Abstract

This study analyzes the discursive strategies used by participants in online non-political spaces to negotiate and propagate political ideologies. Through the use of Critical Discourse Analysis in rhetorical studies (Huckin et. al.), this study produced a theory of political ideological vectors in digitally connective social network platforms. The analysis uses discussions taken from Twitter and Reddit surrounding the introduction of an Asian female character, Nagini, in the Fantastic Beats: Crimes of Grindelwald trailer immediately following its release in September 2018. Ultimately, this study found that participants are less likely to isolate themselves within politically congenial echo chambers than previously theorized (Iyengar & Hahn). Additionally, the study found that discursive language patterns including using personally diminishing language in conjunction with referencing false or un-confirmed premises fostered high levels of engagement, while high or intellectual registers and overly emotional language were rejected by the community and met little or no success due to communally agreed upon social norms and lexis.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2020

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Wheeler, Stephanie

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Arts and Humanities

Department

Writing and Rhetoric

Degree Program

English; Rhetoric and Composition

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0008028; DP0023168

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0023168

Language

English

Release Date

May 2020

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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