Muhammad as Representative Form: A Visual Rhetorical Analysis of the Danish Cartoon Controversy

The Danish cartoon controversy poses a useful case for communication scholars to examine how political speech acts and social debate flourish in a world with globalized media. Working from Edwards and Winkler’s theory of the representative form, I argue that the central Muhammad character in the cartoons functions ideographically, creating an ideological interpretation of Islam that invites public debate over its tenets. Using Olson and Goodnight’s work on social controversy, I track how this debate evolves from the initial publication of the cartoons to become an international conflict, organized around two main topoi—freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Given the diversity of reactions seen across the globe, I conclude that the Muhammad cartoons highlight how culturally specific rhetorical performances can have important effects on public discourse outside of their original contexts. The event gives us the chance to study how social conflicts will play out between the West and the rest of the world, which will no doubt continue with increasing frequency given our current trajectory.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Reed, Andrea

• visual rhetoric

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/14705

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/14705