk Volume 40 Issue 6

Abstract

This article highlights the importance of multimodality in the study of discourse with a discussion of a segment from the Turkish adaptation of the global television format, The Voice. In the segment under discussion, a contestant is disqualified from the show by the host for her allegedly disrespectful style of speech towards the coaches. Departing from traditional (sociolinguistic) critical discourse analysis, the article seeks to unveil the deep power discourse hidden in the multimodal landscape of the show by extending the scope of discourse analysis to include both linguistic and non-linguistic modes of communication and representation such as the camerawork, and mise-en-scene. The findings shed light on the inherently asymmetrical nature of the show and how the contestant's highly non-standard language and manners are demonized (multimodally) while the coaches and the host find a relatively less judgmental environment as the “authority” in the show.

Keywords: reality TV; The Voice; multimodal critical discourse analysis; power discourse; style of speech; authority

Corresponding author: Ibrahim Er, Language, Literacy, and Culture Doctoral Program, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA, E-mail: ibrahimer@umbc.edu

About the author

Ibrahim Er

Ibrahim Er earned his Ph.D. in the interdisciplinary program of Language, Literacy, and Culture at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2020. His research interests encompass media, culture, and globalization, with a specialization in Turkish television, politics, and culture. His research focuses on the global flow of transnational television formats and their reproduction and reimagining in different national settings as they work their way through different political landscapes and media cultures. Address for correspondence: Language, Literacy, and Culture Doctoral Program, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA. Email: ibrahimer@umbc.edu

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Published Online: 2020-07-13

Published in Print: 2020-11-26

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https://doi.org/10.1515/text-2020-2071

Keywords for this article

reality TV; The Voice; multimodal critical discourse analysis; power discourse; style of speech; authority