The myths that bind us : a critical discourse analysis of Canada : a people's history
| dc.contributor.advisor | Miller, Dianne M. | en_US |
| dc.creator | Hobday, Joyce Annie | en_US |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2006-04-25T19:50:00Z | en_US |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2013-01-04T04:29:43Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2006-04-26T08:00:00Z | en_US |
| dc.date.available | 2013-01-04T04:29:43Z | |
| dc.date.created | 2006-03 | en_US |
| dc.date.issued | 2006-03-31 | en_US |
| dc.date.submitted | March 2006 | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | The 32- hour documentary series Canada: A People’s History was aired in 2000-2001 and has been widely disseminated: it is now available as video and DVD sets and has been aired in at least nine languages. In this thesis I examine the packaging of the series, that is, the images and promotional blurbs on the boxed DVD set and the introductory and concluding segments of the series, and I intensively examine Episode 10 “Taking the West” (1873-1896). Through Critical Discourse Analysis, I closely examine the language and other semiotic material used in Canada: A People’s History to analyse power relationships in the series. As well as paying attention to the overall structure of the verbal and visual text, I am attentive to the way in which grammar and words are used, and the representation that is portrayed through these elements. In this thesis, I find that while the series does include women and Aboriginal people, Canada: A People’s History’s use of language and images portrays a Canadian identity that privileges Whiteness and masculinity and that presents current power imbalances in society as natural and inevitable. By devaluing women and Aboriginal people in its representation, Canada: A People’s History lends legitimacy to the systemic discrimination against women and Aboriginal people in Canadian society. I find that the series presents past events as inevitable, over which people had no control or influence, and I argue that this presentation encourages people to accept the current situation, rather than challenging it and seeking alternatives. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-04252006-195000 | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | en_US |
| dc.subject | discourse analysis | en_US |
| dc.subject | canadian identity | en_US |
| dc.subject | poststructuralism | en_US |
| dc.title | The myths that bind us : a critical discourse analysis of Canada : a people's history | en_US |
| dc.type.genre | Thesis | en_US |
| dc.type.material | text | en_US |
| thesis.degree.department | Educational Foundations | en_US |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Educational Foundations | en_US |
| thesis.degree.grantor | University of Saskatchewan | en_US |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters | en_US |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Education (M.Ed.) | en_US |