Discursive Unity and Identity Fragmentation in Alternative Media Sources of Feminist Politics

Discursive Unity and Identity Fragmentation in Alternative Media Sources of Feminist Politics

MEDIATED IDENTITY PROBLEM: DISCURSIVE UNITY AND IDENTITY FRAGMENTATION IN ALTERNATIVE MEDIA SOURCES OF FEMINIST POLITICS A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Media and Communications in the University of Canterbury by M.W. Balderstone University of Canterbury 2016 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................ iii Abstract ............................................................................. iv Introduction ....................................................................... 1 Chapter One: Myths, Discourse and Narrative: A Method for Analysing Identity in Alternative Media. ............................................. 8 Myths ...................................................................................................... 8 The Function of Myths and Myths of Gender .......................................... 10 Language: Narrative and Discourse ........................................................ 14 Discourse and Power .............................................................................. 15 Narrative and Discourse ......................................................................... 17 Discourse, Narrative, and Identity .......................................................... 19 Counterpublics ...................................................................................... 22 Cultural Artefacts and Alternative Media ................................................ 23 Method .................................................................................................. 26 Discourse Analysis ................................................................................. 27 Comparative Analysis ............................................................................. 33 Subject of Analysis ................................................................................. 34 Chapter Two: Alternative Media Sources of International Feminism: Identity across Two Discourses ......................................... 39 Personal Feminist Identity ...................................................................... 39 International Feminist Sources and Gendered Myths .............................. 52 Nuanced Feminist Discourses and Narratives ......................................... 61 International Feminism’s Splintered Identity .......................................... 65 i Chapter Three: Alternative Media Sources of Feminism from Aotearoa-New Zealand: Identity across Multiple Discourses .................... 70 Personal Feminist Identity ...................................................................... 70 Specialised Language and Identity .......................................................... 83 On the Narratives and Discourses of Politics and Daily Life .................... 93 Nuanced Feminist Identities ................................................................. 103 Splintered Feminist Identities ............................................................... 110 Chapter Four: A Clash of Identities: Discursive Contestation over Feminist Politics ........................................................................... 113 Discourse and Narrative Contestation .................................................. 113 Local-Global Divide .............................................................................. 118 Counterpublic Identity ......................................................................... 121 Theoretical and Realised Political Identity ............................................. 122 Economic Capital and Market Feminism .............................................. 125 Intersects of Race, Class, and Gender ................................................... 131 The Curious Incidence of Kate Magazine............................................... 135 Discourse, Narrative and Theoretical Identities ..................................... 135 Transnational Imaginary ...................................................................... 137 Conclusion: ..................................................................... 142 Notes .............................................................................. 150 Appendix A ..................................................................... 152 Bibliography ................................................................... 154 ii Acknowledgements Completing this thesis was a test of my patience, and a test in which I would probably have failed had it not been for a few helpful people. I would firstly like to thank my partner, Lydia, for believing in me even when I could not. Your support made this thesis possible, and that you have seen me at my worse and still believed in me means the world to me. I would also like to thank my family - Bill, Doreen, and Briar - to whom I owe a great deal in support and food. To Michele and Rob for ensuring that I did not go hungry over the course of the past 18 months. I would like to thank Dr. Sue Tait. Your feedback and comments, in addition to being a supportive and understanding supervisor made this thesis possible. Associate Professor LindaJean Kenix for your helpful feedback as my thesis progressed. To my two fluffy canine companions, the value of your non-judging companionship and general cuteness cannot be understated. And to anyone in which I have shared a drink with and joked about the precariousness of existence under late capitalism. Your comradery and gallows humour provided an invaluable emotional outlet. iii Abstract This thesis explores the way in which political identities can be mediated through alternative media forms. Drawing on the body of literature that exists on alternative media, in addition to theories of discourse and narrative, this thesis develops a framework through which to analyse political identities in alternative media sources. Central to this is Barthes’ (2012) theory of myth and Haraway's (1991) theory of situated knowledges. 10 alternative media sources of feminist politics - five international, and five from Aotearoa-New Zealand – were chosen in order to conduct this analysis. By using theories of discourse and narrative, in relation to Barthes’ (2012) theory of myth and Haraway's (1991) theory of situated knowledges, an analysis of how the alternative media sources of feminist politics situate their identity in relation to mythic modes of knowledge was performed. In theory, the alternative media sources of feminist politics should challenge Barthesian (2012) myths of gender as they attempt to develop a feminist identity. This thesis argues that the political identity developed across the alternative media sources of feminist politics is fragmented and without a discursive unity or a fixed identity. The 10 sources analysed here all practiced discourse and narrative in differing ways in relation to how they situated knowledge and challenged Barthesian (2012) myths. The purpose of this argument is not to say that feminist politics is without purpose or meaning, far from it, rather that at present there are multiple discourses of feminist politics creating contestation around a feminist identity. This research provides a framework through which to explore the identity building function of alternative media. This framework could be extended to explore the identities of different political movements as mediated through alternative media, or the iv identities of alternative media developed around popular culture. Through this, a framework that can better understand the nature of these groups can be developed. The current project, however, focuses on the competing articulations of feminist discourse in order to critically assess the instability of meaning regarding the constitution of feminist identity and political practice Keywords: feminism, alternative media, identity, political identity, media identity, myths, situated knowledges, discourse, narrative, counterpublics, Barthes v Introduction Alternative media can function as a space that mediates ideas that may not otherwise be mediated. It is through alternative media that various political organisations or social movements could develop a political platform that can facilitate identification with the politics of the organisation or movement developing the source text. However, how and to what extent alternative media functions to facilitate identity is unknown. There is little in the way of research that explores the relationship between political identities and alternative media. Literature on alternative media (Atton 2002; Harcup 2003; Rauch 2007; Carpentier 2009; Fuchs 2010; Sandoval & Fuchs 2010), counterpublics (Bailey & Iveson 2000; Downey & Fenton 2003; Milioni 2009; Eckert & Chadha 2013; Leung & Lee 2014), and the nature of identities (Polletta 1998; Van Leeuwen & Wodak 1999; Miller 2000; Stapleton 2001; Tusting 2005; Juris 2008) largely fail to intersect. Henry Jenkins (1992) presents research on popular culture fandoms and the media consumption and identity creation that surrounds them, but substantive research exploring political identities and alternative media has not yet been undertaken. This research will fill a gap that is currently present in the literature surrounding political movements and the way that they mediate identities. Research exploring the political identity function of alternative media is important in a contemporary 21st century setting. In Western economies, material conditions have given rise to circumstances where media production

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