Discourse of Mockery: A Systemic Functional Multimodal Discourse Analysis

Abstract

This study deals with Systemic Functional Multimodal Discourse Analysis that concerns on the analysis of visual and linguistic elements in six selected Religious-oriented memes. It is purposed in finding the idea of mockery that is done by groups of Atheists and Agnostics. The analysis is based on O’ Halloran (2008) Systemic Functional Multimodal Discourse Analysis, Halliday’s (2004) Systemic Functional Linguistics in order to analyse the linguistic elements, enhanced by Generic Structure Potential (GSP) by Hasan (1989), Theory of Colour proposed by Kress and Van Leeuwen (2006) and O’Halloran (2008) Intersemiotic Ideation to analyse the relation between the visual and linguistic elements. This bachelor’s thesis is conducted by using a qualitative method. The method of the analysis is applied by using the documentary technique with collecting data through Facebook groups. The data of this research are six selected Religious-oriented memes. They are taken from Atheist Beings and Agnostic Always Facebook groups discussions. To analyse the data, it started by classifying them into two elements: visual and linguistic elements. The analysis is then elaborated by using the theories mentioned earlier. The finding of this bachelor’s thesis proves that the Generic Structure Potential (GSP) of the meme is matched with the GSP that is proposed by Hasan (1989) as it was adopted by Silangit (2017). The GSP consists of Capture, Focus, and Justification. All elements work in the selected memes and help to construct the concept of mockery. Moreover, the analysis of linguistic elements that provide the variety of clauses helps to reveal the ideology of mockery towards three Abrahamic religions including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Most clauses use Relational process and declarative mood to assert opinion and allows the meme viewers to describe and identify certain judgement towards selected memes. There are several vocabularies used to enter the concept of mockery such as ‘shit’ and ‘bitches’. Additionally, several pictures of the meme, background, and colours are used white, black, green, and brown found on the memes and belong to mocking missions.