Ett norskt trauma : En kritisk diskursanalys av hur nationell identitet omtalas i debatten om Utøya 22. juli

Författare

Amanda Koverberg

Summary, in English

The aim of this study is to analyse how national identity is shown in the discussion about the film "Utøya 22. juli" in three Norwegian newspapers. The study also examines which temporal and spatial references are made in the material, and whom the “them”-term is referring to, as a contrast to a Norwegian “us”. The methodological and theoretical framework is composed by a critical discourse analysis and Umut Özkirimli’s theory about nationalism. In addition, Ruth Wodak’s categories of strategies of the discursive construction of national identity are used.

The conclusions of this study are that the terror attacks in Oslo and at Utøya are given a place in the Norwegian national identity as a distinct point of change. The island of Utøya has become a symbol for this change, and for the loss of a sense of safety. Temporal aspects in the material consists mainly of comparisons between the 22nd of July and Norway during world war II. As for the opposing component in the construction of a homogenous “we”, the “them” varies depending on the context. A national Norwegian “we” can either be a contrast to foreigners, or to Anders Behring Breivik.

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