de genere - Rivista di studi letterari, postcoloniali e di genere

Navigating the Afterlife: Transhumanism and Televised Visions of Eternity

Aureliana Natale — 2024-06-27

The concept of an afterlife has been a staple of human storytelling since time immemorial. From the ethereal heavens of religious belief to the ghostly realms of folklore, the question of what lies beyond death holds enduring fascination. In contemporary television series, a new paradigm emerges in the representation of the afterlife; one deeply intertwined with technological advancement, capitalistic structures, and a transhumanist philosophy that seeks to transcend the limitations of human existence. This article examines the depiction of the afterlife in popular television series such as Upload (2020–2024), The Good Place (2016–2020) and, to a lesser extent, Black Mirror (2011–present). We will argue that these shows have ventured into the previously uncharted territories of the afterlife, presenting visions that diverge sharply from traditional portrayals infused with spirituality and the supernatural in favour of a distinctly transhumanist perspective on life, death, and the potential for technologically mediated immortality. The focus on technologically mediated or merit-based afterlives reflects a broader trend in contemporary popular culture, exemplified in works like The Matrix (1999) and Ready Player One (2018). These narratives reveal a shift away from traditional religious and spiritual frameworks towards a secular vision of the afterlife shaped by technological advancement and the pursuit of individual enhancement.

Editorial

Serena Guarracino — 2024-06-27

The Discursive Construction of Contemporary Family Types: An Introduction

Angela Zottola — 2024-06-27

Family Portrait: A Corpus-Based Analysis of the Discursive Construction of Traditional Families

Antonio Fruttaldo — 2024-06-27

Grounded in the understanding that identity is a negotiated concept shaped by discourse and agreed upon by participants in a given social context (Benwell & Stokoe, 2006), this investigation centres on the discursive construction of the notion of ‘traditional family’, and how it is contested and shaped through discourse. To achieve this aim, the study adopts a corpus-based approach (Baker, 2006; McEnery et al., 2006; McEnery & Hardie, 2012), analysing data collected from Twitter to interpret how ‘bondable’ values (Zappavigna & Martin, 2018; Balirano, 2020) associated with the discursive online construction of the ‘traditional’ are shared and reproduced in these online environments. Special attention is paid to the construction of digital landscapes for culture-specific communities of affective practice (Döveling et al., 2018), in order to understand how alignments and meanings are negotiated through SNSs practices (Zappavigna & Martin, 2018). Through this analysis, the study identifies discursive loci that define the linguistic practices adopted by online communities in shaping the discourses around the ‘traditional family’. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of how discourse shapes and reinforces heteronormative values and the marginalisation of non-normative identities in society. The study also sheds light on the role of online environments in the construction and reproduction of discursive norms related to the ‘traditional family’.

The Discursive Construction of Intended Parents from Surrogacy: A Corpus-based Critical Discourse Analysis of Italian and Canadian News Reports

Anna Mongibello — 2024-06-27

The present study examines how surrogacy-related parenthood has been represented in news discourse in Canada and Italy. These two countries present contrasting approaches to surrogacy, with Canada allowing formal surrogacy arrangements while Italy maintains some of the strictest laws on assisted conception and surrogacy in Europe. The analysis is based on two corpora consisting of online news reports from Canadian and Italian sources spanning from 2016 to 2023, focusing on stories concerning surrogacy and alternative forms of parenthood, particularly emphasizing the representation of gay couples. Employing a methodological framework that combines Critical Discourse Analysis methods with a Corpus-based approach, the study aims to uncover the ideological underpinnings in the discursive portrayal of intended parents from surrogacy. Results show that the Canadian corpus (Can_SUR) features medical information and personal surrogacy accounts, with limited focus on intended parenthood narratives. Conversely, the Italian corpus (Ita_SUR) portrays surrogacy and alternative parenthood as political struggles within the legal framework, suggesting these issues are debated in Italian courts rather than treated as personal matters. Overall, in Canadian news discourse alternative parenthood is represented as legitimate, whereas in Italy surrogacy and same-sex couples’ rights are represented in opposition to discourses of biological kinship and nature, thus echoing an heteronormative framework.

The Discursive Construction of Non-Conventional Parenthood Online: Single Mothers and Single Fathers by Choice

Giuseppina Scotto di Carlo — 2024-06-27

In the last few decades, advancements in reproductive technologies have granted the opportunity to pursue parenthood regardless of one’s relationship status, sex, gender, or sexual orientation. Nevertheless, the emergence of Single Mothers and Single Fathers by Choice (SMBC and SFBC) has sparked significant controversy, challenging the conventional concept of family, which typically includes both maternal and paternal figures. In this context, this study delves into the intricate discourse surrounding SMBC and SFBC as it manifests on social media. These platforms wield substantial influence in either perpetuating the stigmatisation or promoting acceptance of these non-traditional family structures. By conducting a qualitative and quantitative sentiment and discourse analysis of two corpora of YouTube comments on this topic, this research examines the representations associated with these family choices as disseminated through media outlets. Overall, the corpora reveal a more positive stance expressed towards SFBC, either through genuine expressions of praise or subtle forms of benevolent sexism. Conversely, comments tend to adopt a more critical tone when discussing SMBC, often portraying them as self-centered women pursuing their maternal desires potentially at the expense of denying their children a paternal presence. Despite notable disparities, both corpora express optimism regarding increased access to assisted reproductive technologies for single individuals in the future. Furthermore, they underscore the idea that children's well-being may not hinge on the presence of both a mother and a father, but rather on nurturing bonds capable of ensuring their social and psychological development.

Single-Parent Families in Canada: A Positive Discourse Analysis of Non-Profit Organizations’ Websites

Maria Cristina Nisco — 2024-06-27

Family patterns have diversified considerably in the last sixty years going beyond the married nuclear family (a married couple with children) and single-parent families are a now widely recognised phenomenon and family assemblage (UN 2017). Yet, single parents face not only several financial and practical challenges, but also social stigma and stereotyping (Sussman and Hanson 1995; Zartler 2014). In the context of Canada, despite the fact that the proportion of families with children has remained rather stable over the decades, the types of families with children have changed consistently, and over one-fifth of Canadian children are being raised by a lone parent. Against this backdrop, charities and associations are supporting single parents through a series of actions to reduce social stigma and make services more accessible to them. This study specifically aims to investigate how new concepts of family are discursively construed and conveyed, to frame single-motherhood from a different and more positive perspective. Following the tradition of Social Semiotics (Kress and van Leeuwen 2021) and research on Positive Discourse Analysis (Martin 2004; Bartlett 2012), this work analyses a range of multimodal resources available on the websites of three Canadian non-profit organizations. In particular, it focuses on how single-parent families are represented assuming that the resulting discursive construal can work to eradicate persistent cultural and social stereotypes.

Single-Parenting Portrayal: The Discursive Construction of Solo Moms “by Choice” in Entertainment Media

Rosalba Rizzo — 2024-06-27

The cultural discourse surrounding single women raising children post-divorce or through sperm donation hastened in the latter 20th century, notably in the 1970s, paralleling societal shifts towards recognizing diverse family structures and empowering women's reproductive autonomy. Influenced by the feminist movement, legal changes like divorce legalization, and reproductive technology advancements, society increasingly accepted non-traditional family formations. Social media became a platform for individuals to share experiences and discuss these topics. This research deals with intentional motherhood, focusing on representations of single mothers "by choice" in entertainment media, particularly examining Katherine in the British series "The Duchess." Using qualitative data from the show's first two episodes, a Conversation Critical Discourse Analysis framework investigates dialogue nuances regarding Katherine's decision to have another child via sperm donation, highlighting power dynamics in discourse. The analysis reveals three significant issues: a woman's autonomy in reproductive decisions, societal influence on unconventional choices, and gender dynamics. By integrating Conversation Analysis with Critical Discourse Analysis, this study provides insights into televisual discourse's broader societal and power dynamics, offering a valuable tool for examining sitcom dialogue.

“Flip the Script” on Transracial Adoption: Counter Discourse Activism on Social Media

Giorgia Riboni — 2024-06-27

This paper presents a case study of counter discourse activism on YouTube. By analysing a selection of videos produced by the social media user Lilly Fei, the research sets out to investigate the lexical, rhetorical, and discursive strategies she uses to challenge dominating narratives on transracial adoption, thus “flipping the script” on the issue. The recently emerging approach of Social Media Critical Discourse Studies (SM-CDS), which relies on the tenets of both Critical Discourse Analysis and digital humanities, was chosen for the investigation. Results suggest that the counter discourse promoted through Lilly Fei’s channel finds its legitimacy in her personal involvement in the topic and the first-hand quality of her narratives. The YouTuber is also able to construct a trustworthy and expert online persona that gives voice to the minority of transracial adoptees, thus providing them with the possibility of being publicly represented while, at the same time, offering their parents some guidance as to how they can communicate with and support their children adequately.