"Canada's toughest neighbourhood" : surveillance, myth and orientalism in Jane-Finch

This study examines coverage of lane-Finch in popular Canadian newspapers in 2007. It explores the often-negative representations of the community through conceptual frameworks based on the work of Michel Foucault, Roland Barthes and Edward Said. The question it attempts to answer is: What knowledge and power relationships are embedded within depictions of lane-Finch in popular Canadian newspapers in 2007? The methodology is a version of critical discourse analysis based on Foucault's The Archaeology of Knowledge. It finds that predominantly-negative connotations of the neighbourhood are reinforced through the perpetuation of dominant discourses, the use of "expert" knowledge sources, and the discounting of subjugated knowledges or livedexperiences of residents. The study concludes by suggesting where further research within the realm of popular culture and community identity can be directed.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. Popular Culture

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Faculty of Humanities

Department dc:contributor.department

Popular Culture Program

Grantor

Brock University

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Richardson, Chris.

• Geographical myths in mass media.
• Newspapers--Canada--Psychological aspects.
• Social conflict--Ontario--Toronto.
• Violence in mass media--Canada--Psychological aspects.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10464/2807

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:brocku.scholaris.ca:10464/2807