Solidarity Through the Visual: Healing Images in the Brussels Terrorism Attacks. Issue 6 (2nd November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berkowitz, Dan
• Is Part Of: Mass communication & society. Volume 20:Issue 6(2017)
• Page Start: 740
• Page End: 762
• Publication Date: 2017-11-02
• Subjects: Mass media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media and culture -- Periodicals; Communication -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Communication and culture -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Médias -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Médias et culture -- Périodiques; Communication -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Communication et culture -- Périodiques; Presse -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Communication and culture; Communication -- Social aspects; Journalism -- Social aspects; Mass media and culture; Mass media -- Social aspects; Periodicals; 302.23
• DOI: 10.1080/15205436.2017.1306748
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1520-5436

Abstract

Abstract : This study applies a semiotic lens to argue that news media are not only conveyors of images of terrorism but, through a combination of photographs, editorial cartoons, and anchoring texts, have the potential to serve as facilitators of healing and solidarity in both the local and the global media arena. This anchoring function is essential for audience decoding—especially in the global—because many photographs and cartoons are culturally bound and therefore not readily accessible to the broader audience. Through the information they provide, written texts help to anchor meanings of the visual texts, conveying a sense of solidarity against terrorism.