Representation of Refugees in the Media

Mallak M.A. ALI

Master's thesis

Abstract:

This thesis aimed to uncover the visual representational practices used by the media to represent the Palestinian refugees to their audience. Mainly focusing on their representation under the event of the defunding of the UNRWA by the US in three different international newspapers, and by drawing upon different qualitative frameworks for analysis mainly Critical Discourse Analysis and Critical Visual Analysis, this thesis has concluded that there are three recurring themes under which Palestinian refugees are represented: as a female, as a crowd and as a person in need of aid. By delving into the origins of these themes of representation it was found that they reflect the need for specific humanitarian interventions. Many of these interventions aim to accelerate achieving certain development goals, such as the MDGs or their successors the SDGs among others. Since Palestinian refugees are prime targets of humanitarian intervention and international aid since their displacement in 1948, they are viewed as the ideal target group to achieve these goals. Hence, Palestinian refugees are visually portrayed as in need of the standardized and generic humanitarian interventions which target them.

Abstract:

This thesis aimed to uncover the visual representational practices used by the media to represent the Palestinian refugees to their audience. Mainly focusing on their representation under the event of the defunding of the UNRWA by the US in three different international newspapers, and by drawing upon different qualitative frameworks for analysis mainly Critical Discourse Analysis and Critical Visual Analysis, this thesis has concluded that there are three recurring themes under which Palestinian refugees are represented: as a female, as a crowd and as a person in need of aid. By delving into the origins of these themes of representation it was found that they reflect the need for specific humanitarian interventions. Many of these interventions aim to accelerate achieving certain development goals, such as the MDGs or their successors the SDGs among others. Since Palestinian refugees are prime targets of humanitarian intervention and international aid since their displacement in 1948, they are viewed as the ideal target group to achieve these goals. Hence, Palestinian refugees are visually portrayed as in need of the standardized and generic humanitarian interventions which target them.

Keywords

visual representation, media representation, Palestinian refugees, Critical Discourse Analysis, Critical Visual Analysis, UNRWA funding cuts

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 8. 6. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Lucie Macková, M.A., Ph.D.

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Science

Master programme / field:
Geography / International Development Studies