COVID Communication: Exploring Pandemic Discourse

Description

This book focuses on how we understand COVID-19―medically, socially, and rhetorically. Given the expectation that other flu pandemics will occur, it stresses the importance of examining how the public response is shaped in the face of global health emergencies. It considers questions such as how can pandemic language both limit and expand our understanding of disease as biomedical, social, and experiential? In what ways can health communication be improved through the study and application of rhetoric and the health humanities? COVID Communication fills a gap in the pandemic literature by promoting interdisciplinary analysis of communication methods, realized through a health humanities approach. It centers human experience and culture within conversations about the biological reality of a pandemic. This volume will be a welcome contribution to the scientific investigations and practice of psychology and public health professionals. Interdisciplinary perspectiveNew insights on how a pandemic is understoodHighlights the relevance to important usually neglected relevance for psychology and public health professionals Endorsements of COVID Communication  “In an era of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, COVID Communication provides a smart, urgent alternative to our collective downward spiral, not only offering a fiery critique of our selfish and self-destructive present but also providing galvanizing, positive visions of what futures we might hope for.” ― Shailendra Saxena, King George’s Medical University, India; editor of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapeutics “COVID Communication shows that the pandemic affects us not only because it makes us sick or ruins our economy, but also because of how it is spoken, written, and thought about, ultimately because of how it is socially constructed. An original and very necessary look to arm ourselves intellectually against the pandemic.” ― Alberto del Campo Tejedor, Pablo de Olavide University, Spain; author of La infame fama del andaluz  “The COVID-19 pandemic represented a global challenge that needed nations and their people to come together, find a joint response, and build a narrative that was clear, consistent, inclusive, and respectful of people. The reality, however, is that the responses to the pandemic reflected the ideologies of national leaders, political leaders, media outlets, and activists, leading to a fragmented and at times polarized global discourse. This important work examines the different narratives that circulated within the information environment to explore how these may have led to differing levels of trust in politicians, in science, and in one another. Through an analysis of rhetoric across diverse nations and platforms, the chapters provide a framework that is crucial for understanding the interplay between discourse, cognition, and behavior.” ― Darren Lilleker, Bournemouth University, UK; co-editor of Political Communication and COVID-19: Governance and Rhetoric in Times of Crisis“This book presents a collection of must-read scholarly chapters that illustrate a panoramic view of how people from different countries and cultures communicate about this global pandemic.  These chapters paint a rich canvas of thoughts, emotions, reactions, and actions through communication expressions, ranging from intuitive rhetoric and probing cartoons to emotional memes and creative advertising.  The book is a great resource for aiding health communication scholars, instructors, professionals, journalists, and students in enhancing their COVID-19 research, teaching, practice, reporting, and learning.” ― Carolyn A. Lin, University of Connecticut, USA; co-editor of Communication Technology and Social Change: Theory and Implications“In an era of cultural anxiety caused by the global pandemic and social unrest, COVID Communication could not be timelier. Presenting broad cross-cultural and multi-modal perspectives on media portrayals of the illness that has caused so much suffering and uncertainty, this insightful book offers a ‘rhetorical toolkit’ that gives us tools to navigate the maze of modern communication with a deeper understanding of the power of language in the time of social media. It is a perfect resource for classes on media literacy, while it is useful to anyone who wants to become a more active, independent, and secure consumer of the media in the age of information abundance.” ― Katja Plemenitaš, University of Maribor, Slovenia; co-author of Josip Hutter and the Dwelling Culture of Maribor “COVID-19, as a disaster and series of converging crises, has forever shaped society. COVID Communication offers an easy-to-read, unparalleled academic-practitioner focus to help understand the cultural, social, economic, political, community health, and personal risk assessment aspects of communication during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, in a ground- breaking analysis that enhances the rich intellectual tradition of the field of communications, each chapter in COVID Communication offers readers the opportunity to view multiple media sources and approaches that engender a deeper understanding of health information and communication during and after COVID-19 and its ensuing crises.” ― DeMond S. Miller, Rowan University, USA; co-editor of Community Disaster Recovery and Resiliency: Exploring Global Opportunities and Challenges“With its twenty-one chapters exploring a wide spectrum of issues ranging from individual and social responses to the global coronavirus breakout to the divergent narrative patterns identified from various countries, COVID Communication is indeed a timely and significant guide to understanding the recent pandemic. The collection makes the reader realize and acknowledge the multitude of complex, intersecting factors and processes that are relevant to comprehend the coronavirus pandemic and to cope with its various representations.”  ― Şemsettin Tabur, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Turkey; author of Contested Spaces in Contemporary North American Novels: Reading for Space  Preface Contents Contributors Chapter 1: Introduction: The Rhetoric of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Investigating Health Literacy and Disease Knowledge A Public Health Emergency COVID-19 Pandemic Rhetoric Health/Medical Humanities, Rhetorics of Science, Technology, Health, and Medicine The Current Volume Pandemic Constructions Visual Discourse Pandemic Communities Discourses of Dissent References Part I: Political and Media Discourses: Pandemic Constructions Chapter 2: The Rhetoric of Pandemics: Health, Politics, and the Public Introduction The WHO and the Pandemic Definition Problem Pandemics in Politics: President Trump’s Response Social Media Engagements with #Pandemic The Uncertainty of Pandemic References Chapter 3: Rhetorical Media Devices and COVID-19: Comparing U.S. News and Social Media Responses to National Events Since 9/11 Devices, 9/11, Cable News, and COVID-19 Journalistic Devices and Cognitive Bias Rhetorical Exhaustion, Trolls, and Social Media Irony Discussion References Chapter 4: COVID-19 as Metaphor: Fighting the Virus of Racism, Becoming the Vaccine The Fight, the Grey Rhino, the Perfect Storm Metaphor Makes the Unknown Known Demonstrating Metaphorical Ills in the Body Politic Nature Is Healing, We Are the Virus The Virus of Racism Associative Animals: Fighting or Playing Chess? References Chapter 5: Tweeting the Pandemic Away: A Look at How Academics, Activists, Politicians, and the Media Interact with the Public on Twitter Introduction Literature Review Research Methods Analysis The Media and Politicians QAnon Discussion and Conclusion References Chapter 6: Textual Analysis of Cartoons on Nigerian Politicians’ Reactions to COVID-19 Pandemic on Social Media Introduction Social Media and Political Discourse in Nigeria Cartoons as Communicative Media Use of Cartoons as Political Tools Theoretical Framework Methodology Analysis Discussions Conclusion References Part II: Visual Discourse: Pandemic Information Distribution Chapter 7: The Rhetoric of Visual Representations: Visualizing the COVID-19 Pandemic in Polish Media Literature Review Methods Intercoder Reliability Results Discussion Limitations References Chapter 8: Countering the Infodemic through Comics: COVID-19 and Graphic Medicine COVID-19: The Pandemic-Turned-Infodemic Graphic Medicine and Healthcare The Edifying Role of Graphic Medicine The Sly Hues of the Infodemic: Choice of Colors in Health Educational Comics Conclusion References Chapter 9: This Is What Pandemic Looks Like: Visual Framing of COVID-19 on Search Engines Theoretical Background Methodology Data Collection Data Analysis Findings Conclusions References Chapter 10: Advertising in the Time of COVID-19: A Thematic and Social Engagement Analysis of Messages and Consumer Feedback Introduction Uses and Gratifications in Consumption of Pandemic Advertisements Social Media Influence on COVID-19 Advertisements Thematic and Social Media Analysis of Pandemic Advertisements Methodology Cognitive Needs and Safety, Security, and Sales Promotion Advertisements Empathetic Needs and Emotionally Supportive Advertisements Socially Integrative Needs and Community Connection Advertisements Summary Future Directions References Part III: Discourses of Inclusion/Exclusion: Pandemic Communities Chapter 11: Self-Isolation and Consubstantiality: COVID-19 Terminology and Collective Identity Identification, Persuasion, and Consubstantiality Actions of Unity Actions of Division Conclusion References Chapter 12: Personifying Coronavirus Through Social Media The (Most) Mediatized Pandemic A Solitary Invader Something Between Frankenstein and Shrek A Swarm of Visitors When Human and Virus Meet Conclusion References Chapter 13: Social Distancing as Border Performance Social Distancing Constrains Borders Borders Are Performances Border Performances on Twitter Masks as Border Transversal(s) Disinformation Architecture on Twitter References Chapter 14: Social Distancing from COVID-19 by Buying Toilet Paper: Critiquing “Self-Protective” Consumerism Through Memes Introduction The Great Toilet Paper Panic and Consumption The Meme Analysis Consumption and Nostalgia The Perceived Worth of Toilet Paper The Use of Alternatives A Critique of Consumer Practices Toilet Paper as a Means of Protection Conclusion References Chapter 15: Unmasking the Pandemic: Self, Other, and the Mask as a Visual Signifier of COVID-19 Introduction On or Off: Masks in the Public Unmasking Local Power Paradoxes Within Globalized Agricultural Practices N95: The Abject, The Carnivalesque, The Supplement To Prevent Something From Being Seen or Noticed A Covering for All or Part of the Face that Protects, Hides, or Decorates the Person Wearing It Appearance or Behavior That Hides the Truth Unmasked: Unseen Ubiquity Conclusions and Considerations References Chapter 16: Going Corona-Viral with a Bilateral Phenomenon of Laughter: Othering and Prejudice in Memes Depicting (Early) Reactions to COVID-19 Introduction Social Stigma and Social Distancing Virus Reactions in Literature and Media Socio-critical Reflections of Memes in Media The Meme Analysis Chinese Coronavirus Memes Italian Coronavirus Memes Mexican Coronavirus Memes Conclusion References Part IV: Discourses of Dissent: Pandemic Reactions to Misinformation Chapter 17: Varieties of Church Pandemic Literacy During the 1918 and 2020 Epidemics References Chapter 18: “Some of you may die, but it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make”: Memes and the Social Media Critique by the UK Public in Response to COVID-19 Introduction Memes and Public Policy Methodology “Some of you may die, but it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make” #GetWellSoonBoris From Trolls to Public Discourse References Chapter 19: Don’t Hold Your Breath: Motives and Anxiety in Facebook COVID-19 Viral Shares Introduction: The Breathing Test and Medical Credibility Social Media and the Sharing of Misinformation Efforts to Halt Hoax Transmission The Perceived Value of Fake Ethos Claims Conclusion References Chapter 20: Idols of COVID-19: Francis Bacon and the Pandemic of 2020 References Chapter 21: The Epic Spectator Meets the War on the Coronavirus References Index