The Visual Framing of 'Failed' States: Afro-Pessimism vs Afro-Optimism. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hellmann, Olli
• Is Part Of: Media, war & conflict. Volume 13:Number 3(2020:Sep.)
• Page Start: 318
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Democratic Republic of the Congo -- media framing -- photography -- Somalia -- state failure -- visual analysis; Mass media and war -- Periodicals; Terrorism and mass media -- Periodicals; War -- Press coverage -- Periodicals; 070.433305
• DOI: 10.1177/1750635219828773
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-6352

Abstract

The 'failed state' frame equates the collapse of formal state institutions with violent anarchy and destructive chaos. By analysing newspaper imagery of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia through a multi-method research design, this article shows that tabloid newspapers are significantly more likely to adopt the 'failed state' frame than broadsheet newspapers. Visual narratives in the latter, on the other hand, tend to shift the focus away from issues of violence and instability, emphasizing instead the ability of alternative forms of governance to organize social and economic life. Of wider significance, the article therefore also shows that tabloids feed Afro-pessimism discourses to a much greater extent than broadsheets, which visualize Africa in more positive terms.