This thesis examines the interwoven relations of the media portrayal, cultural identity and social polarization in the multicultural city Rotterdam, Netherlands, particularly in response to the Israel-Gaza conflict. By comparing global and local media sources like CNN, Al Jazeera and the television-station TV Rijnmond and the radio-station FunX, this paper gives a detailed insight in how the different cultural groups in Rotterdam interpret and react to media narratives about the conflict. Drawing on a mix of visual content analysis, observational data, and qualitative interviews, the research captures an array of community responses – ranging from passive consumption to active protest.The results indicate that global media portrayals offer different narratives that is interpreted differently by Rotterdam’s ethnic minorities and native Dutch population, which affects community cohesion and social polarization. Local media provides more relatable content, and is playing a crucial role in shaping community responses and fostering group identity. Moreover, this study points out how media rituals and group norms are crucial in interpreting media messages and in shaping cultural identities that connect or divide different community groups.This thesis helps in recognizing the nuanced role that media perform in multicultural urban settings and provides insights into the role of cultural identities amidst geopolitical conflicts. In the paper, recommendations are shared with the aim to enhance social cohesion through more inclusive and balanced media representations.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:mau-68439 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Demirel, Serdar |
| Publisher | Malmö universitet, Institutionen för konst, kultur och kommunikation (K3) |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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