Exploring The Conceptions Of Subjugation And Compliancy Under The Notion Of Linguistic Manipulation By Analyzing Dystopian Animated Short Films By David Arms By

Abstract

‘Manipulation’ exercised by using language as a weapon, in contemplation of seizing
interests of dominant figures of the society, is regarded as one of the pivotal notions of
discourse. As a contribution to investigate the strategies employed by the power holders for
subjugating submissive beings of the society, this dissertation explores the reasons behind
victimizing children and manipulating their imagination to ensure that they grow up being
compliant to all the set norms and standards set by hegemonic figures. This study
simultaneously illuminates the fact that a dystopian society depicts people specifically in
discriminatory groups of certain social type concentrating on physical or mental abilities and
inabilities that refers the person into a certain social type. This study also elucidates the
strategies of categorizing people by using referential strategies for classification of social
actors; postulated by Van Leeuwan, Reisigl and Wodak (2006) to analyse the language of two
dystopian animated shorts: Being Pretty and Children’s Toys. Selected screenshots from
both the animated shorts are used as supporting detail of the argument of the dissertation.
Along with this other theoretical framework given by Van Dijk (2006), is used to investigate
the triangulated approach to manipulation that links it with society, cognition, and discourse.
The present article signifies the credibility of conducting critical discourse analysis, as it
develops the analysts’ understanding of underlying ideologies and beliefs and enables him
to investigate the maneuvering employed by the manipulator through text or speech.