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“We Are Together” : cultural trauma and discourse of collectivism in Chinese video representation of the COVID-19 epidemic

Zheng, Shujing LU (2021) MKVM13 20211
Media and Communication Studies
Department of Communication and Media
Abstract
This thesis has two aims. One is to situate COVID-19 in a macro narrative that characterizes our time as a risk society or reflexive modernization. The other is to bring public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic into the sharp focus of cultural trauma study which is closely related to media representations. The research scope is set in media and communication studies. Through the theoretical lens of risk society, ontological insecurity and cultural trauma, the thesis explores whether there exists a universal discourse in Chinese mainstream media responding to social risks like the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan, China. The qualitative textual analysis shows there is a general discourse schema hidden in the video... (More)
This thesis has two aims. One is to situate COVID-19 in a macro narrative that characterizes our time as a risk society or reflexive modernization. The other is to bring public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic into the sharp focus of cultural trauma study which is closely related to media representations. The research scope is set in media and communication studies. Through the theoretical lens of risk society, ontological insecurity and cultural trauma, the thesis explores whether there exists a universal discourse in Chinese mainstream media responding to social risks like the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan, China. The qualitative textual analysis shows there is a general discourse schema hidden in the video representation of COVID-19 in China which can be characterized as “a three-step collectivism”. The first step is to depict the epidemic in Wuhan as a war-like situation that causes a lot of pains and sufferings to Wuhan people. Next, to contain the epidemic and to reply the cultural trauma, people of all trades in Chinese society are represented as mobilized by the government and CPC to help a part in small ways. Finally, the videos claim with the strength of unity the epidemic is successfully contained and life in Wuhan is back to normal.
To articulate the significance of the containment and the greatness of CPC and the government who led the containment, military metaphors are frequently used in this processto highlight the terror of the disease. The metaphorical thinking suggesting all Chinese citizens are involved in this war justifies the intervention of the CPC in this epidemic. Meanwhile the epidemic is shaped as a cultural trauma overall, where a disruption of daily lives that causes ontological insecurity is defined as the nature of the pain. Medical workers and mass media who narrate the “darkest time” play the role of carrier groups in the trauma drama. And the responsibility of the pains is attributed to the virus and those who discount the disease. In the end, the thesis discusses whether the discourse of collectivism can truly enhance social solidarity or on the contrary, lead to polarization. It contributes to COVID-19 study and cultural trauma scholarship by providing a local perspective of discursive construction of a public health emergency in Chinese context.
Keywords: risk society, ontological insecurity, cultural trauma, collectivism, COVID-19 (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Zheng, Shujing LU
supervisor
organization
course
MKVM13 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
risk society, ontological insecurity, cultural trauma, collectivism, COVID-19
language
English
id
9044217
date added to LUP
2021-06-14 13:50:44
date last changed
2021-06-14 13:50:44
@misc{9044217,
  abstract     = {{This thesis has two aims. One is to situate COVID-19 in a macro narrative that characterizes our time as a risk society or reflexive modernization. The other is to bring public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic into the sharp focus of cultural trauma study which is closely related to media representations. The research scope is set in media and communication studies. Through the theoretical lens of risk society, ontological insecurity and cultural trauma, the thesis explores whether there exists a universal discourse in Chinese mainstream media responding to social risks like the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan, China. The qualitative textual analysis shows there is a general discourse schema hidden in the video representation of COVID-19 in China which can be characterized as “a three-step collectivism”. The first step is to depict the epidemic in Wuhan as a war-like situation that causes a lot of pains and sufferings to Wuhan people. Next, to contain the epidemic and to reply the cultural trauma, people of all trades in Chinese society are represented as mobilized by the government and CPC to help a part in small ways. Finally, the videos claim with the strength of unity the epidemic is successfully contained and life in Wuhan is back to normal. 
To articulate the significance of the containment and the greatness of CPC and the government who led the containment, military metaphors are frequently used in this processto highlight the terror of the disease. The metaphorical thinking suggesting all Chinese citizens are involved in this war justifies the intervention of the CPC in this epidemic. Meanwhile the epidemic is shaped as a cultural trauma overall, where a disruption of daily lives that causes ontological insecurity is defined as the nature of the pain. Medical workers and mass media who narrate the “darkest time” play the role of carrier groups in the trauma drama. And the responsibility of the pains is attributed to the virus and those who discount the disease. In the end, the thesis discusses whether the discourse of collectivism can truly enhance social solidarity or on the contrary, lead to polarization. It contributes to COVID-19 study and cultural trauma scholarship by providing a local perspective of discursive construction of a public health emergency in Chinese context.
Keywords: risk society, ontological insecurity, cultural trauma, collectivism, COVID-19}},
  author       = {{Zheng, Shujing}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{“We Are Together” : cultural trauma and discourse of collectivism in Chinese video representation of the COVID-19 epidemic}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}