ABSTRACT
This article presents a study in the non-verbal semiotic discourse analysis of visual ironies of military expenditures in some selected cartoons amid COVID-19 spread. Visual irony can be expressed through using humorous or sardonic cartoons or posters with written expressions to express the opposite of what is really going on. Global military expenditure reaches $1917 billion in 2019. Such massive spending on military equipment failed to fight an unseen enemy. This article aims to analyse, from a non-verbal semiotic discourse perspective, some selected cartoons related to military spending amid the rise of COVID-19 pandemic. The selected cartoons are analysed according to Peirce's triadic system of the sign. The analysis of the ironic cartoons related to military spending indicates that governments should reduce spending on military. Instead, they should focus on spending on other crucial humane, economic, and health problems.
ABSTRACT
Undoubtedly and unfortunately, COVID-19 pandemic has been politicized in media see Abbas (Int J Semiot Law, 2020), Rui Zhang (Media Asia 48:89-107, 2021). Although vaccines play a crucial role in eliminating the pandemic, they have been politicized by media. This article aims to show how COVID-19 vaccines are politicized in the press. The article collects some selected reports on vaccines taken from American and Chinese media. The reports are analyzed according to an analytical framework suggested by the researcher. The framework and data collection and description are clearly presented in the method section. Based on data analysis, the article shows that COVID-19 vaccines have been politicized. The study recommends that diseases and vaccines should not be politicized. In other words, we should respect and trust science and our scientists for no other purpose than to reach herd immunity and overcome a dangerous pandemic that has taken and is still taking thousands of innocent lives.
ABSTRACT
This article critically studies coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic news in the press. The article attempts to study the way the news of COVID-19 is used for political and ideological purposes. In order to achieve the aim, two newspapers namely, The New York Times from the United States of America and Global Times from China are selected. Van Dijk's news schemata framework is used for the analysis of the reports selected from the two newspapers. Van Dijk's news schemata is crucial for the analysis of any news story (report) whether such a news story is taken from a news channel or a newspaper and whether broadcasted or printed. Based on data analysis, the article found out that the news of COVID-19 has been politicized and used for ideological interests. The article recommends that pandemics should not be politicized, instead we should work together to save our lives and live peacefully.