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Lin, Yan, 2017. Why an individual investigation of smog aroused public engagement : a rhetorical analysis of Under the dome. Second cycle, A2E. Uppsala: SLU, Dept. of Urban and Rural Development

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Abstract

In 2015, Chai Jing’s film, Under the Dome: Investigating China’s Smog, was issued online and soon gathered two hundred millions of views only within 48 hours. The unprecedented diffusion of Under the Dome suggests a successful communication case for an environmental topic in terms of the extensive attention and heated discussion it brought about, as well as its potential influence in raising the public awareness and policy-making. Un-der the Dome arouses broad study interests from various disciplines re-garding the reasons back of the phenomenon. This essay focuses on ex-ploring the rhetorical approaches employed in the film and argues that Un-der the Dome’s rhetoric presents an innovative mode of persuasion: the incorporation of investigative journalism and personal perspective and dis-course. While developing the credibility of its information and arguments through practical means of investigative journalism, the individual stand and other personalized multimedia assets build up a close connection with the audience and encourage their engagement. Functioning together with oth-er factors such as the new media as the distribution channel, the timing of its issue and the celebrity effect of the film-maker, the distinctive rhetorical design empowers its persuasiveness and contributes notably to the virality of the film.

Main title:Why an individual investigation of smog aroused public engagement
Subtitle:a rhetorical analysis of Under the dome
Authors:Lin, Yan
Supervisor:Westberg, Lotten
Examiner:Bergeå, Hanna
Series:UNSPECIFIED
Volume/Sequential designation:UNSPECIFIED
Year of Publication:2017
Level and depth descriptor:Second cycle, A2E
Student's programme affiliation:NM026 Environmental communication and management - Master's programme
Supervising department:(NL, NJ) > Dept. of Urban and Rural Development
(LTJ, LTV) > Dept. of Urban and Rural Development
Keywords:smog, rhetorical analysis, identification, source credibility, investigative journalism
URN:NBN:urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-6446
Permanent URL:
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-6446
Subject. Use of subject categories until 2023-04-30.:Social sciences, humanities and education
Language:English
Deposited On:22 Jun 2017 11:30
Metadata Last Modified:22 Jun 2017 11:30

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