Examining the Danish cartoon affair

Mediatized cross-cultural tensions

Bibliographic Data

ID12904451
AuthorsShawn Powers (University of Southern California, corresponding author)
Year2008
Volume1
Issue3
Pages339-359
Publication date2008-11-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedia War & Conflict (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1750-6352 • E-ISSN: 1750-6360
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1750635208097050
OpenAlexW2053275421
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited19

Examined in the context of the rise of media influence in international conflict, the Danish cartoon affair offers troubling evidence against the hope that changes in the global mediascape will provide productive space and means for reconciliation of international and intercultural tensions. This study outlines several ways in which the mainstream Western media constructed, performed, narrativized, and framed the Danish cartoon affair to specifically appeal to culturally problematic assumptions about Muslim society and culture. Drawing from concepts such as the `mediatized public crisis' and `strategic framing', this study found that Western mainstream media outlets drew heavily on Samuel Huntington's `clash of civilizations' narrative, increasing public fear of Islamic culture, obscuring public understandings of the geopolitical and cultural realities underlying the affair, and further entrenching assumptions that have become barriers to productive cross-cultural dialogue

Appeal · Art · Danish · Framing (construction · Geopolitics · Mainstream · Media studies · Narrative · Political science · Politics · Sociology · History · Law · Media Studies and Communication · Media, Religion, Digital Communication · Social Media and Politics