Political Entertainment and Audience Perceptions: the Role of Tv Comedy in Framing the Issues of General Elections in Pakistan
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POLITICAL ENTERTAINMENT AND AUDIENCE PERCEPTIONS: THE ROLE OF TV COMEDY IN FRAMING THE ISSUES OF GENERAL ELECTIONS IN PAKISTAN BY SOBIA ABID REGISTRATION# 1231216002 Doctor of Philosophy Centre For Media & Communication Studies UNIVERSITY OF GUJRAT Session 2012-15 POLITICAL ENTERTAINMENT AND AUDIENCE PERCEPTIONS: THE ROLE OF TV COMEDY (Page 1 of 200) IN FRAMING THE ISSUES OF GENERAL ELECTIONS IN PAKISTAN A Thesis submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Degree of Doctor of Philosophy In Mass Communication BY SOBIA ABID REGISTRATION# 1231216002 Centre for Media & Communication Studies UNIVERSITY OF GUJRAT Session 2012-15 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation is the culmination of my long journey as a student. Completing this project has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. (Page 2 of 200) First and Foremost all thanks to Almighty ALLAH for His all blessings and His Last Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).I must take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to all those who have helped me along the way. I have benefited greatly from the wisdom and guidance of many amazing scholars. During my undergraduate days at The University of Punjab, Lahore, my teachers there taught me to think systematically about media content, introduced me to empirical research and encouraged my budding interest in political communication. I am also appreciative of all the support and assistance I received from the distinguished Professors as of my dissertation supervisors. Prof. DrFarishUllah Yousafzai has been my advisor since the beginning. I am forever grateful for his mentorship. His commitment to doing good science helped me to complete this dissertation. I am also incredibly lucky to have developed a close working relationship with Prof. Dr. Peter Gade. The scope of his knowledge and intellectual curiosity are nothing short of inspirational, and I benefited immeasurably from his brilliant insights. I learned so very much from him as my co supervisor. I would like to thank Muhammad Zahid Bilal, as support in my studies. It was in his course on non-traditional channels of political communication that I got the inspiration for this project. Finally, I owe a special debt of gratitude to Dr. Zahid Yousaf for his generous support; he graciously provided valuable feedback and went out of his way to guide me in my career. I could never have completed this project without the incredible support of the Centre for Media and Communication studies, University of Gujrat, which believed in me and my work and far exceeded any reasonable expectations to ensure my success. Special recognition must be given to the Gaylord College of Journalism, University of Oklahoma for supporting my research through the faculty exchange program between UOG and OU which enabled me to be there and have been blessed to meet some great professors of Mass Communication research and exchange my ideas about this research. During my time of the course work at CMCS, UOG I had the privilege of being in the company of some absolutely brilliant people. I am incredibly grateful to all my fellows and colleagues in the CMCS, UOG. I am honored and humbled to call all of these incredible individuals my friends. (Page 3 of 200) Lastly, I would like to thank my family. Perhaps deserving the most credit is the man to whom this dissertation is dedicated, my late father, Muhammad Aslam Abid, who was my first and most important teacher, best friend, and biggest fan. The many evenings I spent as a child sitting on the corner sofa, listening to Dad and his friends’ debate on political issues large and small inspired my interest in political news and taught me to think critically about the world. I must also thank my mother, who supported me in any way she could, often without my even having to ask. I am grateful to my siblings, Rabia, Rafia, Ramsha, Ali and Ammar for their loyal companionship and my extended family and in-laws. Finally, to my amazing husband, Muhammad Zahid Bilal, who never for a moment doubted that I could succeed and sacrificed so very much to make it happen, thank you for bring in my life all the happiness and contentment and believing in my dreams. I did some of my best thinking during our long conversations. My children Muhammad Ibrahim Bilal and Zainab Bilal are source of inspiration and love for me, I am thankful to both of them for sometimes suffering due to my lack of attention towards them because of my educational engagements. I love you both my dear children. Last but not the least I am very much grateful to my beloved country Pakistan, which is our pride and our motherland. Despite of many difficult situations and circumstances it provides a girl like me all equal opportunities to flourish and give me the space to live my dreams like starting my career as a professional television journalist and now as a teacher of mass media. SOBIA ABID (Page 4 of 200) DEDICTION I dedicate this work to myLate Father, “Muhammad Aslam Abid”and to my Mother, “Abida Aslam” SOBIA ABID (Page 5 of 200) DECLARATION I Sobia AbidD/o Muhammad Aslam Abid Roll No. 12014316-002student of Ph.D(Mass Communication and Media) Centre for Media and Communication Studies, University of Gujrat hereby solemnly declare that the data quoted in this thesis titled “Political Entertainment and Audience Perceptions: The Role of TV Comedy in Framing the Issues of General Elections in Pakistan” comprises of original research and has not yet been submitted or published elsewhere. I also solemnly declare that the entire thesis is free of deliberate plagiarism and I shall not use this thesis for obtaining any other degree from this or any other university or institution. I also understand that if evidence of plagiarism is provided in my thesis at any stage, even after the award of the degree, the degree shall be cancelled or revoked by the University authority. SOBIA ABID I certify that Sobia Abid D/o Muhammad Aslam Abid Roll No. 12014316-002student of PhD (Mass Communication and Media) Centre for Media and Communication Studies, University of Gujrat, worked under my supervision and above stated declaration is true to the best of my knowledge. I have personally guided him through all the procedure and data collection, contents, results and conclusions reported in the manuscript and clarify its correctness and authenticity. Prof. Dr. FarishUllah Yousafzai Dissertation Supervisor, Dean Faculty of Arts University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Email: [email protected] Dated: ____________________ (Page 6 of 200) RESEARCH COMPLETION CERTIFICATE It is verified that the research work titled “Political Entertainment and Audience Perceptions: The Role of TV Comedy in Framing the Issues of General Elections in Pakistan” by Sobia Abid Roll No. 12014316-002 student of PhD (Mass Communication and Media) Centre for Media and Communication Studies, University of Gujrat is evaluated and acceptance for the award of degree “Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)” in Centre for Media & Communication Studies by the following members of the Thesis / Dissection Viva Voce Examination Committee. The evaluation report is available in the Directorate of Advance Studies and research board of the University. ___________________________________ Name & Signature of the External Evaluator Designation, Official Address Email ______________________________________ Prof. Dr. FarishUllah Yousafzai Dissertation Supervisor, Dean Faculty of Arts University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Email: [email protected] Dated: _____________ ______________________________________ Dr.Zahid Yousaf Chairperson/Associate Professor, Centre for Media and Communication Studies, (Page 7 of 200) University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan. Email: [email protected] Dated: _____________ (Page 8 of 200) TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS PAGE LIST OF FIGURES------------------------------------------------------------------- vii ------- viii LIST OF TABLES-------------------------------------------------------------------- x ------- 01 LIST OF APPEENDICES------------------------------------------------------------ 02 ------- 04 ABSTRACT -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 05 -------- 06 CRAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION -------------------------------------------------- 07 ------- 07 1.1 Political Satire and Parody----------------------------------------------------- 08 ------- 09 1.2 Political Humor ----------------------------------------------------------------- 10 ------ 10 1.3 Political Issues and Entertainment--------------------------------------------- 12 ----- 14 1.4 Problem Statement --------------------------------------------------------------- 17 ------ 18 1.5 Objectives of the Study-------------------------------------------------------- 22 ----- 26 1.6 Research Questions of the Study ---------------------------------------------- 26 ------ 31 1.7 Hypotheses for the Study------------------------------------------------------ 33 ------ 27 CHAPTER 02: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE-------------------------- 29 ------- 30 2.1 Political Entertainment ---------------------------------------------------------- 30 --- 33 2.2 Political Entertainment Effects in the World---------------------------------- 36 ------ 36 2.3 Political Entertainment in Pakistan--------------------------------------------- 38 ----- 38 2.4 Political Issues of Pakistan----------------------------------------------------- 39 ----- 39 2.5 Political Issues during Elections Campaign 2013----------------------------- 40 -------