TY - JOUR
T1 - Taiwan as ghost island? Ambivalent articulation of marginalized identities in computer-mediated discourses
AU - LI, Yao-Tai
AU - SONG, Yunya
N1 - Funding Information:
Li Yao-Tai Song Yunya Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Yunya Song, Department of Journalism, Hong Kong Baptist University, Communication and Visual Arts Building, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Email: yunyasong@hkbu.edu.hk 11 2019 0957926519889124 © The Author(s) 2019 2019 SAGE Publications This study examines the conflicting self-presentations when using the term ‘ghost island’ in Taiwan, a self-mocking way to belittle the homeland. While some view this term as a form of social critique, others consider it to be suggestive of a social malaise affecting contemporary Taiwanese. Drawing on online posts and comments from the most popular bulletin board system in Taiwan, this study combines topic modeling with a discourse-historical approach (DHA) to critical discourse analysis (CDA) to examine the constructions of ‘ghost island’ by Taiwanese netizens. A computer-aided content analysis was implemented using Structural Topic Modeling (STM) to identify discourse topics associated with netizens’ discourses on ghost island. Our findings suggest that the images of ‘us’ (the ordinary people) are presented as victims as against powerful ‘others’ (e.g. mainland China and local elites). Specifically, self-mockery was often invoked to project a loser image and marginalized status living on the island, whereas self-assertive narratives were invoked to affirm Taiwanese society’s democracy and freedom. The conflicting narratives – with a mixture of grudge, helplessness, pessimism, hope and pride – point to Taiwanese netizens’ ambivalent articulation of marginalized identities that operates to strengthen affective connectedness and virtual bonding. Bulletin board system discourse-historical approach (DHA) ghost island loser aesthetics self-mockery Taiwan edited-state corrected-proof The authors thank Prof. Van Dijk, Dr Hilary Yerbury and anonymous reviewers for their constructive and thoughtful comments. They also thank Shih-Hao Liu for his help with collecting data and managing the database. Declaration of conflicting interests The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article. Funding The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was funded by Research Committee, Hong Kong Baptist University (FRG2/17-18/069).
Funding Information:
The authors thank Prof. Van Dijk, Dr Hilary Yerbury and anonymous reviewers for their constructive and thoughtful comments. They also thank Shih-Hao Liu for his help with collecting data and managing the database. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was funded by Research Committee, Hong Kong Baptist University (FRG2/17-18/069).
PY - 2020/5/1
Y1 - 2020/5/1
N2 - This study examines the conflicting self-presentations when using the term ‘ghost island’ in Taiwan, a self-mocking way to belittle the homeland. While some view this term as a form of social critique, others consider it to be suggestive of a social malaise affecting contemporary Taiwanese. Drawing on online posts and comments from the most popular bulletin board system in Taiwan, this study combines topic modeling with a discourse-historical approach (DHA) to critical discourse analysis (CDA) to examine the constructions of ‘ghost island’ by Taiwanese netizens. A computer-aided content analysis was implemented using Structural Topic Modeling (STM) to identify discourse topics associated with netizens’ discourses on ghost island. Our findings suggest that the images of ‘us’ (the ordinary people) are presented as victims as against powerful ‘others’ (e.g. mainland China and local elites). Specifically, self-mockery was often invoked to project a loser image and marginalized status living on the island, whereas self-assertive narratives were invoked to affirm Taiwanese society’s democracy and freedom. The conflicting narratives – with a mixture of grudge, helplessness, pessimism, hope and pride – point to Taiwanese netizens’ ambivalent articulation of marginalized identities that operates to strengthen affective connectedness and virtual bonding.
AB - This study examines the conflicting self-presentations when using the term ‘ghost island’ in Taiwan, a self-mocking way to belittle the homeland. While some view this term as a form of social critique, others consider it to be suggestive of a social malaise affecting contemporary Taiwanese. Drawing on online posts and comments from the most popular bulletin board system in Taiwan, this study combines topic modeling with a discourse-historical approach (DHA) to critical discourse analysis (CDA) to examine the constructions of ‘ghost island’ by Taiwanese netizens. A computer-aided content analysis was implemented using Structural Topic Modeling (STM) to identify discourse topics associated with netizens’ discourses on ghost island. Our findings suggest that the images of ‘us’ (the ordinary people) are presented as victims as against powerful ‘others’ (e.g. mainland China and local elites). Specifically, self-mockery was often invoked to project a loser image and marginalized status living on the island, whereas self-assertive narratives were invoked to affirm Taiwanese society’s democracy and freedom. The conflicting narratives – with a mixture of grudge, helplessness, pessimism, hope and pride – point to Taiwanese netizens’ ambivalent articulation of marginalized identities that operates to strengthen affective connectedness and virtual bonding.
KW - Bulletin board system
KW - discourse-historical approach (DHA)
KW - ghost island
KW - loser aesthetics
KW - self-mockery
KW - Taiwan
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076854503&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0957926519889124
DO - 10.1177/0957926519889124
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85076854503
VL - 31
SP - 285
EP - 306
JO - Discourse and Society
JF - Discourse and Society
SN - 0957-9265
IS - 3
ER -