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Critical Discourse Studies

What does “Critical” stand for in CDA

  • Unmasking: hidden power relations, social inequalities, and ideologies.
  • Contextualizing: how discourse is shaped by and shapes specific social, political, and historical contexts.
  • Interventionist: social change by raising awareness about discursive injustices.

Power - Who Says What, How, and Why?

  • Discourse: a tool and site for its exercise
  • Types of Power:
    • Dominance/Coercion: Explicit control over. discourse.
    • Hegemony (Gramsci): Power achieved through consent, where one group’s view becomes ‘common sense’.
    • Productive Power (Foucault): Power that shapes subjects and knowledge, not just represses.

Ideology - Common Sense of Society

  • Definition: A system of shared beliefs, values, and assumptions that are often taken for granted by a social group.
  • Role of Discourse: Discourses are curical for constructing, disseminating, and naturalizing ideologies.
  • Impact: Ideologies influence how we perceive the world, social groups, and ourselves.
  • Masking: Discourses can mask the origins and interests behind and ideology, making it seem natural.

Case Study: Deceptive Transparency in Ponzi Schemes (Aiyedun, 2020)

  • MMM: A large- scale POnzi