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Framing (communication Theory)




Experts in this area include George Lakoff who has written the books ''Moral Politics'' and ''Don't Think of an Elephant'' on this subject as applied to Politics (his earlier work, ''Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things: What Categories Reveal About the Mind'' also looks at framing, but from a more academic point of view).

In politics, Lakoff points to an example of framing in the phrase " Tax Relief ." The use of the word "relief" implies a notion that taxes put strain on the citizen.

Another example of framing is the word "progressive" to describe Left-wing politics. The word "progressive" implies an improvement, or a step forward, and therefore suggests that Right-wing politics are a regression or a step back.

Other examples are the phrases " Pro-Life " (which implies its opponents are "anti-life" or "pro-death"), " Pro-Choice " (which implies its opponents are "anti-choice" or "pro-compulsion"), " Anti-immigrant " (which implies the people this term is applied to are against individual immigra''nts'' as opposed to being against immigra''tion''.), and " Reality-based Community " (which implies that its opponents are unrealistic).

Terms which frame debate seek to limit the possibilities of discourse by setting the vocabulary and metaphors by which an issue can be discussed. In Lakoff's view, framing cannot be avoided—it is an inherent part of political speech—but it should be done consciously.

According to Klandermans, a sociologist, the "social construction of collective action frames," involves "public discourse, that is, the interface of media discourse and interpersonal interaction; persuasive communication during mobilization campaigns by movement organizations, their opponents and countermovement organizations; and consciousness raising during episodes of collective action." (1997: p. 45)


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REFERENCES

  • Goffman, Erving. 1974. ''Frame Analysis: An Essay on the Organization of Experience.'' London: Harper and Row.

  • Fairhurst, Gail T. and Sarr, Robert A. 1996. ''The Art of Framing: Managing the Language of Leadership.'' USA: Jossey-Bass, Inc.

  • Klandermans, Bert. 1997. ''The Social Psychology of Protest.'' Oxford: Blackwell.

  • Cutting, Hunter and Makani Themba Nixon. 2003. ''Talking the Walk: A Communications Guide for Racial Justice." San Francisco: We Interrupt This Message:



EXTERNAL LINKS

  • Curry, Tom. 2005. "Frist chills talk of judges deal (Page 2)." ''The question in the poll was not framed as a matter of whether nominee ought to get an up-or-down vote. And that '''framing''' of the issue, Republican strategists believe, is the most advantageous one...'' MSNBC.com.